Video - Mixed reactions to Buhari's decision to grant amnesty to militants

The announcement by the Nigerian government that it is willing to grant Amnesty to Boko Haram insurgents who are willing to lay down their arms is generating so much debate in the country. While some people have welcomed the idea, others have strongly opposed it. CGTN's Deji Badmus has more on that.

Video - Nigeria looking to achieve rice self-sufficiency by 2020

Nigeria is the world's 2nd largest importer of rice. The government is now looking to support local farmers and has set a goal of achieving self-sufficiency in rice production by the year 2020. Some economists feel that target may be a little ambitious.

Video - President Buhari authorizes $1 bln to boost military offensive

Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari has authorized the release of $1 billion for the procurement of weapons to boost the military offensive against Boko Haram. Defence minister Mansur Dan Ali said the decision was made on Wednesday at a meeting between president Buhari and his military chiefs.

Ex-president Goodluck Jonathan not aware of Cambridge Analytica involvement in elections

Nigeria’s former president Goodluck Jonathan was “not aware” of any attempts by political consultancy Cambridge Analytica to interfere in elections in 2007 and 2015, his spokesman said on Thursday.

The UK-based political consultancy is facing allegations that it improperly accessed data from social media website Facebook to target voters prior to the U.S. presidential election and Britain’s Brexit referendum in 2016.

In Nigeria, a government committee is looking into claims that SCL Elections, a Cambridge Analytica affiliate, organized rallies to dissuade opposition supporters from voting against Jonathan’s then-ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in 2007.

“Goodluck Jonathan was not aware of such attempts, if there were any,” said the ex-leader’s spokesman Ikechukwu Eze in a statement.

“The whistleblower who originated the allegation has been consistent in associating it to an unnamed businessman, who was neither linked to the party nor to the Jonathan campaign,” Eze said.

The government investigation announced on Monday will also look into whether Cambridge Analytica’s work for the election campaigns of the PDP broke Nigerian law “or infringed on the rights of other parties and their candidates”. 

PDP candidate Umaru Yar’Adua won the 2007 presidential ballot. He died in office in 2010 and was succeeded by his deputy, Goodluck Jonathan.

Unlike in Europe and the United States, where data-privacy laws provide a level of protection to consumers, many Africans have little or no recourse if a data breach occurs because often legal and regulatory safeguards do not exist.

Reuters

Video - Nigerian playwright pushing for social change, equality

A woman playwright is pushing for social change in Nigeria through her performances. She wants African women to join global movements for gender equality. And she's calling her initiative "Hear World". Take a look.