ZIMBABWE ORDERS NIGERIANS, OTHER FOREIGNERS TO CLOSE SHOPS BY JAN 1

ZIMBABWEAN authorities say they have given foreign shop-owners mostly Nigerians and Chinese an ultimatum to shut down their businesses by Jan. 1.
A top official of the black empowerment ministry said only Zimbabweans had the right to run shops that have sprung up across the country and are termed foreign businesses targeted under the nation’s black empowerment laws, the state-controlled Herald newspaper reported Friday.
Those laws, passed in 2007, demand foreign businesses to cede 51 percent control to local blacks.
The foreign shop owners have been criticised for taking retail trade opportunities from Zimbabwean traders by selling cheap imports.
Poor townships and city flea markets have in recent years been inundated by shops run by foreigners.
According to state media, shop owners who fail to comply will be arrested.
Source: The Nation

HAPPY 53RD INDEPENDENCE DAY NIGERIA!

Kindly say a  prayer for Nigeria today as we mark our 53 years anniversary 

HOW CORRUPTION IS ‘KILLING’ NIGERIA, BY U.S. CONSUL GENERAL

U.S. Consul General Jeffrey Hawkins yesterday had an interactive session with the civil society at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA). His speech details America’s commitment to Nigeria, the fight against terrorism, aids and many more

The U.S. Government and American people are interested in your success because we recognise Nigeria as a strategic center of gravity in its own right. But we also recognise some broader truths. Across the continent, communities are struggling: to find productive paths for growing youth populations; to defeat corruption; to turn a corner in improving governance, infrastructure and public health; to hold together different faiths and regions and to take on the drivers of extremism. In other words, Nigeria’s challenges are Africa’s challenges. And if we can help Nigeria chart a secure, prosperous and democratic course, then Nigeria’s successes can be Africa’s as well — successes we can measure in improved lives, livelihoods and leadership in the region.

NIGERIA’S INVESTMENTS IN GHANA HITS $200M

OUT of the over 200 projects registered in Ghana last year, Nigeria has 42 with a value of almost $200 million, placing it next to China, which has 56, as the countries with the highest number of investments in the country.

This fact was revealed when President Goodluck Jonathan hosted Ghana’s outgoing High Commissioner to Nigeria, Alhaji Baba Kamara, at the Presidential Villa on Monday.

Jonathan noted that bilateral relations between Nigeria and Ghana had been further strengthened in many areas during Alhaji Kamara’s four-year tenure and expressed the hope that the outgoing High Commissioner’s successor will continue his good work.

ALAMIEYESEIGHA: US MAY SHELVE PLANNED OBAMA VISIT

PRESIDENT Barack Obama’s official relationship with President Goodluck Jonathan appears to be in jeopardy, following indications that Obama’s scheduled visit to Nigeria has been suspended over the state pardon granted former Bayelsa State Governor, Diepreye Solomon Peter Alamieyeseigha.

It was gathered that the visit had already been agreed upon between governments of the United States and Nigeria, but has to be put on hold as a result of domestic pressure over the Boko Haram menace and Alamieyeseigha, whose corruption case has become a model for government officials in showing America’s new determination to fight kleptocracy around the world.

American generals have continued to call for increased pressure against the Boko Haram sect and other terrorist groups in Africa.

UK, ITALY TO JOIN NIGERIA’S BATTLE AGAINST TERRORISM

Britain yesterday vowed to work with Nigeria to bring the killers of seven foreign hostages to justice as the death of the construction workers were confirmed.

Islamist fundamentalist group Ansaru on Saturday said it had killed the abducted workers of Lebanese construction firm Setraco.

The British, Italian, Greek and Lebanese nationals were abducted at a construction site in Jama’are, Bauchi State on February 6.

Ansaru posted a video of the bodies of the slain workers, which the British, the Italian and the Greek have confirmed to be real. The group said it killed the hostages to prevent an operation to rescue them, apparently referring to reports that British aircraft were seen in Nigeria.

NIGERIA MUST FIGHT CORRUPTION TO AVOID ARAB SPRING –JERRY RAWLINGS

Former President of Ghana, Jerry Rawlings yesterday in Awka called on African countries especially Nigeria to face headon now the fight against corruption in government or risk a sudden eruption as occurred in Egypt and Tunisia. Rawlings, who gave a keynote address at the 2nd Zik Lecture Series of the Faculty of Social Sciences, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka on the theme; “Eradicating Corruption in Africa”, stated that though it would be a big battle, it was not one that could not be fought, warning that its postponement would spell doom for the country and the continent.

UK’S RICHEST MAN BATTLES OBASANJO’S ASSOCIATE OVER NIGERIA OIL BLOCS

• To explain relationship with ex-president

Lakshmi Mittal, Britain’s richest man, is expected to be cross-examined over his business practices and relationships with politicians in a court case that could offer a rare glimpse into his empire.

The steel magnate, worth an estimated £12.7bn, is being sued at the high court for allegedly reneging on an agreement to pay fees to a former friend for helping to secure an oil deal.

MALI: NIGERIA BACKTRACKS ON FOREIGN SUPPORT

Nigeria is now in a fix over its apparent reluctance to seek logistics support from the international community for the troops deployment to Mali, sources told Daily Trust in the Malian capital Bamako.

A senior military source said Nigeria seems to have tactfully rejected offers, especially from the US, to assist in logistics, and “yet the country is still deploying its troops and other military equipment to Mali in great pain.”

Nigeria is expected to send 1,200 troops for the military operation. The country is yet to begin deploying armoured vehicles for its troops which are also necessary in the hostile Mali environment.

U.S. MAY DEPLOY DRONES, SPY PLANES IN NIGERIA OVER BOKO HARAM

THOUGH the debate about the rightness or otherwise of the use of external forces to check the Boko Haram insurgency in Nigeria has simmered down, it may be stoked with a planned intervention of the United States (U.S.) in the crisis.

Apparently worried by the increasing activities of Boko Haram not only in Nigeria but in other African countries, President Barack Obama and the U.S. government are now taking the threat posed by the group more seriously and they are already considering military options, including the deployment of drones and spy planes.

NIGERIA’S OIL FACES CRISIS AS US CONTROLS ENERGY FUTURE

Nigeria’s oil boom may be coming to an end. United States president Barack Obama has declared that the America is now ready to take control of its energy future.

Obama made the declaration yesterday in his state of the nation presentation to the US Congress.

He said: “After years of talking about it, we are finally poised to control our own energy future. We produce more oil at home than we have in 15 years. We have doubled the distance our cars will go on a gallon of gas, and the amount of renewable energy we generate from sources like wind and solar. We produce more natural gas than ever before.

GHANA RE-OPENS OLD WOUND, CLOSES 40 NIGERIANS’ SHOPS

Ghanaian authorities have renewed the siege against foreign traders, as the Ministry of Trade and Industry, at the weekend clamped down over 40 shops belonging to Nigerians.
The shops located at Akanshie, about 200 meters away from the Mokola International Market were occupied by Nigerians, who traded in bicycle spare parts and other accessories.
According to one of the affected traders, Mr. Damien Uduba, their shops were stormed by some officials of the Ministry of Trade and Industry, who compelled them to pack their goods and thereafter had the shops under lock and key. The officials were reported to have secured the shops with their own padlocks, thereby making them inaccessible to the owners.

N7BN SPENT ON MALI WAR SO FAR - JONATHAN

President Goodluck Jonathan has disclosed that Nigeria has spent $34million (about N7billion) on the immediate deployment of troops and logistics support to stop the activities of Islamic terrorists in Mali. He also made an additional $5million pledge to further help that country.

Jonathan stated this yesterday at the donors’ conference held at the end of the 20th Ordinary Session of the African Union Summit in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Nigeria had already deployed 900 combat soldiers and 300 Air Force personnel to Mali as part of the African-led International Support Mission in Mali (AFISMA).

FRANCE TELLS NATIONALS TO LEAVE NORTHERN NIGERIA

France has asked its citizens to leave northern Nigeria and areas around the capital Abuja after threats due to its military intervention in Mali, a diplomatic source said on Monday.
Islamist militants have vowed to target French interests following its two-week-old military offensive in Mali against militants allied to al Qaeda.
The diplomatic source said the threat of kidnappings coupled with Nigeria’s support for France’s action in Mali had raised the risks for French nationals.