Africa Business News

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control says thirty-two Delta variant cases of coronavirus have been reported in five states across the country.
The Director-General of the NCDC, Dr Chikwe Ihekweazu says Nineteen of the cases were reported in Akwa Ibom State.
Ihekweazu listed Lagos, Cross River, and Oyo states as well as the Federal Capital Territory, as the other places where at least one case of the Delta variant of COVID-19 has been confirmed in the country.
Health experts have continued to watch certain coronavirus mutations and variants that have become more contagious and deadlier than the original strain.

A report in the Financial Times newspaper shows that Pfizer and Moderna, the manufacturers of two of the most effective COVID-19 vaccines, have raised the prices of their jabs in their latest European Union supply contracts.
The media outlet says the new price for the Pfizer shot was 19.50 euros compared with 15.50 euros previously, citing portions of the contracts it had seen.
The FT says the price of a dose of the Moderna vaccine was set at $25.50, according to the contracts, compared with $22.60 in the first procurement deal, although lower than the previously agreed $28.50 because the order was larger.
Al Jazeera’s Neave Barker, says the price hikes reflected the continued demand for effective jabs and that governments had become a captive audience to pharmaceutical companies.

Canada has officially marked the abolishment of slavery nearly 200 years ago in its first nationwide Emancipation Day.
Canadian parliamentarians unanimously voted in March to recognise Emancipation Day across the country on August 1, the same date in 1834 that an act came into effect banning slavery in former British colonies, including Canada.
Senator Wanda Thomas Bernard, says the day is not a celebration but rather a time of reflection, a time of remembering their ancestors and a time for honouring their ancestors.
Thomas Bernard explained that Black history must be taught across Canada year-round and that an apology and reparations need to be discussed.

Ethiopia's national carrier Ethiopian Airlines has denied reports that it shipped arms to the conflict-hit region of Tigray.
The airline says that after the airspace was reopened it only gave commercial essential service by transporting civilians.
The airspace was reopened in December 2020 then closed again a few weeks ago when Tigray rebels started fighting against pro-government forces.
Ethiopian Airlines says it has had no flight to the region since the recent closure.
The airline says the reports are from people who want to defame and spoil its image.
It says photos of uniformed officers disembarking are old and that it had never transported soldiers to combat areas.

The federal government says there is an ongoing effort involving some key government establishments in the gas and power value chain to address the gas supply challenge and increase output from the power generation companies.
The federal government says it would take a decisive measure against the ministries, departments and agencies under it over their high indebtedness to the Gencos and distribution companies.
Special Adviser to the President on Infrastructure and Secretary of the Power Sector Reform Working Group, Mr Ahmed Zakari, says discussions were ongoing to address the gas supply concerns.
Zakari attributed the gas supply challenge to a lack of firm gas agreements backed with Power Purchase Agreements between some of the Gencos and their gas suppliers.

The Secretary-General of the Commonwealth, Rt. Hon Patricia Scotland QC says the Commonwealth was closely monitoring developments around the suspension of Twitter and allegations of repression of the rights to freedom of expression, access to information, media freedom, as well as disregard for the rule of law in Nigeria.
Scotland says she had been following the developments in Nigeria very closely and was engaging the relevant stakeholders.
She says all Commonwealth member countries including Nigeria have committed themselves to uphold freedom of expression as one of the core values and principles of the Commonwealth Charter, which underscores a commitment to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and other relevant human rights covenants and international instruments.

The National Primary Health Care Development Agency says the Federal Government will receive about 4.8 million doses of Moderna COVID-19 Vaccines.
NPHCDA Executive Director/ CEO, Dr Faisal Shuaib, says the consignment is a donation from the American government.
The PSC Chairman and the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, says the call followed recent confirmation of more cases of the Delta variant of COVID-19 in several states and the continued rising number of infections and hospitalization across the country.
He warned all political parties, State governments, Independent National Electoral Commission and State Independent Electoral Commissions to avoid the spread of the virus amid political gatherings and ensure maximum public safety.

The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation has announced that its downstream subsidiary, the Petroleum Products Marketing Company, recorded ₦234.63 billion revenue from the sale of white products in March representing a 24.7% increase from the ₦188.15billion sales recorded in February.
The report indicated that total revenues generated from the sales of white products for the period of March 2020 to March 2021 stood at ₦2.129trillion, where petrol contributed about 99.24% of the total sales with a value of ₦2.113trllion.
The NNPC continues to monitor the daily stock of PMS to achieve uninterrupted supply, effective distribution and zero fuel queue across Nigeria.

The Senate Committee on Banking and Other Financial Institutions has urged state governments particularly in the northwest zone of the country to ensure financial inclusion for poor citizens.
They raised the concern that over 70 per cent of adults in the northwest zone are financially excluded while addressing reporters in Kaduna.
The Chairman of the committee, Senator Uba Sani, urged the Northern Governors to come with a sustainable framework as soon as possible.
He described the situation as a threat to the realization of the Federal Government’s poverty reduction plan.
Senator Sani says state governments must hasten the establishment of microfinance and community banks to help deepen access to financial services in the rural communities, where the majority of the country’s excluded population live.

A Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Muiz Banire has described the indictment of a Deputy Commissioner for Police, Abba Kyari, in the case of international fraud, as a dent in the image of the country.
Mr Muiz in an interview on Channels Television’s made the comments while reacting to the suspension of Mr Kyari by the Police Service Commission on Sunday.
The commission has also directed the Inspector General of Police, Usman Alkali Baba, to furnish it with information on further developments on the matter for necessary further action.