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China Reaffirms Commitment to Maintaining Cooperation With Africa

Wu- Peng, has reaffirmed China’s commitment to maintaining cooperation with Africa

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China Nigeria

The director general of the ministry of foreign affairs of China, Wu- Peng, has reaffirmed China’s commitment to maintaining cooperation with Africa.

Wu-Peng disclosed this at a meeting held with African journalists under the auspices of the China Africa Press Centre (CAPC) in June 2022 in Beijing.

Quoting the president of China, Xi Jinping, Wu-Peng said China will work hand in hand with African countries to implement linked programs in the next three years”.

According to Wu-Peng, this includes programs related to the medical and health sector, poverty alleviation, agricultural growth and promoting investments.

We’re still fighting to contain Covid-19 since the outbreak of the pandemic, China has so far provided about 260 million doses of vaccines to 55 African countries and African Union,” the Director General said.

He also mentioned that China had also made provision for about 120 batches of emergency supplies to African countries and they all have diplomatic relations with China and also contributed to Africa’s early recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic.

China has already constructed the African CDC in Addis Ababa and it will be completed in 2023.

The other program I would like to make mention is the agricultural sector. When FOCAC was held in 2021, there was no Russia-Ukraine crisis, yet we focus and invested in Agriculture in Africa.

The reason been, we believe in the potential of Agriculture in Africa, the growth and development is huge, there are still lots of arid land in Africa, Wu-Peng stated.

Unfortunately, Africans still have to import grapes from the outside which costs a lot of currency and actually damages Africa’s international balance sheet.”

He said that the failure to prioritize agriculture could obstruct fast economic growth in Africa, suggesting that more should be done through Public Private Partnership (PPP) to ensure food security.

The director general laid emphasis on the need for proper implementation of the report from the FOCAC meetings to bring to life the realization of set goals and objectives.

“This does not make sense, you have lands, you have labor forces, I think we just need the right policy to promote price investments in industrial large scale farms to improve our food security.

Why this is has become very important is due to the Ukraine crisis, food prices globally surged and going forward, we must finish construction of the project in the nearest future.

African governments have already noticed developments of agriculture is a huge priority to deal with the crisis of hike in food prices, we want Africas countries to have up to date plans from FOCAC meetings and the findings of the results.

“Usually, when we have FOCAC meetings we just produce documents, we need more concrete actions, we must be focused,” the director general said.

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Economy

Nigeria’s Plan to Review Oil Companies’ Gas Flaring Strategies

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Oil

Nigeria is ramping up its efforts to address environmental concerns in the oil and gas sector with a comprehensive plan to review gas flaring strategies of international and indigenous oil companies.

The Minister of State for Environment, Dr. Iziaq Salako, announced this initiative during a national stakeholders engagement meeting on methane mitigation and reduction held in Abuja, Investors King reports.

Gas flaring, a common practice in the oil industry, releases methane—a potent greenhouse gas—into the atmosphere, contributing to climate change and posing health risks to communities near oil facilities.

Nigeria aims to end routine gas flaring by 2030, aligning with global climate goals and commitments.

Dr. Salako explained the importance of reducing methane emissions and highlighted the detrimental effects on public health, food security, and economic development.

He outlined practical steps being taken to tackle methane emissions, including the development of methane guidelines and the engagement of government institutions.

The ministry, through the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency, will conduct periodic reviews of oil companies’ plans to ensure compliance with the gas flaring deadline.

Deloitte management consultants will assist in conducting comprehensive forensic audits to scrutinize the legitimacy of forward-contracted transactions.

President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to environmental sustainability underscores the government’s dedication to addressing climate change and fulfilling its multilateral environmental agreements.

The engagement event served as a platform for stakeholders to discuss methane mitigation strategies, existing policies, and implementation challenges.

Collaboration and dialogue among diverse sectors are crucial in charting a unified course towards sustainable methane reduction in Nigeria’s oil and gas industry.

As the country navigates its environmental agenda, ensuring accountability and transparency in gas flaring practices remains paramount for achieving a greener and healthier future.

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Economy

Interest Rate Jumps to 24.75% as CBN Takes Aggressive Stance Against Inflation

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Dr. Olayemi Michael Cardoso

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has announced a significant increase in the monetary policy rate, known as the interest rate, to 24.75%.

This move disclosed by CBN Governor Olayemi Cardoso during the 294th Meeting of the Monetary Policy Committee press briefing in Abuja, represents a bold step by the apex bank to address the mounting inflationary pressures faced by the country.

With inflation soaring to 31.70% in February, the CBN aims to moderate this upward trend by tightening its monetary policy stance.

This decision follows the previous hike in the interest rate to 22.75% in February, showcasing the CBN’s commitment to combatting inflationary forces.

While the bank opted to maintain the Cash Reserve Ratio at 45%, the significant increase in the interest rate underscores the urgency of the situation and the need for decisive action.

Governor Cardoso emphasized that these measures are essential to stabilize the economy and safeguard the purchasing power of the Nigerian currency.

The 294th MPC marks the second meeting under Governor Cardoso’s leadership, indicating a proactive approach to addressing economic challenges.

The next MPC meeting is scheduled for May 20th and 21st, 2024, highlighting the ongoing commitment of the CBN to navigate Nigeria’s economic landscape amidst inflationary pressures.

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Economy

Nigeria Braces for 10th Consecutive Interest Rate Hike by Central Bank

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Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN)

As Nigeria grapples with persistently high inflation, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) is gearing up to implement its tenth consecutive interest rate hike in a bid to curb the soaring prices and attract investment.

Analysts surveyed by Bloomberg are anticipating a substantial 125 basis-point increase in the key rate to 24%, marking one of the most significant adjustments in the current tightening cycle.

The decision, expected to be announced by Governor Olayemi Cardoso on Tuesday at 2 p.m. in Abuja, comes on the heels of inflation accelerating to 31.7% in February, far surpassing the central bank’s target range of 9%.

This surge has been primarily attributed to the sharp depreciation of the naira, prompting authorities to devalue the currency twice since June to narrow the gap with the unofficial market rate and encourage investor confidence.

While these measures have seen the naira strengthen in recent days and bolstered investment inflows, including a fourfold increase in overseas remittances and significant foreign investor portfolio asset purchases, there remains a palpable need for more decisive action.

Giulia Pellegrini, a senior portfolio manager at Allianz Global Investors, emphasized the necessity for the CBN to intensify its tightening efforts to regain foreign investors’ confidence in the local bond market.

While acknowledging the positive strides made by the central bank, Pellegrini stressed the importance of a more assertive approach to prevent the diversion of investor attention to other frontier markets.

As the Nigerian economy navigates through these challenging times, the impending interest rate hike signals the CBN’s determination to address inflation head-on and foster a more stable economic environment.

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