Content provided by APO Group. CNBC Africa provides content from APO Group as a service to its readers, but does not edit the articles it publishes. CNBC Africa is not responsible for the content provided by APO Group. 
360 new cases of COVID-19 in Nigeria; Lagos-120 Edo-38 Kaduna-25 FCT-23 Imo-23 Delta-19 Akwa Ibom-17 Plateau-17 Rivers-16 Nasarawa-15 Kwara-13 Oyo-9 Ogun-8 Bauchi-4 Osun-4 Kano-3 Kebbi-3 Niger-2 Katsina-1 156,017 confirmed 133,904 discharged 1,915 deathsDistributed by APO Group on behalf of Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC).Media filesDownload logo

Coronavirus – Nigeria: COVID-19 update (1 March 2021)

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Total cases: 18,986 (+136) Recovered: 17,322 (+9) Active cases: 1,400 In critical condition: 6 Tests: 1,012,451 (+3,410) Test positivity rate: 4% Recovery rate: 91.2% Deaths: 264 (+3) | 1.4%Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Health, Republic of Rwanda.Media filesDownload logo

Coronavirus – Rwanda: COVID-19 update (1 March 2021)

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By Grace Goodrich The benefits of digital investment in the oil and gas sector are multifold: increased productivity, cost savings and improved performance all tend to follow investments in big data, the ‘Internet of Things’, artificial intelligence and other digital technologies. Yet according to Deloitte’s digital maturity index published last May, upstream oil and gas trails significantly behind other industries when it comes to the pace and degree of digital adoption. Resistance to digitalization in the upstream energy space can be ascribed to several factors, some of which apply to hydrocarbon producers regardless of the maturity of their assets or the sophistication of their sector. For example, the oil and gas industry imposes strict health and safety regulations to protect employees against high-risk environments, such as offshore oil platforms and, as a result, companies cannot be laissez-faire about implementing automated or robotic technologies without ensuring that the new technologies sufficiently address safety precautions. The sector is also dependent upon an extended global supply chain, in which labor forces vary in skill, capacity, size and cost. Compounding these factors is frequent market volatility, making digital transformations difficult to roll out in tune with ever-fluctuating oil prices. However, one of the primary obstacles to digital adoption is exclusive to mature producers, in that digital technologies must be integrated with legacy systems, as well as with the oil and gas personnel who operate them. Such markets are often characterized by narrow exposure and high resistance to change. As a result, digitalization represents a unique opportunity for emerging producers like Mozambique, which discovered major offshore gas reserves in 2010 and took the $20-billion final investment decision on its Area 1 Mozambique LNG development as recently as 2019. The relative infancy of the sector – as the country prepares for first gas by 2023 – enables Mozambique to build technology into the DNA of its sector as it evolves in real-time, rather than upgrade technologies and systems retroactively. Oil and gas operations rely on highly technical, physical processes, in which digital transformations must apply themselves to complex, capital-intensive assets, such as offshore platforms, LNG terminals or pipelines. For its part, Mozambique has been at the forefront of spearheading large-scale gas developments that are the first of their kind both in the country and on the continent, including the Coral South floating LNG terminal, the first newly-built deep-water floating liquefaction plant globally. Mozambique has also leveraged German technological innovation with Siemens Energy’s supply of four centrifugal compressors and six SGT-800 industrial gas turbines to provide on-site power generation at the Mozambique LNG facility. In short, Mozambique has proven a worthy recipient of foreign expertise and remains in need of additional technology and knowledge transfer to apply to its range of world-class gas infrastructure projects. As companies across sectors have had to adopt digital tools for remote work, COVID-19 has accelerated the need for digital rollouts, positioning technology as a means of coping with transformational changes facing nearly every industry. Within the oil and gas sector, specifically, digitalization and optimization of oilfield assets have emerged as principal cost-cutting mechanisms, as energy companies continue to face threats to efficiency, sustainability and profitability. Well integrity, enhanced oil recovery, manufacturing execution systems, cloud computing – such digital applications are capable of uniting real-time data with advanced analytics to improve decision-making and boost efficiency and sustainability, especially as the need to allocate capital to assets with the highest returns and operational efficiencies becomes more pressing. Now more than ever, Mozambique is in the midst of competing with other frontier oil and gas markets – both in and outside of Africa – to attract foreign direct investment into its budding energy sector. Digitalization represents a strategic competitive advantage, whether through advancing seismic surveys that enable companies to make better drilling decisions, or reducing data interpretation time and associated cost of exploration. For Mozambique, digitalization represents a billion-dollar opportunity that cannot afford to be overlooked.  Africa Oil &#038; Power is working with the Mozambican government to promote investment in energy and diverse sectors, including agriculture, industry, tourism, construction and logistics in 2021. Visit www.MzGasAndPower.com for more details. On March 8-9, AOP will host a Presidential Award ceremony (invite only) and Workshops Day in Maputo, preceding the Mozambique Gas &#038; Power 2021 conference and exhibition to be held later in 2021. The event is online. If your organization would like to host a workshop, please email sales@africaoilandpower.com. To register to attend for free, please visit: https://bit.ly/3b3wtkM Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Africa Oil &#038; Power Conference.Media filesDownload logo

Digitalization offers High Returns for Emerging Gas Producers like Mozambique (By Grace Goodrich)

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Often described as a Voyage of the Senses and the Nigerian Beverly Hills, Haven Homes provides a jaw-dropping luxury estate considered as one of the most innovative contemporary estates in West Africa. The estate features a host of amenities that promote a luxury lifestyle, however, with the popular maxim that &#39;&#39;money can&#39;t buy you happiness or taste.&#8221; With Haven Homes, money can buy you a whole heap of life’s essence as there is a lot of space to fill with a taste of luxury. Haven Homes’ flagship estate named Richmond Gate Estate provides homes for some of the A-list celebrities in the Nigerian entertainment industry. It is also home to some of the city’s ‘Very Important Personalities’ (VIPs). Globally renowned artists including 2Face (Innocent Idibia), AY Comedian (Ayodeji Richard Makun), Tiwa Savage, Kizz Daniel, Banky W, Falz (The Bahd Guy), Ex- beauty queen Dabota Lawson and many other celebrities are also resident in the company’s Lagos estate. The luxury lifestyle was conceptualised by real estate developer, Mr. Tayo Sonuga, who is the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Haven Homes, to suit the needs of the growing aristocratic middle class in the country. Haven Homes in simple tense is a contemporary-luxury-residential and innovative real estate developer known for building beautifully crafted, unique, and luxurious homes at affordable prices. For Haven Homes the details and customization that the luxury home offers remain nothing short of amazing. Also, the modern spacious kitchens in the homes integrate luxury and style. They, in addition, transform basic granite into the most dazzling gourmet kitchens highlighting them among the most luxurious corners of the luxury homes to make whipping up culinary creations fun and easy, even if there is more than one cook. Mr. Tayo Sonuga, the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Haven Homes, told PLEASURES Magazine that Haven Homes also introduced a totally different design with the mindset of building homes similar to those seen in Hollywood movies with contemporary architecture. This is the concept that has attracted a lot of Nigeria’s celebrities. He noted that Richmond Gate Estate has gained immense popularity in Nigeria and is popularly referred to as ‘Beverly Hills of Africa&#39; just by the number of A-list celebrities who have found the estate a comfortable and safe place to live with their families. He said: “Equally, VIPS, expatriates, executives in multi-nationals and other influential members of the society now live peacefully with their neighbours in Richmond Gate Estate&#39;s serene atmosphere where electricity supply is available 24/7, and with the completion of Richmond Gate Estate Phase 2, this peaceful lifestyle has been extended further to many more celebrities. Haven Homes&#39; head-turning and alluring home designs are some of my company&#39;s strongest points. With amazing and beautifully crafted homes, Haven Homes is the ready developer for creative designs, quality and durable housing that stand the test of time. “We keyed into the lapse of the absence of modern, contemporary homes in the developers’ market before we came into the scene but now it is a regular feature with every other developer out there. What attracted me to the real estate sector in Nigeria was some time ago when I came for my brother&#39;s wedding and I saw a bad quality construction work in a renowned hotel, especially the tiling. When I returned to the UK, I partnered with an architect friend who at the time had also built a house for his uncle in Magodo. The house became an inspiration for me to return to Nigeria and start building contemporary, luxury homes fit for stars and make them affordable to.’’ Believing homes hold a crucial role in building a quality lifestyle, Haven Homes prioritizes every step of the development process through a personalised approach from the concept to the final details. &#8220;Before Haven Homes came to Nigeria, there were just traditional buildings, and we led the way in a different direction introducing contemporary, modern home designs. Because we know that our responsibility towards our customers is a long-lasting commitment, our bespoke residences are an ideal fit for a refined lifestyle – built to inspire in all forms and sizes,” says Mrs Ufuoma Ilesanmi, General Manager/Chief Operating Officer, Haven Homes. Sonuga adds: “To our esteemed clients, we have always delivered to the agreed specifications and on schedule. We have therefore created a huge trust reputation and a lot of our clients over the years have reposed their trust in our brand and in our ability to deliver as promised. &#39;&#39;Even before I move to a new site to commence a new project, prospective home clients purchase the units off-plan with moderate deposits. As the value of the projects and the houses still under construction appreciate, their stakes in the project also appreciate wildly in value. For instance, investors who subscribed to our 2- bedroom at the initial price of N30m ($78,000) were able to sell each unit at N45m ($117,000), even without paying the price in full.’’ “This is wealth creation through prudent investment. Some buyers are even able to double their gains after making an initial deposit. This speaks much for the immense appeal of our brand which is made possible by the reputation Haven Homes has built up over the years. Our clients have come to repose immense trust and confidence in us, and they could now accept to wait in queue for their home delivery after paying the bulk of the price upfront.’’ Sonuga further says: “Haven Homes and celebrities have a lot in common because we are both passionate about what we do. To start with, we are both in the creative industry! Our homes are crafts or art in a unique way, which also blends with their creative ingenuity. ‘’For a celebrity to become famous in what he or she does there has to be a lot of passion involved and that is what we do in our trade too. When we build these homes, we make them appealing, not just to celebrities but to others who treasure the great ambience, the beauty of the estates and the serenity they provide. We have managed to sustain it as a cherished niche market, our association with top celebrities over the years since 2012 has been of tremendous mutual benefits.’’ On efforts to make the estate eco-friendly, he says: “Saving the environment matters to us; we create greening zones in our estates even amid limitations of space. We also ensure they are surrounded by very visible greens, that the energy load is low, and we use energy-saving lighting systems thereby utilizing low wattage bulbs instead of the popular halogen. At the moment we are trying to see if we can have an air conditioner that can be run with an inverter to bring down energy load and we are creating space for solar panels in our roof designs. Furthermore, our new estate, Richmond Pearl Estate, will have waste sorting and recycling zones.’’ Mr Sonuga further says: “We are still encountering challenges and the major one is the instability of the market prices of building materials. Most prices for building materials keep rising due to lack of government regulations and restrictions on price hikes. In the past four months, there has been an average increase of about 30 per cent on all building materials. This has been a major challenge for us and the housing sector generally. Another challenge has been the downward fall in the value of the Nigerian currency, the Naira. Needless to include the effects of the global pandemic of COVID-19 crisis which has escalated the shipping and freight prices of all imported materials. “However, my greatest challenge so far has been with getting the right skilled workers to build our projects with the right quality outcomes that we desire but despite these challenges, we still remained focused. We had to create several layers of supervision, each layer checking the previous layer. We have supervisors checking the contractors, quality assurance managers checking the supervisors and then consultants checking the final outcomes. After delivery to our clients, we still follow up on the projects for the next six months to ensure our clients settle in seamlessly into their new homes. All these come at a cost for us as a company, but it is the price we need to pay in order to fulfil our commitment to quality service delivery.” Chief Executive Officer of Haven Homes, Mr Sonuga in brief Mr. Tayo Sonuga is the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Haven Homes. He was born in 1966 and grew up in Lagos. He is the first of five children. Sonuga completed his Higher National Diploma (HND) in Accountancy with an Upper Credit at Federal Polytechnic, Ilaro, Ogun State and worked as an External Auditor with Messrs Z. O. Ososanya &#038; Co., a firm of Chartered Accountants in Ibadan as a member of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC). He was offered permanent employment by the firm but proceeded to the United Kingdom shortly after his youth service in 1990. He has spent the last three decades in Nigeria and the United Kingdom focusing on housing developments in various parts of both countries and has recently started new projects in the United States of America. He is married to Sola Sonuga, an architect and both have three children.Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Pleasures Magazine.Media Contact: Web: www.TheHavenHomes.com Email: info@thehavenhomes.com Tel: +234 7051190205, +234 7034018989Media filesDownload logo

Haven Homes is Championing affordable luxury properties in Nigeria – MD Tayo Sonuga

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Kwik Delivery (www.Kwik.delivery) announces today that it is expanding its app-based breakthrough delivery service to 4-wheels delivery vehicles. This includes vehicles such as hatchbacks, pick-ups, SUV, vans and small trucks up to 5 tons. Kwik Delivery is a B2B delivery platform focusing on providing reliable delivery services inside large Nigerian cities by connecting riders and customers. The service currently covers Lagos and Abuja. “Many of our customers have expressed the need to use our platform to deliver large items or merchandises that do not fit in a bike’s cargo box” explains Romain POIROT-LELLIG, Founder &#038; CEO of Kwik Delivery. “By enlarging its platform to these new larger types of vehicles, the Kwik platform becomes the first full-stack last-mile delivery platform in Nigeria.” Using the Kwik Delivery app (https://bit.ly/3sLNNRv), customers can request a delivery vehicle track their shipment in real time and benefit from many additional vehicles. The 4-wheels vehicle can be booked for a same day delivery or for any future date and loaders can be requested as well. Kwik Delivery is vetting the vehicles and drivers and ensures consistent quality of service. It also provides goods in transit insurance. Launched in 2019, Kwik Delivery is an on-demand, last-mile delivery platform that connects African businesses to independent delivery riders, dubbed Kwiksters. The Kwik platform is currently open to Kwiksters operating in Lagos State and Abuja. The Kwik Delivery app is available on iOS and Android. Kwik Delivery is the trading name of Africa Delivery Technologies SAS.Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Kwik.You can visit www.Kwik.delivery or send an e-mail to for more information at hello [at] kwik.delivery.Media filesDownload logo

Kwik Delivery expands its delivery service to 4-wheels vehicles, becomes first full-stack last-mile delivery platform in Nigeria

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The Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), QU Dongyu, has appealed for urgent aid to fight the humanitarian crisis in Yemen as UN agencies work to prevent a large-scale famine in the country. The Director-General made the appeal in a video message recorded for today&#39;s virtual UN High-Level Pledging Event on the Humanitarian Crisis in Yemen, convened by the UN Secretary-General, António Guterres, and co-hosted by the Governments of Sweden and Switzerland. ‘&#39;Today, over 16 million Yemenis are struggling to feed themselves, ‘&#39; the Director-General stressed. ‘&#39;Violence, disease, locust outbreaks, and lack of inputs have stripped away their livelihoods. ‘&#39; UN agencies are calling for $3.85 billion in 2021 to help 16 million Yemenis in desperate need.  Of this total, FAO is seeking $90 million &#8211; funds that the Director-General noted could assist 6.3 million people. The Director-General indicated that, despite the many challenges, FAO had helped 1.2 million people in Yemen to keep producing in 2020. About half of these received support in the form of livestock assistance such as vaccinations, feed, and support to dairy production. Another 400,000 received FAO assistance through the rehabilitation of water systems and infrastructure while cash-based transfers were provided to about 60,000 people. FAO recently scaled up Desert Locust surveillance and control capacity in Yemen and in February conducted training workshops with the Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation and Fisheries (MAIF) for those involved in surveillance and data collection. FAO is also working to safeguard livelihoods and promote early recovery for those farmers affected by the pest. &#8220;When we provide families with emergency livelihoods assistance, we help them to produce and access a steady supply of nutritious food for a healthy diet &#8211; vegetables, livestock products, pulses and cereals,&#8221; the Director-General noted. &#8220;This is critical.&#8221; &#8220;Well-established agri-food systems are crucial for durable peace, as has been proven by successful green revolutions in many parts of the world.&#8221; In 2020, funding for aid operations in Yemen dropped dramatically. The UN and civil society partners received $1.9 billion, or around half of what they had received in 2019 and half of what was needed. The UN Secretary-General, António Guterres, told the Pledging Event that life in Yemen had become unbearable, especially for children.   &#8220;Childhood in Yemen is a special kind of hell. This war is swallowing up a whole generation of Yemenis,&#8221; Guterres said.  &#8220;We must end it now and start dealing with its enormous consequences immediately. This is not the moment to step back from Yemen.&#8221; The UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, Mark Lowcock, noted an adequately funded aid operation will prevent the spread of famine and create the conditions for lasting peace. The latest Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) Acute Malnutrition report released last month by FAO, UNICEF (the United Nations Children&#39;s Fund), the World Food Programme (WFP), the World Health Organization (WHO) and partners, revealed the dire situation in Yemen, highlighting record levels of malnutrition. It noted an increase in acute malnutrition and severe acute malnutrition of 16 per cent and 22 per cent, respectively, among children under five years from 2020.  The agencies also warned that these were among the highest levels of severe acute malnutrition recorded in Yemen since the escalation of the conflict in 2015. This year, aid agencies aim to help more than 16 million people. In light of alarming data on famine risk, malnutrition, COVID-19, and other threats, donors are urged to make funds available without delay. More than 100 governments and other donors, international humanitarian organizations and aid officials took part in today&#39;s pledging event.Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).Media filesDownload logo

Urgent aid needed to fight humanitarian crisis in Yemen, says FAO Director-General

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Download logoAs the conflict in Yemen enters its seventh year, the crisis remains the largest in the world and continues to put millions of lives at risk. The International Organization for Migration (IOM) launched today an appeal to assist over five million people affected by the Yemen crisis in conjunction with the Yemen Virtual High-Level Pledging Conference.  With over 10,500 people recently fleeing areas in Ma’rib, where fighting has intensified in the last few weeks, IOM will dedicate at least one-third of its requested funds to life-saving assistance for displaced people, migrants and local communities affected by the Ma’rib crisis.   In a situation characterized by escalating conflict and displacement, a declining economy and the breakdown of public institutions, it is projected that people in Yemen will experience alarming levels of acute malnutrition and food insecurity throughout this year. Today, governments from around the world will come together to reaffirm their commitment to Yemen and pledge financial contributions to the humanitarian response.   “IOM, alongside our humanitarian partners, is concerned about the serious impact that prolonged funding shortages will have on the ability of displaced people, migrants and other vulnerable populations to survive the looming famine, ongoing pandemic and escalating conflict,” said António Vitorino, the IOM Director General at the Pledging Conference, which is co-hosted by the Governments of Sweden and Switzerland.  “The already staggering needs in Yemen have been compounded by the threat of a second wave of COVID-19 and the re-escalation of conflict in Ma’rib, which has led to the displacement of the most vulnerable families,” added Vitorino.   The UN estimates that roughly four million people are currently displaced in Yemen and most displaced people do not have enough access to safe shelter, clean water or health care.   A large portion of the displaced are living in Ma’rib governorate, where the recent escalations in hostilities are mostly impacting those already living in displacement. At least three displacement sites have been emptied after being directly impacted by the fighting and a majority of families are becoming displaced for the third time or more.  “UN data for 2021 shows record levels of acute food insecurity, raising major concerns on the impact of hunger on particularly vulnerable groups, especially internally displaced people and migrants, many of whom remain stranded in Yemen with little access to assistance or resources,” added Vitorino.   Despite the reduction in numbers of migrants arriving in Yemen in 2020 — down to over 37,500 from 138,000 in 2019 — the dangers faced by migrants have increased. Thousands of migrants are stranded across the country, unable to continue their journeys or return home. Most are sleeping rough on the streets with virtually no access to clean water, food or health care. They also face the risk of abuse, exploitation and detention.   In 2020, IOM scaled up assistance to stranded migrants in Yemen, while advocating for the resumption of its Voluntary Humanitarian Return programme to Ethiopia, as an immediate life-saving measure.   “With over 24 million people still in need of some form of assistance, greater resources are required to respond effectively to growing and complex needs. Funding shortages had real consequences in 2020, which were particularly hard felt in cities like Aden and Ma’rib which host thousands of migrants and displaced people in dire need of support and with already limited access to services,” said Vitorino.   “While an immediate humanitarian response remains critical in Yemen, IOM continues to advocate for a lasting peaceful resolution to the conflict. This is most urgent in Ma’rib governorate, where fighting continues to worsen needs on the ground, putting the lives of hundreds of thousands of people at heightened risk.&#8221; IOM is appealing for USD 170 million to support more than 5.1 million people across the country, including displaced people, migrants and the communities that host them, by the end of 2021. IOM’s activities are being implemented in the following sectors: health, water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH), shelter and non-food items (S-NFIs), camp coordination and camp management (CCCM), transition and recovery, protection, migrant assistance as well as coordination and safety (IOM’s Displacement Tracking Matrix) and common humanitarian services (humanitarian hub). Distributed by APO Group on behalf of International Organization for Migration (IOM).

Yemen: IOM Seeks Funding to Assist Five Million People as Situation in Ma’rib Deteriorates

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Download logoThe governments of Norway and the United Kingdom have extended grants of around £2.6 million to the African Legal Support Facility (ALSF) to support its activities over the next two years. The Norwegian government, through its Agency for Development Cooperation, provided 20 million Norwegian kroner (around £1.6 million) to support the 2021 and 2022 work programs of the ALSF. The Foreign, Commonwealth &#038; Development Office of the United Kingdom is providing a £1 million grant to the ALSF, which will go to supporting debt management capacity in low-income African countries. The funding forms part of a cooperation agreement signed by the two parties. The UK grant is in line with the G20 Debt Service Suspension Initiative (https://bit.ly/3q0rkhC) supported by the IMF and the World Bank, and comes as African countries continue to implement urgent measures to manage the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic and its socio-economic impacts, including the strain on their debt portfolios. ALSF CEO Stephen Karangizi said the grants were timely and would enable his agency to respond effectively to African countries’ requests for legal and technical support. “The consistent commitment of the Norwegian and UK governments to the ALSF’s mission is commendable and demonstrates their status as dependable development partners, especially in a challenging period for African countries. These grants will promote sustainable investments and transactions to improve the lives of the people of Africa.” The ALSF previously received a £7 million grant from the United Kingdom, while Norway has since 2013 cumulatively allocated 75 million Norwegian kroner (Around £6.3 million) to support the ALSF’s annual programs. The African Development Bank established the ALSF in 2010 to support governments in negotiating major commercial transactions. It has provided legal and technical assistance in public-private partnership projects across the oil and gas, mining and energy sectors. The Facility has supported African governments to negotiate 53 key commercial contracts valued at $97.8 billion.Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Development Bank Group (AfDB).Media contact: Kwasi Kpodo Communication and External Relations Department African Development Bank Email: k.kpodo@afdb.org About the African Development Bank: The African Development Bank Group (AfDB.org) is Africa’s premier development finance institution. It comprises three distinct entities: the African Development Bank (AfDB), the African Development Fund (ADF) and the Nigeria Trust Fund (NTF). On the ground in 41 African countries with an external office in Japan, the Bank contributes to the economic development and the social progress of its 54 regional member states. For more information: www.AfDB.org.

African Legal Support Facility receives £2.6 million from Norway, UK, to boost debt management capacity, other activities in low-income countries

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Download logoThe Netherlands Ministry for Trade and Development Cooperation is extending a €6 million grant to the African Legal Support Facility (ALSF), to support the ALSF’s work providing legal and technical services to low-income countries to give them more clout in commercial dealings. The funding will be disbursed over a three-year period. ALSF Director Stephen Karangizi thanked the Netherlands, a shareholder of the African Development Bank, for its strong support over the years. “The assistance will help the ALSF to better respond to the impacts of COVID-19 and help countries to recover much faster to enhance sustainable, inclusive development in Africa,” he said. Since 2013, the Netherlands has cumulatively provided €15.5 million to the ALSF to ensure that African countries achieve maximum economic value for their resources. The funds provided by the Netherlands enabled the ALSF to successfully assist many African governments to strengthen their legal expertise and negotiating capacities, particularly in the areas of natural resources and extractives. Created by the African Development Bank in 2010, the ALSF supports governments in negotiating major commercial transactions, providing legal and technical assistance in public-private partnership projects across the oil and gas, mining and energy sectors, and covering sovereign debt issues and creditor litigation. The Facility has supported African governments to negotiate 53 key commercial contracts valued at $97.8 billion.Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Development Bank Group (AfDB).Media contact: Kwasi Kpodo Communication and External Relations Department African Development Bank Email: k.kpodo@afdb.org About the African Development Bank: The African Development Bank Group (www.AfDB.org) is Africa’s premier development finance institution. It comprises three distinct entities: the African Development Bank (AfDB), the African Development Fund (ADF) and the Nigeria Trust Fund (NTF). On the ground in 41 African countries with an external office in Japan, the Bank contributes to the economic development and the social progress of its 54 regional member states. For more information: www.AfDB.org.

The African Legal Support Facility to receive €6 million grant from the Netherlands to fund work in low-income countries

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Download logoThe Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, the Government of Congo and health partners have announced two new grants worth more than US$ 64 million to strengthen prevention and treatment services to respond to HIV, tuberculosis and malaria and to build resilient and sustainable systems for health in Congo. The two grants are a 97% increase from the previous allocation against the three diseases and will be spent from 2021 to 2023. “UNAIDS looks forward to continuing to work closely with all partners to accelerate the elimination of vertical transmission of HIV and paediatric AIDS in Congo and to improve access to HIV/tuberculosis programmes, sexual and reproductive health, and legal services for young women and adolescent girls and all groups at higher risk of contracting HIV,” said Winnie Byanyima, Executive Director of UNAIDS. The HIV grant will significantly increase the number of people living with HIV who know their HIV status and will expand access to life-saving antiretroviral therapy, particularly for pregnant women. In 2019 in Congo, only 51% of people living with HIV knew their HIV status and only 25% of people living with HIV were accessing antiretroviral therapy. Only 10% of pregnant women living with HIV in Congo were offered antiretroviral medicine to prevent the virus being passed to their babies. The tuberculosis component of the grant aims to boost the national tuberculosis response, increase the notification of new tuberculosis cases and reach a 90% treatment success rate by 2023, in line with the World Health Organization’s End TB Strategy. The grant will also support the country’s efforts to improve treatment success for people with multidrug-resistant tuberculosis. The malaria grant will support the country’s goal to distribute 3.5 million mosquito nets by 2023 and expand access to quality malaria diagnostics and treatment tools. “In the context of the country’s financial crisis, exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, the grants allocated to Congo are a breath of fresh air. They provide renewed impetus to the government’s action in favour of populations affected by HIV, tuberculosis and malaria,” said the Prime Minister of Congo, Clément Mouamba. The United Nations Development Programme will implement the HIV and tuberculosis grant, while Catholic Relief Services will implement the malaria grant.Distributed by APO Group on behalf of United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS).

US$ 64 million to respond to HIV, TB and malaria in Congo

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Download logoUNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, is deeply concerned by a series of messages of distress it has been receiving from a group of 10 asylum–seekers currently in a detention facility in Mutukula, in northwestern Tanzania. The asylum-seekers have expressed fears for their safety upon being deported from Tanzania. UNHCR consistently advocates that refugees and asylum-seekers, including those who claim to be in need of international protection, cannot be returned to their countries of origin until their claims have been properly assessed by the competent authorities, in accordance with the principle of non-refoulement. Non-refoulement is an international principle that prevents states from expelling or returning persons to a territory where their life or freedom would be threatened. UNHCR is appealing to the Government of Tanzania for immediate access to the detained asylum-seekers in order to assist with the assessments of their individual claims. UNHCR is hopeful that the responsible authorities in Tanzania will work with us to resolve this situation in accordance with their obligations under international law.Distributed by APO Group on behalf of United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).

UNHCR seeks urgent access to detained asylum-seekers in Tanzania

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New cases: 150 Total active cases: 11,893 Total currently admitted: 91 (13 new) Total number of tests conducted: 197,924 (917 new) Total confirmed cases: 31,945* Total recovered: 18,874 (450 new) New discharges from treatment units: 9 Total deaths: 1,044 (3 new) *Out of these, 134 lost to follow-up.Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Health and Population, Republic of Malawi.Media filesDownload logo

Coronavirus – Malawi: COVID-19 update (28 February 2021)

Content provided by APO Group. CNBC Africa provides content from APO Group as a service to its readers, but does not edit the articles it publishes. CNBC Africa is not responsible for the content provided by APO Group. 
Daily: Laboratory test: 6,551 Severe cases: 365 New recovered: 122 New deaths: 11 New cases: 1,019 Total: Laboratory test: 2,134,587 Active cases: 21,847 Total recovered: 134,858 Total deaths: 2,365 Total cases: 159,072 Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Health, Ethiopia.Media filesDownload logo

Coronavirus – Ethiopia: COVID-19 update (28 February 2021)

Content provided by APO Group. CNBC Africa provides content from APO Group as a service to its readers, but does not edit the articles it publishes. CNBC Africa is not responsible for the content provided by APO Group. 
40 new cases of COVID-19 in Nigeria; Anambra-85 Lagos-82 Osun-17 Ogun-10 Kwara-9 FCT-8 Kano-7 Abia-6 Borno-4 Edo-2 Bayelsa-2 Kaduna-2 Rivers-1 155,657 confirmed 133,768 discharged 1,907 deaths Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC).Media filesDownload logo

Coronavirus – Nigeria: COVID-19 update (28 February 2021)

Content provided by APO Group. CNBC Africa provides content from APO Group as a service to its readers, but does not edit the articles it publishes. CNBC Africa is not responsible for the content provided by APO Group. 
Results of COVID-19 tests done on 28 February 2021 confirm 10 new cases. The cumulative confirmed cases are 40,367.  The breakdown of the new cases are:  10 contacts and alerts: Kampala (8) Wakiso (2).Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Health &#8211; Republic of Uganda.Media filesDownload logo

Coronavirus – Uganda: COVID-19 update (28 February 2021)

Content provided by APO Group. CNBC Africa provides content from APO Group as a service to its readers, but does not edit the articles it publishes. CNBC Africa is not responsible for the content provided by APO Group. 
Download logoMinister of Health Lizzie Nkosi announces two new COVID-19 deaths in Eswatini, taking total deaths to 652. &#8220;May their souls rest in peace.&#8221; New cases: 12 Total cases: 17,014 Active cases: 1,674 New recoveries: 230 Total recoveries: 14,676 New deaths: 2 Total deaths: 652Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Health, Government of the Kingdom of Eswatini.

Coronavirus – Eswatini: COVID-19 update (28 February 2021)

Content provided by APO Group. CNBC Africa provides content from APO Group as a service to its readers, but does not edit the articles it publishes. CNBC Africa is not responsible for the content provided by APO Group. 
Tests conducted: 9,077,479 Positive cases identified: 1,513,393 Total recoveries: 1,430,259 Total deaths: 49,993 New cases: 1,168Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Republic of South Africa, Department of Health.Media filesDownload logo

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Coronavirus – Nigeria: COVID-19 update (1 March 2021)

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Coronavirus – Malawi: COVID-19 update (28 February 2021)

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Coronavirus – Uganda: COVID-19 update (28 February 2021)

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