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Tuesday, 08 August 2023 04:17

Nigeria’s unemployment rates highest in the world - Report

Nigeria tops the list of countries with the highest rate of unemployment, according to the latest statistics released by the World of Statistics. Nigeria led with 33.3 per cent, followed by another African country, South Africa 32.9 per cent, and Iran 15.55 per cent. The lowest rate of unemployment, according to the report, were in countries like Qatar: 0.1 per cent, Cambodia: 0.36 per cent, and Niger 0.5 per cent. According to the National Bureau of Statistics, the unemployment rate in Nigeria increased to 33.30 per cent in the fourth quarter of 2020 from 27.10 per cent in the second…

Tuesday, 08 August 2023 04:16

FG backs down from contempt proceedings against labour leaders

Federal government says it will no longer pursue the contempt suit filed against the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC). On July 26, NLC issued a seven-day ultimatum to the federal government to reverse all “anti-poor” and “insensitive” policies. The policies, the union said, include the recent hike in the price of petrol, and the sudden increase in public school fees, among others. The labour movements warned that they would go on strike and mass protests if the government failed to hearken to their demands. However, the federal government said the unions were restrained by an…

Tuesday, 08 August 2023 04:15

Niger coup lengthens routes for airlines across Africa

European carriers have reported disruptions and suspended flights across the African continent on Monday after Niger’s military government closed its airspace on Sunday. The military government is bracing for a response from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) after ignoring its deadline to reinstate the country’s ousted President Mohamed Bazoum or face the threat of military intervention. The disruption adds to a band of African airspace facing geopolitical disruptions including Libya and Sudan, with some flights facing up to 1,000km (620 miles) in detours. “The closure of Niger’s airspace dramatically widens the area over which most commercial flights…

Tuesday, 08 August 2023 04:14

ECOWAS unprepared for intervention in coup-hit Niger – WSJ

Members of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) are not ready to stage a full-scale intervention in Niger, where a military junta has seized power, the Wall Street Journal reported on Sunday, citing sources. Last month, ECOWAS, a regional bloc comprising 15 countries, issued a seven-day ultimatum threatening military action against Niger’s plotters if they did not reinstate deposed President Mohamed Bazoum. The junta, however, refused to back down. The deadline for the ultimatum passed on Sunday with no sign of any armed intervention or mobilization in countries bordering Niger. Speaking to the WSJ, an unnamed senior commander…

Monday, 07 August 2023 05:01

Niger closes airspace over fears of foreign attack

Niger’s junta partially closed the country’s airspace, warning of an attack by a “foreign power” as a deadline passed on Sunday to reinstate ousted President Mohamed Bazoum. The deadline, imposed by West African neighbors, threatened intervention, though there was no sign of any military action as yet. Coup leaders said, however, action against them was unfolding. “The planning for this war was carried out,” junta spokesman Amadou Abdramane said on state broadcaster Tele Sahel. “A pre-deployment of forces to participate in this war has begun in two countries in central Africa.” He provided no further details. Niger on Sunday said…

Sunday, 06 August 2023 04:15

‘France and Collective West are thieves’, Prigozhin says as Wagner signs defense agreement with Niger

Reports by JC Okechukwu: A few hours after signing a defense agreement with Niger Republic’s new military government, the head of Wagner PMC, Yevgeny Prigozhin gave his take on the situation in Niger and the subregion, and said that he sees all these struggles as “liberating,” calling France and the collective west “thieves.” On the major problems that led to the coup in Niger, Prigozin said, “I will answer what the basis for the change of power in Niger is. The basis is the economy. The population of Niger has been driven to poverty for a long time. For example,…

Sunday, 06 August 2023 04:14

Senate rejects Tinubu’s request for military invasion of Niger

The senate has rejected President Bola Tinubu’s request for military intervention in the Republic of Niger. On Friday, Tinubu, who is the chairman of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) wrote to the National Assembly about the military intervention in Niger, following the coup that removed President Mohamed Bazoum. In the letter, Tinubu said the move to deploy military force was part of the bloc’s conclusions at the meeting held on Sunday in Abuja. ECOWAS had given Niger a week from Sunday to reinstate Bazoum or face harder sanctions. The regional body imposed sanctions on the coup leaders…

Sunday, 06 August 2023 04:13

Niger’s military rulers ask for help from Russian group Wagner

New military government seeks help from Wagner mercenaries against ECOWAS intervention, according to a report. Niger’s coup generals have asked for help from the Russian mercenary group Wagner as the deadline nears for it to release the country’s removed president or face possible military intervention by the West African regional bloc, a news report says. The request came during a visit by a coup leader – General Salifou Mody – to neighbouring Mali, where he made contact with someone from Wagner, Wassim Nasr, a journalist and senior research fellow at the Soufan Center, told The Associated Press. Three Malian sources…

Sunday, 06 August 2023 04:12

Algeria opposes military intervention in Niger

Algeria is categorically against any military intervention in Niger, Ennahar TV said late on Saturday citing President Abdelmadjid Tebboune. "A military intervention could ignite the whole Sahel region and Algeria will not use force with its neighbours," Tabboune said in an interview with local media. Reuters

Sunday, 06 August 2023 04:10

Nnamdi Kanu declares Mondays ‘economic empowerment’ days in Southeast

Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), has directed Southeast residents to set aside Mondays as empowerment days in the region. Spokesperson of IPOB, Emma Powerful, disclosed this in a statement on Saturday. Powerful said Kanu gave the directive as a follow-up to his earlier cancellation of the controversial sit-at-home usually enforced by a faction of the IPOB on Mondays. He did not, however, mention when the IPOB leader gave the directive. “Economic Empowerment Day connotes a day set aside for mass mobilisation of Biafrans to devote their resources and means towards reversing the sharp and unprecedented…

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Saturday, 05 August 2023 04:32

Tinubu asks for Senate’s approval for military invasion of Niger

President Bola Tinubu has written to the Senate seeking its support for military intervention against the military junta in the Niger Republic. He also sought the backing of the legislature on the cutting off of electricity to the country. Tinubu, Nigeria’s president and Chairman of the Economic Community of West African States, had on Sunday met with some fellow ECOWAS leaders to discuss appropriate ways to restore democracy in Niger. Leaders of the West African regional bloc met to discuss sanctions to be placed against the military personnel who toppled Bazoum on July 26, 2023. The President’s letter read, “Political…

Saturday, 05 August 2023 04:31

Northern senators ‘take exception to use of military force’ in Niger

Northern Senators Forum (NSF) has asked President Bola Tinubu to exhaust all diplomatic means in resolving the crisis in Niger Republic. Suleiman Kawu, spokesperson of the forum, who spoke in Abuja on Friday, warned that deploying Nigerian troops to Niger Republic will hurt seven northern states —Sokoto, Kebbi, Katsina, Zamfara, Jigawa, Yobe and Borno —sharing borders with the country. Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) had given Niger a week from Sunday to reinstate ousted President Mohamed Bazoum or face harder sanctions. The northern senators urged the president to be focused on political and diplomatic means to restore democratic…

Saturday, 05 August 2023 04:30

Northern leaders warn Tinubu against deploying military force against Niger

Northern leadership under the aegis of Arewa Consultative Forum, has warned President Bola Tinubu to avoid going into war with Niger military junta. The group gave the admonition while calling for a dialogue to resolve the issue in a statement issued by its General Secretary, Murtala Aliyu, on Friday. According to ACF, military deployment and intervention to phase out the coup plotters in the Niger Republic will not guarantee peace and stability in the ECOWAS sub-region. The statement reads in part, “ACF, however, views with concern the unfolding events in Nigeria’s immediate neighbour, the Republic of Niger, and the potential…

Saturday, 05 August 2023 04:29

Trucks stranded as Nigeria shuts borders with Niger

Trucks filled with goods going into Nigeria are currently stranded at the Jibia side of the Nigeria-Niger Republic border. This is coming after the federal government shut down all land borders with Niger Republic following the toppling of the Mohamed Bazoum-led government by soldiers. A PREMIUM TIMES reporter who was at the border on Friday counted more than 30 trucks lined on both sides of the highway from the Niger Republic axis. There were also trucks lined up on the road from the Nigerian side, hoping to be allowed into Niger Republic. The acting comptroller general of customs, Bashir Adeniyi,…

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