Newscast - Africa

OPEC and the oil cartel’s allies will hold a key output meeting on Thursday facing new challenges as the Omicron coronavirus variant has roiled markets and other US-led nations decided to tap their strategic reserves.
Peter McNally, an analyst at the Third Bridge think tank says the meeting is shaping up to be one of the most significant since the pandemic demand recovery began, and the key signal will be how much more oil will be added to supply to start the new year.
Carsten Fritsch of Commerzbank says there is much to suggest that OPEC+ will not initially step up its oil production any further” in an effort to maintain current prices at around $70 a barrel.

Japan confirmed its first case of the Omicron coronavirus variant, a day after authorities announced new Covid border restrictions.
Government spokesman Hirokazu Matsuno says regarding the traveller arriving from Namibia, it was confirmed to be a case of Omicron after analysis at the National Institute of Infectious Diseases.
The announcement came a day after Japan tightened its border rules again, barring all new foreign arrivals just weeks after relaxing tough regulations to allow some students and business travellers entry.
Japan has recorded just over 18,300 coronavirus cases during the pandemic while avoiding tough lockdowns.

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres says he is deeply concerned by travel bans on southern Africa.
The UN chief says the people of Africa cannot be blamed for the immorally low level of vaccinations available in Africa and they should not be penalised for identifying and sharing crucial science and health information with the world.
The UN chief viewed the blanket barring of certain citizens as a form of collective punishment.
The UN chief has appealed to governments to consider scientific-based solutions such as increased testing and quarantine if need be.

Uganda People’s Defence Forces Spokesperson Brigadier General Flavia Byekwaso says the Ugandan army has launched joint air and artillery strikes against the rebel group the Allied Democratic Forces in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.
She says that the operations were carried out with Congolese allies, against ADF camps, but did not give further details on the areas they have been conducted.
Ugandan authorities blame the ADF, which is affiliated with the so-called Islamic State, for a series of bomb attacks in the country since October.
IS claimed responsibility for twin bombings just outside the capital Kampala’s central police station and near parliament.

Former Director-General of the Lagos State Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Muda Yusuf, has backed the removal of fuel subsidy, saying the move is necessary for the nation’s economy to stand.
Yusuf condemned a situation, whereby the Federal Government spends N3 trillion annually on fuel subsidies.
He says for this economy to continue to stand, subsidy removal has to happen.
He added that they cannot continue with a situation whereby they will be spending close to N3 trillion annually on subsidies and not just because of that, because of the investment, macro-economic implication.

The Federal Government has condemned the recent murder of two policemen in the South-East, warning that those who carried out the killings will be apprehended and brought to justice.
Lai Mohammed, the Minister of Information and Culture, described the abduction of three policemen and the killing of two of them as the most horrific and barbaric, saying it was an unacceptable attack against the state.
The Minister says the two officers, Inspectors Akubo and Adamu, were killed in the most gruesome manner and their decapitated bodies videotaped and circulated widely.

The Senate has directed its Committee on Interior to commence an investigation to unravel circumstances behind incessant jailbreaks in the country.
The lawmakers during plenary on Tuesday directed the committee to invite the Minister of Interior, the Comptroller General for the Nigeria Correctional Service and the Attorney General of the Federation to investigate the status of correctional centres nationwide.
This according to the lawmakers is to also prevent future recurrence of jailbreaks.
Senator Gyang says the attack is a setback to the relative peace in Plateau North and called for an efficient reinforcement and security management system to prevent attacks at correctional centers across the country.

The Chief Justice of Nigeria, Tanko Mohammed has vowed that the judiciary would not rest on its oars until corruption is stamped out of the country.
The CJN says between 2020/2021, over 756 corrupt cases were handled in the country.
He also added that from January to November this year, 1,144 suspects were convicted of various corruption offences and financial crimes including hundreds of millions of cash forfeitures, alongside eight aircraft, seven fuel stations among others.
He further noted that for any nation to prosper, the judiciary must remain independent and insulated from interference.
He said the judges must dispense justice without fear or favour and in line with the knowledge and understanding of the law.

Justice Anwuli Chikere of the Federal High Court in Abuja declared as illegal, unlawful and unconstitutional, the banishment of the deposed Emir of Kano, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi to Awe, a remote community in Nasarawa State.
The court held that the restrictions placed on Sanusi after his deposition on March 9, 2020, on allegations of insubordination are a clear arbitrary violation of his right to freedom of movement and personal liberty granted by the Nigerian constitution.
Justice Chikere further held that the right to freedom of liberty and personal dignity granted under Section 34 of Nigeria’s constitution cannot be taken away as done by the Kano Government, Police, Department of State Services and Attorney-General of the Federation except with express order of the court.

The Nigerian government has reassured the Republic of South Africa that it will continue to strengthen bilateral ties and work together to promote Africa’s development.
Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama says both countries have common interests which must be used to move Africa forward.
He says the people of Southern Africa and West Africa are indeed brothers although separated by the distance they have the same outlook and aspiration.
He is confident that the conclusion and the implementation of these agreements would cause a significant improvement in relations between the peoples of our two great countries.