Thursday, February 11, 2021
130 Countries yet to Access COVID-19 Vaccines, WHO, UNICEF Lament
The World Health Organisation (WHO) and United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) have expressed dismay that about 130 countries were yet to receive a single dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. A joint statement issued by UNICEF Executive Director, Henrietta Fore, and WHO Director-General, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, in New York and Geneva respectively, yesterday said only 10 countries account for more than three quarters of the vaccines so far administered. Read more
‘Africa Needs More Spectrum to Accelerate Digital Penetration’
GSM Association (GSMA), the industry organisation that represents the interests of global mobile network operators (MNOs) has called on African governments to release more spectrum licences that will accelerate Africa’s digital agenda in the era of global digital transformation agenda. Read more
FG approves Bankers’ Committee takeover of National Theatre, N21.89bn renovation
The Federal Executive Council on Wednesday approved a Memorandum of Understanding between the Ministry of Information and Culture and the Central Bank of Nigeria as well as the Bankers’ Committee for the renovation of the National Theatre, Iganmu, Lagos. The Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, disclosed this to State House correspondents at the Presidential Villa, Abuja after a meeting of the council presided over by the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.). Read more
Fiscal deficit rose to N620.49bn in November – CBN
The Federal Governments’ fiscal deficit rose by N208.14bn to N620.49bn as of the end of November from N421.35bn at the end of October. The Central Bank of Nigeria disclosed this in its monthly economic report for November on Wednesday on the federation account operations. Part of the report read, “At N706.47bn, provisional gross federally collected revenue in November 2020 contracted by 16.6 per cent and 19.7 per cent, compared with the budget benchmark and the receipt in November 2019. Read more
CBN instructs banks to accept permissible IDs for refugees
The Central Bank of Nigeria has ordered banks and other financial institutions to accept Machine Readable Convention Travel Document issued by Nigeria Immigration Service; and the Refugee Identify Card issued by the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons as means of identification for banking transactions. Read more
Africa business leaders optimistic of swift economic recovery in 2021
Business leaders in Africa have expressed the hope that economic prosperity and increase in trading activities would return to the continent from 2021. Their optimism is sequel to the outcome of a survey of more than 150 chief executive officers (CEOs) in the continent released by the Africa CEO Forum, and Deloitte. Read more
SEC unveils new guidelines for collective investment scheme
The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), has released general rules for Collective Investment Schemes, prescribing that all units/securities of a collective investment scheme shall be registered by the Commission. Read more