EVENTS

G7 partners pledges $420-million-dollar investments for Africa as Nigeria positions

Published

1 year ago

June 14, 2024

Leaders of the Group of 7(G7) countries held a meeting with Italian and United States private sector representatives resulting in a $420-million-dollar investment commitment towards African countries.

This was disclosed in a statement published on Thursday, on the website of the government of Italy, the current host of the ongoing 50th G7 summit.

Tagged “G7 Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment Side Event Co-Chair Statement”, the statement revealed the G7 co-chairs welcomed the commitments of $100 million and $320 million by partners, aimed at meeting the infrastructure and development needs of Africa through private sector engagement.

Global Infrastructure Investment
Nigeria is strategically positioned to benefit from the commitments made at the G7 summit.

The G7 is an informal association of seven of the world’s advanced economies(Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States, as well as the European Union), most of whom were Nigeria’s biggest trading partners in Q1, 2024.

According to data from NBS and Naralytics, France, US, Canada, and Italy were Nigeria’s top ten export trading partners in Q1, 2024.

These G7 leaders agreed to support flagship projects to develop transformative economic corridors for quality infrastructure and investments, touching Africa, the Middle East and Europe.

It stated that a coalition of U.S. investors highlighted and committed new billions of dollars in private investment in scaled infrastructure in emerging markets as a way of supporting the G7’s Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment (PGII) topline goal of mobilizing $600 billion in infrastructure investment in emerging economies.

The statement partly reads,

“Today, Italy joined U.S. and EU efforts to promote sustainable development along the Lobito Corridor – committing to strengthen collaboration and mobilize an additional aggregate contribution of up to $320 million in investment in support of the core rail infrastructure and of the related side projects, with a view to additionally creating synergies with AGIA (Alliance for Green Infrastructure in Africa).

“The Co-chairs welcomed the Africa Green Industrialization Initiative (AGII) as a key platform for collaboration on infrastructure investment in Africa and celebrated the Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet (GEAPP) commitment of up to $100 million in philanthropic catalytic investment capital to unlock an additional $1 billion in private finance.”

EVENTS

BREAKING: Police take over PDP Secretariat in Abuja

Published

3 minutes ago

June 30, 2025

Ekwutos Blog

As tension continues to mount over the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, National Executive Committee, NEC, meeting, which is expected to hold on Monday, armed policemen have taken over its secretariat.

According to an official of the party who spoke to newsmen, the police were deployed to stop the proposed NEC Expanded Caucus Meeting.

Though some staff members of the party were initially allowed to go into the premises of the secretariat without any resistance from the police, they were later sent out.

At the time of filing this report, journalists were also asked to leave the premises of the secretariat, while some policemen were seen cordoning off Dalaba Street, which is the road leading to Wadata Plaza.

Details shortly…

EVENTS

Police arrest suspected cultist during meeting, recover firearm in Ogun

Published

17 hours ago

June 29, 2025

Ekwutos Blog

Operatives from the Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) Unit, Ogun State Police Command, have arrested a suspected member of the Eiye Confraternity, Ismail Afolabi, at Saje Area of Car Wash, Abeokuta.

The suspect was arrested following credible intelligence received by the police that members of the Eiye Confraternity were holding a secret meeting with the intention to carry out criminal activities.

The police spokesperson, Omolola Odutola, confirming the arrest to DAILY POST on Sunday, said the suspect was apprehended while attempting to flee.

Odutola stated that he was found in possession of a cross bag containing a loaded cut-to-size double-barrel shotgun and live ammunition.

She said, “On Friday, June 27, 2025, at about 05:30 pm , the Ogun State Police Command received credible intelligence that members of the Eiye Confraternity were holding a clandestine meeting with suspected criminal intent at the Saje Area of Car Wash, Abeokuta.

“Operatives from the Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) Unit swiftly mobilized to the scene. On arrival, one suspect, Ismail Afolabi ‘m’, was found in possession of a cross-body bag containing a cut-to-size double-barrel shotgun loaded with live ammunition.”

The spokesperson noted that preliminary investigations have commenced, and efforts are ongoing to track down other accomplices.

The Command restated its commitment to eradicating cult-related violence and maintaining peace and order in the state.

EVENTS

Suspected gunmen kidnap man in Benue

Published

23 hours ago

June 29, 2025

Ekwutos Blog

Gunmen have kidnapped a middle-aged man, Ortese Tarlumun Joseph, in Guma Local Government Area of Benue State, after shooting at his family during an attempted escape.

Security analyst Zagazola Makama revealed the incident in a post on X on Sunday.

He said the abduction happened on Friday, June 27, around 6:00 p.m. near Tomanyiin Main Village in Nzorov district.

Sources told Makama that Ortese was returning from the farm with his wife and son when two armed men came out of the bush and ordered them to lie down.

“Out of fear, the family tried to run, and the gunmen fired two gunshots.

“Mrs. Ortese said she later heard her husband calling for help but could not find him. It was later discovered that the attackers had taken him away,” Makama wrote

The family’s Toyota Corolla was found at the scene.

Security personnel launched a search operation shortly after the incident, but neither the kidnappers nor the victim had been found at the time of reporting.