Headline
Nigeria, China Trade Volume Tops $20bn
The Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria, Ambassador Cui Jianchun, has said that the trade volume between his country and Nigeria was $20bn in 2020 despite the coronavirus pandemic.
During the period, the envoy explained, China’s GDP also grew to $15.7tn from $10.5bn in 1952.
Addressing a news conference in Abuja on Tuesday to mark the moon festival, one of the most important traditional holidays in China, Jianchun disclosed that Chinese firms and nationals had donated cash and materials valued at N3bn to Nigeria as COVID-19 support.
According to him, the Asian powerhouse has provided three batches of medical aid and also shared its experience on epidemic prevention and control with the Federal Government.
The envoy said the Chinese government planned to donate 500,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccines to Nigeria, noting that the first batch was under consideration.
He said, “China’s trade volume with Nigeria is growing. Last year, trade between the two countries grew to about $20bn and we expect this to continue to grow as the relations between us wax stronger.
“The local Chinese are rushing to help their Nigerian brothers and sisters. The total value of materials and funds donated by the local Chinese companies and nationals amounted to N3bn.”
The ambassador proposed a Nigeria-China GDP Strategy, arguing that the two countries needed to form ‘an orchestra to play a symphony within the Belt and Road Initiative’.
Headline
IBB Set to Launch Long-awaited Memoir, ‘A Journey of Service’
Former Military President, Gen Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida (IBB), is set to launch his long-awaited autobiography.
Reports said the memoir titled: ‘A Journey In Service’, will be released on February 20, 2025, at the Congress Hall of Transcorp Hilton Hotel in Abuja.
The development is coming 32 years after IBB left office.
The regime of the former Head of State was negatively shaped and defined by the adoption of the Structural Adjustment Programme (SAP) policy, among other regulations, which sparked a nationwide riot by student union and other similar groups.
There was also the unresolved murder of the late journalist, Dele Giwa, and the June 12 annulment, among other controversial issues.
While in office, IBB was popular with the moniker “evil genius” and “Maradona”.
Explaining the nicknames, IBB said they were manufactured by the media because of his “deft political moves”.
“That’s the very good thing about the Nigerian media and Nigerian people. You have to anticipate them.
“If you anticipate them, then you live well with them. They call me ‘evil genius’, I marvel at that. The contradiction, you can’t be evil and then be a genius.”
“The definition of Maradona I got from the media is because of deft political moves. That’s the way the media described it”, he had said.
He succumbed to pressure in August 1993 when he “stepped aside” for the late Ernest Shonekan as the chairman of the Interim Government.
The late General Sanni Abacha would, however, topple the government in 1993 and would subsequently die in office in 1998.
Although IBB granted interviews to local and international media since leaving office, he has somehow found a way around some of these contentious issues that happened during his rule.
About seven years ago, he had expressed doubts about writing an autobiography, saying he was uncertain if Nigerians would “want to read about a dictator”.
He added that the public had a wrong impression of him, citing his role in the June 12 crisis, and some of the policies he unfurled between 1985 and 1993 as head of a junta.
However, he made a U-Turn and wrote the book.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will lead former Nigerian leaders and their counterparts in other parts of Africa to grace the much awaited autobiography.
According to an invite dispatched to dignitaries this week, the board of trustees of the IBB Presidential Library Foundation said the book launch will take place alongside fundraising for a Presidential Library.
The organisers said the event would be chaired by former President Olusegun Obasanjo, with President Bola Tinubu as the Special Guest of Honour.
The keynote address would be delivered by the former president of Ghana, Nana Akufo-Addo, while former vice-president Yemi Osinbajo would review the autobiography.
Other guests billed to attend include ex-presidents Muhammadu Buhari, Yakubu Gowon, Abdulsalami Abubakar, and Goodluck Jonathan.
A former Minister of Defence Gen. Theophilus Danjuma and Chairman of BUA Group; Abdul Samad Rabiu, are named chief launchers.
Headline
What is Going on in PDP is Extremely Embarrassing – Dele Momodu
A Peoples Democratic Party chieftain, and celebrated publisher, Chief Dele Momodu, has said that the situation in his party is worrisome and ‘extremely embarrassing’, acknowledging that the one time biggest party in Africa, is facing serious challenges.
Momodu made the remarks while fielding questions on a Channels TV current affairs programme, stressing that he is not ashamed of talking about the problems of the party, and regularly sharing his thoughts on social media.
He further expressed surprise that the party has not suspended or expelled him despite his open criticism.
Momodu described the situation in the PDP as embarrassing, noting that the party should be leading the opposition in Nigeria, but it is not living up to expectations and seems to have lost its direction. According to him, a few individuals have taken control of the party, making it difficult for it to function properly.
“I know that we have very critical problems in PDP, there is no questions. I am not ashamed. Every now and then I tweet or post in Instagram. I speak freely. I am even surprised that they have not suspended or expelled me from PDP because what is going on in PDP is extremely embarrassing. We should be leading the opposition parties in Nigeria but it is like we have virtually given up. We are allowing one or two people to hijack our party,” Momodu said.
Headline
Telecom Executive, Ahmad Farroukh Leaves Globacom
News of the early departure of Mr Ahmad Farroukh from the telecom giant Globacom suggests that he has been eased out in a shakeup by the management, according to an investigation.
“Ahmad Farroukh failed to meet up to expectations within his probationary period and he was politely asked to resign…” said an impeccable source.
“Despite the shake-up, Globacom’s commitment to innovation and expansion continues, reinforcing its competitive edge in a rapidly evolving telecom landscape..” the source further told us.
A former CEO of MTN Nigeria from 2006 to 2010, Farroukh joined Glo in October last year.
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