In the Democratic Republic of Congo, the Minister of Land Affairs, Lumeya Dhu-Malengi on June 24, 2017, told land title holders of Kinshasa that the State would retrieve all agricultural lands which have not been put to use as they should. This was reported by Radio Okapi. “We must go on the field. All lands we gave out and which are valorized enough, we will take back. There is a problem in...

The Togolese government said it wants to provide power to more than two million people in the country with its CI-ZO initiative. Under the project, authorities with distribute in rural areas individual solar kits which will be progressively reimbursed via mobile payments. To achieve its objective, the government will “take advantage of the growth of mobile telephony and innovative business...

In Senegal, the Santhiou Mekhe solar power plant, which is said to be the largest in West Africa, has been commissioned on June 23 by President Macky Sall. Named after the region in which it is built, the plant has a capacity 30MW and was devepoled by French company Solairedirect, Engie’s arm in charge of solar energy. Electricity produced at the plant will be sold to SENELEC, the country’s...

The African Development Bank (AfDB) provided Morocco a $88 million loan to support its National Programme to Promote the Economic Usage of Irrigation Water (PAPNEEI 2). The scheme’s total cost is $96.9 million of which government provides $8.9 million. The initiative which is to last six years (2017-2022) aims to improve the living conditions of rural populations and...

The African Development Bank (AfDB) pledged to create by 2025, 25 million now jobs across the continent with its new strategy which could benefit 50 million youth. Entitled Jobs for Youth in Africa, the new strategy will focus on key strategic sectors like integration, innovation and investment. Under the Innovation segment of the JfYA, AfDB will develop programmes in the agriculture,...

Liberia must rapidly restructure its land tenure system. This was reported by Yacoub El Hillo, Special deputy representative of the UN secretary general. According to the official, land reform will help consolidate peace and sustain stability and prosperity in the country. Hillo who was speaking on June 21, during a two-day meeting in Monrovia under the theme “Improving Citizen's Engagement in...

The Kwara State Government has announced that it has secured a N1billion ($3.1 million) agricultural loan from the Central Bank of Nigeria for farmers in the state. According to Anu Ibiwoye, the Special Adviser to the governor on Agriculture and Rural Water Support Services, the loan will be released through microfinance banks. “I wish to confirm that the 1bn agriculture loan just came in...

In Nigeria, the Yobe state government has committed over N2.1billion ($6.5m) to execute capital projects across the state. Speaking after a state executive council meeting in Damaturu, the Commissioner for Home Affairs, Information and Culture, Mala Musti explained that the release of the funds was part of efforts to develop the state. Giving a breakdown of the financing, Musti said that...

In Nigeria, the Delta state government on Thursday signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) worth $20 million with Norsworthy Limited to cultivate 3000 acres of palm oil and construct a processing plant. Speaking during the signing ceremony in Asaba, the Secretary to the State Government, Festus Agas, explained that the government is more focused on agriculture as it is the mainstay of...

Nigeria’s distributable government revenues increased to $1.43 billion in May from $1.29billion in April. This increase is accrued to higher profits from taxes paid by companies. A statement from the office of the accountant general on Thursday, revealed that the revenues could have been higher but did not due to a slight drop in the average price of crude oil from $55.38...