Foreign News
In a remarkable display of diplomatic camaraderie, the Nigeria High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, Amb. Sarafa Tunji Isola, hosted an evening of meaningful dialogue and fellowship with esteemed leaders of the Igbo race.
The evening resonated with calls for unity and harmony within Nigeria, echoing the sentiments of the nation’s founding fathers. Chief Iwuanyanwu passionately urged Nigerian youth to uphold these principles and prioritize peaceful coexistence. He emphasized the remarkable potential for prosperity in Nigeria, driven by the synergy of its abundant human and natural resources, and underscored the pivotal role harmony, equity, and fairness would play in this endeavor.
The statement released after the event celebrated Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu as a distinguished figure, spanning the realms of politics, business, engineering, and philanthropy.
In a controversial move that has ignited discussions on press freedom, Burkina Faso’s government, currently under junta rule, has suspended Radio Omega, a prominent radio station in the country.
The suspension followed the Radio station’s airing of an interview that was deemed “insulting” to Niger’s new military authorities. Communications Minister Rimtalba Jean Emmanuel Ouedraogo justified the suspension as being in the “higher interests of the nation.”
IMF, Argentine Authorities Reach Agreement On EFF Reviews Amid Challenges
In a significant development, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) staff and the Argentine authorities have reached a staff-level agreement on the combined fifth and sixth reviews of Argentina’s 30-month Extended Fund Facility (EFF) arrangement. This agreement comes amidst a challenging economic situation in the country, with key program targets missed due to the larger-than-anticipated impact of a drought and policy slippages.
The Zambian Minister of Commerce and Industry, Mr. Chipoka Mulenga, has sought the assistance of the President, Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote in the development of his country’s agricultural sector.
President/Chief Executive of Dangote Industries Limited, Aliko Dangote has been conferred with the Commander of the Order of Merit of Niger award by the President of the Republic of Niger, His Excellency Mohamed Bazoum in Niamey.
According to the certificate of conferment presented to Dangote in Niamey, the nation’s capital, the award was in appreciation for his services rendered to the Republic of Niger and as well as a tribute to his business acumen and philanthropy. It should be recalled that his Foundation, the Aliko Dangote Foundation (ADF) intervened in various ways to improve healthcare and routine immunisation in Niger Republic and her neighbouring countries namely Nigeria and Chad.
Recalled that Aliko Dangote had earlier been conferred with the Commander of the National Order of Valour of the Republic of Cameroon, and the Grand Commander of the National Order of the Republic of Benin.
In a related development, the Foundation, alongside the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF) and GAVI the Vaccine Alliance have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the government of the Republic of Niger on a collaboration for improving the Expanded Programme on Immunisation in Diffa, Maradi and Zinder regions, which are along the country’s southern border with Nigeria.
The Nigerien national award by the president is in recognition of the various health-related interventions by the Foundation including financial support to the tune of $500,000 to help fight a previous Meningitis outbreak and another cholera outbreak; NGN250 million for the provision of food for refugees and displaced persons; and $1,000,000 (one million dollars) support for enhanced routine immunisation in the three identified regions of Diffa, Maradi and Zinder.
Aliko Dangote Foundation and BMGF had played key roles in a historic certification by the World Health Organisation of a polio-free Nigeria and Africa in August 2020. The same successful template which was applied to ensure eradication of polio in northern Nigeria in partnership with six states namely Bauchi, Borno, Kaduna, Kano, Sokoto and Yobe, is also being applied by ADF to enhance routine immunisation and adequate vaccination around Nigeria’s borders with the Republics of Niger and Chad.
The three regions of Diffa, Maradi and Zinder share a common border with Northern Nigeria and together make up almost 28% of Niger’s land area and about 40% of the country’s population.
Speaking on the MoU partnership, which was signed in May 2022, the Managing Director of Aliko Dangote Foundation stated that “ADF is committing $1 million over 3 years; BMGF are providing $2 million, while GAVI is bringing in $10 million worth of vaccines under this MoU. ADF and BMGF are bringing in the money required to stimulate demand for the vaccines that GAVI is bringing in to ensure maximum uptake and coverage.”
The MoU was signed between the Government of the Republic of Niger represented by the Ministry of Public Health, the Population and Social Affairs, the Ministry of Interior & Decentralisation and the Ministry of Finance on the one hand, and the Incorporated Trustees of Aliko Dangote Foundation (ADF) and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF), two independent endowed charities and GAVI, the Vaccine Alliance, a Global Public-Private Partnership on the other hand.
The Foundations are committed to providing technical and financial support to the Government of Niger to strengthen its vaccine programmes gradually and sustainably improve its coverage in the Diffa, Maradi and Zinder regions in order to prevent vaccine-preventable diseases.
Gavi, according to the MoU, will continue its support for immunisation in the selected priority districts in the three regions, in accordance with the agreement already signed with the Government of Niger, the strategic objectives of the Health System Strengthening Project (HSS3) grant and the approved financing.
In order to protect the target populations against poliomyelitis and other vaccine-preventable diseases, the government of Niger is committed to strengthening the routine vaccine programme and to reduce morbidity and mortality in the regions of Diffa, Maradi and Zinder.
The objective of the MoU is to collaborate on strengthening vaccination in Niger to improve the delivery of routine vaccine services in the three regions in order to achieve full vaccination coverage of 90% of the target population by December 2024; to ensure that at least 90% of districts achieve 90% Penta 3 vaccination coverage; to vaccinate 90% of the zero doses identified; to stop poliovirus transmission and maintain polio-free status; and to ensure consistent national funding and procurement of vaccines in order to secure a sustained and steady supply of all routine vaccines throughout the country.
In August 2020, President Muhammadu Buhari praised Bill and Melinda Gates, Aliko Dangote and Emeka Offor at the formal certification of the Wild Polio Virus eradication in the African region during the virtual session of the 70th World Health Organisation (WHO) regional committee for Africa in the State House, Abuja.
His commendation came as Aliko Dangote emphasised the need for governments across Africa, particularly the federal and state governments in Nigeria, to increase their budgetary allocations to the health sector to improve basic healthcare for the people. Dangote, in his remarks at the event, expressed deep satisfaction at the final eradication of wild polio in Nigeria, and by extension Africa after years of hard work and collaboration among stakeholders.
The renowned humanitarian, who was commended alongside the Co-Chair of Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Mr. Bill Gates, pledged to devote more of his wealth to support the provision of adequate quality healthcare to curb maternal and child mortality.
Dangote commended the efforts of top officials of the Foundation, including the CEO, Zouera Youssoufou and Community Engagement Lead Ahmed Iya for their untiring efforts in ensuring the end of polio in Nigeria, as well as the various state and federal government agencies and development partners who collaborated to make the certification possible.
These, among others, include the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the WHO, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the UK Department for International Development (DfID) (now FCDO), the Federal Ministry of Health, the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) and the Governors and Health Ministries of Kano, Kaduna, Bauchi, Borno, Sokoto and Yobe States.
Major General Benjamin Sawyerr Officially Becomes UNISFA Head Of Mission
The Force Commander/Acting Head of Mission for the United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA), Major General Benjamin Olufemi Sawyerr has officially taken over from Ethiopia’s Major General Kefyalew Amde Tessema who has served the mission for close to two years. Major General Sawyerr took over on Tuesday, 15th March, 2022 and will lead the newly reconfigured multinational peacekeeping mission.
During the transfer of authority ceremony at the Missions Headquarters in Abyei, General Sawyer applauded the mandate implementation achievements of the Ethiopian peacekeepers under the leadership of the outgoing Force Commander and Ag Head of Mission, General Kafyalew Tessema especially in the areas of peace and security and, pledged to build on his legacy.
General Sawyerr lauded the Ethiopian troops for their immense contribution and sacrifice in pursuit of peace and security in the Abyei Area. Ethiopia has been the only troop contributing country since the establishment of UNISFA in 2011 and has played a critical role in the prevention of conflict and advancement of the political process towards a sustainable solution for Abyei.
The Force Commander paid tribute to peacekeepers who have lost their lives to the cause of peace in Abyei.Thanking the UN Secretary-General for appointing him as UNISFA Force Commander and acting Head of Mission, General Sawyerr pledged to work closely with local and national authorities towards achieving the UNISFA mandate.
The outgoing Force Commander, General Kafyalew Amde Tessema thanked UNISFA peacekeepers for their selfless sacrifice towards the effective implementation of the mission’s mandate attributing the success of his tenure to the cooperation and understanding of these components.
Major General Sawyerr has a distinguished military career spanning more than 34 years of service with the Nigerian Army, including as the Director of Defence Information of Nigeria’s Defence Forces since 2021.
He served as Commandant of the Nigerian Army Armour School in Bauchi State in North East Nigeria (2020-2021), held the position of Brigade Commander twice in North East Nigeria and was Commanding Officer of the Nigerian Battalion with the United Nations Mission in Liberia (2009-2010).
He also served as the Director of Plans at the Nigerian Army Headquarters (2019-2020) and Deputy Director of Doctrine and Combat Development (2017-2018).
The World Bank has approved a 700 million dollar credit from its International Development Association (IDA) for the Nigeria Agro-Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes (ACReSAL) Project.
In a statement issued in Washington DC, USA on Thursday, December 16, 2021by World Bank, the project will increase the implementation of sustainable landscape management practices in northern Nigeria and strengthen the country’s long-term enabling environment for integrated climate-resilient landscape management.
FASNEWS learnt that the productivity of major crops in Nigeria had been steadily declining over the past two decades, due partly to climate change, forcing an expansion of the area under agriculture and increased imports to meet the food needs of Nigeria’s growing population.
According to World Bank, the persistent water shortages, especially in the extreme north, has continued to exacerbate land degradation, desertification and habitat loss.
“Resource shortages, violent conflict, outdated agricultural systems not adapted to changing dryland conditions, lack of access to finance, weak value chain linkages, an uncompetitive environment for agribusiness, and poor market access are other key barriers to increased agricultural productivity in Nigeria.
“Better environmental and water resources management and resilience against disaster and climate risks (largely water-related) are needed to sustain economic growth and protect the most vulnerable.” World Bank said.
However, the Bank said that in recent years, the Federal Government had established several initiatives in the agriculture sector to combat desertification including afforestation and reforestation programmes. Others are dissemination of proven agricultural technologies and sustainable agricultural practices and promotion of efficient energy sources.
It added that efforts to stop and reverse desertification were complicated by the need to feed a rapidly increasing population in a region where natural resources were dwindling and over 90 per cent of national food production depends on smallholder farmers who lack the capacity to increase food production without degrading land.
Guaranty Trust Holding Company Plc, parent company of Guaranty Trust Bank (Ghana) Ltd, holds its first-ever show outside the shores of Nigeria tagged: GTCO Music Concert: Live in Ghana!
From the curators of the GTBank Fashion Weekend and GTBank Food and Drink Festival, two of Africa’s most celebrated showpiece events comes the biggest corporate event of the year.
Dollar To Naira Exchange Rate Today 14 October 2021 (Black Market Rate)
Dollar To Naira Exchange Rate Today 14 October 2021 (Black Market Rate)
Today’s dollar to naira exchange rate, as well as the black market rate, may be found below.
Fasnews Nigeria provides you with today’s official dollar to naira exchange rate in Nigeria, as well as Black Market, Bureau De Change (BDC), and Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) rates. How Much Is Dollar To Naira Exchange Rate Today Official Rate?
October 14 dollar to naira official exchange rate: $1 dollar to naira = N413.50 The Naira and the US dollar exchange rate began at N415.10 per $1 on Thursday, 14 October 2021, after closing at N414.30 per $1 on Wednesday, 13 October 2021, according to statistics released on the FMDQ Security Exchange, where FX is officially transacted. This implies a decrease of -0.06%.
How much is exchange rate of Dollar to Naira in Black Market today?
The Nigeria parallel market (black market dollar exchange rate today) to the Nigerian Naira is as follows: For the Lagos market (black market).
LAGOS PARALLEL MARKET RATES October 14, 2021 (BLACK MARKET)
October 14 dollar to naira black market exchange rate: $1 dollar to naira = N575
Dollar To Naira Exchange Rate Today 13 October 2021 (Black Market Rate)
Dollar To Naira Exchange Rate Today The local currency began at N575.00 per $1 on the parallel market, often known as the black market, in Lagos, Nigeria, today, Thursday, October 14, 2021, after closing at N575.00 per $1 on Wednesday, October 13, 2021.
This is a $0 difference from the prior day. This signifies that the dollar to naira exchange rate remained unchanged from the previous day.
Since Monday, October 11, the dollar to naira exchange rate has been stable at N570-575 per $1.
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) does not recognize the parallel market, also known as the black market, despite the fact that the dollar to naira opened in the parallel market at 575 for $1 today.
As a result, anyone in need of currency should contact their bank, with the I&E window being the sole known exchange, according to the apex bank.