Major International Business Headlines Brief::: 26 November 2024

[Bulls n Bears]

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Major International Business Headlines Brief:::  26 November 2024 

 


                                                                                  

 


 <mailto:info at bulls.co.zw> 

 


 

 


 

ü  Southern Africa: UTM President Kabambe Calls for SADC and AU Intervention in Malawi's Political Storm

ü  South Africa: Stilfontein Mine Rescue Stalls at Final Stage

ü  Kenya: Jinxed Again? Kenya's JKIA Second Runway Expansion Fails to Takeoff

ü  Malawi: Government Plead for More Financial Support to Promote Medium Enterprises

ü  Africa: Ghana to Maintain Lead Position As Africa's Largest Gold Producer - Minister

ü  Nigeria: GDP Growth Figures - More Work Needs to Be Done - Tinubu

ü  Nigeria: Tinubu Calls for Strengthened Funding for Nigeria's Space Programme

ü  Nigeria Would Have Been Better If Peter Obi Won 2023 Election - Abaribe

ü  Liberia: Calls for EU Not to End Timber Treaty With Liberia

ü  Liberia: 11 of 26 NTA Buses Operational, Repairs Ongoing, Management Discloses

ü  South Africa: Patients to Be Moved From Cofimvaba Hospital As Nurses Down Tools

ü  Uganda's Complex Oil Project Begins to Take Shape

ü  Nigeria: Oil Spill From Ruptured NNPCL Pipeline Devastates Rivers Communities

ü  Kenya's Ruto Moves to Broaden Govt, Targets Opposition Inclusion

 


 <mailto:info at bulls.co.zw> 

 


 

Southern Africa: UTM President Kabambe Calls for SADC and AU Intervention in Malawi's Political Storm

The President of the United Transformation Movement (UTM), Dr. Dalitso Kabambe, has issued a public plea for the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and the African Union (AU) to step in and help address Malawi's escalating political and economic challenges.

 

Dr. Kabambe's remarks come in the wake of widespread demonstrations across the country, driven by a deepening economic crisis, fuel shortages, and public dissatisfaction with President Lazarus Chakwera's administration.

 

In an open letter addressed to President Chakwera, Dr. Kabambe outlined a six-point agenda, urging the government to act swiftly to stabilize the nation and avoid further turmoil.

 

 

In his letter, Dr. Kabambe highlighted the urgent need to address pressing national issues, including:

 

Fuel Shortages: The scarcity of fuel has led to soaring black-market prices, exacerbating the cost of living and hindering economic activity. Dr. Kabambe called for immediate measures to stabilize supply chains and reduce dependence on informal markets.

 

Rising Inflation: The relentless increase in inflation is eroding citizens' purchasing power. He emphasized the need for robust fiscal and monetary policies to curb inflationary pressures.

 

Economic Revitalization: Dr. Kabambe advocated for strategic investments, support for local businesses, and job creation to revive Malawi's ailing economy.

 

Corruption: He stressed the importance of combating corruption at all levels of government, calling for greater transparency and accountability.

 

Citizen Engagement: Open and inclusive dialogue with Malawians was underscored as a cornerstone of democratic governance.

 

Credible Elections: With elections on the horizon, Dr. Kabambe called for a transparent and fair electoral process to restore public trust in the country's democratic institutions.

 

Amid growing public unrest, Dr. Kabambe urged SADC and the AU to step in as mediators to promote dialogue and prevent further instability. "Malawi is at a crossroads," he wrote, "and the choices made today will determine the future of our democracy."

 

The government has yet to officially respond to Dr. Kabambe's letter. However, analysts predict that his call for regional intervention may add pressure on President Chakwera to take immediate and decisive actions to address the nation's crises.

 

Nyasa Times.

 

 

 

 

South Africa: Stilfontein Mine Rescue Stalls at Final Stage

In Stilfontein, hundreds of illegal miners are yet to come to the surface, more than a week after a rescue team was dispatched to the area, reports EWN.

 

The team, led by the local government, recently took over an ongoing operation to stage a fresh rescue mission to bring illegal miners to the surface faster. The new plan includes constructing an unmanned cage to carry the zama zamas up the shaft.

 

Wessels Morweng, MEC for Community Safety in North West, says he has not yet seen the mining experts' safety assessment report. Morweng believes the team cannot afford to make any mistakes.

 

"The next stage is very delicate. We need to conduct it with the delicacy it deserves so that we save lives , instead of losing more lives."

 

More than 1,200 illegal miners have resurfaced from the area between now and October.

 

 

 

 

Kenya: Jinxed Again? Kenya's JKIA Second Runway Expansion Fails to Takeoff

Kenya's Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) faces another setback in its expansion plans after President William Ruto cancelled a proposed upgrade by the controversial Adani Group.

 

This marks the second time East Africa's busiest aviation hub has seen plans for a second runway shelved. A similar initiative was abandoned in 2016 when an award for the project was cancelled.

 

President Ruto last week terminated the planned concession with the Adani Group following corruption charges against the Indian conglomerate in a New York court.

 

In his State of the Nation address to Parliament, Ruto directed procurement teams in the Ministries of Transport and Energy to halt ongoing Public-Private Partnership (PPP) procurement processes for JKIA's expansion and Ketraco's electricity transmission projects.

 

The decision, he said, was informed by information from investigative agencies and partner nations.

 

 

Kenya's previous bid to expand JKIA faltered in 2016 when the Greenfield Terminal project, awarded to China National Aero-Technology International Engineering Corporation (CATIC), was abruptly cancelled.

 

The terminal was designed to handle 20 million passengers annually and was seen as a major step in boosting Kenya's status as a regional aviation hub.

 

Despite progress, including the mobilisation of 90 percent of the required equipment, the project was shelved without explanation.

 

JKIA continues to operate with a single runway, restricting its ability to manage increasing passenger and cargo traffic. This limitation contrasts sharply with the advancements being made by neighbouring countries.

 

Ethiopia and Rwanda are emerging as serious contenders in the race to become East Africa's primary aviation hub.

 

Ethiopia has significantly expanded Addis Ababa's Bole International Airport, which serves as the home base for Ethiopian Airlines, Africa's largest carrier. Meanwhile, Rwanda is leveraging a strategic partnership with Qatar Airways to position Kigali as a regional aviation hub.

 

The Gulf carrier holds a 60 percent stake in Rwanda's Bugesera International Airport, scheduled to open in 2027 with an initial capacity of eight million passengers annually.

 

Qatar Airways is also utilising fifth freedom rights to operate flights from Kigali to multiple destinations without routing through Doha.

 

The stalled expansion of JKIA threatens Kenya's competitiveness in the regional aviation market, particularly as passenger numbers across East Africa continue to grow.

 

Analysts warn that without significant investment in infrastructure, JKIA risks falling behind its neighbours in serving as a key gateway for international and regional travel.

 

Business Day Africa.

 

 

 

 

Malawi: Government Plead for More Financial Support to Promote Medium Enterprises

Government has underscored the need for more access to finance as it will help in execution of ideas into practical work.

 

Speaking on the sidelines of the official launch of the grants programme under Southern Africa Trade Connectivity Programme (SATCP), Minister of Trade and Industry Sosten Gwengwe highlighted the need for more support from development partners to promote medium enterprises as well as young women and men through finances to venture into businesses.

 

"Access to finance is our biggest constraint here in Malawi whereby our young women and men are full of ideas but to turn those ideas into something practical they are constrained by access to finance, and this loan that government got at which 50% is a grant from World Bank will go a long way as medium organisations who are illegible will get access," he said.

 

 

Bronex Kathyola who is the team lead for CCM Worldwide Consultants said, the programme will among others support micro and small organizations with business plan competition grants as well as medium and large organizations with matching grants worthy $500,000.

 

"We will produce adverts in different media platforms for those who are interested in to apply for these matching grants and we are targeting the agri-business industry along the Nacala-Beira corridor that is 15 districts in Malawi," he said

 

SATCP will fund demand driven risk sharing solutions with a medium and large enterprises across the country in the form of matching grants. The objective of this Matching Grant is to increase access to markets in selected value chains along the targeted corridors through improved capacity, productivity, quality standards, and coordination.

 

Nyasa Times.

 

 

 

 

Africa: Ghana to Maintain Lead Position As Africa's Largest Gold Producer - Minister

Ghana is projected to maintain its lead position as the largest gold producer in Africa in 2024, the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Mr Samuel A. Jinapor, has stated.

 

He said preliminary reports for the first half of this year showed production in excess of two million ounces (2,000,000 ounces ) from both large and small scale mining adding that "there is no doubt that Ghana will exceed four million ounces (4,000,000 ounces ) this year."

 

Mr Jinapor disclosed this during the 10th Ghana Mining Industry Awards in Accra on Friday held on the theme: 'Celebrating a decade of rewarding mining excellence.'

 

 

The annual programme is meant to recognise excellence and innovation in the mining sector and applaud mining companies that are keeping to high environmental standards.

 

In all, 24 organisations and individuals were honoured in various categories for their outstanding performance in the mining sector and were presented with citations, plaques and cash prizes.

 

AngloGold Ashanti Iduapriem Mine won the mining company of the year and Interplast Limited won the Best Performer in Local Manufacturing of Mining and first runner up in Best Performer went to Mines Supplies and Services.

 

Mr Jinapor also noted that Ghana had worked hard to overtake South Africa as the leading producer of gold on the continent, and had consistently increased production, reaching some four million ounces (4,000,000 ounces) last year.

 

The Minister stressed the need for the next government to take the issue of Valued Added Tax (VAT) on exploration very seriously, and work closely with the Ghana Chamber Mines (GCM) to find a way of dealing with the matter.

 

He said exploration was the lifeblood of the mining industry, and, therefore, incentives must be given to encourage exploration.

 

Mr Jinapor paid glowing tribute to GCM for initiating the award and sustaining it for the past decade, emphasising that the awards had become a celebration of excellence, recognising and celebrating the outstanding contributions of individuals and organisations to the development of the mining industry in Ghana.

 

The First Vice President of GCM and Executive Vice President of Asante Gold Corporation, Fred Attakumah, added that the mining sector, in 2023, reaffirmed its vital role in Ghana's economy by contributing GH¢11.69 billion in fiscal revenue, solidifying its position as the largest source of direct domestic revenue.

 

He indicated that member companies of GCM returned $4.2 billion to Ghana, out of the $5.9 billion earned in total mineral revenues, noting that, it represented about 71 per cent of the earnings of the mining companies.

 

Mr Attakumah further stated that the Domestic Gold Purchase Programme, initiated in 2022 by the Bank of Ghana, had enabled members of the Chamber to sell over 781,000 ounces of refined gold to the Central Bank, reinforcing the sector's commitment to enhancing Ghana's economic resilience.

 

The Chief Executive Officer of the GCM, Dr Sulemanu Koney, said Ghana's mining sector remained a cornerstone of country's economic fabric.

 

He also noted that through the Chamber's Tertiary Education Fund (TEF), the Chamber had budgeted to spend $2 million towards infrastructure development, research grants, and bursaries for students and faculty.

 

Ghanaian Times.

 

 

 

 

Nigeria: GDP Growth Figures - More Work Needs to Be Done - Tinubu

President Bola Tinubu, yesterday, expressed excitement over the latest report from the National Bureau of Statistics, NBS, that the nation's economy grew in the third quarter more than last quarter and even beyond projected estimates.

 

NBS in its report, yesterday, said the country's annual Gross Domestic Product, GDP, rose by 3.46 per cent in the third quarter (Q3) of 2024 representing a 0.19 percentage point rise from 3.16 per cent recorded in the second quarter of the year, Q2'24, and 0.92 percentage point higher than the 2.54 per cent growth recorded in the corresponding period of 2023, Q3'23.

 

 

It also said the rate of unemployment fell by 1.0 percentage points quarter-on-quarter (QoQ) to 4.3 percent in the second quarter of 2024 from 5.3 percent in Q1'24.

 

President Tinubu, who welcomed the development, said that the latest figure showed that much work needed to be done and promised that his administration will not rest until Nigerians feel the positive impacts in their pockets and experience a better living standard.

 

He assured Nigerians of better economic output as the economy continues to expand following the newly released third quarter GDP report by the NBS.

 

According to the NBS, Nigeria's GDP grew by 3.46 percent, compared to the 3.19 percent growth recorded in the second quarter.

 

A statement by Special Adviser to the President on Media and Public Communications, Sunday Dare stated that the growth in GDP showed that President Tinubu's quest for a more robust boost in the economy and, by extension, a better standard of living for all Nigerians is on course.

 

 

The statement said: "The 3.46 percent growth indicates Nigeria is recovering from the reforms' unintended effects.

 

"President Tinubu said his administration has not and will never forget his promise of a $1 trillion economy by 2030.

 

"He assured that once the economy is rebased by early 2025 to capture its dynamism and record significant changes that have occurred in different sectors, the country will be on its way to shared prosperity."

 

The statement explained that the latest GDP growth in the third quarter was driven by key sectors such as Agriculture, Transport, Education, Health, Real Estate, Finance and Insurance, ICT, Trade, and Manufacturing.

 

"This performance once again shows that the reforms embarked upon by the Tinubu administration to reposition the economy and ensure better fiscal management are beginning to yield fruits," it said.

 

 

It added: "The proposed tax reforms also indicate the administration's resolve to reduce the tax burden on small businesses and spread prosperity to the poor.

 

"The new tax regime seeks to promote equity by reducing what is known as the headquarters effect-a situation where states where company headquarters are based get more benefits because their taxes for the whole nation are remitted--in favour of spatial and demographic equity.

 

"I am excited by the latest report from the National Bureau of Statistics that our economy grew in the third quarter more than last quarter and even beyond projected estimates.

 

"While I welcome this development, the latest figure also shows the much work that needs to be done. We won't rest until Nigerians feel the positive impacts in their pockets and experience a better living standard. My administration remains committed to the welfare of our people."

 

The top contributing sectors to GDP in Q3 2024 are Agriculture 28.65 percent, ICT 16.35 percent, Trade 14.78 percnt, Manufacturing 8.21 percent, Crude Oil 5.57 percent, Finance & Insurance 5.51percent and Real Estate 5.43percent.

 

Services sector drives Nigeria's GDP up 3.46%

 

NBS report shows that the improvement was driven mainly by the services sector of the economy.

 

The Bureau stated: "Nigeria's GDP grew by 3.46 percent (year-on-year) in real terms in the third quarter of 2024.

 

"This growth rate is higher than the 2.54 percent recorded in the third quarter of 2023 and higher than the second quarter of 2024 growth of 3.19 percent.

 

"The performance of the GDP in the third quarter of 2024 was driven mainly by the Services sector, which recorded a growth of 5.19 percent and contributed 53.58 percent to the aggregate GDP.

 

"The agriculture sector grew by 1.14 percent, from the growth of 1.3 percent recorded in the third quarter of 2023.

 

"The growth of the industry sector was 2.18 percent, an improvement from 0.46 percentage points recorded in the third quarter of 2023.

 

"In terms of share of the GDP, the services sector contributed more to the aggregate GDP in the third quarter of 2024 compared to the corresponding quarter of 2023."

 

According to NBS, the economy in the third quarter of 2024, recorded an average daily oil production of 1.47 million barrels per day (mbpd), higher than the daily average production of 1.45 mbpd recorded in the same period of 2023 by 0.02 mbpd and higher than the 1.41 mbpd recorded in second quarter of 2024 by 0.07mbpd.

 

NBS Stated: "The real growth of the oil sector was 5.17 percent (year-on-year) in Q3 2024, indicating an increase of 6.02 percentage points relative to the rate recorded in the corresponding quarter of 2023 (-0.85 percent).

 

"Growth decreased by 4.98 percentage points when compared to Q2'24 which was 10.15 percent.

 

"On a quarter-on-quarter basis, the oil sector recorded a growth rate of 7.39% in Q3 2024.

 

"The Oil sector contributed 5.5 percent to the total real GDP in Q3 2024, up from the figure recorded in the corresponding period of 2023 and down from the preceding quarter, where it contributed 5.48 percent and 5.7 percent respectively.

 

"The non-oil sector grew by 3.37 percent in real terms during the reference quarter (Q3 2024).

 

"This rate was higher by 0.62 percentage points compared to the rate recorded in the same quarter of 2023 which was 2.75 percent and higher than the 2.8 percent recorded in the second quarter of 2024.

 

"This sector was driven in the third quarter of 2024 mainly by Financial and Insurance (Financial Institutions); Information and Communication (Telecommunications); Agriculture (Crop production); Transportation and Storage (Road Transport); Trade; and Construction, accounting for positive GDP growth", NBS said.

 

Commenting on the development, analysts at CardinalStone Research said: "Overall, we estimate that the service sector will remain the cornerstone of GDP growth, underpinning our full financial year 2024 estimate of 3.2 percent against 2.7 percent in 2023."

 

On their part, analysts at Afrinvest Plc said: "Trailing, the industries and agriculture sector growth culminated at 2.2 percent and 1.1 percent sequentially, down from 3.5 percent and 1.4 percent in Q2'24.

 

"We flag that the slowdown in the agricultural sector growth underscores the currently elevated food inflation rate in October 2024 at 39.2 percent. "Likewise, we linked the slowdown in industries sector growth momentum to the reverberating effect of the increase in energy prices (PMS price rose from N750.00/litre in Q2 to N1,060/litre in Q3) and further pressure on the FX rate in the quarter - the NAFEM and parallel market rates fell by 2.4 percent and 10.4 percent in Q3 to N1,541.94/$ and N1,680.00/$ respectively."

 

Unemployment rate falls to 4.3% in Q2'24

 

Disclosing this in its Nigeria Labor Force Survey report for Q2'24, NBS also noted that the employment-to-population ratio increased by 2.9 percentage points QoQ to 76.1 percent in Q2'24 from 73.2 percent.

 

"The unemployment rate for Q2 2024 was 4.3 percent, showing an increase of 0.1 percentage point compared to the same period last year.

 

"The unemployment rate among males was 3.4 percent and 5.1 percent among females.

 

"Youth unemployment rate was 6.5 percent in Q2'24, showing a decrease from 8.4 percent in Q1'24.

 

"Unemployment based on educational attainment shows that the unemployment rate among persons with post-secondary education was 4.8 percent, 8.5 percent among those with upper secondary education, 5.8 percent for those with lower secondary education, and 2.8 percent among those with primary education in Q2 2024.

 

"In Q2'24, 76.1 percent of Nigeria's working-age population was employed, up from 73.1 percent in Q1'24."

 

On underemployment rate, NBS said: "In Q2'24, the share of underemployed Nigerians was 9.2 percent, a decline of 1.4 percentage points from the 10.6 percent recorded in Q1'24.

 

"In Q2'24, the proportion of youth (15-24 years) identified as Not in Education, Employment, or Training NEET was 12.5 percent, down from 14.4 percent in Q1'24.

 

"The results also showed more female in NEET, with 14.3 percent compared to 10.9 percent for male"

 

NEET stands for Not in Education, Employment, or Training. It refers to individuals, typically aged between 15 and 24 (although the age range can vary), who are not engaged in formal education, employed, or undergoing vocational or skills training.

 

Vanguard.

 

 

 

 

Nigeria: Tinubu Calls for Strengthened Funding for Nigeria's Space Programme

President Bola Tinubu has urged the National Assembly to prioritise funding for the nation's space programme to secure its position in the fourth industrial revolution.

 

The President called on Monday during a ceremony marking 25 years of Nigeria's achievements in space and technology.

 

The National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA) organised the event at the Banquet Hall of the State House in Abuja.

 

Represented by the Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Uche Nnaji, President Tinubu called for a review of the legislation establishing NASRDA to create a more vibrant space sector capable of competing globally.

 

 

He emphasised the importance of integrating the private sector into the space programme, which he said would help Nigeria maximise emerging opportunities for national development.

 

"Great effort should be made to ensure that the private sector is mainstreamed into the heart of our space programme so that we can do more in the coming years for our national development," he stated.

 

The President also highlighted the need for increased budgetary support for the sector to achieve its goals, which he said could yield significant socioeconomic benefits and attract foreign investment.

 

"I therefore call upon our legislatures to prioritise the funding for our space programme to ensure we play a leading role in this fourth (4th) industrial revolution," he said, adding that strengthening NASRDA's mandate would enhance its local and international engagements.

 

He assured stakeholders of his administration's commitment to advancing science and technology and expressed optimism about Nigeria's leadership in Africa's space sector.

 

"The years ahead are likely to be very challenging because of the ever-changing developments in science and technology, but it is a journey that I am determined to support robustly," he said.

 

The President lauded NASRDA's achievements over the past 25 years, including its development and launch of satellites and its collaboration with the military for tactical services.

 

"I am aware that in the quest by NASRDA to bring the benefits of space for national development, it has developed and launched major space programmes," he said, citing milestones such as the establishment of the Defence Space Administration and NigComSat Ltd.

 

The Minister described the space sector as vital to the global economy, projecting its influence on supply chain logistics, agriculture, defence, and digital communications.

 

Nnaji noted that space-enabled technologies could contribute over 60% of Nigeria's new economic value in the coming years.

 

Also speaking at the event, the Managing Director of Nigerian Communications Satellite Ltd (NigComSat), Mrs Nkechi Jane Egerton-Idehen, praised Nigeria's resilience and innovation in the space sector.

 

"Our journey has been a collaborative symphony of innovation, determination and excellence," she said, highlighting the impact of space technologies on communication, security, agriculture, and disaster management.

 

President Tinubu unveiled a 400-page compendium detailing NASRDA's activities and achievements over the past 25 years during the ceremony.

 

Leadership.

 

 

 

 

Nigeria Would Have Been Better If Peter Obi Won 2023 Election - Abaribe

The Senator representing Abia South, Enyinaya Abaribe, has said that Nigeria would have been in a better state if the Labour Party presidential candidate in the 2023 election, Peter Obi, had won the contest.

 

Speaking during an interview on Channels Television's 'Politics Today' on Monday night, monitored by our correspondent, the lawmaker criticised the current administration under President Bola Tinubu, accusing it of nepotism. Abaribe stated that nepotism, which he claimed was prominent during former President Muhammadu Buhari's tenure, has worsened under Tinubu's leadership.

 

"If Peter Obi had won, you probably would have seen a better Nigeria than what we are seeing today," Abaribe asserted. "Number one, he would not be as nepotistic as this government, he won't, it's not in him. That is just who we are, we feel for the other people."

 

 

Backing his claims, Abaribe pointed out that Tinubu appointed four ministers from Ogun State, while many other states have just one representative in the Federal Executive Council (FEC). He argued that such lopsided appointments are unfair and further divide the country.

 

Reflecting on past administrations, Abaribe noted that apart from former Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo and Goodluck Jonathan, no Nigerian president has been fair to the South-East. He called on the region to focus on self-revitalisation instead of waiting for equitable treatment.

 

"Rather than waiting for presidents to be fair to the people of the South-East, it is high time people of the zone went back to revamp it, make it more livable, better, and more cohesive," he said.

 

Commenting on the arrest of Simon Ekpa, the self-acclaimed Prime Minister of Biafra in exile, in Finland, Abaribe described it as a welcome development. He suggested that the arrest would send a strong message to those at home perpetrating violence under Ekpa's influence.

 

"The Igbo had always condemned what Ekpa and his ilk try to direct from foreign lands," Abaribe noted, adding that Ekpa reportedly denied being the Biafran Prime Minister after his arrest.

 

Abaribe further stressed that the release of Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), could help end the violence in the South-East. He argued that those committing violence in Kanu's name would lose their justification once he is released from detention.

 

"Many of those perpetrating violence with Kanu's name won't have any reason to continue when Kanu is released," the APGA Senator stated.

 

Leadership.

 

 

 

Liberia: Calls for EU Not to End Timber Treaty With Liberia

Monrovia — Calls are mounting for the European Union (EU) to reconsider its decision to terminate a timber trade agreement with Liberia. The issue is high on the agenda as the bloc and the West African country discuss the deal this week.

 

In 2011, the EU and Liberia signed the voluntary partnership agreement, known as the VPA, enabling the West African country to trade legally sourced timber on European markets. The deal was hailed globally for breaking away from Liberia's civil war era, where illegal Liberian timber flooded international markets.

 

But last month, the Head of the EU Delegation to Liberia Nona Deprez disclosed that Brussels had notified Monrovia about its decision to terminate the deal. "A formal notification to the [Liberian] government is in process," Deprez said in a letter to NGOs.

 

 

Now national and international forest campaigners and experts say canceling the VPA would tarnish Liberia's reputation, exacerbate illegal logging and undermine the country's combat against climate change.

 

The NGO Coalition said the development was "deeply concerning, as the VPA has been instrumental in improving forest governance, curbing illegal logging and enhancing transparency in Liberia's forestry sector."

 

In a letter last week, the group called on President Joseph Boakai to use this week's meeting to engage the EU to keep the agreement. The government has not spoken about the planned termination.

 

"The EU may cite slow progress, corruption, and illegal logging as reasons for termination, tarnishing Liberia's international image. Neighboring countries retaining their VPAs will cast Liberia in a poor light," the letter noted.

 

 

The EU has not cited any reasons for intending to terminate the 11-year agreement. However, recently, it blamed the failure to qualify for FLEGT licensing--which allows countries to export timber to EU markets--for terminating the VPA with Cameroon.

 

Cameroon's scenario resembles Liberia's. Liberia has not qualified for forest law enforcement, governance and trade. Though Liberia has made some gains since the end of its bloody civil wars, it has witnessed a string of logging scandals. Last year, the Associated Press reported that Liberia may have a "parallel system" to export illegal timber, citing diplomatic sources. A recent review paints the picture of a sector marred by noncompliance and impunity.

 

Apart from the tarnishing of Liberia's reputation, experts say termination could dry out millions of much-needed funding the EU provides Liberia.

 

 

"Ideally, development partners would continue with support to communities," said a forest governance expert who preferred anonymity, "but the question is whether such support would be as impactful without the structures and processes of the VPA in place."

 

Liberia has some 43 percent of the Upper Guinea rainforests, the largest in West Africa. Picture credit: James Harding Giahyue

 

Dr. Arthur Blundell, an international forestry expert on Liberia, said losing the VPA would erode anti-deforestation efforts. Liberia has the largest portion of West Africa's remaining rainforests, with its protection crucial to global climate targets. "Losing the EU's financial and technical assistance must make it harder to fight climate change and protect biodiversity," added Blundell.

 

'Civil unrest'

 

This week's meeting, which begins Tuesday and ends Thursday, is one of three events held at least once a year under the VPA. At those meetings, the Liberian government, the EU, international partners, civil society and communities discuss governance and transparency. Campaigners and experts say that civil space would be lost with the VPA.

 

"If this happens, so many of the gains that have been made over the years, in terms of strengthened government accountability for better forest management and distribution of benefits, will be undermined," said the forest governance expert.

 

"It will become less representative," added Blundell. "These groups suffer the most if the fight is lost. The loss of the VPA process will make their representation more difficult."

 

The NGO Coalition believes the VPA's absence could also undermine Liberian laws that guarantee communities' rights and increase illegal logging. Warned the group: "Without it, enforcement could weaken, leading to social unrest."

 

News of the termination comes as the EU published its Strategic Framework for International Cooperation Engagement on Deforestation, as it delayed the implementation of a new deforestation regulation. The Framework paves the way for the implementation of the regulation, which proposes stricter requirements for countries to export to the EU.

 

Indra Van Gisbergen, a campaigner with the Netherlands-registered NGO Fern criticized the Framework for not being comprehensive and lacking the participation of stakeholders. She wrote in October that the Framework had scrapped such participation for technical and development cooperation.

 

Gisbergen said it was "striking" that the publication coincided with the EU's announcement of its unilateral termination of the Cameroon VPA. Similarly, Liberian civil society actors and community representatives were not informed of the EU's decision beforehand.

 

"Ghosting the VPAs and unilaterally terminating them without any public assessment, does not set a good example for future partnerships," she said.

 

In her letter, Deprez said Liberia was crucial for the region and the EU would continue its support. "We will continue to support and invest in the sector to strengthen it," Deprez's letter read, "to make it more sustainable and to fight illegality."

 

The EU is expected to outline reasons for the planned termination at the City Hall of Monrovia. There, the bloc and the Liberian government are expected to discuss its implications.

 

This story first appeared in The DayLight and has been published here as part of an editorial collaboration. It was a production of the Community of Forest and Environmental Journalists of Liberia (CoFEJ).

 

Liberian Investigator.

 

 

 

 

Liberia: 11 of 26 NTA Buses Operational, Repairs Ongoing, Management Discloses

Monrovia — The Managing Director of the National Transit Authority (NTA), Mr. Edmund Forh, has announced that 11 of the 26 out-of-service NTA buses have been repaired and are ready to resume operations across Montserrado and three other counties.

 

Speaking in an exclusive interview with The Liberian Investigator over the weekend, Mr. Forh apologized to Liberians for the transportation challenges caused by the prolonged absence of NTA buses.

 

He attributed the delays in repairs to procedural hurdles in procuring spare parts from India. "The procurement and bidding process for spare parts, which began in May, was delayed until August due to clearance procedures by the Public Procurement and Concessions Commission (PPCC) and the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning," he explained.

 

 

Mr. Forh further revealed that $26,000 from the $300,000 budget was used to purchase a utility vehicle and a $100,000 generator to address the lack of electricity at the NTA compound due to unreliable power from the Liberia Electricity Corporation (LEC).

 

He assured the public that by the end of November, 15 NTA buses will be back on the streets to ease the growing transportation challenges in Monrovia and its surrounding areas. "This was made possible by the importation of spare parts through TATA, the sole operator of these buses, following a vendor selection process approved by the PPCC," he said.

 

In addition to ongoing repairs, Mr. Forh disclosed that negotiations are underway with international companies to procure new buses for the NTA fleet.

 

 

Addressing Public Concerns

 

The NTA head acknowledged the daily struggles faced by commuters due to limited public transport options. "I understand the frustration of Liberians during rush hours as they chase overcrowded buses and taxis," he said. He added that the limited capacity of available vehicles worsens traffic congestion and fails to meet the needs of the population.

 

Mr. Forh attributed the current state of the NTA to mismanagement by previous administrations. "When I assumed office nine months ago, only five of the 39 buses were operational. Another five were beyond repair, and 29 required major mechanical overhauls," he noted.

 

He also disclosed that the bus route between Duala and Broad Street, previously halted due to poor road conditions, will soon resume operations.

 

 

Impact of Motorcycle Crackdown

 

Transportation issues have been exacerbated by new safety regulations on motorcycles, enforced by the Liberian National Police since May 15, 2024. While intended to improve safety, the crackdown has significantly reduced the number of motorcycles available for public transport, leading to overcrowded taxis and higher transportation costs for commuters.

 

Plans for a New Administrative Building

 

Mr. Forh lamented the lack of adequate office space for the NTA's operations. "We inherited an NTA without an administrative building. My deputies and I are working out of the garage because the administrative building burned down in 2021," he said. He added that many employees are forced to work under trees within the compound due to the lack of facilities.

 

To address this, the NTA is preparing to break ground on a new headquarters next month, with President Joseph N. Boakai expected to lead the ceremony. The project is being finalized through coordination between the PPCC and the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning.

 

Recalling the Fire Incident

 

The devastating fire in 2021 destroyed the NTA's administrative offices in Gardnerville, along with over 809,000 Liberian dollars, nine million Leones, and $600 in cash. The tragedy has left a lasting impact on the agency's operations, but Mr. Forh assured that his team is working tirelessly to restore the NTA's image and services.

 

"The current management is committed to rebuilding the NTA for the benefit of all Liberians," Mr. Forh said.

 

Liberian Investigator.

 

 

 

 

South Africa: Patients to Be Moved From Cofimvaba Hospital As Nurses Down Tools

The Eastern Cape health department has issued an ultimatum to return to work

 

The Eastern Cape Department of Health is planning to move patients from Cofimvaba Hospital to other facilities, after nurses went on an unprotected strike.

 

On Monday nurses at Cofimvaba Hospital, near Queenstown, downed tools, demanding that acting CEO Ntombesithathu Qotoyi be removed. They accuse her of disrespecting and insulting them and playing favourites.

 

The nurses also downed tools two weeks ago over similar issues.

 

Provincial health spokesperson Mkhululi Ndamase said a previous independent investigation found no reason to remove Qotoyi. The department had made several attempts to explain the situation to the nurses. District health management is now looking at moving some patients to nearby facilities.

 

 

On Monday morning, we found nurses singing in the corridors. A guard at the entrance said most patients had left. There were people waiting at reception, some sleeping on chairs. Reception was active, but working very slowly.

 

Trouble between Qotoyi and the staff started a year ago, when about 160 workers signed a memorandum demanding her removal. They said she refused to approve leave and share budget information. She was suspended until an independent investigation cleared her.

 

"I spent R120 to come here. I live far away and there's no guarantee that when I come back on Monday things will be back to normal," said Lumka Bambatha, who had arrived at the hospital around 6am. "I'm not working. I rely on the child support grant. This is not fair."

 

She said she had an appointment to have her son's plaster cast on his arm removed. "The doctor told us that he can only take new patients; we must come back next week.," she said.

 

Nomalizo Msongelwa said she found her husband who had been in hospital since last week left unattended.

 

"I thank God that I'm here to at least feed him because there are no nurses in his ward. But what frustrates me mostly is to hear that they are now planning to move him to Queenstown. I won't be able to visit him due to lack of money," she said.

 

Ndamase said the department has issued an ultimatum to the nurses to stop the strike as they are deemed essential workers.

 

Denosa Eastern Cape secretary Mveli Sinqana said workers are not happy with the return of their manager. He said as the union they are still trying to engage with the department to find a solution to the matter.

 

GroundUp.

 

 

 

 

Uganda's Complex Oil Project Begins to Take Shape

Analysis — Since 2006 when crude oil deposits were first confirmed in the Albertine Rift in mid-western Uganda, commercialization of the resource appears nearer than ever as The Independent's Ronald Musoke found out on a recent tour of ongoing projects.

 

The Uganda government has always touted the oil project as one that will transform Ugandan society and the officials often point to the US$15bn windfall the country has raked-in even before oil production starts.

 

The government says this outlay of investments is beginning to significantly impact the country's economy. The government adds that over the next 25 years, the oil project will provide a boost to investment in other sectors of the economy, bringing a potentially transformative impact for millions of Ugandans and the country at large.

 

Our four-day tour began on November 13 when journalists drawn from media houses around the country set off from Kampala for the mid-western city of Hoima in the company of George Lugalambi, the head of the African Centre for Media Excellence (ACME), officials from the Petroleum Authority of Uganda (PAU), the national oil sector regulator, and others from the Uganda National Oil Company (UNOC).

 

 

In Hoima, staff from TotalEnergies E&P Uganda B.V and the China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC) Uganda Ltd and the EACOP Company gave us an introductory overview of Uganda's oil project; the resource inventory, where it is found, the companies involved in developing and commercialising it, how Ugandans are involved and how much investments in billions of dollars the country has so far raked-in. The official dwelt on contextualising Uganda's oil project in relation to the global climate change and energy transition debate. They also showcased the range of oil and gas infrastructure that the country must build before "First Oil" can be realized.

 

Kingfisher busy

 

 

On Day-2, we drove to the Kingfisher Development Area which is perched on the southeastern shores of Lake Albert in Buhuka Parish in Kikuube District which lies inside the western arm of the East African Rift Valley.

 

The Kingfisher Development Area is up to 15km long in parts and 3km wide. The wells here are sunk on the shores and sink up to 2km deep under the lake. They are expected to pump about 40,000 barrels of oil per day. This particular oilfield is estimated to hold about 560 million barrels of oil in place, out of which 190 million (33%) is expected to be tapped over the next 20-25 years.

 

The Kingfisher Development Area has since 2013 been developed by CNOOC Uganda Ltd, a subsidiary of the China National Offshore Oil Corporation, China's largest producer of offshore crude oil and natural gas. CNOOC officials, most of them Ugandan, showed us ongoing oil development activities, including construction of a Central Processing Facility (CPF), and drilling of wellpads holding 31 production and water injection wells.

 

 

The Kingfisher Development Area has four well pads (1,2,3 and 4A) and the central processing facility, explained Zakaria Lubega, the Corporate Social Responsibility Manager at CNOOC Uganda Ltd as journalists crammed around him on a viewing platform near the top of the escarpment.

 

"The well pads will be linked by flowlines that will pick up the unprocessed fluid (crude oil mixed with sand and water) and take it to the CPF for processing," Lubega said before we got back into our vans and moved closer to observe the on-ground activities near the Lake Albert shores.

 

My last visit here was two years ago. Apart from the camp which was hosting a few maintenance workers, there was hardly any activity back then. This time, I found plenty going-on, with hundreds of workers dressed in colourful coveralls and PPEs--even with the unforgiving sweltering temperatures.

 

Many of the workers were perched atop steel structures, others were on the ground doing final touches on pipes which we were told will soon be joined together to make a maze of 16-18km of in-filed flowlines. These pipes will pick the fluid from the wellpads to the central processing facility hub for processing.

 

Another 46km of feeder pipeline will then transport crude oil from the CPF in Buhuka up the imposing escarpment and onto Pump Station-1, the starting point of the EACOP at Kabaale Industrial Park in Hoima District.

 

Dickson Asiimwe, a Piping Engineer and Joseph Omaswa, a Communications Engineer from CNOOC's surface engineering team explained how the fluid containing crude oil flows from the oil wells to the central processing facility, gets separated from the impurities (water, sand and other sediments) before it's pumped up the escarpment to Kabaale.

 

"The process starts from the well pad where the oil is picked; it then gets to the CPF through in-field flowlines. Then the oil goes through the processing and separation stage where you have the crude oil alone, the gas alone and the water," Omaswa explains.

 

At a nearby rig, youthful Annita Komugisha, a junior drilling engineer, says CNOOC is currently drilling six development wells that will be part of the 31 wells that are to be drilled in the Kingfisher Development Area.

 

Komugisha, a graduate of Petroleum Engineering and Environment Management from Mbarara University of Science and Technology, who has been working here since 2022 says she is stationed at well pad-1, one of the three active well pads.

 

"We started drilling in Kingfisher on Jan.24, last year, after the spudding ceremony. We started with well pad-2 and quickly moved to well pad-3 and we are now on well pad-1," she says. Komugisha says drilling operations at Kingfisher emphasise safety and environmental conservation.

 

"On some rigs elsewhere in the world, you would expect a person to stand on the platform near the top of the rig to be able to move pipes during the drilling operations," she says, "Here, we have an iron Derrickman; this has enabled us to enhance our safety."

 

She explains that having an iron Derrickman is an enhanced safety feature which makes the LR-8001 rig semi-automated and able to perform with human help but also without such assistance.

 

CNOOC says this brand-new state-of-the-art rig was specially designed for the Kingfisher oilfield and is the strongest that has been used in the country to date consuming about 6MW of electricity. It has the capacity to drill up to 8km deep, with noise suppressing technology making it more environmentally friendly.

 

Komugisha says the Kingfisher project neighbours a settled fishing community whose environment must not be disrupted. "For instance, when the rig is powered at night, it uses dim light that is configured so as not to blind people," she says, "We do not use floodlights."

 

"We took into consideration the fact that we have a fishing community next to us," she says, "and the light doesn't scare away the fish in the lake."

 

"We are currently running a bottom hole assembly to continue our drilling operation but we are able to have this conversation almost as if there is nothing going on behind us," she says as the rig hums behind us. "If you visited most drilling rigs elsewhere, we wouldn't have this conversation without me screaming but all this is possible because of the noise mitigating measures put in place."

 

Komugisha also notes that all Kingfisher's reservoirs (oil wells) are offshore (underneath Lake Albert) but the operator is conducting onshore drilling. "We are accessing the reservoirs from land platforms," she says. "We are accessing the reservoirs via directional drilling; the drilling starts on land, vertically drilling until you reach a kick-off point within sub-surface where you begin making an inclination until you reach the target that you are aiming at."

 

She says the well pad also has the production zone as well as administration units and a small area for the collection and handling of drilling waste which is then transported to the nearby Luweero Industries Ltd, a subsidiary of National Enterprise Corporation (NEC)-the commercial arm of the Uganda Peoples Defence Forces which has gone into an oil waste management partnership with HBP, a Chinese affiliated firm.

 

Tilenga equally busy

 

On Day-3, we drive on the first-class Hoima-Buliisa-Wanseko tarmac road to see the bigger mid-stream Tilenga Project which is being developed by French super major, TotalEnergies, under its local subsidiary, TotalEnergies E&P Uganda B.V.

 

The Tilenga project alongside the EACOP have come under sustained attack from conservationists because some of the oil wells are located within Murchison Falls National Park, one of the country's oldest, largest, most diverse and most visited conservation areas.

 

It is renowned for its irreplaceable biodiversity and unparalled natural beauty. The park is home to 76 species of mammals-including elephants, lions, and giraffes and over 450 bird species, making it a remarkable, and unique, irreplaceable home. The park is also home to the Murchison Falls-Albert Delta Wetland system, a Ramsar site of international importance. The Ramsar site is an important spawning ground for the Lake Albert fisheries.

 

When TotalEnergies began drilling its oil wells on June 28, last year, conservationists were alarmed saying the national park would come off worse. But TotalEnergies said the drilling rig in Murchison Falls National Park is environmentally sensitive. Besides the rig being painted with a beige colour to blend with the surrounding savannah grasslands to reduce the impact on wildlife, TotalEnergies said its activities would only affect 0.003% of Murchison Falls National Park.

 

The Petroleum Authority of Uganda also defended TotalEnergies saying the French firm has innovative technologies and environmental-conscious practices including rigs designed to minimize the environmental footprint, ensure a positive impact on the ecosystem.

 

Like the ramp-up in activity at CNOOC's Kingfisher Development Area, the scale of activity at Tilenga is probably three times as much. Two years ago, when I visited the project, local contractors were clearing bushes and moving millions of cubic metres of earth in preparation for the construction of the camps for the workers.

 

Two years later, I found a maze of overhead steel structures stretching as far as the human eye can see. Like at Kingfisher, the contractors were busy putting enabling infrastructure in place. A CPF which is able to process 190,000 barrels of crude oil from the oil fields is taking shape.

 

Mazen Abi Azar, the Construction Manager who is also responsible for safety and environment on site told us that they are concurrently drilling eight well pads north of the Nile and 21 well pads in the south. From these various wellpads will be a network of in-field pipes which will connect to the CPF, he said.

 

"The central processing facility is the hub of the project; this is where we treat the oil; we separate the oil and we get it ready for export with a feeder line."

 

Mazen said they are working on two main packages; the first package has to do with enabling infrastructure which is now ready. The second package has to do with building the CPF, fixing the flow lines and surface work for the wellpads. The enabling infrastructure phase has involved moving about 3 million cubic metres of earthworks, constructing roads, warehouses, and the drainage system.

 

Solomon Balemezi, the Civil Works and Structural Supervisor at the Tilenga Industrial Area chipped in noting that at the CPF, water which is a waste product will be pumped back into the injection wells so it can be used again to produce more crude oil. But the sand and other solid sediments will undergo treatment before being disposed of."

 

"Right now, there are a lot of civil works going on; installations of structural steel as well as some of the equipment which are crucial for the oil production," said Balemezi.

 

"We are in the engineering, procurement, supply, construction and commissioning. The engineering is completed, the procurement is at the tail end and right now we are in the construction phase and after that we will get to the commissioning phase."

 

Gloria Sebikari, the Corporate Affairs Manager at PAU explains that the Kingfisher and Tilenga projects are hundreds of kilometres apart yet for Uganda to produce and commercialise its oil resources, the two projects must have similar facilities in place.

 

"When the oil comes out of the well pads, it will be transferred to the CPFs through infield flowlines. For the Kingfisher project, we have 16-18km of infield flowlines to connect to the different wellpads to the CPF so that the oil is collected there. For the Tilenga project, it is close to 160km of infield flowlines. At the CPF, the oil will be processed before being sent to Pump Station-1, which is 95km away."

 

EACOP's Kilometre-0

 

On Day-4 we headed to Kabaale Industrial Park at Nyamasoga, Buseruka sub-county in Hoima District. On a piece of land, which is about 29sq km, is where Kabalega International Airport is nearing completion. It is also where another piece of complex infrastructure is taking shape.

 

This is the starting point of the famous 1,443km long electrically heat-traced EACOP. Here, we are in the company of Hadi Watfa, the Delivery Manager of Above Ground Installations who also goes by a local alias Semaganda Akiiki. Watfa is a Lebanese petroleum engineer who over the last 35 years has worked on similar oil infrastructure projects in both the Middle East and Africa.

 

He says there are 47 nationalities working on the project. "At the moment, we have 1347 staff of whom 92% are Ugandans," he says. Eventually there will be up to 12,000 people working on the EACOP when construction activities are ramped up.

 

He takes us to a clearing he says is about 75,000 sq metres and begins to explain what this place will look like under two years' time. "This will be the starting point or "Kilometre-Zero" of the 1,443km EACOP," he says.

 

This is where all the oil from Kingfisher and Tilenga CPFs will be brought and mixed or co-mingled, metred and then transported via pipeline to the Tanzanian port of Tanga. "We will collect crude oil from Kingfisher and Tilenga (230,000 barrels at peak) and take it to Tanga where the storage facilities which will hold about two million barrels of crude are being constructed," he says.

 

"To push this crude oil from where we are right now through 1443km is not an easy job and that is why we have to use pumps," Watfa explained, indicating that this is where the pipeline's so-called Pump Station-1 will be based. The second pump station will be in Sembabule, 180km from here. Watfa goes into the complexity and sophistication of Uganda's pipeline.

 

He says he has worked on pipelines since 1993 in Nigeria, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Iraq and China but he has never come across a project that is as sophisticated as the EACOP.

 

"I have never faced such an extreme case of care of a project. In Nigeria, where a similar project was built, it was done with eyes closed," he says. Yet Watfa appears unfazed, jolly and talkative. He says the pump station will have an electricity substation as well as a control room to ensure a 360̊ view of the EACOP.

 

"This is a sophisticated system to control the pipeline to ensure that the oil flows smoothly to Tanga," he says. From the clearing we move to the pipe corridor where we observe the intersection of both the EACOP and feeder pipelines coming from both Kingfisher and Tilenga CPFs. Watfa says the pipe corridor has pipes coming in from the East through Tilenga and another is coming from the West through Kingfisher before joining at the Export Pump.

 

Moses Kirumira, the Deputy Construction Manager of EACOP also says the export pipeline is "the most innovative and most intelligent pipeline" in the world. He says the stringing of the pipes is, for instance, being done according to the different sections of the route.

 

"It may look like just putting the pipes on the ground but you have to understand which pipes you are laying and why you are putting them in that particular location," he says, "Sometimes the pipes have be bent at different angles because we are trying to minimize our impact on the environment so we bend the pipes according to the terrain."

 

How much time left?

 

The government has repeatedly told the public that Uganda will sell its first batch of petreluem by the end of 2025. Although there is a lot of work ongoing across various critical infrastructure, it still looks like a tall order. So, The Independent asks Watfa, how much time he has to complete this particular piece of infrastructure-Pump Station-1.

 

"From today, in 16 or 17months' time we should be done with the construction of Pump Station Station-1," he says. That pushes the project to 2026.

 

But another three months will be dedicated to a pre-commissioning exercise where every subsystem will be tested, he adds. "For instance, we have to make sure that the piping subsystem is working; to ensure that it has no leakage or any deficiency. The same will be done to the electrical installation and telecommunication subsystems."

 

"After the precommissioning stage, we will have another three months to do the commissioning where will ensure that all these subsystems are work and communicating with each other," Watfa, says.

 

>From our four-day interface with various contractors of the projects, one gets the sense that even if they respect the government's ambitious timeline for "First Oil" scheduled for the last quarter of 2025 - in reality that appears like a long shot.

 

Indeed, Ruth Nankabirwa, Uganda's energy minister appears to be re-adjusting the government's timeline for first oil - again. Speaking to the Financial Times, a British newspaper, on the sidelines of the recent COP29 Climate Summit in Baku, Azerbaijan, Nankabirwa said Uganda's oil project has run into financing hurdles because of "climate change issues."

 

This, Nankabirwa noted, has meant that the project's financing has had to be renegotiated. As such, the equity-debt split has been revised from the original 40/60 to 52/48. She told Financial Times that the stakeholders are expected to receive the debt financing from several international institutions, including the Export-Import Bank of China, this December.

 

"If it wasn't for the injustice that has been done to it, we would be talking about seeing our first oil in 2025. But because of the campaigns against it, we are not going to see the first oil next year. So, we expect to run into 2026-2027," she said.

 

Independent (Kampala).

 

 

 

 

Nigeria: Oil Spill From Ruptured NNPCL Pipeline Devastates Rivers Communities

Massive oil spill from a pipeline belonging to the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) has occurred at Iloma community in Bonny local government area of Rivers State.

 

Our Correspondent gathered that the spill, which occurred as a result of leakage from the ruptured pipeline, have devasted Iloma community and other neighbouring communities in the riverine local government area.

 

It was learnt that the spill, which occurred at about 7.00pm on Saturday, November 23, 2024, at Iloma community, has spread quickly around surrounding communities as it was conveyed by the heavy current in the creeks and rivers.

 

 

The communities affected are Iloma, Epelema, Orupiri, Ayaminima, Minima, Oloma, and Oguede, amongst several others, whose environment including creeks, rivers and rivulets, aquatic life, and means of livelihood have been destroyed.

 

It was gathered that for Iloma Community, the residents had to be evacuated as the spills splashed on their roofs, farmlands, gardens, and the general environment, thus rendering the community an inflammatory risk should any form of fire ignition, especially, cooking, occur there.

 

Checks by our Correspondent showed massive volumes of crude oil in the creeks, rivers and rivulets with marine commuters having to sail very slowly at almost zero nautical mile to avoid any sparks from their engine that could ignite the already drenched environment.

 

Residents of the various affected communities were also seen scooping the crude oil from the rivers and creeks.

 

 

At the site of the incidented pipeline, which is at latitude 4.447338º and latitude 7.192392º, a flange could be seen attached to the pipeline, which some of the NNPCL maintenance workers on site said was the handiwork of third party individuals.

 

But a member of the community, Valentine Hart, in an interview with journalists, however, countered the claim, asserting that the NNPCL maintenance workers were suspects in the incident as they had worked on the incidented pipeline before now when it had issues.

 

He called for a transparent joint investigation visit (JIV) to the affected sites, warning that any attempt to muddle up the investigation with a view to sweeping the incident under the carpet will be resisted by the communities affected.

 

On his part, the Director of Pollution in the Bonny Youth Federation (BYF), Sotonye Allison, said the devastation caused by the oil spill was massive, calling on the authorities to immediately carry out containment measures and urgent intervention in the communities affected.

 

Also, in an interview, Youth leader of Iloma Community, Arnold Hart, lamented that the various means of livelihood of his people have now been destroyed as they could no longer fish or farm due to the massive volumes of crude oil on their land and water.

 

Also, a member of Epelema Community, John Abbey told journalists that residents heard a loud explosion on the evening of Saturday, November 23, 2024 and subsequently heavy and sustained splashes of crude oil as high as a communications mast all over the community, followed by massive volumes of crude oil in the creeks.

 

He regretted that the community is grounded as their various means of livelihood are all gone with the intense amounts of crude oil both in the water and on their lands, calling on the government and the NNPCL to quickly come to their aid.

 

An environmental stakeholder, who preferred anonymity, called for the arrest of the NNPCL workers found at the site of the incident, pointing out that a flange on the pipeline was already a clear indicator of suspicious activity on their part, urging the NNPCL to immediately activate containment measures.

 

As it is, maritime activities around Iloma, Ayaminima, Epelema, Minima, Orupiri, Oloma, Burukiri, Polokiri, Oguede and several other communities in that axis will be greatly reduced as the water bodies around them are currently at risk of inflammation at the slightest hint of fire either from plug sparks or any other ignition.

 

The NNPCL was yet to make any comment on the incident.

 

Leadership.

 

 

 

 

Kenya's Ruto Moves to Broaden Govt, Targets Opposition Inclusion

Kenyan President William Ruto has initiated a restructuring of his administration, advertising positions for principal secretaries in a move seen as targeting opposition figures to build a broad-based government ahead of the 2027 election.

 

The recruitment drive, announced by Kenya's Public Service Commission, signals plans for a shake-up of the senior civil service to accommodate more opposition members.

 

It comes as Ruto navigates political challenges ahead of his 2027 re-election bid, including tensions within his administration and the crucial Mt Kenya voting bloc.

 

This marks the latest step in a series of reforms following June protests that prompted President Ruto to dismiss his entire cabinet.

 

The reshuffle saw half of his former ministers reinstated, with key positions handed to allies of opposition leader Raila Odinga.

 

In July, John Mbadi, a close ally of Odinga, was appointed Treasury Secretary, while former governors Wycliffe Oparanya and Hassan Joho were named to Public Service and Mining ministries, respectively. Opiyo Wandayi, another opposition stalwart, took over the Energy docket.

 

The reshuffle also reflects ongoing tensions between Ruto and his former deputy, Rigathi Gachagua, whose impeachment last month made him the first sitting deputy president to be ousted in Kenya's history.

 

Political analysts view the overhaul as part of Ruto's scheme to sideline those sympathetic to Gachagua while securing support from opposition factions to stabilise his administration and consolidate power.

 

The changes highlight the fluid nature of Kenyan politics, where alliances frequently shift as leaders position themselves for future contests.

 

Business Day Africa.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


 


 


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DISCLAIMER: This report has been prepared by Bulls ‘n Bears, a division of Faith Capital (Pvt) Ltd for general information purposes only and does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy or subscribe for any securities. The information contained in this report has been compiled from s believed to be reliable, but no representation or warranty is made or guarantee given as to its accuracy or completeness. All opinions expressed and recommendations made are subject to change without notice. Securities or financial instruments mentioned herein may not be suitable for all investors. Securities of emerging and mid-size growth companies typically involve a higher degree of risk and more volatility than the securities of more established companies. Neither Faith Capital nor any other member of Bulls ‘n Bears nor any other person, accepts any liability whatsoever for any loss howsoever arising from any use of this report or its contents or otherwise arising in connection therewith. Recipients of this report shall be solely responsible for making their own independent investigation into the business, financial condition and future prospects of any companies referred to in this report. Other  Indices quoted herein are for guideline purposes only and d from third parties.

 


 

 


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