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...

How to boost land tenure for the people of Mali? That was the topic of the meeting held last Wednesday which gathered members of the committee in charge of the pilot project of land and forest tenure. The workshop was organized by the Malian subsidiary of the Helvetas Suisse Intercooperation and the National Coordination of Farmers Associations (CNOP Mali). “The session’ aim was to rule on...

In DR Congo, land conflicts have spread to the University of Kinshasa. Indeed, green spaces belonging to the institution are occupied by individuals who now claim their ownership. This is quite alarming more so since some of the residents have proceeded to the cadastering of some areas, driving the minister of land affairs to personally come on the site. “To solve this illegal occupancy issue,...

World Bank will provide the Republic of Benin a $50 million financing to boost its tourism industry. The facility comes to support the country’s competitiveness and transborder tourism programme led by its National Agency for Tourism Development and heritage promotion (ANPT). The 5-year programme will mainly help make Ouidah, a town located in the Southern part of the country, a tourism...

 “IMF will grant Benin over the next three years a $150 million loan to support its action programme,” said Norbert Toé, head of an IMF delegation visiting Benin, at the end of his mission. Entitled Revealing Benin, the scheme aims to “improve populations’ living standards, maintain a stable macroeconomic environment which aligns with public debt and promote private sector’s...