Newscast - Africa

The Academic Staff Union of Universities has extended its warning strike by eight weeks.
ASUU reached the decision after its National Executive Council meeting held at the University of Abuja secretariat of the union following the expiration of its one-month warning strike.
The ASUU’s president, Emmanuel Osodeke, says NEC viewed Government’s response, so far, as a continuation of the unconscionable, mindless, and nonchalant attitude of the Nigerian ruling elite towards the proven path of national development which is education.

China has placed about 17 million residents under lockdown, as virus cases doubled nationwide to nearly 3,400 and anxiety mounted over the resilience of its ‘zero-Covid’ approach in the face of the worst outbreak in two years.
The southern tech hub of Shenzhen told all residents to stay at home as it struggles to eradicate an Omicron flare-up linked to the neighbouring virus-ravaged city of Hong Kong.
The city government notice says the lockdown and a suspension of public transport will last until March 20, adding that it would launch three rounds of mass testing.

UN agencies called for an immediate ceasefire and an end to attacks on healthcare professionals and facilities in Ukraine, describing such incidents as acts of unconscionable cruelty.
The UN Population Fund and the World Health Organization in a joint statement said since the start of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, 31 attacks on health care have been documented via the WHO’s Surveillance System for Attacks on Health Care, the heads of the United Nations Children’s Fund.
The United Nations’ reproductive health agency says two other Ukrainian maternity hospitals had already been attacked and destroyed before that strike.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis have held talks in Istanbul, seeking a rapprochement against the backdrop of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
The Turkish presidency says both countries have key roles to play in the changing security situation in Europe after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and their increased cooperation would have benefits for the region.
The presidency added that despite the disagreements between Turkey and Greece, it was agreed at the meeting to keep communication channels open and to improve bilateral relations.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken and African Union Commission Chairperson Moussa Faki Mahamat convened the U.S.-AU Commission High-Level Dialogue to discuss a strengthened partnership to tackle shared challenges.
The State Department says the meeting targets the COVID-19 pandemic and health security, the climate crisis, the imperative to advance inclusive global economic growth and support for resilient democracies.
A statement issued by the White House outlined an updated Memorandum of Cooperation that was agreed with the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention to expand cooperation on a range of public health issues.

Algeria's President Abdelmadjid Tebboune has banned the export of foodstuffs that the country imports.
The commodities include sugar, veg oil, pasta, semolina and wheat derivatives.
The state news agency says that the president called it economic sabotage for one to sell commodities that the country does not produce locally.
The president's decision also bans importation of frozen meat products.

Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, has described as false the media reports that his office had conclusively exonerated Abba Kyari.
He says there appears to be a misunderstanding regarding the issue.
He says it was a case of a work in progress and the office of the Attorney General of the Federation requested for further probe in relation to some aspects of the investigation.
The AGF affirmed that investigations carried out by the police had indicted the once-celebrated officer for money laundering.

The Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Mr Adeniyi Adebayo, says total cumulative investments in the country’s Free Economic Zones was about $20 billion over its 30 years of operations.
The minister says the generous fiscal incentives associated with the free zone scheme remained a veritable source of economic development.
Adebayo pointed out that the free zone scheme generated N250 billion in both foreign and local direct investments in 2021 and N35 billion in customs duty payments as well as N65 billion in local import/backward linkage.
He added that the scheme generated N500 million in Pay as You Earn 25,000 in new employment and 5,000 transfer of skills.

The Federal Government is still in negotiations with the organised labour as regards the removal of subsidy on petrol.
Officials of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited and the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority stated that the removal of subsidies on petrol had been an explosive issue.
They said this had made the government engage in negotiations with the organised labour on the matter despite the persistent rise in the amount being spent on subsidy amidst the recent increase in global crude oil prices.

Nigeria's drugs agency has seized three million capsules of opioids.
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency director Femi Babafemi, says the authorities intercepted about 1,500kg of Tapentadol and Carisoprodol.
He says the capsules were thought to have originated from China and were falsely labelled as insulation fittings and industrial office printers.
He says further investigation however proved them to be from India and some suspects have been arrested.