It’s just 38 days until national elections in Nigeria, and Mahmood Yakubu, head of the country’s Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), assured Tuesday that his organization is prepared to meet the challenge of managing 93.4 million registered voters as the February 25 elections move ahead as scheduled. Yakubu, speaking at…
Laureen is the editor of Africa Times
Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday toured the Kuje prison in Abuja, following a terrorist attack on the facility that led to the escape of roughly 800 people, more than half still unaccounted for. Buhari visited alongside interior minister Shuaib Mohammad Lamido Belgore and Haliru Nababa, the head of the…
The Nigerian government says it is working toward the safe release of passengers taken captive on the railway line between Abuja, the nation’s capital, and the northern city of Kaduna. The hostages have been held since a March 28 attack on a train running on the line, which is operated…
Nigeria has suspended the use of Twitter across the country, just days after a tweet posted by President Muhammadu Buhari was removed for what the social media platform said was a violation of its rules. Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the Nigerian Minister of Information and Culture, announced the decision in a…
Boarding schools in Nigeria’s Zamfara and Kano states were closed indefinitely on Friday, in order to protect vulnerable sites following the abduction of 317 girls from the Government Girls Secondary School in Jangebe. “As you know, the state government always takes proactive measures on issues related to security,” said the…
Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari confirmed late Thursday that students abducted by Boko Haram last week have been released, calling it a huge relief for the country and the international community. The students were taken from the Government Science Secondary School in the northern town of Kankara in Katsina State. Aminu…
A new report from UNCTAD, the United Nations agency on trade and development, finds that African nations are losing an estimated US$88.6 billion every year in illicit financial flows (IFFs) across borders. IFFs are movements of money and assets that are illegal in source, transfer or use. These losses approach…
President Muhammadu Buhari of Nigeria was among African leaders who welcomed the holy month of Ramadan late Thursday, while cautioning that this year’s observance must be held with precautions because of the global coronavirus pandemic. Buhari’s remarks followed the sighting of the moon that marks the beginning of the 30-day…
The Nigerian president’s announcement that he will not seek re-election at the end of his second term may put to rest the rumors that he’d be the next African leader pushing to extend his mandate. Yet it’s not likely to reduce the conflict Muhammadu Buhari faces with a fierce political…
Laureen is the editor of Africa Times
President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday called former president Goodluck Jonathan to express his condolences following an attack by armed gunmen at the latter’s residence in the early morning hours. Nigerian Army guards repelled the attack at about 3 a.m. at the home in Otuoke, in the coastal state of Bayelsa…
President Uhuru Kenyatta, speaking at the Future Investment Initiative in Saudi Arabia on Wednesday, said it was time for Middle Eastern nations to renew the historic investment interest in African economies, one that dated back to the ancient days of maritime trade depending on dhows and monsoon winds. “Here we…
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and his Russian host and counterpart, President Vladimir Putin, will speak Wednesday as the Russia-Africa Forum formally gets under way in the Black Sea city of Sochi. About four dozen African leaders and high-level government officials are attending the summit and forum, from Nigerian President…
President Muhammadu Buhari of Nigeria is in South Africa for a three-day official visit, where he will meet with his South African counterpart, President Cyril Ramaphosa. Buhari’s plane touched down Wednesday evening at the South African military airbase in Waterkloof, according to a statement from the Nigerian presidency. The two…
President Cyril Ramaphosa of South Africa was among the continent’s leaders wishing a blessed Eid al Fitr celebration to Muslims celebrating the end of Ramadan. “It is an opportunity to renew and continue the values which unite us all: of tolerance, of respect, and of selflessness. It is tradition in…
There’s already new speculation in Nigeria about President Muhammadu Buhari, who left on Thursday for a 10-day private trip to the United Kingdom – the country where he’s twice had extended visits while seeking medical care. Buhari spokesman Femi Adesina announced the travels would follow Buhari’s visit to Nigerians in…