A Nigerian activist and former presidential candidate whose detention has prompted protests by rights groups was re-arrested on Friday at a court hearing hours after he was freed on bail, his lawyer told Reuters.
Omoyele Sowore, who ran against President Muhammadu Buhari in February’s election, was first arrested in August and has pleaded not guilty to charges of treason, money laundering and harassing the president.
He was released on bail on Thursday ahead of a court hearing on Friday. However, his lawyer, Femi Falana, said the activist was re-arrested by state security officials on Friday after the hearing, screaming and shouting as he was dragged away.
Falana said the state security had filed new charges against Sowore, without elaborating.
Sowore’s continued detention despite being granted bail has led to criticism of Buhari’s administration and allegations that human rights have been flouted in this case and those of other high-profile figures.
Prior to Thursday’s release, the Department for State Security said Sowore’s bail conditions had not been met and detained him for several weeks. But a court in Abuja said on Thursday he must be released within 24 hours.
“Having complied with the order of court ... what is therefore required is for the state security service to allow our clients enjoy their limited freedom,” Falana told Reuters after Sowore was re-arrested on Friday.
Sahara Reporters, the online Nigerian news organization Sowore founded, said he has been taken to the state security headquarters after his latest arrest.
Reuters
Friday, December 6, 2019
Nigeria's parliament passes record budget for 2020
Nigeria's parliament passed a record 10.59 trillion naira ($35bn) budget for 2020 on Thursday, paving the way for the country's likely return to the international debt market next year as it struggles to shake off the impact of a recession.
The budget passed by lawmakers assumes a deficit of 1.52 percent of the estimated gross domestic product - representing around 2.18 trillion naira ($7.2bn) - to be financed through foreign and domestic borrowing.
In 2019, the debt office said it did not tap the international debt market because of time constraints before the end of its budget cycle. The West African country held its last Eurobond sale in 2018, its sixth outing, where it raised $2.86bn.
Nigeria emerged from a 2016 recession in 2017, but has struggled to boost growth. Ratings agency Moody's downgraded the country's outlook to negative from stable on Wednesday, citing an increased risk to government revenue.
Nigeria's Senate, parliament's upper house, passed the plan. It was also approved by the lower house a few hours later.
The budget assumes crude production of 2.18 million barrels a day and an oil price of $57 per barrel. Nigeria is Africa's top oil producer.
The spending plan includes a value-added tax increase from five percent to 7.5 percent. The budget is also up from the 8.83 trillion-naira budget for 2019 and tops the previous record spending plan, the 9.12 trillion-naira budget for 2018.
President Muhammadu Buhari last week asked parliament to approve a request for $23bn in foreign borrowings for infrastructure projects. It was not immediately clear if that sum was included in the budget passed by lawmakers on Thursday.
A central goal of Buhari's tenure has been to increase non-oil revenues to reduce Nigeria's dependence on crude oil sales.
In the president's first term, he was embroiled in a power struggle with the legislature, leading to months of delays in the implementation of spending plans.
But loyalists in his ruling party now occupy key parliamentary roles, which has sped up the passage of legislation.
"I hope we continue to work together as colleagues to ensure the 2020 budget is fully implemented," said Senate President Ahmed Lawan after passing the budget.
Lawmakers increased the budget from the 10.33 trillion-naira ($31.3bn) spending plan that Buhari presented to them in October. The president must agree to the revised plan before signing it into law.
Al Jazeera
The budget passed by lawmakers assumes a deficit of 1.52 percent of the estimated gross domestic product - representing around 2.18 trillion naira ($7.2bn) - to be financed through foreign and domestic borrowing.
In 2019, the debt office said it did not tap the international debt market because of time constraints before the end of its budget cycle. The West African country held its last Eurobond sale in 2018, its sixth outing, where it raised $2.86bn.
Nigeria emerged from a 2016 recession in 2017, but has struggled to boost growth. Ratings agency Moody's downgraded the country's outlook to negative from stable on Wednesday, citing an increased risk to government revenue.
Nigeria's Senate, parliament's upper house, passed the plan. It was also approved by the lower house a few hours later.
The budget assumes crude production of 2.18 million barrels a day and an oil price of $57 per barrel. Nigeria is Africa's top oil producer.
The spending plan includes a value-added tax increase from five percent to 7.5 percent. The budget is also up from the 8.83 trillion-naira budget for 2019 and tops the previous record spending plan, the 9.12 trillion-naira budget for 2018.
President Muhammadu Buhari last week asked parliament to approve a request for $23bn in foreign borrowings for infrastructure projects. It was not immediately clear if that sum was included in the budget passed by lawmakers on Thursday.
A central goal of Buhari's tenure has been to increase non-oil revenues to reduce Nigeria's dependence on crude oil sales.
In the president's first term, he was embroiled in a power struggle with the legislature, leading to months of delays in the implementation of spending plans.
But loyalists in his ruling party now occupy key parliamentary roles, which has sped up the passage of legislation.
"I hope we continue to work together as colleagues to ensure the 2020 budget is fully implemented," said Senate President Ahmed Lawan after passing the budget.
Lawmakers increased the budget from the 10.33 trillion-naira ($31.3bn) spending plan that Buhari presented to them in October. The president must agree to the revised plan before signing it into law.
Al Jazeera
Thursday, December 5, 2019
Nigeria's Leon Balogun says fight against racism is a collective responsibility
The 31-year-old Brighton defender also supports players walking off the pitch, but admitted it is only part of what needs to be done.
Balogun wants those not being targeted on the pitch to fully support their team-mates who feel that leaving the pitch is their only option, so that not too much pressure is put on the individuals.
"It's like they are afraid because the manager might say 'if you don't want to play, even though you might be an important player to us, we can replace you' and so that's something you will think about at least twice," Balogun told BBC Africa.
"That is what a team is supposed to be. We are a family. We are walking off [together], this would empower so many players who are racially abused because that way they then wouldn't feel alone."
Balogun says in order to get the message across, fans who do not take part in the abuse must also get involved in the battle against racism.
"You really take away what they love so much so that they understand we need to rethink here for a minute," he explained.
"So it will also affect people who are not involved in the racial abuse of the players.
"People who just happen to be in the stadium and they will be like 'wait a minute', those ones, let's call them idiots are taking away what we love, what we are passionate about."
Harsher punishments needed
A recent rise in incidents of racism across Europe has been met with financial penalties and partial stadium closures.
He is also adamant that the kind of sanctions being handed down are simply not having the necessary affect.
"At the point it's at right now I think you have to be extreme, even banning a team or like deducting points," he added.
"You need to shock people the same way racism shocks players.
"You probably have to go to a place they never expect, where you can actually hurt [punish] those involved in racist behaviour."
The Germany-born player has experienced racism first hand and points to one incident in 2018 when playing for Mainz and he was subjected to monkey chants from Hannover fans.
Balogun says authorities also have to make an example of the clubs when their supporters become involved in the racial abuse.
"When they are punished, clubs that are affected by the actions of their fans will have to do something about it," he added.
"They will have to find a solution. 'We are fighting for the championship here or we are fighting for relegation'. We need every point. So they can't allow or afford to lose points over something which is as stupid as racism."
By Mimi Fawaz
BBC
Nigeria launches updated security plan to tackle emerging threats
Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday inaugurated an updated security plan to tackle emerging threats in the most populous African nation.
The National Security Strategy, a document revised every five years, covers details on how to enhance the capacity of Nigeria's military and other security agencies.
Speaking at the inauguration of the document in Abuja, Buhari said the government remains committed to enhancing the social security of Nigerians as a means of improving physical security.
He said the numerous security challenges facing the country made it necessary to come up with a comprehensive and coordinated response involving all segments of the society.
"As we continue to work towards completely ending insurgency in the northeast and laying the foundation of sustainable peace and development in the region, we are also addressing conflicts between farmers and herders, banditry and various forms of security challenges," Buhari said.
He said security is about bottom-to-top operation, and failure at any level will lead to a serious lapse in overall security.
"The task that now lies before us is the execution of the strategy and the achievement of a safer and more secure nation," Buhari said. "It is a task to which this administration remains fully and unreservedly committed."
Speaking earlier, Babagana Monguno, Nigeria's national security adviser, noted both internal and external security threats globally are attributable to organized crimes across borders.
"As we consolidate on the successes of peace-building in the northeast and the Niger Delta, the clear lesson for all of us here is that the key to sustainable peace and development is to guarantee security both in terms of economy and social status for everybody," he said.
Xinhua
The National Security Strategy, a document revised every five years, covers details on how to enhance the capacity of Nigeria's military and other security agencies.
Speaking at the inauguration of the document in Abuja, Buhari said the government remains committed to enhancing the social security of Nigerians as a means of improving physical security.
He said the numerous security challenges facing the country made it necessary to come up with a comprehensive and coordinated response involving all segments of the society.
"As we continue to work towards completely ending insurgency in the northeast and laying the foundation of sustainable peace and development in the region, we are also addressing conflicts between farmers and herders, banditry and various forms of security challenges," Buhari said.
He said security is about bottom-to-top operation, and failure at any level will lead to a serious lapse in overall security.
"The task that now lies before us is the execution of the strategy and the achievement of a safer and more secure nation," Buhari said. "It is a task to which this administration remains fully and unreservedly committed."
Speaking earlier, Babagana Monguno, Nigeria's national security adviser, noted both internal and external security threats globally are attributable to organized crimes across borders.
"As we consolidate on the successes of peace-building in the northeast and the Niger Delta, the clear lesson for all of us here is that the key to sustainable peace and development is to guarantee security both in terms of economy and social status for everybody," he said.
Xinhua
Cardi B to perform in Nigeria for the first time
The star shared a post on her Instagram page of her dancing in excitement in a private jet as she set off for the concert.
"1:03am drop my KK in NY on my way to Afrriiiiicaaaaaaaaaa baybeeeee!!!!!!," she wrote in the post.
Last month she announced that she would be performing at the Livespot X Festival in Lagos, Nigeria and Accra, Ghana.
"Africa. I'm coming! Nigeria and Ghana," she wrote at the time.
Cardi B (real name Belcalis Almanzar), broke into the music scene in 2017 with her hit single 'Bodak Yellow.'
She will be performing at the two-day festival alongside top African artists from both countries.
Organized by Livespot 360, a digital agency based in Lagos, the festival will feature Tiwa Savage, Burna Boy, Shatta Wale, R2bees among others.
Immense popularity
Darey Art Alade, a Nigerian singer and creative director of Livespot 360 says Cardi B was picked to headline the festival because of her immense popularity.
"She is one of the biggest artists in the world... It's really about her uniqueness, her star power. She has got great music and she is the girl next door character that everybody loves," he told CNN.
Cardi B has won multiple awards including a Grammy Award, seven Billboard Music Awards, and four BET Awards.
Alade, who will also perform at the festival, says bringing Cardi B to Africa has been in the works since 2018.
According to him, his team has been in conversation with her for months to make her trip to the continent smooth. "Getting Cardi B to come is a lot because there are many moving parts. She is specific about everything," he said.
The festival has organized the lighting, stage, and design of the venues in Accra and Lagos to suit the rapper's preferences.
Social media excitement
Meanwhile, social media is buzzing as fans share their excitement ahead of Cardi B's first Africa performance.
Darey Art Alade says he is hoping for a "hitch-free" concert. In the past, Alade has hosted celebrities like Kim Kardashian and Kelly Rowland in Lagos, Nigeria's commercial center.
"I am hoping people are looking forward to having a good time with Cardi B. We are looking forward to a hitch-free festival, no incidents," he said.
"We are looking forward to this further cementing us on the world map in terms of our tourism potential."
Ghana's 'Year of Return'
The artist's visit to the continent comes at a time where Ghana is pushing for a more united Africa.
In 2018, the West African country declared and formally launched the "Year of Return, Ghana 2019," marking 400 years since the first enslaved Africans arrived in North America.
The campaign encourages people of African descent, whose ancestors were victims of slave trade, to return to Ghana and invest in the continent.
Alade, says part of extending the Livespot X Festival to Accra, Ghana's capital city is to spread love across the continent through music.
"We want to spread the love, we have Nigerians performing in Ghana and we have Ghanians performing in Lagos as well. It's a bit of a symbiotic relationship about love and unity," he said.
It also creates an environment for international artists like Cardi B to share the stage with some of Africa's favorite music stars, Alade said.
Africa to the world
Cardi B's visit to Africa is one of many from A-list music artists. Over the past years, stars like Beyonce, Jay Z, Skepta, Kelly Rowland, and Toni Braxton have performed in different countries on the continent.
There has also been a rise in international collaborations with African artists. Drake and Nigerian musician, Wizkid teamed up on 2016 hit "One Dance" making Wizkid the first Nigerian artist to top the US Billboard Hot 100.
In July, Beyonce teamed up with multiple African acts including Ghana's Shatta Wale, Cameroon's Salatiel and South Africa's Busiswa and Moonchild Sanelly on her 'The Lion King: The Gift' album.
Toye Sokunbi, a Nigerian music analyst says the internet and social media are part of why more people are paying attention to the continent's music scene.
According to him, it is faster to access and share African music compared to many years ago.
"The internet, for example, has made the world smaller. This also means the synergy between African diaspora and Africans in Africa is strengthening," he told CNN.
"So, the communication between those two arms means there is a more unified African consciousness which expands the possibilities of music," he added.
Sokunbi, who is also the Editor-at-large for a Nigerian pop culture magazine, says the attention on the music scene can also be associated with an ongoing trend for African creativity and culture.
Over the past years, there have been movies, food, and fashion collaborations from outside the continent.
In August, Swedish retail giant, H&M, partnered with South African brand Mantsho in its first-ever collaboration with an African designer.
By Aisha Salaudeen
CNN
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)