At the end of the first half of 2017, Algeria’s food imports bill amounted to $4.44 billion, up 9.6% as compared to the year before ($4.05 billion), Reuters reported. The surge was mainly driven by higher imports of wheat and its derivative products (flour and semolina). Indeed, these stood at $1.47 billion (thus 33% of total food imports bill) over the period reviewed,...

The Federal Executive Council has approved a N3.38 billion ($9.8 million) loan facility for the Plateau Government to boost the production of Irish potatoes in the state, according to the Minister of Finance, Kemi Adeosun. “There is a loan that we had previously cancelled from the African Development Bank (AfDB). So, it is not a new loan. The rationale is that Plateau actually accounts for...

The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) says it has put exploration for crude in the Lake Chad Basin on hold, due to attacks on its workers and some military personnel by Boko Haram. Briefing the press in Abuja on Thursday, the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Ibe Kachikwu (photo), said the suspension of the exercise was necessary until the military could give the corporation...

Nigeria has entered into a five-year Sustainable Development Partnership Framework (UNSDPF) worth $4.3 billion with the United Nations. Speaking at the signing ceremony in Abuja on Thursday, the UN Resident/Humanitarian Coordinator in Nigeria, Edward Kallon (photo), explained that the UNSDPF is designed as a strategic framework which aims to address Nigeria’s developmental and...

Google is extending its product offering in Nigeria with the launch of new range of products in the country’s commercial capital, Lagos. The products which include, Google Map for Nigeria, Posts with Google, Gboard, Google Street View, Launchpad Accelerator and the YouTube Go, were launched at the Google Nigeria Digital Citizenship summit held in Lagos on Thursday. Speaking at the occasion,...

The FINACTU Group is very honored to have provided technical support during the seminar, organized from 10 to 11 July, involving the key players in social security/welfare in Côte d'Ivoire: the Caisse Générale de Retraite des Agents de l'Etat (IPS-CGRAE) and the Caisse Nationale de Prévoyance Sociale (IPS-CNPS), under the auspices of the Ministry of Social Welfare of Côte d'Ivoire, with the...

Nigeria's acting president, Yemi Osinbajo (photo), will on Thursday inaugurate a new $1.5 billion fertilizer plant in Port Harcourt. This aims to complement efforts by the country to boost the agriculture industry. According to a statement from the office of the president, the new plant has an annual production capacity of 1.5 million tonnes of urea fertilizer and was constructed by...

In the Democratic Republic of Congo, land management should significantly improve with the introduction of a secure ownership card for land owners, Africa243 reports citing the country’s minister of land affairs, Lumeya-Dhu-Maleghi (photo). “Only the ministry of land affairs guarantees the credibility of content of the secure ownership card. It is as valid as a certified title as long as it...

The Nigerian Senate on Wednesday supported several constitutional amendments which could weaken the power of the presidency and strengthen the legislature. Key adjustments passed by the upper house include, the provision of certain legal immunity to members of the legislature, reduction of the president's ability to withhold assent for a bill passed by the parliament and the removal of...

Trade between Ivory Coast and China have almost increased sixfold over the past two years. This was disclosed by the Ivoirian minister of Trade, Craftsmanship and SME support, Souleymane Diarrassouba (photo), who highlighted that the trade soared to $8.85 billion in 2016, from $1.44 billion in 2014. According to the official, the figures make “China Ivory Coast’s first supplier and...