Paris Climate Accord Won’t be Renegotiated—EU Nations

By Kestér Kenn Klomegâh South Africa hosts the 15th BRICS summit in Johannesburg. Russian President Vladimir Putin is participating, not in person, but this time only online. Historically, he has, a number of times, paid official working visits to South Africa. During these past two decades, he has held high-level talks, at different times, with Thabo Mbeki, Jacob Zuma and Cyril Ramaphosa. Russia and South Africa have unlimited opportunities to develop mutually beneficial economic partnerships. For instance, in early September 2006, Vladimir Putin and Thabo Mbeki discussed the outlook for improving bilateral economic ties with representatives of the two countries’

By Kestér Kenn Klomegâh BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa), a group of emerging market powers and one of the most popular organizations, seeks to approve African States into its fold and build on its existing economic and trade with other invited African leaders during the 15th summit in Johannesburg, South Africa. The BRICS members are meeting to deliberate on a broad range of important multiple issues, including new membership, common currency, various parameters of development and security and institutional architecture. More than 70 states are participating, including African leaders, while 23 States have submitted formal applications to

By Adedapo Adesanya The African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) has called on African countries to prioritise the development of public and private export trading companies (ETCs) in order to position the continent’s small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to participate effectively in global trade. This was a core message in an address to the Africa International Exhibition on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York by Mrs Kanayo Awani, Afreximbank’s Executive Vice President, Intra-African Trade Bank, speaking on behalf of Bank President Mr Benedict Oramah. She said that SMEs participating directly in global trade face stiff competition from

By Modupe Gbadeyanka Governor of Lagos State, Mr Banajide Sanwo-Olu has said his administration may decide to fully reopen the economy in the next two or three weeks. However, he stressed that this would only be possible if the state government is satisfied with the level of compliance with the guidelines already put in place to contain the spread of coronavirus in the metropolis. A few weeks ago, the government eased the lockdown in the state and put in place some rules, including the use of face masks in public places and social distancing. Addressing the state on Sunday, Mr

By Modupe Gbadeyanka Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Eterna Plc, Mr Mahmud Tukur, has said the management was making efforts to expand the company’s reach across the country in order to boost revenue. Addressing newsmen recently at a press conference, Mr Tukur said the firm has put in place a 5-year plan to acquire upstream oil and gas assets and increase the number of its petrol stations across the country to 200 from its present 39. Eterna, which marks its 30 years of operation in the oil and gas industry, said it plans to be in a position to participate

By Dipo Olowookere The free fall at the stock market continued on Monday as equities of 33 companies listed on the bourse depreciated at the close of transactions against the five risers. This left the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) further paralysed by 1.27 percent, shrinking the year-to-date return to a mere 0.74 percent at the close of business. The weakening of the exchange came despite an improvement in the trading activity. The volume of shares traded by investors rose by 1.83 percent to 429.0 million units from 421.3 million units. Similarly, the value of trades increased by 31.44 percent to

By Adedapo Adesanya The federal government, through the Minister of Agriculture, Mr Mohammed Abubakar, on Thursday said in spite of the security challenges facing the country, food production has not dropped. Speaking during the weekly ministerial briefing at the State House in Abuja, Mr Abubakar acknowledged that the insurgency, inhibiting farmers from accessing their farms, particularly in the North-West, North-East, and North-Central, is a concern for the federal government. He, however, maintained that food production continues at an appreciable level for most parts of the country. The Minister further revealed that 3.6 million direct and indirect jobs have been created

By Dipo Olowookere A total turnover of 2.2 billion shares worth N39 billion in 24,657 deals were traded this week by investors on the floor of the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) in contrast to a total of two billion shares valued at N21.7 billion that exchanged hands last week in 25,496 deals. The Financial Services Industry (measured by volume) led the activity chart with 1.5 billion shares valued at N17.7 billion traded in 15,208 deals; thus contributing 70.69 percent and 45.21 percent to the total equity turnover volume and value respectively. The Industrial Goods Industry followed with 200.4 million shares

On Friday, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara and former running mate to President Muhammadu Buhari in the defunct Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), Pastor Tunde Bakare, met separately with the president at the Presidential Villa, Abuja. At the end of his meeting, Dogara who was accompanied by a few members of the National Assembly, declined to speak with State House corespondents when approached for interview. He only appealed that he should be allowed to enjoy his recess in peace. However, the Speaker dismissed suggestions that their presence in the Villa was in pursuance of a more cordial

By Adedapo Adesanya The Ijaw Diaspora Council (IDC) has charged the Nigerian government to synergise and bring increased vigour to curbing sea piracy in the Niger Delta region, adding that tackling piracy will improve the governance processes and welfare of the people in the region. President of IDC, Mr Mondy Gold, during an international conference on Law of the Sea and Maritime, blamed the menace of sea piracy on legal and jurisdictional lapses, underfunded law enforcement, inadequate security, permissive political environments, the culmination of years of inattention, desperation and lawlessness. Mr Gold urged all stakeholders to shun the lure of

By Aduragbemi Omiyale The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mr Usman Alkali Baba, has been ordered by the House of Representatives to prosecute the killers of one Sylvester Oromoni, a student of Dowen College, Lekki, Lagos. The death of the Dowen student has sparked reactions on social media for some days. This was triggered by the video of the painful dying moment of the boy released by his family. Sylvester was allegedly beaten to death by five students of the school over his refusal to join a cult group, according to the family of the deceased. The Lagos State Police Command