First Independent Mena Newspaper
A new report from the African Development Bank (AfDB) underscores Africa’s impressive economic recovery, highlighting the continent’s resilience, growth, and the impact of bold reforms. With a projected GDP growth from 3.2% in 2024 to 4.1% in 2025 and 4.4% in 2026, Africa is now the second-fastest-growing regional economy globally, trailing only Asia. This growth […]
Nigeria has become the 77th shareholder in the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development. The Bank’s board of governors approved Nigeria’s membership after it amended its laws to expand incremental funding to Sub-Saharan Africa, the bank said in a statement. Through this membership, Nigeria hopes to benefit from EBRD funding, which is yet to be […]
Nigeria and China have announced a joint effort to combat the rising involvement of Chinese nationals in financial crimes across Nigeria and also fighting fake news. This follows a recent visit by Chinese Ambassador Yu Dunhai to Nigeria’s Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and Ministry of Information and National Orientation in Abuja. In a […]
The recent withdrawal of Burkina Faso, Niger, and Mali from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has placed significant pressure on Nigeria’s military, especially its Air Force. Air marshal Hassan Abubakar, Nigeria’s chief of air staff, highlighted at a recent meeting in Abuja that the departure of these countries from the regional security […]
Volkswagen Group Africa (VWGA) is celebrating a significant achievement in 2024, setting a new export record with 131,485 vehicles shipped, marking a 21% increase over the previous record of 108,422 vehicles in 2019. This milestone highlights the company’s strengthened global presence, with its plant in Kariega, South Africa, being the sole exporter of Polo models […]
A wave of public outrage has erupted across Nigeria as leading telecom providers MTN and Airtel implement steep data price increases amid mounting economic challenges. MTN, the country’s largest network operator, has tripled its popular 15GB weekly bundle price from 2,000 to 6,000 naira, sparking fierce criticism from subscribers already grappling with soaring living costs. […]
A BBC investigation reveals troubling allegations that Shell overlooked repeated warnings about corruption and mismanagement in Nigeria’s billion-dollar Ogoniland oil clean-up project. The program, initiated eight years ago and funded by various oil firms including Shell’s $350 million contribution, faces accusations of widespread fraud and ineffectiveness. Internal documents suggest both Shell and Nigerian government officials […]
Nigeria is attracting increasing international attention for its vast lithium reserves, a critical mineral in the global push for clean energy technologies such as electric vehicles (EVs) and solar panels. As Africa is projected to supply 20% of the world’s lithium by 2030, Nigeria aims to position itself as a key player in this growing […]
The sudden halt in USAID funding by US president Donald Trump has sparked a growing crisis for non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and healthcare workers across Africa, who are now scrambling to cope with the financial and logistical fallout. The US Agency for International Development (USAID) last week announced the suspension of its programs in several African […]
A sharp restriction in off-continental irregular migration combined with escalating push factors will continue to shape governance and security priorities in Africa in 2025, according to a new report by the Africa Center for Strategic Studies (ACSS), which also highlights the urgent need for more regional cooperation to accommodate intra-continental population movements. The new analysis […]