As part of efforts to boost private sector’s investment in agriculture, Dangote Group, GrowAfrica and Nigeria Agribusiness Group (NABG) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). This is expected to pave the way for more private companies’ participation in the development of the agricultural value chain in the country. According to Sani Dangote, Vice-President of Dangote Group, the...

Nearly 1,500 farmers could lose lands they have been occupying for close to 50 years in Soavinandriana Itasy, in the Central part of Madagascar. Indeed the farmers, were ordered by the court to quit their properties which span over an area of 569ha that a former minister claims his. “Before 1970, these lands belonged to colonists but locals started occupying and using them progressively. Those...

Indigenous energy group, Forte Oil Plc., on Friday announced that it is currently in talks to seal a major refinery deal to boost its capacity. According to the firm’s CEO, Akin Akinfemiwa (CEO), the agreement aims at exploring partnerships and joint ventures for local refining of petroleum products. “We are aggressively pursuing M&A opportunities along the energy value chain,” he noted...

Last Wednesday, a decree to establish an investment fund for food security and nutrition (FISAN in French) was adopted in Niger, during a council of ministers. The decree mainly aims at boosting public-private investments in food and agro-food sectors. “The FISAN’s main purpose is to improve financial services’ offer for producers and other actors of value chains,” reads a statement...

In Senegal, Alioune Abdoulaye Sylla, Chief Prosecutor of the Republic at the High Court of Ziguinchor, on August 2, 2017, told the Senegal Press Agency (Agence de Presse Senegalaise – APS) that more than 50% of ongoing legal proceedings are land conflict related. The figure shows how significant are challenges related to land tenure in this region which is located in Casamance, in the Southern...

The Acting President of Nigeria, Yemi Osinbajo (photo), has announced that the country will legalize illicit modular refineries in the Niger Delta oil hub by the end of this year and supply them with crude at a reasonable price. This he disclosed in a statement released on Thursday after a meeting with Niger Delta community leaders in Abuja. According to Osinbajo, the move was aimed at...

French firm Oberthur Technologies (OT), specialized in the designing and provision of embedded security solutions and services, for payment, telecommunication and identification sectors just won a major contract in Burkina Faso. Indeed, the company was picked by the government of Burkina Faso to operate and manage a system of e-passport issuance and e-archives in the country. The project...

The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has revealed plans to extend the West African Gas Pipeline (WAGP) from Ghana to Ivory Coast. This is in line with the Federal Government’s energy integration policy. The Chief Operating Officer, Gas and Power, NNPC, Saidu Mohammed, disclosed this on Wednesday while receiving a delegation from Ivory Coast in Abuja. According to him, the...

In Madagascar, the minister in charge of presidential projects, land development and equipment, Narson Rafidimanana (photo), inaugurated last July 31st, a new single land desk, in the centre of the Great Island, the 49th of its kind across the country, and the 4th to be opened this year. “The goal here is to bring Malagasy populations closer to their lands but also land offices to...

In Malawi, the police has issued a warrant to arrest Joyce Banda (photo), the former President. Indeed, the former leader is allegedly involved in the “Cashgate” scandal in which a payment of $33 million was made by public authorities for goods and services which were never delivered. “The evidence gathered raises reasonable suspicion that the former president committed offenses...