Tuesday, November 1, 2016
Video - Real estate developers continue to build despite recession
Despite a nasty recession, some property developers in Nigeria are pushing ahead to build even more. One developer in Abuja is doubling down on investments in a sector that has seen an unprecedented slowdown after decades of rapid growth.
Officials raping Boko Haram refugees according to Human Rights Watch
Human Rights Watch (HRW) has accused Nigerian officials of sexually exploiting women and girls living in camps for victims of Boko Haram in the war-torn northeast.
HRW said in a report published on Monday that it documented 43 cases of women and girls in seven internally displaced persons' camps in Maiduguri, the epicentre of a seven-year battle with Boko Haram, who had been abused by camp leaders, policemen and soldiers.
"It is bad enough that these women and girls are not getting much-needed support for the horrific trauma they suffered at the hands of Boko Haram," said Mausi Segun, senior Nigeria researcher at HRW.
"It is disgraceful and outrageous that people who should protect these women and girls are attacking and abusing them," she added.
Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari said in a statement that he was "worried and shocked" by the report and directed police to "immediately commence investigations into the issue".
"The welfare of these most vulnerable of Nigerian citizens has been a priority of his government," presidency spokesman Garba Shehu said, adding that the allegations raised by the HRW "are not being taken lightly".
Four of the victims told HRW they were drugged and raped, while 37 were coerced into sex through false marriage promises and material and financial assistance.
"Many of those coerced into sex said they were abandoned if they became pregnant. They and their children have suffered discrimination, abuse, and stigmatisation from other camp residents," the global rights body said.
HRW spoke to one 17-year-old girl who was raped and made pregnant by a policeman.
"One day he demanded to have sex with me," she said. "I refused but he forced me. It happened just that one time, but soon I realised I was pregnant.
"When I informed him about my condition, he threatened to shoot and kill me if I told anyone else. So I was too afraid to report him."
HRW said irregular supplies of food, clothing, medicine and other essentials in camps were making the women vulnerable to abuse and exploitation.
"In some cases, men used their positions of authority and gifts of desperately needed food or other items to have sex with women," it said.
Boko Haram has devastated northeast Nigeria, killing more than 20,000 people and displacing 2.6 million from their homes. Since taking up arms against the Nigerian government in 2009, the group has also disrupted trade routes and farms.
Now, nearly 50,000 children face death by starvation if they don't get food and almost 250,000 more are severely malnourished in Borno state, according to UNICEF.
HRW said in a report published on Monday that it documented 43 cases of women and girls in seven internally displaced persons' camps in Maiduguri, the epicentre of a seven-year battle with Boko Haram, who had been abused by camp leaders, policemen and soldiers.
"It is bad enough that these women and girls are not getting much-needed support for the horrific trauma they suffered at the hands of Boko Haram," said Mausi Segun, senior Nigeria researcher at HRW.
"It is disgraceful and outrageous that people who should protect these women and girls are attacking and abusing them," she added.
Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari said in a statement that he was "worried and shocked" by the report and directed police to "immediately commence investigations into the issue".
"The welfare of these most vulnerable of Nigerian citizens has been a priority of his government," presidency spokesman Garba Shehu said, adding that the allegations raised by the HRW "are not being taken lightly".
Four of the victims told HRW they were drugged and raped, while 37 were coerced into sex through false marriage promises and material and financial assistance.
"Many of those coerced into sex said they were abandoned if they became pregnant. They and their children have suffered discrimination, abuse, and stigmatisation from other camp residents," the global rights body said.
HRW spoke to one 17-year-old girl who was raped and made pregnant by a policeman.
"One day he demanded to have sex with me," she said. "I refused but he forced me. It happened just that one time, but soon I realised I was pregnant.
"When I informed him about my condition, he threatened to shoot and kill me if I told anyone else. So I was too afraid to report him."
HRW said irregular supplies of food, clothing, medicine and other essentials in camps were making the women vulnerable to abuse and exploitation.
"In some cases, men used their positions of authority and gifts of desperately needed food or other items to have sex with women," it said.
Boko Haram has devastated northeast Nigeria, killing more than 20,000 people and displacing 2.6 million from their homes. Since taking up arms against the Nigerian government in 2009, the group has also disrupted trade routes and farms.
Now, nearly 50,000 children face death by starvation if they don't get food and almost 250,000 more are severely malnourished in Borno state, according to UNICEF.
Friday, October 28, 2016
Video - Nigerian labour unions protest sacking of oil workers by foreign operators
Labor union officials in Nigeria are calling on the government to file a protest with foreign oil operators who they say have sacked about 3,000 oil workers. President of the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas, Igwe Achese says the government has 21-days to order multinationals to stop the exercise. The unions are threatening to down tools unless the matter is resolved within the period.
Nigeria to spend $10bn in ending conflict in Nigeria Delta
Nigeria will invest $10bn (Ј8bn) in its oil-rich south to end an insurgency by militants, the oil minister has said.
The money would be used to build infrastructure, including roads and railways, Emmanuel Ibe Kachikwu said.
Militant attacks have severely disrupted oil production, fuelling a recession in the West African state.
The militants have been demanding that the government spend more of its oil wealth on tackling widespread poverty in a region, known as the Niger Delta.
They also accuse multinational firms of polluting the environment, destroying the livelihoods of farming and fishing communities.
Mr Kachikwu said that President Muhammadu Buhari would meet the militants and community leaders next week.
"Our target is to ensure zero militancy in the area," he said.
"This planned meeting shows the level of interest the president has to ensure peace in the area."
The $10bn would "not necessarily" come from the federal government, but from "oil companies, investors, individuals", he is quoted by Reuters news agency as saying.
A new militant group, the Niger Delta Avengers (NDA), emerged after President Buhari, a northerner, took office last year after winning elections.
It has carried out a spate of attacks on oil plants and pipelines, causing a sharp fall in oil production and worsening the financial crisis in Africa's most populous state.
Mr Buhari's predecessor Goodluck Jonathan came from the Niger Delta, and managed to broker a peace deal with militants in the region.
The militants accuse Mr Buhari of reneging on the deal, an allegation he denies.
Oil is the Nigerian government's main source of income.
The money would be used to build infrastructure, including roads and railways, Emmanuel Ibe Kachikwu said.
Militant attacks have severely disrupted oil production, fuelling a recession in the West African state.
The militants have been demanding that the government spend more of its oil wealth on tackling widespread poverty in a region, known as the Niger Delta.
They also accuse multinational firms of polluting the environment, destroying the livelihoods of farming and fishing communities.
Mr Kachikwu said that President Muhammadu Buhari would meet the militants and community leaders next week.
"Our target is to ensure zero militancy in the area," he said.
"This planned meeting shows the level of interest the president has to ensure peace in the area."
The $10bn would "not necessarily" come from the federal government, but from "oil companies, investors, individuals", he is quoted by Reuters news agency as saying.
A new militant group, the Niger Delta Avengers (NDA), emerged after President Buhari, a northerner, took office last year after winning elections.
It has carried out a spate of attacks on oil plants and pipelines, causing a sharp fall in oil production and worsening the financial crisis in Africa's most populous state.
Mr Buhari's predecessor Goodluck Jonathan came from the Niger Delta, and managed to broker a peace deal with militants in the region.
The militants accuse Mr Buhari of reneging on the deal, an allegation he denies.
Oil is the Nigerian government's main source of income.
Thursday, October 27, 2016
Video - Nigeria is adopting policy interventions to address maternal and child health
Nigeria - Africa's most populous nations, with nearly 180 million people -- is adopting policy interventions to address maternal, new-born and child health.
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