In Nigeria, Anglo-Dutch oil firm Shell is testing the Trans Forcados crude export pipeline to restart activities at the infrastructure, sources told Reuters on May 9. According the sources, the Astro Perseus tanker is expected to load the first cargo by the weekend. However, the loading will not take place until tests are not fully completed. Let’s recall that since the pipeline was bombed...

During Q1 2017, domestic flights operations slumped by 33%, as compared the same period, the year before. This was disclosed by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA. The authority indeed reported on May 8 that 10,366 flights were operated in the first quarter of the year, against 15,434 flights last year by eight domestic airlines. Amongst the airlines are Air Peace, Arik Air, Dana...

In Senegal, the Warkhokh and Fissel communities (which are in Linguère and Thiès respectively) initiated a process to develop and adopt local charters for land management. This aims to promote a concerted and transparent management. This was disclosed in a statement reported by the Agence de Presse Senegalaise (Senegal Press Agency). Led by non-governmental organizations’ council for...

Morocco is the country that is best suited for Muslim tourists visiting Africa, according to the 2017 Global Muslim Travel Index (GMTI) released on May 3, by CrescentRating and U.S. payment solution provider MasterCard. With a score of 68.1 over 100, the Cherifian Kingdom comes at the 7th position in the ranking which lists 130 countries. For a country to be regarded as Muslim friendly, three...

The Republics of Benin and Niger have paid Nigeria about $159 million for power. This was revealed by the Nigeria Bulk Electricity Trader (NBET) in a statement published at the end of the 15th monthly meeting of Minister of Power and operators of the power sector. “NBET reported on international customer payments, stating NIGELEC (Republic of Niger) and CEB (Republic of Benin) had made...

Last Saturday, as they met with the prefect of Haut Sassandra region, in the Western part of Ivory Coast, the chiefs of villages of the Daola department asked for the land title issuance process to be simplified and charges reduced, in order to boost access to lands for rural populations. “Land title issuance is a tedious process and related charges are relatively high. The process must be...

Over $450 million. That is the amount the Dangote Group is set to invest in the Niger State, to build a sugar refinery. According to the Managing Director of Dangote Sugar Refinery (DSR) Company, Alhaji Abdullahi Sule, who disclosed the news, sites for the sugar cane plantation and refinery have been identified. "For the sugar, we have identified the site and carried out feasibility study....

In support to the nation’s economic and financial reforms, the International Monetary Fund has approved US$241.5 million under an extended credit facility arrangement (EFC) for Togo. Under the new arrangement, $34.5 million will be immediately disbursed “to support the authorities’ efforts towards fiscal consolidation while maintaining space for pro-poor spending”, said IMF’s...

During an ordinary session held on May 2 and presided by the Head of State, Ibrahim Boubacar Keita, Mali’s high council of agriculture decided to award 15% of arable lands to the youth and women. Referring to the recently passed legislation of agricultural land, the president said he hopes “it will bring about major changes in regards to tenure of land rights, both individual and collective,...

Amid rising concerns regarding his capacity to rule the country, Nigeria’s president, Muhammadu Buhari (photo), once again, travelled to U.K. for medical examinations, spokesman to president, Femi Adesina revealed on May 7. “Government will continue to function normally under the able leadership” of Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, Adesina said. While the president left on Sunday, the...