AFRICA

The Ethiopian Prime Minister, who was awarded the 2019 Nobel Peace Prize on Friday, is surely a reformer, but he predominantly garners recognition beyond his country’s borders. Despite the Nobel committee’s well-meaning intentions, it’s the wrong choice, argues German journalist and head of Deutsche Welle’s Amharic desk, Ludger Schadomsky. Despite a number of somewhat questionable recipients — such as former US …

Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari has issued a directive temporarily barring all members of the cabinet and heads of government agencies from travelling abroad. The new directive was announced Friday evening by Willie Bassey, the director of information in the office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation. “Sequel to the presentation of the 2020 Appropriation Bill by Mr …

Ethiopia Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has won the 2019 Nobel Peace Prize for “for his efforts to achieve peace and international cooperation, and in particular for his decisive initiative to resolve the border conflict with neighbouring Eritrea.” The Nobel committee said during its announcement Friday that the coveted prize was also meant to recognize all the stakeholders working for peace …

While there is still much to do and many mountains to climb, I just thought to scribble down a few thoughts about what it is we love to love about this absolutely amazing country

Leaders from the southern and middle belt parts of Nigeria have demanded clarifications on the seeming clampdown on the person and office of Vice President, Prof.Yemi Osinbajo in recent times. Prominent leaders, including Chief E K Clark (South South), Chief Ayo Adebanjo (South -west); Chief John Nwodo (South -east); and Dr. Pogu Bitrus (Middle Belt), in a joint statement issued …

President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday addressed Nigerians to commemorate the country’s 59th Independence Day anniversary. In a televised broadcast, Buhari spoke on the issue of corruption, insecurity, economy and power supply, among other challenges facing the country.    President Muhammadu Buhari has expressed his confidence that Nigerians would have affordable and uninterrupted electricity supply in not too distant future. He …

“The vote pre-election observers will monitor issues related to the activities of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) ranging from identification of polling units, voter education and information campaigns to the collection and distribution of Permanent Voters Card, activities of political parties like ........."

Chido Onumah, a Nigerian journalist and activist who was arrested on Sunday by the Department of State Service  (DSS), said the agency accused him of wearing a shirt with the inscription: ‘We Are All Biafrans.’   Onumah was arrested at the airport upon his arrival from Europe and released five hours later.   “I was arrested for wearing the T-shirt …

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has advised Nigerians evacuated from South Africa following the xenophobic attacks on foreign nationals in the Rainbow Nation to get ready to go back. This is because he was confident the meeting between President Muhammadu Buhari and his South African counterpart, Cyril  Ramaphosa, scheduled for early October would yield a positive outcome. Obasanjo said Buhari and …

The Department of State Service, which has been detaining the former presidential candidate since August 3, continues to hold him in custody in violation of the court order granting him bail six days ago.

Despite a court order releasing Omoyele Sowore, the Nigerian authorities have refused to free the rights activist and journalist. While his lawyers claim that all the conditions set by the court for Sowore’s freedom had been met, the Department of State Services (DSS), which is holding him, maintains that the process for effecting the court’s order remain incomplete.   Femi …

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has denied reports that there is a rift between President Buhari and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo. For many weeks now, Nigerians have been inundated with reports that the president and his deputy are at logger heads. These speculations have been fueled by some actions taken within the presidency in recent times. For example, a new …

Even though the next presidential election is four year away, jostling for who will succeed President Muhammadu, when his second and last term in office ends, is already in full swing. The ongoing controversy over corruption allegations against Vice President Yemi Osinbajo is seen by Yoruba activists as an attempt to prevent the professor of law from taking over from …

The news of a foiled coup in Ghana, which is seen as bedrock of democratic stability in West Africa, came like a blitz. How could it be? Alleged plans to topple the democratically-elected president of Ghana, Nana Akufo-Addo, following the arrest of three suspected coup plotters, was announced on Monday. The suspects are Ezor Kafui, Dr. Frederick Yao Mac-Palm and …

Nigeria’s vice president, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, has sued Timi Frank, a former chieftain of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and Katch Ononuju, a member of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), for libel and “odious falsehood.” The duo had alleged that the vice president illegally collected the sum of N90 billion (about €225 million) from the Federal Inland Revenue …

An association of Nigerians living in South Africa has praised chairman of Air Peace, Chief Allen Onyema, for the evacuation of over 500 stranded Nigerians following the xenophobic attacks in the country. The group said Onyema had demonstrated great patriotism by airlifting Nigerians out of the Rainbow Country free of charge. Such selflessness, according to the Nigerians, was not only …

The Minister of State for Niger Delta Affairs, Festus Keyamo, has been redeployed to the Ministry of Labour and Employment. He is to swap positions with Minister of State of Labour Tayo Alasoadura who moves to the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs. This was disclosed in a statement from the Director of Information at the Office of Secretary to the …

Aliko Dangote, president of Dangote Group, and Akinwunmi Adesina, president of the African Development Bank, have been appointed by the United Nations. They are among the 27 global leaders appointed by the UN to combat global malnutrition. António Guterres, the secertary-general of the United Nations, made the appointment as part of the Scaling Up Nutrition (SUN) Movement. The statement said …

The judge noted that an application the DSS filed to renew the detention order was struck out. He held that there was nothing before the court to warrant Sowore’s continued stay in detention after the application having been struck out.

Professor Wole Soyinka, first African Nobel laureate in literature, has condemned the charges preferred against Omoyele Sowore, human rights activist and convener of the #RevolutionNow protest, by the federal government  of Nigeria. The government preferred a seven counts charges of treasonable felony and money laundering against Sowore on Thursday. The government also accused the human rights activist of causing insult …