Latest news with #AfricaDailyFocus
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Death toll in Nigeria floods hits more than 200, officials say
The death toll after deadly floods hit the Nigerian town of Mokwa on Thursday has risen to more than 200, officials say. There are still 500 people missing in the town in north-central Niger State, as a search mission continues. The deputy chairman of Mokwa Local Government, Musa Kimboku, told the BBC that rescue efforts have ceased because authorities no longer believe anyone could still be alive. The floods, said to be worst in the area for 60 years, swept through the towns of Tiffin Maza and Anguwan Hausawa after a bout of torrential rain. In an effort to prevent disease in the area, authorities will soon start to dig out corpses buried underground, Mokwa's district head Muhammadu Aliyu said. Recounting scenes of catastrophe, local residents have told the BBC that they saw their homes and family members get washed away. Meanwhile, on Sunday, the National Emergency Management Agency (Nema) announced it had started the process of providing relief packages to people affected. The agency added in a post on Facebook that roads and bridges were also affected by the flood, which has had a knock-on effect on the local economy and traffic. The Nigerian Red Cross also released a statement on Friday saying the floods had caused "significant loss of life and widespread distress". Floods are not uncommon during the Nigerian rainy season, which lasts from April until October. In 2024, Nigeria experienced flooding from heavy rain which caused deaths and drove people from their homes. There was also severe flooding in 2022, when more than 600 people died and 1.3 million were displaced. Could Nigeria's careful ethnic balancing act be under threat? Blank questions, power cuts and a suicide: Nigeria's exams fiasco 'How I survived Nigeria attack that killed my 16 friends' Go to for more news from the African continent. Follow us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafrica Africa Daily Focus on Africa
Yahoo
26-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Ghana temporarily shuts embassy in US over alleged visa scandal
Ghana's Foreign Affairs Minister has announced that the country has temporarily closed its embassy in the US capital amid an investigation into an alleged visa scam. Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa said the embassy will be shut following the "damning findings" of an audit team he put together to investigate alleged corruption at the Washington diplomatic mission. The statement added that the closure would last "a few days" until a "restructuring and systems overhaul" is finalised. According to Ablakwa, a locally recruited staff member and "collaborators" were allegedly involved in a "fraudulent" scheme whereby they extracted money from visa and passport applicants. It is alleged that the scheme consisted of creating an unauthorised link on the embassy's website to redirect visa and passport applicants to a private firm where they were "charged extra for multiple services" without the knowledge of the foreign ministry. Ablakwa added that the staff member "kept the entire proceeds" in their private account, and that the scheme had been going on for five years. Applicants seeking visas were charged unapproved fees ranging from almost $30 (£22) to $60 by the private firm. "This conduct has been reported to the attorney-general for possible prosecution and retrieval of funds obtained through fraudulent schemes," Ablakwa added. As a result, foreign ministry staff in Washington "have been recalled home" and "all locally recruited staff at the embassy have been suspended", Ablakwa said. "President [John] Mahama's government will continue to demonstrate zero tolerance for corruption, naked conflict of interest and blatant abuse of office." 'We are poisoning ourselves': Ghana gold rush sparks environmental disaster 'I was duped into leaving London for school in Ghana - but it saved me' Ghana wants more for its cashews, but it's a tough nut to crack Go to for more news from the African continent. Follow us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafrica Africa Daily Focus on Africa
Yahoo
26-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Ghana temporarily shuts embassy in US over alleged visa scandal
Ghana's Foreign Affairs Minister has announced that the country has temporarily closed its embassy in the US capital amid an investigation into an alleged visa scam. Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa said the embassy will be shut following the "damning findings" of an audit team he put together to investigate alleged corruption at the Washington diplomatic mission. The statement added that the closure would last "a few days" until a "restructuring and systems overhaul" is finalised. According to Ablakwa, a locally recruited staff member and "collaborators" were allegedly involved in a "fraudulent" scheme whereby they extracted money from visa and passport applicants. It is alleged that the scheme consisted of creating an unauthorised link on the embassy's website to redirect visa and passport applicants to a private firm where they were "charged extra for multiple services" without the knowledge of the foreign ministry. Ablakwa added that the staff member "kept the entire proceeds" in their private account, and that the scheme had been going on for five years. Applicants seeking visas were charged unapproved fees ranging from almost $30 (£22) to $60 by the private firm. "This conduct has been reported to the attorney-general for possible prosecution and retrieval of funds obtained through fraudulent schemes," Ablakwa added. As a result, foreign ministry staff in Washington "have been recalled home" and "all locally recruited staff at the embassy have been suspended", Ablakwa said. "President [John] Mahama's government will continue to demonstrate zero tolerance for corruption, naked conflict of interest and blatant abuse of office." 'We are poisoning ourselves': Ghana gold rush sparks environmental disaster 'I was duped into leaving London for school in Ghana - but it saved me' Ghana wants more for its cashews, but it's a tough nut to crack Go to for more news from the African continent. Follow us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafrica Africa Daily Focus on Africa
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Nigerian government sues senator over assassination claims
The Nigerian government has pressed charges against a senator who accused one of the country's top politicians of plotting to kill her. In April, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan alleged that Godswill Akpabio, the senate president, and Yahaya Bello, a former state governor, wanted to "eliminate" her. Both have denied the accusation. Weeks before, Akpoti-Uduaghan had accused the senate president of sexually harassing her - an allegation he has also denied. The government has now filed charges with the High Court, saying Akpoti-Uduaghan's assassination allegation defamed Akpabio and Bello. In the charge sheet, seen by the BBC, Nigeria's attorney general referenced an interview shown by Nigerian broadcaster Channels TV last month. In the interview, Akpoti-Uduaghan spoke of "discussions that Akpabio had with Yahaya Bello... to eliminate me". The attorney general said this statement, and others made in the same broadcast, could harm Bello and Akpabio's reputations. Akpoti-Uduaghan has not responded publicly to the charges against her. In March, after accusing Akabio of sexual harassment, Akpoti-Uduaghan was suspended from the senate for six months without pay. The senate's ethics committee said the suspension was for "unruly and disruptive" behaviour during a debate in the senate, but her supporters argue that it was a result of her allegations against Akabio. 'Nigerian Senate is run like a cult', suspended MP tells BBC How some Nigerian women are being cut out of their parents' inheritance Nigeria's fierce political rivals share joke at pope's inaugural mass Go to for more news from the African continent. Follow us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafrica Africa Daily Focus on Africa
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
DR Congo strips ex-leader of immunity over treason charges
The Democratic Republic of Congo's senate has stripped former President Joseph Kabila of his immunity, paving the way for his prosecution over his alleged backing of rebels in the east. Authorities have accused him of treason and war crimes, saying there was a "substantial body of documents, testimony and material facts" linking Kabila to the M23 armed group, which has taken control of several towns in the mineral-rich east. Kabila, 53, has not commented on the accusations but has in the past denied any connection with the insurgents. Nearly 90 senators on Thursday voted in favour of his treason prosecution, while five opposed it. "The senate authorises the prosecution and lifting of Joseph Kabila's immunity," declared senate Speaker Jean-Michel Sama Lukonde after Thursday's vote. The former president, who led the country between 2001 and 2019, did not appear before the senate to defend himself. After stepping down, he was given the title of "senator for life", which gives him legal immunity. PODCAST: Why are people talking about Kabila's return? What's the fighting in DR Congo all about? In order to pursue the charges against him, DR Congo's military prosecutor had asked the senate to lift this privilege. Kabila has been living outside the country, in South Africa, for the past two years. But at the beginning of last month he said he would be returning to help find a solution to the conflict in the east. A few weeks later, there were reports that the former president had come back and was in Goma, one of the cities captured by the M23. But these were denied by his political party, the People's Party for Reconstruction and Democracy (PPRD). Last month, the authorities banned the PPRD because of its "ambiguous attitude" to the occupation of Congolese territory by the M23. Ordering the seizure of Kabila's assets, Justice Minister Mutamba said the former president should return to the country and "face justice... and present his defence". Analysts say any trial of Kabila could further destabilise the country, which has been battling the M23 rebellion since 2012. Kabila's party termed his prosecution "pure theatre" aimed at distracting Congolese people from the main challenges facing the country, AFP news agency reported. The evidence that shows Rwanda is backing rebels in DR Congo 'I risked drowning to flee conscription by Congolese rebels' Your phone, a rare metal and the war in DR Congo Is Trump mulling a minerals deal with conflict-hit DR Congo? Go to for more news from the African continent. Follow us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafrica Africa Daily Focus on Africa
