The Nigerian government is trying to improve its infrastructure and create more jobs amid a surging growth in its population that could worsen poverty. Nigeria's population is currently estimated at 220 million and is projected to reach 377 million by 2050.
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China's growing demand for Nigerian goods is deepening trade relations between the two nations. Last year, trade volumes between Nigeria and China reached almost 23 billion U.S. dollars, marking a significant shift in the rising economic ties.
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Beer-manufacturer Nigerian Breweries will shut down two of its nine manufacturing plants in Nigeria due to the harsh economic situation in the country, the company said in a note to the Nigerian Exchange Limited on Thursday.
Police makers at the company deemed the decision necessary due to operational concerns which was massively impacted by record foreign exchange loss up to the tune of N153.3 billion last year.
It’s the Nigerian subsidiary of Heineken Brouwerijen B.V’s highest foreign exchange loss in the company’s history since it began operations in Nigeria 77 years ago.
The company said it recognised how the closure of the two plants would affect workers in the affected locations. But he said the company was committed to reduce the effect of the situation by providing severance packages to the affected employees.
“We recognise and regret the impact that the suspension of brewery operations in the two affected locations may have on our employees,” said Hans Essaadi, the managing director of the company.
He added, “We are committed to limiting the impact on people as far as possible and providing strong support and severance packages to all affected.”
The decision will help the company to retain 15 per cent capacity expansion over the past decade as well as reduce costs of production, Bloomberg Africa reported.
By Victor Olorunfemi, Peoples Gazette
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Police say Amal Umar gave an officer 250,000 naira (£137; $175) to have her impounded car released.
Her lawyer Adama Usman says she denies the charges, saying it was a police officer who first asked for money.
She has appeared in hundreds of movies over the past decade and is also well known in neighbouring countries.
Amal, as she is known by fans of Kano's film industry, Kannywood, has millions of followers on social media.
According to the police, Amal's car was seized over a year ago on suspicion it had been purchased using proceeds of fraud allegedly committed by her boyfriend.
"She gave our officer 250,000 [naira] with a promise to bring more money," Kano police spokesman Bashir Muhammad told the BBC.
Amal's lawyer Mrs Usman told the BBC they would continue to fight the case in court as she thinks the Fuska Biyu star was coerced.
"This is simply a case of abuse of her rights. We won the initial case in court where they were trying to link her with her boyfriend's activities which she has no hands in," the lawyer told the BBC.
"But the police are yet to obey court orders four months in by still holding on to her car.
"On this case of attempted bribery they are claiming, we are going to pursue it to the end because she was called to come and collect her car only for things to change," the lawyer said.
Amal, 24, has been freed on bail.
Police say Amal's boyfriend Ramadan Inuwa is wanted on charges of obtaining money by false pretences and is still at large.
He has not commented on the accusations.
By Mansur Abubakar, BBC
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Nigeria has struck a deal for Shell to supply gas to its proposed $3.8 billion Brass methanol facility, resolving a major hurdle to a final investment decision on the project, the minister of state for gas said on Thursday.
Nigeria, which holds Africa's largest natural gas reserves of more than 200 trillion cubic feet, has struggled to tap the commodity due to capital constraints and a lack of infrastructure.
Minister Ekperikpe Ekpo said in a statement that the Gas Supply and Purchase Agreement, crucial for the Brass methanol project, will be executed next month following successful talks with Shell's Nigeria CEO and executives from other companies involved.
The GSPA will secure a long-term gas supply from a Shell-operated joint venture for the methanol production facility that will be built on Brass Island in the oil-rich coastal Bayelsa state.
"The NNPC/Shell joint venture partners are now fully committed to uninterrupted gas supply for the development of the Brass Methanol project," Ekpo said.
"Mr President is very passionate about this project and wants something positive to happen in respect of the Brass Methanol project before the end of May this year," Ekpo said.
The project includes a gas processing plant, a methanol production and refining site, and product export facilities.
By Camillus Eboh, Reuters
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