The International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) board has okayed the disbursement of $447.39 million to Kenya after a review of its lending programme, the fund said on Tuesday. Kenya’s public debt had begun to “level off” due to fiscal consolidation progress, the fund said in a statement, adding it has allocated additional financing under an existing facility. The East African nation struck a 38-month financing deal with the IMF in April last year, under its extended fund facility and extended credit facility. The latest disbursement takes the total so far to $1.65 billion. Kenya will now get a total of $2.416…
Author: Francis Ogwo
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) said it has arrested 23,907 drug traffickers, including 29 drug barons, in 22 months. The Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the agency, Brigadier General Buba Marwa (retd.)noted that within the period, the agency seized 5.5 million kilograms of assorted illicit drugs worth N450bn, secured the conviction of 3,434 offenders, and counselled and rehabilitated 16,114 drug abuse victims. Marwa spoke on Tuesday during the agency’s awards and decoration of newly promoted officers at the NDLEA headquarters, Abuja. He said, “Within the period under review, the agency arrested 23,907 drug traffickers, including 29 barons.…
President Muhammadu Buhari had said Nigeria has generated the sum of $547 million through 5G spectrum auctions so far this year. This was disclosed on Tuesday at the opening of the National Shared Services Centre, a one-stop-shop for Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) interface with citizens, which also house a Cyber Security Operations Centre, Network Centre and Call Centre in Abuja. Beyond the 5G auctions, The President also noted that Nigeria’s I.T. industry has contributed positively to the growth of the economy, with its 18.47% contribution to the country’s GDP. On the continuous growth of the Information, Communication and Technology…
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky is set to visit Washington to meet US President Joe Biden on Wednesday, the White House has confirmed. Reports say this is his first foreign trip since the Russian invasion in February. Zelensky will also be given the opportunity to address Congress. Zelensky regularly hosts foreign leaders in the capital, Kyiv, and has visited troops around Ukraine. He made an unannounced visit to the front-line city of Bakhmut on Tuesday. President Zelensky’s office formally accepted the invitation to Washington last Friday, before the visit was finally confirmed on Sunday. In a letter on Tuesday, Democratic House…
Domestic airlines under the aegis of the Airline Operators of Nigeria have warned Nigerians of impending disruptions in scheduled flight operations due to the scarcity of aviation fuel otherwise known as JETA1. The AON in a statement signed by its spokesman, Prof Obiora Okonkwo, said the scarcity would force airlines to reschedule flights, leading to late operations and cancellations in some cases. It stated that the unexpected development was a dent in airline operators and the industry, especially at this time of mass movement of people for the Christmas and New Year festivities. The airline operators said, “While we do…
The Lagos state police command has arraigned a 73 years old man before the Samuel Ilori Magistrate Court for allegedly defiling a 5-year-old girl. It was alleged that the suspect was caught in the act after a neighbour who has been suspecting him before the incident, recorded him while he was perpetrating the act. The mother of the survivor was reported to have been separated from the father of the survivor six months ago and that she alongside the survivor visited the alleged perpetrator, who is a family friend on December 14, 2022. The suspect asked the mother of the…
At least four people have been killed and dozens more injured in a Somalia hotel attack by militants on Sunday evening lasting more than 12 hours. According to reports, Somali forces are battling to regain control of the hotel. Residents heard multiple explosions and heavy gunfire coming from the popular Villa Rose hotel near the presidential palace. The al-Qaeda affiliated group al-Shabab has claimed responsibility for the hotel attack. Somali President Hassan Sheik Mohamud AU-UN IST PHOTO / STUART PRICE. The Villa Rose Guest hotel is popular with government officials and several ministers have confirmed being rescued. At least one…
The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has arrested about 32 Chadians and one Togolese at their hideouts in Odeda Local Government Area of Ogun State. The Ogun State command of the NIS paraded the illegal migrants at its office in Abeokuta on Saturday. The Controller of Immigration in Ogun Command, Jibrin Yakubu while addressing the media explained that the suspects did not have valid travel documents, adding that they have no means of livelihood. Yakubu said the illegal migrants were apprehended on Wednesday after NIS officers stormed their two hideouts in Odeda at 12 am. While describing them as security threats…
The Airline Operators of Nigeria has slammed the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) is responsible for the flight delays and cancellations which has plagued the industry. This was made public at a press conference on Wednesday in Abuja, the country’s capital. The inadequacy of critical infrastructure at the airport is responsible for the numerous flight delays in the country. The Chairman of Air Peace, Allen Onyema, while speaking at the event said when it comes to flight delays and cancellations so many things are involved which many people do not know but rather blame the airlines, adding that no…
Indonesian authorities have intensified efforts to supply aid to thousands of people displaced by a deadly earthquake that struck Indonesia’s main island of Java this week. Monday’s earthquake shook the West Java province, killing at least 271 people, with at least 100 of them being children, the chief of the National Disaster Mitigation Agency said on Thursday. Recall that Indonesian President Joko Widodo visited Cianjur in West Java on Thursday, the region struck by the earthquake. According to Widodo, a number of people were still missing and evacuation was a top priority for workers despite unfavorable weather conditions. “Steep conditions…