Traveling abroad is easier for citizens of Seychelles, Mauritius, and South Africa than for those of Ethiopia, DRC or Djibouti, reads Passportindex.org which issued the global index of passports in terms of easiness to travel. Thus, a citizen of Seychelles can freely travel to 126 countries around the world (to 96 of them visa free and with a visa on arrival in 30 of them). On the opposite,...

In Cote d’Ivoire, a sensitization campaign on the rural land legislation was launched in Mankono, in the North-Eastern part of the country. The news was reported by information agency Agence ivoirienne de presse (AIP). Funded by the European Union, the campaign is led by the management of the rural land department within the ministry of agriculture and rural development. It is part of a...

The Federal Government of Nigeria has revealed plans to introduce a single window for data across many sectors and agencies, so as to block revenue leakages in the country. Speaking during a presentation at the 2017 International Customs Day celebration in Abuja, the Minister of Finance, Kemi Adeosun (photo), said the effective use of data analysis would help reduce smuggling and aid effective...

Trade volumes between Nigeria and India dropped $16 billion in 2015 to $12 billion in 2016, due to the fall in oil prices. This was declared by Kaiser Alam, India’s Acting High Commissioner, at a reception to mark the 68th Republic Day of India in Abuja on Thursday. According to him, 2016 was a significant year and both countries are looking to expand relations in all areas. “The...

The Federal government of Nigeria has gained back ownership of OPL 245 nineteen years after it was awarded to Malabu Oil & Gas, under the Sanni Abacha government. According to Sahara reporters, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) got a court order authorizing the return of the oil block to the federal government pending the conclusion of investigations. Let’s be reminded that...

In the Extreme-North region of Cameroon, the price of a 50-kg bag of millet and maize increased by FCfa 2,000 over the last four months, we learned from local sources. On top of the low rainfall observed in this area of Cameroon, which led to a drop in the production of cereals, traders also point out exports to Nigeria. Indeed, after being closed for several months due to the violence committed...

Due to a global degradation of conditions in the steel market, various firms operating in the manganese industry have closed many of their production sites in the beginning of 2016. The mining firm COMILOG which is part of those has halted production at its Moanda mine in the south-eastern part of Gabon, while Chinese CICMHZ has stopped its activities at the Njole mine (in the centre). This has...

A recent report released by the Famine Early Warning System Network has shown that Nigeria will witness famine in 2017, due to non-stop conflict, severe drought and economic instability. The agency, which is supported by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), said the Boko Haram crisis in the country continues to add to large-scale population displacement, reduce market...

The Port Harcourt Refinery Company (PHRC), one of Nigeria’s four refineries is expected to make over N1.5 trillion (about $5billion) per year from refined petroleum products, once Eni completes renovation. According to PHRC Managing Director, Bafred Enjugu, once the renovation has been completed, the refinery would produce 210,000 barrels, about 47% of the 445,000 bpd apportioned to state...

Fitch Ratings has lowered the outlook on Nigeria’s long-term foreign and local currency issuer default ratings (IDRs) from stable to negative, placing it at ‘B+’. Credit rating is usually used by sovereign wealth funds, pension funds and other investors to measure the creditworthiness of a country, therefore having a big impact on the country’s borrowing costs. This downgrade means that...