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Tag: countries

  • Glo gives customers Wi-Fi roaming in 42 countries

    Glo gives customers Wi-Fi roaming in 42 countries

    Globacom has unveiled Wi-Fi roaming to give its teeming subscribers seamless internet connectivity when they travel to 42 countries.

    The service gives the telco’s subscribers who travel outside the country access to over 300,000 internet hotspots in 42 countries around the world.

    In a statement, its  Chief Commercial Director, Mr. Ajay Mathur, said subscribers on pre-paid and post-paid platforms will be able to enjoy exceptionally fast WiFi speeds on their mobile devices or tablets in popular locations such as airports, hotels, restaurants, stadiums and coffee shops in the countries where the offer is available.

    “The Glo Wi-Fi roaming plans are like passes which grant our subscribers access to their favorite social media applications, websites or emails on any Wi-Fi-enabled mobile device or tablet. It automatically connects them to thousands of hotspots when they travel,” Mathur said.

    According to Mathur, the service is available in daily and weekly hourly Wi-Fi plans which are affordable, easy to monitor and give the subscriber double validity. The daily pack costs N2,100 for one hour and has a validity period of two days, while the weekly pack costs N9,200 for five hours with a 14-day validity.

    “Whichever pack the subscriber chooses, he is guaranteed the same clear and transparent rate across all available hotspots,” Mathur said. He added that each purchased plan has a period of six months within which the subscriber can use it.

    Some of the benefits the subscribers will be enjoying include internet speed three times faster than 3G, zero roaming charges, absence of contracts to use the service, zero fee for cancellation and round-the-clock customer service.

    The countries w here subscribers can enjoy this service include, France, United Kingdom, Germany, China, Japan, Canada, Spain, Switzerland, Brazil, India, Austria, Belgium, Taiwan, Denmark, Ireland, Netherland and Russia.

    Others are Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Finland, French Guiana, French Polynesia, Greece, Guadeloupe, Hungary, Israel, Luxemburg and Malta. The rest are Martinique, Poland, Romania, Slovenia, Reunion Island, Australia, New Zealand and Grenada

    Mathur explained that subscribers who wish to enjoy the service only have to download the Glo Wi-Fi roaming App which is available on the Android market and Apple Store. Subscription is done via the app and by SMS locally before the customer travels. Subscription abroad would incur roaming charges as the subscriber would need to activate his roaming service to download app or send SMS.

    He also said that the prepaid subscriber would need to load credit on his account to ensure he has enough airtime to cover his desired Wi-Fi plan, while the postpaid customer simply subscribes for the desired plan from the App and the cost associated with the plan will be reflected in his monthly bill.

     

  • Invest in livestock, African countries urged

    • ‘Sector’s global value hits $1.4 tr

    A Livestock expert and Executive Director of Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA), Dr. Yemi Akinbamijo, has challenged African countries to invest in livestock.

    He spoke as a guest lecturer at the  yearly lecture of  the Department of Animal Science with the Directorate of International Programmes, University of Uyo (UNIUYO), Akwa Ibom State.

    He decried the low level of investments and lack of interest by most African countries, including Nigeria, in the sector, saying the situation was pathetic.

    Akinbamijo said the major challenge that livestock investors face in Africa is  low capacity for innovation.

    On why African countries must take action, Akinbamijo said total asset value of the global livestock market stood at $1.4 trillion and the sector globally employs about 1.3 billion people with Africa gaining or contributing very little.

    He said of the five highest value global commodities, four are livestock.

    The FARA chief said by 2040, 70 percent of global beef and milk will be produced in developing countries by small holders.

    On global food production, Akinbamijo said by 2050, the meat and milk markets are projected to increase 145 percent and 155 percent, respectively, over 2005/07 levels.

    He said over this period, Africa’s increase in volume of meat consumed will be at par with that of the developed world and Latin America and gains in the size of Africa’s milk markets will be stronger than in any other region except South Asia.

    He said further that the yearly growth rates in both meat and milk consumption are projected to be higher in Africa than in any other region except in South Asia. In both volume and value, beef, milk and poultry will provide business opportunities for Africa’s livestock producers, sellers and investors, the FARA Boss submitted.

    He however regretted that since livestock do not get the attention it deserve in most part of Africa, its potential to contribute to economic well-being of the continent is under-exploited.

    According to him, three quarters of Africa’s rural households, who possess livestock, employ about 50 per cent of agricultural labour force. He added that the trend accounts for about one third of agricultural Gross Domestic Product GDP (contributes about 10 per cent of GDP).

    He said that livestock which is the fastest growing agriculture subsector, provides food; employment and income; soil fertility improvement; traction (ploughing and transport), including capital accumulation to cope with food crises and major life events.

    He, however, advised African governments and investors in livestock to add value to their stock for greater markets outreach.

    The lecture with the theme “Livestock and the economic wellbeing in Africa” was sponsored by by Dantata Foods and Allied Products.

  • Scandinavian countries okay Yoruba language in schools

    The countries that make up the Scandinavian have approved the teaching of Yoruba language in their schools.

    The Scandinavia, made up of Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Finland and Iceland, gave the approval late in 2014.

    This revelation was made on Saturday by the Sweden Coordinator of the Oodua Progressive Union, Victor Mobolaji Adewale, during the Europe meeting of the Union held in Istanbul, Turkey.

    Adewale, who also emerged as the Deputy Coordinator of the body in Europe, said the approval followed the well attended launch of the Union in Sweden on November 29, 2014.

    He said it was attended by government officials from the Scandinavian countries who thereafter okayed the teaching of Yoruba language in their schools.

    He said the Union also has the OPU radio functioning in the Scandinavian countries, using it as a medium of popularising the Yoruba language and reaching out to people of like minds.

    “We are happy to report that the Yoruba language has got the approval of the authorities for it to be taught in schools in the Scandinavian countries. It is a major breakthrough for us in popularising our mother tongue,” he said.

    The Convener of the OPU and National Coordinator of the Oodua People’s Congress, Otunba Gani Adams, who expressed happiness at the development, said one of the reasons for the summit was capacity building.

    He advised the Europe chapters of the OPU to be aggressive in expanding their coasts by building more chapters – and should aim towards covering 25 countries out of the 28 in Europe. Adams added that OPU was now present in 56 countries and urged the group to collaborate with the Nigerian embassies in the various countries.

    “Protecting the image of Nigeria is important. Liaise with the embassies, the Missions of Nigeria in all the countries where you are based.  They are the representatives of Nigeria out here,” he said.

    The Publisher of Freedom Online, Gabriel Akinadewo, delivered a lecture on: “Leadership and the Nigerian challenge.”

    Akinadewo admonished members of the OPU to develop leadership capacity in order to run a truly strong organisation.

    Among those who attended the meeting was the paramount ruler of Arigidi Akoko in Ondo State, Oba Yisa Olanipekun.

    One of the major highlights of the meeting was the emergence of the executive members of the Europe chapter. The Coordinator of the chapter is Akogun Banjo Ojo.

     

    Culled from theeagleonline.com.ng

  • Hotel, tourism conference to host 30 countries

    Preparations are gearing up towards the Nigerian Hotel and Tourism Investment Conference.

    The event, which is meant to bring key players in the hospitality and tourism sector together as an avenue to promote Nigerian tourism potentials, is the brainchild of Jonel hospitality, an integrated and comprehensive hospitality consulting company.

    The conference, according to Jonel Hospitality Managing partner, Brian Efa, is meant to be a focal point as the government strives towards the diversification of its economy.

    He made the statement at a briefing in Lagos, adding that more than 200 industry professionals from 30 countries are expected to attend.  “The event is meant to be a networking hub and would serve as expos of investment opportunities in the hospitality sector with a mind of creating employment for the youth.

    “And there will also be a significant increase in participants from the Middle East and North Africa. This clearly demonstrates the regional appeal of the event and reflects the heightened activity in hotel investment through the country,” Efa said.

     

  • Gates Foundation spends bulk of agric grants in rich countries

    Most of the $3billionb (£1.8billion) that the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation has given to benefit hungry people in the world’s poorest countries has been spent in the United States, Britain and other rich countries, with only around 10 per cent  spent in Africa, new research suggests.

    Analysis of grants made by the foundation shows that nearly half the money awarded over the past decade went to global agriculture research networks, as well as organisations, including the World Bank and United Nation agencies, and groups that work in Africa to promote hi-tech farming.

    The other $1.5billion went to hundreds of research and development organisations across the world, according to Grain, a research group based in Barcelona.

    “Here, over 80 per cent of the grants were given to organisations in the US and Europe, and only 10 per cent  to groups in Africa. By far the main recipient country is the US, followed by the UK, Germany and the Netherlands,” it says in a report.

    Of the $678million given to universities and national research centres, 79 per cent  went to the US and Europe, and only 12 per cent  to Africa.

    “The north-south divide is most shocking, however, when we look at the $669million given to non-government groups for agriculture work.

  • IFAD boss, others speak on agric investments in Ebola-affected countries

    IFAD boss, others speak on agric investments in Ebola-affected countries

    Ebola ravaged countries are not only contending with the debilitating ailment but also at a brink of a food crisis.

    Appalled by this development, Dr Kanayo F. Nwanze, President of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), along with Florence Chenoweth, Minister of Agriculture, Liberia and Joseph Sam Sesay, ?Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Food Security, Sierra Leone addressed a press conference on the concerns.

    IFAD is an international financial institution and a specialised United Nations agency based in Rome – the UN’s food and agriculture hub.

    Nwanze in his keynote address at the World Food Prize international symposium stressed the importance of investing in rural agriculture around the world, especially in the face of issues such as the current Ebola crisis, climate change, and other challenges.

    Worried that the food crisis could assume an epic proportion, the IFAD boss impressed on the governments at all levels to close ranks in order to stem the tide of food crisis and forestall other dire consequences.

    IFAD invests in rural people, empowering them to reduce poverty, increase food security, improve nutrition and strengthen resilience. Since 1978, IFAD has provided over US$16 billion in grants and low-interest loans to projects that have reached more than 430 million people.

     

  • Buyers of ‘Tokunbo’ vehicles resort to vehicles from neighbouring countries

    Buyers of ‘Tokunbo’ vehicles resort to vehicles from neighbouring countries

    Forgetting completely about the implications of the new automotive policy, which took effect from the first of this month, Mrs. Amaka Nwaneri called her friend in Florida, United States of America (USA), who is a car dealer to ship two vehicles to her.

    Her current car, a Corolla DS, 1999 model which she bought through the same source for 2,000 US dollars (N320,000),shipped to Nigeria for about N160,000 and cleared at the port for N180,000 two years ago, was almost falling apart.

    She and her friends have always found it cheaper to import cars from the US. With her meagre savings of about 8,000 US dollars, which is the equivalent of N1,320,000 at the rate of N165 per dollar She reasoned the money will cover the cost of purchasing the fairly used vehicles, plus the cost of freight and the clearing at the Apapa Ports.

    Sure enough, within two weeks her friend called back that he had identified two vehicles, Toyota Corolla 2003 model for 2,600 US dollars and a GMC Endeavour Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV), 2003 model for 4,000 US dollars.

    Happily, Mrs. Nwaneri now proceeded to remit money to her friend’s account in Florida. However, she called her clearing agent to intimate him of the development. Her agent gave her a shocker when he told her it was no longer business as usual. “With the implementation of the new auto policy, the costs of clearing vehicles at the ports have almost doubled,” he said.

    Previously, the Toyota Corolla would have been cleared by the Customs for between N180,000 and N200,000, but since July 1st, it is now cleared for between N300,000 and N350,0000 while the SUV is now cleared at the ports for about N600,000, depending on the date of manufacturing, model and capacity of the vehicle. The freight or shipping cost, however, remains the same; that is between 1,000 and 1,500 US dollars.

    After adding up the new clearing cost, freighting cost and other expenses which she may incur regarding the vehicles, it dawned on her that the money at her disposal would not cover her expenses. She would need more money in order to import the vehicles.

    But she needed to change her current vehicle which keeps breaking down and letting her down whenever she needed it most. Moreover, she reasoned with the nature of her job, which requires her to be on the move, she cannot afford not to have a reliable vehicle.

    So what other alternatives are left for her? She proceeded to the car shops but sadly realised that the prices were very high, so she went to the popular Julius Berger Bus stop along Apapa Oshodi Express way that is host to a thriving open vehicle market.

    There, she saw an array of fairly used vehicles on display. She could buy her Toyota Corolla or any of such cars depending on the manufactured date, model and the general condition of the car for between N900,000 and N1,000,000 and she could also purchase a Lexus jeep (baby Oku), PathFinder, ecetera manufactured  between 2002 and 2003 for about N1.4million or less.

    From research, the prices of tokunbo vehicles at most open car markets, like Berger, have not really gone up or has not quite been fully affected by the new automotive policy.

    In an interview with Mr. Chinagoron Nweke, the Secretary of the Julius Berger Car Union, he said this was so because the vehicles from Berger and most open car markets come through different sources, for instance the Benin Republic Port and not just through the Nigerian ports.

    Realising that he may have divulged much, he refused further interview with the reporter directing her to other members of the association or the tokunbo vehicle market beside Gate Way Hotel, Ogun State or to Mazamaza Car market opposite Festac Town, Lagos.

    However, further enquiries revealed that 99per cent of vehicles at the open car markets are imported through the Benin Republic Port; therefore the prices are not duly affected by the levies and duty at the Nigerian ports. But with the increased levies and duty, most car dealers and individuals may resort to buying cars from neighbouring countries with less import tariffs for better bargains.

    However, the danger with patronising such dealers is that most of them pay the minimal duty at Benin Republic and when they bring the vehicle into Nigeria, they try to avoid paying the full duty and will not reveal that to the buyer. The buyer may be driving the vehicle within the town without knowing, but once he ventures onto the high way the vehicle gets impounded by Customs officials who would have discovered that the full duty has not been paid.

    One of the car dealers at Berger who pleaded for anonymity disclosed that “the dishonest ones among us may file the forms for paying of car duty in Nigeria. If the cost is N100,000, the car dealer may deposit N10,000 with no intention to pay the rest and will hide it from the intending buyer.

    “But this can only happen with fairly used cars from Benin Republic. If the vehicle is coming from the Apapa Port, the full duty and levies will be paid before the Customs officials may agree to release the vehicle, so buyers should be very careful when they go to the open car market,” he added.

    Another alternative to owning a vehicle in Nigeria now is through car financing, explained Mr. Ohi Obadan of Skymit, one of the authorised Mercedes-Benz dealers in the country.

    In an interview with Mr. Obadan at the corporate office of Skymit at 32, Mobolaji Bank Anthony Way, Ikeja, Lagos, he said that car financing is the easiest way of buying cars in the country.

    Explaining, he said that it is a system where a consumer goes to an established car shop to work out with the dealer on the car to purchase and how to pay for the vehicle over a period of time while the vehicle remains in the custodian of the customer.

    Giving an example, Mr. Obadan said that at Skymit, if a vehicle costs N1million, the intending buyer is asked to deposit 30per cent of the money and pay the remaining N700,000 over a period of 24 months at the prevailing bank interest rate.

    Speaking on the new auto policy, he said it will encourage car smugglers and deny a lot of Nigerians who have sources of bringing cars from abroad the opportunity of owning a vehicle.

    The federal government, determined to resume vehicle assembly plants in the country, decades after all plants except Peugeot Automobile of Nigeria (PAN) closed shops, has insisted on going ahead with plans to discourage vehicle importation from the 1st of this month.

    The policy, among other things, stipulates that a fully built car would attract a duty of 35per cent and a levy of another 35per cent of the cost of the vehicle.

    Many industry stakeholders doubt the workability of the policy, with some arguing that there are no such modalities as the necessary infrastructures, effective power supply, and access to affordable credit facility for effective implementation, amongst others.

    However, the Managing Director, PAN, Nigeria Ltd, Ibrahim Boyi, said full implementation of the new auto policy would revolutionise the growth and development of the nation’s industrial sector.

    Also, many auto manufacturers, both local and international, have lauded the initiative, saying it would be the best policy to have happened in the auto industry in the country.

    Meanwhile, Mrs. Nwaneri is still not able to buy her fairly used cars as the money she budgeted for them before the implementation of the new policy can no longer cover the cost of two. So, maybe, she will buy just one.

  • Emerging markets countries to raise $614b in 2014

    Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services projects that the 17 emerging market sovereigns included in the JP Morgan EMBI+ Index will borrow an equivalent of $614 billion from long-term commercial sources in the year. This would be a 0.3 per cent increase in long-term commercial debt issuance compared with 2013.

    Some 54 per cent or $329 billion of the sovereigns’ gross borrowing will be to refinance maturing long-term debt, resulting in an estimated net borrowing requirement of $285 billion.

    Standard & Poor’s projected that the commercial debt stock of the major emerging markets will reach an equivalent of $2.8 trillion by the end of 2014, and that the total commercial and concessional debt stock will reach $3.1 trillion, a year-on-year increase of $176 billion. Theis year’s debt outlook estimated that outstanding short-term commercial debt will reach $191 billion at year-end.

    According to the report, more than two-thirds of commercial sovereign debt to be issued in 2014 will be by sovereigns with a foreign currency rating in the ‘BBB’ category, with a further one-fifth by ‘BB’ rated sovereigns.

    S & P noted that Hungary and Croatia will face the highest debt rollover ratios-including short-term debt, which will reach 20 per cent and 16 per cent of GDP, respectively.

    “Brazil is by far the largest emerging markets sovereign issuer in the sample with long-term gross commercial borrowing in 2014 accounting for an estimated 44 per cent of total of JP Morgan EMBI+ constituents.

    “We expect Brazil’s gross commercial borrowing to slightly decline compared to 2013, both in absolute terms, as well as measured as a share of the sample total from 46 per cent in 2013. We forecast Turkey and Mexico to borrow comparable amounts equivalent to $83 billion and $71 billion, respectively, together accounting for a quarter of the group of countries covered in this report. We estimate the remaining 14 sovereigns combined will borrow some $186 billion around two-thirds of Brazil’s total.

    Within that group, the five issuers with the smallest expected commercial borrowing-Panama, Ecuador, Peru, Ukraine, and Croatia, will account for less than $15 billion or 2.4 per cent of the total. Overall, issuers in Latin America will account for 65 per cent of 2014 issuance, Asian sovereigns for just five per cent, with the rest being in EMEA,” S & P stated.

    The report pointed out that the distribution of the commercial debt stock is a little less skewed. While Brazil, Turkey, and Mexico will account for 70 per cent of commercial gross sovereign borrowing, their share in the stock is only 56 per cent.

    According to the report, at 19 per cent of the 2013 debt stock, there is possibility of a higher roll-over rate including short-term debt in 2014 for the three largest emerging market issuers in the sample, compared to 14 per cent for all other sovereigns covered in the sample.

  • ABTA, ACTE to hold events in Nigeria and other countries

    The African Business Travel Association and the Association of Corporate Travel Executives have announced an alliance to collaborate on educational programs and other events commencing with the Johannesburg executive forum on 15 August 2013. According to a joint statement issued by ABTA Founder Monique Swart and ACTE President Suzanne Neufang, the two associations will collaborate on a number of future events emphasizing the role of Africa as a crossroads of global travel.

    “Having  a 13-year history with ACTE, I am delighted our two associations have forged a closer partnership to deliver quality travel management education across the African continent. ACTE’s membership will benefit from ABTA’s expertise in the African business travel industry, while ABTA and its members will gain access to international trends and opportunities through ACTE’s global footprint,” said Swart.

    “ACTE and ABTA have similar priorities in addressing travel management issues and in fulfilling membership needs. Common objectives, shared vision, and realistic expectations  guarantee joint educational endeavors with potent content,” said Neufang. “ACTE has an outstanding reputation for working in concert with other international and regional associations, with full respect for local business cultures and customs. We look forward to working closer with ABTA.”

  • When will Africa’s time come? (2)

    Sometimes, I wonder what kind of spirit drives some people who claim to be ‘leaders’ of their communities and societies to be so heartless to the same people they claim to lead. It must be an evil spirit indeed. We know every leader cannot be like Nelson Mandela, one of the most selfless and venerated leaders the world has ever seen. But a little bit of human feeling and empathy for the people should not come amiss.

    That is something the 21st century Africa expects, no, demands from those who are leading it or aspire to. Some of our forefathers of old who connived with the white slave traders centuries ago to sell off our people who were in their prime, could be excused for their ignorance and misplaced greed. The same cannot be said of the so-called ‘big men’ of today; especially those in political positions whose decisions impact on the lives of millions. The stakes are much higher now than before as the continent continues to lag behind the rest of the world, wearing its ‘basket case tag’ like a trophy.

    We need to ask ourselves why beautiful Africa, the most resource rich continent in the world is so helpless and deprived and relies on hand-outs from the West to survive. This question is more apt today as a new world order is emerging. This order is seeing economic power shifting from the Western world that had been enjoying economic boom and world dominance for centuries, to a different zone: the South particularly Asian countries.

    These countries and other emerging markets have acquired Western technology (either by buying, stealing or other means) and are now producers rather than consumers of Western products. The West, hitherto the world’s supplier of goods, hardly produces anything anymore. I remember as a child that most of the gadgets and personal items like electronics, clothes even imported tinned foods we used at home, were either made in England, Germany or the U.S. But go to the U.K today and visit any of their shops. Nearly all the products there are either made in China, Japan, Indonesia, Malaysia or other Asian countries.

    Any surprise then that many Western, so-called developed countries are stone broke? The U.S is indebted to the tune of about 16 trillion dollars and the U.K over a trillion pounds. Many E.U countries such as Ireland, Greece, Portugal, Spain and Cyprus have had to be bailed out to avoid economic collapse. In Greece, families there are having to put their children into orphanages because they can’t afford to feed them. It’s that bad.

    The Asians have wised up and are beating the West at their own game. So where is Africa in this new world order, that is seeing a power shift from the West to other parts of the world? No where to be found except when it comes to corruption, wars and disease!

    While the Asians especially the Chinese, who have become the ‘factory of the world’, are using their new technological prowess to advance their economies, develop their infrastructure and improve the quality of life of their people, many African leaders and others in decision-making positions (who have replaced the white slave masters of old and their black collaborators) behave as if there’s nothing at stake. They continue to loot their people’s resources which they cart abroad, leaving the people in poverty.

    Here’s a word for these treasury looters: stealing your people’s money and siphoning same abroad is so ‘old school and 19th century mentality’, you are beginning to look like buffoons before the rest of the world. It’s time to wake up and join the rest of the world in this century. Remember, the same thing happened to the people of Europe and America in the past, where their wealthy and ruling class woke up one day and realized that they could not sleep well at night or enjoy their wealth in peace when the teeming poor around them were kept awake at night by hunger and deprivation. It was then they conceived policies that would turn around their societies to become the ‘advanced’, developed places they are today.

    The Asians, having realised that change within their societies can only come about through their own efforts, have woken up and ‘smelt the coffee.’

    It’s Africa’s time to do the same. Our ‘basket case’ days have lasted too long.

    •Concluded