“Due to Tunisia delaying in implementing the reforms imposed by the International Monetary Fund, the institution postponed the payment of the second tranche of a $2.9 billion loan it promised the nation,” said Tunisia’s minister of finance, Lamia Zribi. Valued at about $320 million, the first tranche of the loan was provided in June 2016. While the second tranche was expected to...

Africa is far from exploiting its true agricultural potential. This is what suggests the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) indicating that the continent has 60% of non-cultivated lands worldwide. “Worldwide, demand for agricultural products is supposed to double when the global population reaches 9.1 billion, by 2050. Africa is thus well positioned to become a strategic...

Mining firm Endeavour Mining, following a declaration of a maiden resource at the North Kao deposit, scaled up the potential of its Karma gold project in Burkina-Faso. Unexploited resources in North Kao were estimated after an infill drilling program was conducted in 2016 at the project. Probable reserves were estimated at 7.1 million tons grading 1.16g/t while indicated mineral resource was...

The Nigerian Export-Import Bank (NEXIM) said it was ready to support the country to boost its shea nuts production capacity. This was disclosed by the Acting Managing Director of NEXIM, Bashir Wali. According to him, the bank wants to provide “funding for increased proactive measures to reposition agricultural products, such as shea, as part of its non-oil export sector interventions in the...

The Number of birds killed by avian influenza also known as bird flu in 12 farms in Plateau state has risen from 11,000 in January to 42,000 in February 2017, according to the Poultry Association of Nigeria (PAN). According to PAN Chairman, John Dasar, the disease spread fast because farmers failed to report the outbreak and government did not pay compensations promised them for the birds...

The Federal Government of Nigeria has demanded for the allocation of N157.7 billion ($505million) in the 2017 budget estimates for the N-Power scheme to employ additional 350,000 unemployed graduates under the N-Power Volunteer Corps. This was declared by Laolu Akande (photo), the Senior Special Assistant on Media & Publicity to Acting President Yemi Osinabjo, on Sunday. He said “350,000...

As part of efforts to fast-track the recovery of the economy, the Federal Government of Nigeria has reviewed the requirements for Nigerian visas to increase the flow of foreign direct investments into the country. “The Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) has reviewed the requirements for Nigerian visas to make them more customer friendly. The types of visas currently reviewed include Visa on...

The World Bank said it is ready to lend Nigeria $500 million under its “Better Education-For-All (BEDA)” project to help the country address the issue of non-schooling children. This was declared by the Bank’s senior education specialist, Olatunde Adekola (photo), during a visit to Sokoto’s State Governor, Aminu Tambuwal, last Sunday. “The project will be results oriented, ensure...

Morocco has signed with German Bank KfW a guarantee contract for €130 million loan. Loan proceeds will go to the National Water and Power office of Morocco (ONEE) which will use them to fund the second stage of the integrated wind power programme. Launched in line with Morocco’s goals for clean energies which aim to satisfy 42% of its needs in power with renewables by 2020, the...

Last Wednesday, Senegal’s president, Macky Sall, asked his administration to “rapidly proceed to the free processing of temporary deeds into permanent land deeds by simplifying processes and making related transactions safer”. A move that aims to significantly boost land tenure in the country. “Most of the people living around Dakar, namely in Médina, grand-Dakar, Grand-Yoff Pikine and...