Video - U2 frontman Bono visits displaced people of Nigeria with Aliko Dangote

Bono and Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote, visited a camp of 2.3 million displaced people in Borno State, in Nigeria’s northeast region over the weekend.

The governor of Borno state, Kashim Shettima, accompanied Dangote and the Irish rock star on the trip.

On Monday, Bono and Dangote met with Nigeria’s Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo at the Presidential Villa to explore the possibilities of a global partnership to address the humanitarian crisis in North-eastern part of the country through international advocacy.

In the past, Dangote has made a number of donations to refugee camps in Borno, which is the state that has been hardest hit by the Boko Haram insurgency. In May, he announced a $10 million donation to the IDPs. He also sent more than 100 trucks of food items that were distributed to the camps during the Ramadan festivities.

Humanitarian agencies have repeatedly called on the Nigerian government to address the plight of the victims of the Boko Haram attacks.

Forbes

Niger Delta Avengers suspend attacks

A militant group in the Niger Delta has said it has ceased operations and is ready to open a dialogue with the government, despite the Nigerian military reportedly launching an offensive in the region over the weekend.

The Niger Delta Avengers (NDA), which began its attacks in February, has cut Nigeria’s oil production by hundreds of thousands of barrels per day (bpd) in 2016. In a statement issued on Monday, the group called on Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari to listen to the concerns of the people of the Niger Delta.

“We have listened carefully and halted hostilities in the Niger Delta; we expect a genuine and positive attitude to restructuring and self-determination for every component unit of Nigeria,” said the statement.

During a visit to Kenya over the weekend, President Buhari said that the federal government was open to discussions helping resolve the issue of militancy in the Niger Delta, which accounts for the majority of Nigeria’s oil production. But Buhari said he was doubtful that the militants had announced a ceasefire, according to his spokesman Garba Shehu, who stated. “We are trying to understand them more, who are their leaders and which areas do they operate [in] and other relevant issues.”

The Nigerian president is also reported to have threatened militant groups in the Delta that they will be dealt with in the same manner as Boko Haram if they refuse a dialogue with the government, according to Nigeria’s Premium Times. Nigeria and neighboring countries in West Africa have conducted an extensive military operation against the Islamist militant group, which has seen Boko Haram lose much of its territory inside Nigeria.

Nigeria’s military said on Saturday that it had launched a fresh operation in the region, killing five militants and arresting 23. The operation was aimed at “getting rid of all forms of criminal activities,” according to Nigerian Army spokesman Sani Usman, Reuters reported. There was no immediate response from the militant groups.

The Niger Delta has seen several uprisings— including in the mid-2000s by a group called the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND)—by groups demanding a greater share of Nigeria’s oil wealth for the impoverished region. MEND has said previously that it is assisting the government in negotiating an end to the current crisis.

Newsweek

Video - Cultural festivities return to Nigeria

Music and dance are making a comeback in the northern Nigerian state of Borno.

Last year, Boko Haram was in control of several areas of Borno and had banned all types of celebrations, among many other things.

But with the gradual return of peace in parts of the state, traditional and local authorities are pushing for a cultural revival.

Video - Nigeria seeks growth in non-oil sectors for economic sustainability

Africa's top economies will be closely watching the G20 summit. Nigeria has embarked on an economic diversification programme designed to raise revenue from non-oil sectors. The latest figures from the country's Economic Policy and Research Centre show growth has slowed from 7 percent to 4 percent this year.

Video - Nigeria Olympic coach Samson Siasia quits

The Olympic -bronze winning Nigerian football coach Samson Siasia, has resigned his post, just a week after leading Nigeria to the Rio Olympics third place. The celebrated coach, also a winner with Nigeria's under 23 side, says he has left his position over what he describe as a disrespectful system. Siasia claims he has not been paid for five months by the Nigeria Football Federation. The veteran coach also led Nigeria to a silver medal in 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.