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Nigerian Inflation Rate Rises on Surging Food Costs

Food inflation in Nigeria rose in October to 17.38 percent, compared to 16.66 percent in September 2020, the National Bureau of Statistics said in a report on Monday.

The rising food prices are caused by border closures, dollar restrictions and banditry attacks that are preventing farmers from producing food.

Nigeria’s inflation rate has climbed to a 30-month high, as it rose further to 14.23 percent in October, the latest figures by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) has shown.

The report published on the website of the bureau shows that the new inflation rate is 0.52 percent points higher than the rate recorded in September 2020 (13.71 per cent).

"This rise in the food index was caused by increases in prices of Bread and cereals, Potatoes, yam and other tubers, Meat, Fish, Fruits, Vegetable, alcoholic and food beverages and Oils and Fats," according to the bureau of statistics’ composite food index.

FOOD COSTS ROSE 17.4% FROM A YEAR EARLIER, 1.96% IN THE MONTH

On a month-on-month basis, the food sub-index increased by 1.96 percent in October 2020, up by 0.08  percent points from 1.88 percent recorded in September 2020.

The average annual rate of change of the Food sub-index for the twelve-month period ending October  2020 over the previous twelve-month average was 15.42 percent, representing a 0.29 percent points from the average annual rate of change recorded in September 2020 (15.13) percent.

How about States' food inflation?

In October 2020, food inflation on a year on year basis was highest in Edo (21.65%), Zamfara (20.88%) and  Kogi (20.58%), while Lagos (14.57%), Ogun (14.47%) and Ondo (14.23%) recorded the slowest rise.

On month on month basis, however, October 2020 food inflation was highest in Kwara (3.88%), Edo  (3.81%) and Sokoto (3.65%), while Oyo (0.57%) and Jigawa (0.54%) and Taraba (0.29%) recorded the slowest rise on the month on month inflation.

The ”All items less farm produce” or Core inflation, which excludes the prices of volatile agricultural produce stood at 11.14 percent in October 2020, up by 0.56 percent when compared with 10.58 percent recorded in September 2020.

On a month-on-month basis, the core sub-index increased by 1.25 percent in October 2020. This was up by

0.31 percent when compared with 0.94 percent recorded in September 2020.

The highest increases were recorded in prices of Passenger transport by air, Hospital and Medical Services, Passenger transport by road, Pharmaceutical products, Motor cars, Vehicle spare parts, maintenance and repair of personal transport equipment, Hairdressing salons and personal grooming establishments, Miscellaneous services relating to the dwelling, Paramedical services and shoes and other footwear.

The average 12-month annual rate of change of the index was 9.96 percent for the twelve-month period ending October 2020 representing is 0.19 percent points higher than 9.77 percent recorded in September  2020.

SOURCE: https://brandspurng.com/2020/11/16/food-inflation-in-nigeria-hits-17-38-in-october/

The consumer price index, (CPI) which measures inflation increased by 14.23 percent (year-on-year) in October 2020. This is 0.52 percent points higher than the rate recorded in September 2020 (13.71 percent).

Increases were recorded in all COICOP divisions that yielded the Headline index.

On a month-on-month basis, the Headline index increased by 1.54 percent in October 2020, this is 0.06  percent rate higher than the rate recorded in September 2020 (1.48 percent).

The percentage change in the average composite CPI for the twelve months period ending October 2020  over the average of the CPI for the previous twelve months period was 12.66 percent, showing a 0.22  percent point rise from 12.44 percent recorded in September 2020.

The urban inflation rate increased by 14.81 percent (year-on-year) in October 2020 from 14.31 percent recorded in September 2020, while the rural inflation rate increased by 13.68 percent in October 2020  from 13.14 percent in September 2020.

On a month-on-month basis, the urban index rose by 1.60 percent in October 2020, up by 0.04 from 1.56  percent recorded in September 2020, while the rural index also rose by 1.48 percent in October 2020, up  by 0.08 from the rate recorded in September 2020 (1.40 percent).

The corresponding twelve-month year-on-year average percentage change for the urban index is 13.29  percent in October 2020. This is higher than 13.07 percent reported in September 2020, while the corresponding rural inflation rate in October 2020 is 12.09 percent compared to 11.86 percent recorded in September 2020.

FOOD INDEX

The composite food index rose by 17.38 percent in October 2020 compared to 16.66 percent in  September 2020.

This rise in the food index was caused by increases in prices of Bread and cereals, Potatoes, yam and other tubers, Meat, Fish, Fruits, Vegetable, alcoholic and food beverages and Oils and Fats.

On a month-on-month basis, the food sub-index increased by 1.96 percent in October 2020, up by 0.08  percent points from 1.88 percent recorded in September 2020.

The average annual rate of change of the Food sub-index for the twelve-month period ending October  2020 over the previous twelve-month average was 15.42 percent, representing a 0.29 percent points from the average annual rate of change recorded in September 2020 (15.13) percent.

ALL ITEMS LESS FARM PRODUCE

The ''All items less farm produce'' or Core inflation, which excludes the prices of volatile agricultural produce stood at 11.14 percent in October 2020, up by 0.56 percent when compared with 10.58 percent recorded in September 2020.

On a month-on-month basis, the core sub-index increased by 1.25 percent in October 2020. This was up by

0.31 percent when compared with 0.94 percent recorded in September 2020.

The highest increases were recorded in prices of Passenger transport by air, Hospital and Medical Services,  Passenger transport by road, Pharmaceutical products, Motor cars, Vehicle spare parts, maintenance and repair of personal transport equipment, Hairdressing salons and personal grooming establishments,  Miscellaneous services relating to the dwelling, Paramedical services and shoes and other footwear.

The average 12-month annual rate of change of the index was 9.96 percent for the twelve-month period ending October 2020 representing is 0.19 percent points higher than 9.77 percent recorded in September  2020.

STATE PROFILES

In analysing price movements under this section, note that the CPI is weighted by consumption expenditure patterns which differ across states. Accordingly, the weight assigned to a particular food or non-food item may differ from state to state making interstate comparisons of consumption basket inadvisable and potentially misleading.

All Items Inflation

In October 2020, all items inflation on year on year basis was highest in Zamfara (17.69%), Sokoto  (16.99%) and Ebonyi (16.91%), while Lagos (11.96%), Abuja (11.84%) and Cross River (10.50%) recorded the slowest rise in headline Year on Year inflation.

On month on month basis, however, October 2020 all items inflation was highest in Sokoto (2.91%), Edo  (2.53%) and Akwa Ibom (2.52%), while Oyo (0.69%), Taraba (0.60%) and Jigawa (0.37%) recorded the slowest rise in headline month on month inflation.

Food Inflation

In October 2020, food inflation on a year on year basis was highest in Edo (21.65%), Zamfara (20.88%) and  Kogi (20.58%), while Lagos (14.57%), Ogun (14.47%) and Ondo (14.23%) recorded the slowest rise.

On month on month basis, however, October 2020 food inflation was highest in Kwara (3.88%), Edo  (3.81%) and Sokoto (3.65%), while Oyo (0.57%) and Jigawa (0.54%) and Taraba (0.29%) recorded the slowest rise on a month on month inflation.

SOURCE: https://brandspurng.com/2020/11/16/nigeria-october-2020-inflation-rate-rises-to-14-23-as-food-inflation-jumps-to-17-38/

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The Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, weekend, assured the people of the State that the 14.7km Ijebu Ode-Epe Expressway would be ready for their use by Christmas.

Prince Dapo Abiodun, who made this known while on an on-the-spot assessment tour of the Ijebu Ode-Epe Expressway, got assurance from the contractors that about eight to nine kilometres of one lane of the road would be completed in the next ten days.

"The entire stretch going all the way from Epe to Ijebu-Ode would be completed by Christmas,” the Governor said.

He added that the award of the interchange flyover which would be in form of a loop was awarded so as to ensure that accidents do not occur on the road as has been witnessed at other interchanges or intersections in the past.

"The contractors have assured me that they will intensify work on this road. I have insisted because we have Christmas approaching, and so, they must complete one segment of this road – one lane all the way to Ijebu-Ode. They, in turn, assured me that in the next ten days, they would have completed about eight to nine kilometres of one lane, and promised to ensure that by Christmas, the entire stretch going all the way from Epe to Ijebu-Ode is completed.

"Furthermore, we've just awarded the interchange flyover contract that will allow for ease of traffic from this road into Ijebu-Ode and onto the expressway, so that we do not have a situation where people are speeding on this road and they run onto the Sagamu-Ore Expressway and then we begin to have accidents as we've seen in other interchanges or intersections.

It is going to be a loop, that has been awarded. The contractor has started to mobilise and get ready to begin that loop," he said.

Governor Abiodun further disclosed that the opening of the Ijebu Ode-Epe Expressway would further open up the corridor for more industrial activity while adding that the road when completed would also increase the efficiency of travel and longevity of the road.
Prince Abiodun stressed that the Ijebu Ode-Epe Expressway, when completed, would not only connect the State to Lagos State but connect the mid-western states of the Country to the Eastern part.

He noted that the Ijebu Ode-Epe Expresswa would also help to reduce the burden of traffic on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.

"This road connects not just Ogun State to Lagos State. It connects the rest of mid-western Nigeria to the Eastern part of the country, so by doing this road, we are increasing the efficiency of travel, and longevity of the road itself.

"This stretch will now be open to more industrial activity as you will know that Lagos is expanding along the Lekki corridor: this is where you have the Free Trade Zone, Dangote Refinery. Industrial expansion is in this area, so we are opening up this road to increased economic activity," he said.
Abiodun said his Administration has awarded the construction of the Molipa Expressway while noting that construction work would soon commence as the contractors have already been mobilised.

In their separate remarks, Mr. Oluwaseun Odumade and Mrs. Oluwatoyin Omotayo while appreciating the Governor and his Administration for the quality and network of road construction in Ijebu Ode-Epe, Imowo-Ibadan and the Awujale Palace-Stadium roads, noted that the roads, when completed, would aid the economic development of Ijebu Ode in particular, and the State in general.

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The Lagos State Government says it will establish a butchers’ academy in order to train new and existing butchers in global best practices on slaughtering in the red meat value chain in the State.

The State Commissioner for Agriculture, Ms. Abisola Olusanya stated this today during the test run of a new semi-mechanised abattoir under the Public-Private Partnership at Bariga area of the State. Olusanya said that the academy would attract youths into the sector through the adoption of technology and in an effort to make them the next generation of butchers.

In her words: “We have what we call the butchers’ academy coming up where we want to train our existing butchers for them to see the best global practices around slaughtering. We want to start bringing in graduates and the youth to be the next generation of butchers but the only way to attract the youth into this sector is to have mechanised and semi-mechanised abattoirs”.

“We cannot bring them into the traditional slaughtering on the slab which is not hygienic, wholesome and does not attract the right customers that will pay the margins and will make this sector attractive to people.

The onus is on us as a government to ensure that we train our existing butchers and also to show the new butchers that this is the system we want to inculcate going forward and we believe that it is just a matter of time before that re-orientation sets in and everyone adopts this technology”, the Commissioner said.

Olusanya said that there are 12 semi and fully mechanised operational abattoirs in the State, adding that some of them were setup through the public private partnerships.
She explained that the State has two fully mechanised lines in Agege, Oko-Oba Abattoir as well as other Public-Private Partnership collaborations on semi and fully mechanised slaughterhouses, urging butchers to embrace technology in order to enrich themselves and make their work easier, faster and more profitable.

The Commissioner noted that the semi-mechanised abattoir at Bariga would create about 2000 direct and indirect jobs when fully operational, adding that the aim of the partnership was to show Lagosians the need for safe, sanitised and hygienic slaughtering of meat.

According to her, “This Public-Private Partnership (PPP) project between the Lagos State Government and a private player, Lion Unisco has been on for the last couple of months and we are here for an actual test-run with anticipation that we should have it operational by the end of the year. This facility is also expected to generate direct and indirect employment of between 1,500 to 2,000 people”.

“In the last couple of months, the State Government had embarked on a sensitisation programme on monitoring, enforcement and compliance to ensure that the illegal abattoirs and slaughter slabs are shut down, because this is this kind of facilities that we are trying to promote”, she said.

Olusanya said that the State Government is receptive to the idea of collaborating with the private sector participants to have facilities such as the Bariga abattoir, with a view to ensuring the proper slaughtering of meat in a hygienic and wholesome manner.

“There is another abattoir in Badagry, Trans Selectal Abattoir coming up shortly by December also. All this goes to show that in terms of our reforms in the red meat value chain, we are very serious about changing the narrative going forward”, the Commissioner asserted.

SOURCE: https://brandspurng.com/2020/11/12/lagos-state-government-to-establish-butchers-academy/

In its avowed commitment to the incremental enhancement of the nation's economy, INNOSON VEHICLE MANUFACTURING is set to launch its brand of ride-hailing service, IVM Cruise on Friday, November 13th, 2020. This new service offering from the company is set to commence from the city of Enugu with other cities consecutively coming on stream.

The IVM Cruise ride-hailing service from Nigeria's foremost vehicle manufacturing company is unique as it offers drivers, aptly named pilots, a chance of becoming owners of brand new Innoson vehicles after a period of three years in which the cost of these vehicles would have been paid.

IVM Cruise is a technology-driven ride-hailing service. It offers commuters a platform for requesting pickups and drop-offs from their various locations to their destinations. The IVM Cruise service is designed to operate on an incremental digital architecture in line with modern trends in the city transportation industry.

Innoson's IVM Cruise ride-hailing service features:

- a digital wallet payment system,

- an offline payment facility,

- an interactive user interface/application for both pilots and commuters,
ease of usage,

- a personalized experience which is customized to each subscriber of the IVM Cruise app

- and a pilot interface system which directs pilots to areas within the city where there are increased subscriber requests. This technology enables a subscriber to enjoy the IVM Cruise experience in few minutes from requesting a ride.

As a foremost wholly-owned Nigerian vehicle manufacturing company, Innoson Vehicle Manufacturing Ltd is poised to create avenues for deepening societal development through transportation while ensuring dignity to Nigerian transporters.

SOURCE: https://brandspurng.com/2020/11/12/innoson-launches-ride-hailing-service-ivm-cruise/

Measles surged worldwide in 2019 reaching the highest number of reported cases in 23 years. Highlighted in a publication by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), measles cases worldwide increased to 869,770 in 2019, the highest number reported since 1996 with increases in all WHO regions. Global measles deaths climbed nearly 50 percent since 2016, claiming an estimated 207,500 lives in 2019 alone. 

After steady global progress from 2010 to 2016, the number of reported measles cases climbed progressively to 2019. Comparing 2019 data with the historic low in reported measles cases in 2016, authors cite a failure to vaccinate children on time with two doses of measles-containing vaccines (MCV1 and MCV2) as the main driver of these increases in cases and deaths.

“We know how to prevent measles outbreaks and deaths,” said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General. “These data send a clear message that we are failing to protect children from measles in every region of the world.  We must collectively work to support countries and engage communities to reach everyone, everywhere with measles vaccine and stop this deadly virus.”

Measles outbreaks occur when people who are not protected from the virus are infected and spread the disease to unvaccinated or under-vaccinated populations.  To control measles and prevent outbreaks and deaths, vaccination coverage rates with the required MCV1 and MCV2 must reach 95 percent and be maintained at national and sub-national levels.

MCV1 coverage has been stagnant globally for more than a decade at between 84 and 85 percent.  MCV2 coverage has been steadily increasing but is only now at 71 percent. Vaccination coverage against measles remains well below the 95 percent or higher needed with both doses to control measles and prevent outbreaks and deaths.

The global response to COVID-19 pandemic must not exacerbate the measles crisis

Although reported cases of measles are lower in 2020, necessary efforts to control COVID-19 have resulted in disruptions in vaccination and crippled efforts to prevent and minimize measles outbreaks. As of November, more than 94 million people were at risk of missing vaccines due to paused measles campaigns in 26 countries.

Many of these countries are experiencing ongoing outbreaks.  Of countries with postponed planned 2020 campaigns, only eight (Brazil, Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Nepal, Nigeria, Philippines and Somalia) resumed their campaigns after initial delays.

“Before there was a coronavirus crisis, the world was grappling with a measles crisis, and it has not gone away,” said Henrietta Fore, UNICEF Executive Director. “While health systems are strained by the COVID-19 pandemic, we must not allow our fight against one deadly disease to come at the expense of our fight against another. This means ensuring we have the resources to continue immunization campaigns for all vaccine-preventable diseases, even as we address the growing COVID-19 pandemic.”

Causes of failure to control measles are many and must be addressed

Global immunization partners are engaging leaders and public health professionals in affected and at-risk countries to ensure that measles vaccines are available and safely delivered and that caregivers understand the life-saving benefit of the vaccine.  On 6 November 2020, WHO and UNICEF issued an emergency call to action for measles and polio outbreak prevention and response.

“Measles virus easily finds unprotected children, adolescents and adults because it is so contagious,” said Dr. Robert Linkins, Measles & Rubella Initiative Management Team Chair and Accelerated Disease Control Branch Chief at U.S. CDC.

“Infections are not only a sign of poor measles vaccination coverage, but also a known maker, or ‘tracer,’ that vital health services may not be reaching populations most at-risk. Our collective efforts to reach children with vaccines now, ahead of the possible easing of COVID-19 travel restrictions and increased population movement, will save lives.”

The Measles & Rubella Initiative (M&RI), which includes American Red Cross, the United Nations Foundation, the U.S. CDC, UNICEF and WHO, and global immunization partners like Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and others, are working to address the current measles crisis and ensure that resources are positioned to address immunization delays – for measles and all vaccines – in every region of the world.

A bold strategy released by M&RI, Measles & Rubella Strategic Framework 2021 – 2030, will help to address reversals in global progress toward measles elimination by bolstering strong, national immunization systems that can reach and protect children. This strategic shift by the partnership will focus on strengthening the routine delivery of all vaccines, and quickly and effectively detecting and responding to measles outbreaks.

Quotes from Our Partners

“These alarming figures should act as a warning that, with the COVID-19 pandemic occupying health systems across the world, we cannot afford to take our eye off the ball when it comes to other deadly diseases.

Measles is entirely preventable; in a time in which we have a powerful, safe and cost-effective vaccine nobody should still be dying of this disease. COVID-19 has resulted in dangerous declines in immunization coverage, leading to increased risk of measles outbreaks.

This is why countries urgently need to prioritize measles catch-up immunization through routine services to mitigate the risk of outbreaks and ensure no child goes without this lifesaving vaccine.” - Dr Seth Berkley, CEO of Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance.

“The fact that measles outbreaks are occurring at the highest levels we’ve seen in a generation is unthinkable when we have a safe, cost-effective, and proven vaccine. No child should die from a vaccine-preventable disease. We are proud to chart a bold way forward with partners to close gaps in access to immunization and rapidly respond to outbreaks so everyone, everywhere can live healthy lives.” - Elizabeth Cousens, President & CEO, United Nations Foundation.

“We are concerned that COVID-19 will contribute to an increase in the number of measles cases and deaths. Measles knows no borders, and it is imperative we work together to vaccinate more children and continue the fight against this preventable disease. “Around the globe, Red Cross and Red Crescent volunteers help families in chronically unvaccinated communities to protect their children. Join us in this effort.” - Gail McGovern, President & CEO of the American Red Cross.

The Measles & Rubella Initiative (M&RI) is a partnership between the American Red Cross, the United Nations Foundation, the U.S. CDC, UNICEF and WHO. Working with Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance and other stakeholders, the Initiative is committed to achieving and maintaining a world without measles, rubella and congenital rubella syndrome.

Since 2000, M&RI has helped deliver over 5.5 billion doses of measles vaccine to children worldwide and saved over 25.5 million lives by increasing vaccination coverage, responding to outbreaks, monitoring and evaluation, and supporting demand for the vaccine.

SOURCE: https://brandspurng.com/2020/11/12/worldwide-measles-deaths-climb-50-from-2016-to-2019-claiming-over-207500-lives-in-2019/

November 12, 2020 - Nigeria has emerged as the eight-country in this year’s Electricity Regulatory Index Report published by the African Development Bank.

Uganda has for the third time in a row emerged as the top performer in the latest index. Uganda, along with Namibia, Tanzania, Zambia and Kenya, the other top performers, have regulators with the authority to exert the necessary oversight on the sector.

These countries have well-developed electricity regulatory frameworks, and their regulators can exert the necessary regulatory oversight and authority on the regulated entities and the sector for measurable outcomes.

However, the overall electricity regulatory frameworks of African countries is poorly developed, and most countries experience major regulatory weaknesses.

The ERI, a flagship report of the African Development Bank is a composite index which measures the level of development of electricity sector regulatory frameworks in African countries against international standards and best practice.

The ERI 2020 reveals gaps in the quality of service delivery frameworks of most countries. Most (53%) do not have the quality of service regulations or codes. Of those who do, only 17% of those regulations set ceilings on key service reliability indices such as System Average Interruption Duration Index and System Average Interruption Frequency Index (SAIDI-SAIFI) with appropriate penalties for noncompliance by utilities.

Service Reflective Tariffs in Nigeria - Transitional Path to Cost-reflective Tariffs and Improved Quality of Service Delivery

In 89% of the countries surveyed, regulators do not factor these SAIFI and SAIDI indices into tariffs to incentivize the utilities to reinforce the network to improve service reliability. Consumers are therefore left at the mercy of the discretional powers of the utility when it comes to service reliability.

Exclusion of reliability indices in tariffs denies the utilities the needed funds and incentives to improve the network for improved service reliability. This introduces a vicious tariff cycle that is incommensurate with service delivery. Many consumers are sensitive to electricity supply reliability, especially industrial and commercial consumers, who have zero tolerance for supply outages because of their profitability and viability.

These consumers are often willing to pay commensurate tariffs to incentivize the utilities to deliver a high quality of service. To address this, in August 2020, the Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) introduced service reflective tariffs. These are tariffs where consumers are categorized into tariff bands. Each band plays a tariff that is commensurate with guaranteed minimum hours of electricity supply per day.

NERC arrived at this measure when during its public hearing in different franchise areas for tariff review, it observed that, some end-users were willing to pay higher tariffs if the distribution companies could guarantee them some fixed hours of supply.

Under this tariff scheme, minimum hours of supply are specified for five different tariff bands –tariff band A to tariff B and E. Each tariff band has different tariff classes within it. Consumers in tariff band “A” pay the highest tariffs and are guaranteed the highest number of hours of supply per day (a minimum of 20hrs/day).

This reduces gradually to tariff band “E” where consumers pay the least tariffs and are guaranteed the least number of hours of supply (a minimum of four hours of electricity supply per day). Utilities are penalized for failure to meet the guaranteed hours of supply.

This is an innovative two-pronged transitional path towards cost-reflective tariffs. It is an incentive to ensure the ability of supply (reducing SAIDI). While it incentivizes more customers to gradually migrate into higher supply reliability bands and pay commensurate tariffs, it provides the needed revenue and obligates reinforcement of the network over time. This ensures guaranteed and reliable service delivery to the respective bands and eventually to all.

In terms of reliability specifically, the service-reflective tariffs address the duration of outages (SAIDI) but not the frequency of outages (SAIFI). Consumers may enjoy the guaranteed hours but with a high number of interruptions or flickers lasting a few minutes. It therefore does not eliminate the need for developing and implementing appropriate quality of service regulations.

The third edition of the ERI report was launched during the Digital Energy Festival of the Africa Energy Forum, on 5 November 2020. The event brought together more than 70 stakeholders in the energy sector, regulators, international organizations, and development finance institutions like Africa50 and the World Bank.

SOURCE: https://brandspurng.com/2020/11/12/nigeria-ranked-8th-in-the-latest-electricity-regulatory-index-for-africa-2020/

Uganda tops African countries with well-developed electricity regulatory frameworks - ERI 2020 report

November 12, 2020- Uganda has for the third time in a row emerged as the top performer in this year’s Electricity Regulatory Index Report published by the African Development Bank (www.AfDB.org).

The East African country, along with Namibia, Tanzania, Zambia and Kenya, the other top performers, have regulators with the authority to exert the necessary oversight on the sector. However, the overall electricity regulatory frameworks of African countries is poorly developed, and most countries experience major regulatory weaknesses.

The ERI, a flagship report of the African Development Bank, is a composite index which measures the level of development of electricity sector regulatory frameworks in African countries against international standards and best practice.

“The African Development Bank has been at the forefront of efforts to mainstream electricity sector regulation issues in Africa within the broader sector discourse, recognizing the importance of establishing robust legal and regulatory frameworks to support the financial sustainability of the sector and attract private sector investment,” said Dr. Kevin Kariuki, Vice President, Power, Energy, Climate and Green Growth, at the African Development Bank.

The third edition of the ERI report was launched during the Digital Energy Festival of the Africa Energy Forum, on 5 November 2020. The event brought together more than 70 stakeholders in the energy sector, regulators, international organizations, and development finance institutions like Africa50 and the World Bank.

Wale Shonibare, Director for Energy Financial Solutions, Policy and Regulations, at the African Development Bank, said COVID-19 related restrictions had increased residential electricity demand and decreased industrial/commercial demand. This had resulted in shortfalls in the projected revenues of utilities.

“To address these challenges, regulators will be required to play an even more critical and central role post-Covid, to ensure that the sector recovers with minimal and controlled impact on consumers and utilities,” Shonibare said.

Koffi Klousseh, Director of Project Development at Africa50, praised the ERI as a great tool for assessing the readiness of the electricity sector for private sector investments.

Main findings of the ERI 2020 report

- 69% of countries surveyed have regulatory mechanisms in place to facilitate electricity access.

- In 21 of the 36 countries surveyed, the utility is not involved in funding rural electrification. The government, NGOs and consumers do this.

- In 90% of the countries surveyed, the Executive holds the power to appoint board members and heads of regulatory institutions who report to them. This removes the core of decision-making independence from regulators, who are subjected to subtle and direct political pressure to skew key regulatory decisions towards the political inclination of the government in power.

- Most countries have legislation to deal with conflict of interest among commissioners and heads of regulatory institutions while in office. However, few have adequate mechanisms to regulate conflict of interest and other ethical issues, affecting the integrity of regulatory decisions.

- Political authorities have a significant influence on the finances of regulatory authorities. In many instances, laws establishing regulatory institutions do not clearly indicate sources of funds for the institution.

Other participants also shared views on the sector:

Ziria Tibalwa Waako, CEO of Uganda’s Electricity Regulatory Authority: “Regulation is a catch-up game. If there are gaps, be happy to review your process and methodology.”

Foibe Namene, CEO of Namibia’s Electricity Control Board: “Regulatory independence is a balancing act between multiple stakeholders while maintaining a high level of integrity in the regulatory processes and actions.”

Peter Twesigye, Head of Electricity Regulation Programme, Power Futures Lab, at the University of Cape Town: “Regulators should support utilities through tariffs to finance investments in the backbone feeders with outage management systems that will enable them to monitor reliability and the quality of power on these feeders.”

SOURCE: https://brandspurng.com/2020/11/12/uganda-tops-african-countries-with-well-developed-electricity-regulatory-frameworks-eri-2020-report/

Africa's top provider of management education, Lagos Business School (LBS) has been ranked among top 40 business schools in Corporate Knights’ 2020 Better World MBA Ranking.

The Corporate Knights’ Better World MBA Ranking evaluates the degree to which business school programmes integrate sustainability knowledge and skills into business education. It also evaluates accredited MBA programmes for their commitment to sustainability, equipping future leaders not just to solve business issues, but also address pressing environmental and social concerns in a meaningful way.

For the 2020 ranking, Corporate Knights analysed 151 MBA programmes across the world, including those from business schools accredited by AMBA, AACSB or EQUIS and signatories to the United Nations’ Principles for Responsible Management Education (UN PRME). Lagos Business School is accredited by the AMBA, AACSB and has been a signatory to the UN PRME since 2011.

The programmes were evaluated across five key performance indicators: the number of sustainability-focused articles in peer-reviewed journals and citations, the number of core courses that incorporate sustainable development topics, research institutes and centres devoted to sustainable development issues and faculty gender and racial diversity in the business school.

According to the ranking, Lagos Business School’s full-time MBA programme is identified as one of the top in the world as it “instils a holistic purpose of business in future leaders, ensuring they are equipped with the skills, tools and values to build a more inclusive and prosperous society in synch with our natural world”.

CEO of Corporate Knights, Toby Heaps said,

“Every MBA should be a sustainable MBA, and the Better World business schools are showing us how,”

Reacting to the recognition, the School’s Deputy Dean and the Director of LBS Sustainability Centre, Professor Chris Ogbechie said,

“This is a positive affirmation that our conscious and consistent efforts to include sustainability knowledge in the curricula of all our programmes have not gone unnoticed.”

“Our mission, over the years, has been to develop responsible business leaders for Africa and the world. Our dedicated sustainability centre has also worked with businesses in different parts of the continent to provide solutions to critical sustainability challenges. This ranking further strengthens our resolve to preach the gospel of responsible and sustainable business practices in Africa.”

In a concluding statement, LBS Head of Corporate Communications, Aderayo Bankole, mentioned that the accolades, rankings and recognitions throughout 2020 are testaments to the constant drive for excellence at the business school. Bankole mentioned that earlier in the year, Lagos Business School emerged the only African business school on the 2020 Economist ranking for global MBAs and that the School was also ranked as Africa’s number one provider of custom executive education by the Financial Times of London.

SOURCE: https://brandspurng.com/2020/11/10/lagos-business-school-ranked-among-top-40-on-2020-better-world-mba-ranking/

The Taraba State Government has lifted the curfew imposed on Jalingo, the state capital and Wukari local government area of the state following the thoughtless looting of government and individual property that followed the END SARS protests.

This was contained in a press release signed by Senior Special Assistant to the Deputy Governor on New Media, Musleem Aruwa and dated 9th November 2020.

It states that the deputy governor, Engr. Haruna Manu said after a careful review of the security situation in the state, especially the affected areas, the government is convinced that normalcy has been restored.

It states that the state government appreciates the level of adherence to government directives by the peace-loving people of Taraba and the security agencies for their professionalism in handling the unpleasant development.

It states that the Government will therefore continue to adopt new measures that can ensure lasting peace in the state.

SOURCE: https://brandspurng.com/2020/11/10/taraba-state-government-lifts-curfew-imposed-on-jalingo-and-wukari-lgas/

Very wrong

Sighs

Monday, November 9, 2020: The Federal Competition & Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) on Sunday, November 8, 2020, received credible information, and subsequently a complaint ref: FCCPC/DSE/32849 at approximately 11:00 P.M. The subject of the information and complaint was that a regular patron at Harzoyka Restaurant, No. 71B, Oduduwa Crescent, Ikeja, Lagos was denied entry at approximately 3:50 PM on Sunday, November 8, 2020. The reason for denied entry to the restaurant was that she was female and unaccompanied by a male companion.

Between the restaurant's opening time Of 11:00 A.M and 1:30 PM on Monday, November 9, the Commission conducted surveillance and monitoring at the location, including attempted patronage by an undercover lone female operative of the Commission. The operative was only engaged to ensure proper face covering to gain access, and there were other lone female patrons in the restaurant.

Further investigations by the FCCPC included engaging security, service personnel and senior management of the restaurant. The proprietor admits that approximately 30 days ago, it implemented a new access control policy to promote social distancing in accordance with prevailing COVID-19 management protocols, but denies such policy was targeted at, or to deny access to lone female patrons.

The Commission notes that Harzoyka Restaurant failed to provide appropriate sensitivity training and exercise sufficient oversight with respect to security operatives who enforce access control policies and efforts (including clear and timely escalation of customer dissatisfaction to management). As such, it is highly probable that this failure led to the unresolved discriminatory incident.

The Commission is issuing a Compliance Notice pursuant to Section 150, Federal Competition & Consumer Protection Act, and the undertaking in question shall remain under supervision for a limited period to ensure adequate training and oversight regarding illegal or prohibited parameters for denying access; and proper customer engagement and complaint resolution.

The Commission rejects any discrimination or stereotyping on account of race, gender,
social class or any other protected ground, and will subject any perpetrators to the fullest weight of the law. The Commission commends the complainant and invites the public to call out conducts and practices by businesses that violate the rights of citizens.

SOURCE: https://brandspurng.com/2020/11/09/fccpc-places-harzoyka-restaurant-under-surveillance-gender-based-discrimination/

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Hyundai today unveiled it's innovative 2022 Tucson SUV to U.S. media in West Hollywood, California. The all-new Tucson design is derived from a series of Hyundai Design Center concepts expressing its evolving Sensuous Sportiness global design identity. Tucson gasoline and hybrid models will begin availability for the U.S. market in spring 2021, with plug-in models available in summer 2021. The new 2022 Tucson internal combustion models will be produced at Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama (HMMA) and Ulsan, Korea.

“Our new Tucson represents the future of Hyundai’s full-spectrum eco-powertrain approach, offering internal combustion, hybrid and plug-in hybrid models in a high-volume compact SUV. With all-wheel-drive capability now added to new hybrid SUV platforms, customers no longer need to choose between all-road, all-weather capability and outstanding efficiency,” said Thomas Schemera, executive vice president, head of Product Division at Hyundai Motor Group.

The new Tucson appeals to those who actively embrace the integration of technologies with their lifestyle; these open-minded consumers willingly embrace new technologies as way to immediately integrate and enhance their lives. All-wheel drive capabilities are an example of technology facilitating their active lifestyles that often includes inclement weather, adverse terrain and active outdoor adventures.

Parametric Dynamic Exterior Design

“We pursue innovative solutions in design and add emotional value to our product experience through our Sensuous Sportiness design identity,” said SangYup Lee, senior vice president and head of Hyundai Global Design Center.

Tucson’s new exterior styling expresses Hyundai’s evolving Sensuous Sportiness design identity. The new SUV embodies what Hyundai designers call ‘Parametric Dynamics’ with kinetic, jewel-like surface detailing that emphasizes Tucson’s distinct identity in a crowded SUV segment.

Tucson facilitates the integration of technologies with tech-savvy lifestyles; these tech-savvy consumers adopt the latest gadgets to enhance their lives. Tucson’s integration of technology and design is evident in innovative half-mirror type daytime running lamps (DRLs) that are assimilated seamlessly within the parametric grille and only visible when illuminated.

Tucson’s side profile conveys an impression of powerful forward motion. The long hood and level roofline coupled with a long wheelbase and short overhangs reflect a ready-for-anything dynamic character. Crisp geometric angles and edges create a striking contrast between a sleek silhouette and masculine wedge lines. The chrome line beginning from the side mirrors follows the arc of the roofline with increasing width and subtly conveys speed as it reaches the C pillar.

The kinetic design theme carries over to the rear, where the full-width taillamp incorporates half-concealed triangular shapes that are clearly visible when illuminated, echoing the DRL theme in front. In order to achieve the purity of this design theme, the Hyundai logo is elevated and integrated into the glass, and the rear wiper is concealed beneath the rear spoiler.

Serene and Spacious INTERSPACE Interior

Tucson’s interior, or ‘INTERSPACE’, offers sensuous, multi-layered forms that provide a feeling of openness and serenity. This is a place where space, technology and information seamlessly blend. The broad ridge of the dashboard blends consistently with the doors, wrapping around front occupants like a geologic gorge, while a vertically oriented, fully integrated center fascia descends to the console like a waterfall. Twin silver garnish lines streaming from the center fascia to the rear doors harmonize neatly layered surface materials in complementary, neutral tones. Ambient mood lighting is adjustable to 64 colors in ten levels of brightness.

The interior offers three new technologies, including a 10.25-inch full-touch screen exempt of hard buttons, a hoodless digital gauge cluster, and multi-air ventilation, a temperature-adjusting system providing diffused airflow on the front passengers. This indirect, diffusing ventilation system reduces potentially unpleasant airflow and is unique in the automotive industry.

These features create a high-tech, fresh and exciting ambience, with cushioned materials on high-touch areas, various material applications based on the frequency of interface, and a premium overall presence. Tucson’s second-row seats feature fold-and-dive functionality for easily optimized reconfiguration capability between passengers and cargo. For extra convenience, a release lever for this function is also located in the rear cargo area.

The new Tucson for the U.S. only offers the long-wheelbase version of the global platform, which is longer, wider, taller, and has a longer wheelbase than the previous generation. Moreover, passenger volume increases by six cubic feet, to 108.2 cubic feet, and cargo volume has increased by 7.7 cubic feet, to 38.7 cubic feet.

SOURCE: https://brandspurng.com/2020/11/09/hyundai-reveals-all-new-2022-tucson-suv/

China successfully sent the world's first 6G communications test satellite into orbit from Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center on November 6. The technology is expected to be over 100 times faster than 5G, enabling lossless transmission in space.

The telecoms industry is still several years away from agreeing on 6G's specifications, so it is not yet certain the tech being trialled will make it into the final standard.

It involves the use of high-frequency terahertz waves to achieve data-transmission speeds many times faster than 5G is likely to be capable of.

The satellite also carries technology which will be used for crop disaster monitoring and forest fire prevention.

Samsung released a white paper entitled “The Next Hyper-Connected Experience for All.” outlining the company’s vision for the next generation communication system, namely 6G. The white paper covers various aspects related to 6G, including technical and societal megatrends, new services, requirements, candidate technologies and an expected timeline of standardization.

Samsung’s vision for 6G is to bring the next hyper-connected experience to every corner of life. To accelerate research for 6G, Samsung Research, the advanced R & D hub within Samsung Electronics’ SET Business, founded its Advanced Communications Research Center in May of last year.

Examples of 6G performance requirements are a peak data rate of 1,000 Gbps (gigabits per second) and air latency less than 100 microseconds (μs), 50 times the peak data rate and one-tenth the latency of 5G.

SOURCE: https://brandspurng.com/2020/11/08/china-has-just-launched-the-worlds-first-6g-test-satellite-into-orbit/

Ouch

Charleys:
OP you need to read this and add to your write up.


https://nairametrics.com/2020/11/07/crude-oil-prices-drop-over-a-likely-joe-biden-presidency/

Aiit

In the last four days, the world has watched a historic and suspense-filled US election, one that has raised concerns around the legitimacy of America’s democracy, with growing fears of post-election violence and tribunals. Nevertheless, as it stands, Joseph Robinette Biden Jr. has been elected the 46th President of the United States of America.

The US, under President Donald Trump, seemed to have neglected its role as the global policeman, focusing on promoting its interest under Mr Trump's "America First'' slogan. This has led to the US pulling out of several international treaties and organisations. First, the Iran Nuclear Deal, then the Paris Climate Change Agreement, the UN Human Rights Council and the latest being the World Health Organisation.

The US is also in a trade war with China and has also placed travel restrictions on a few countries including Nigeria. It has also opposed the candidature of Akinwumi Adesina for the African Development Bank and Ngozi Okonjo Iweala for the World Trade Organisation.

In this report, we look at what a Biden presidency could look like for Nigeria and the continent in terms of trade, immigration, regional security, and diplomatic relations with Abuja.

Trade

It is tempting to think that the Biden presidency will simply extrapolate from the Obama Administration. What is more likely is that Mr Biden will continue Mr Trump’s policy of “Making America Great Again” in one key respect: trade.

As part of his campaign promises, Joe Biden unequivocally favours a reshoring of American jobs that gives power back to the American worker. He says: If we make smart investments in manufacturing and technology, give our workers and companies the tools they need to compete, use taxpayer dollars to buy American and spark American innovation, stand up to the Chinese government’s abuses, insist on fair trade, and extend opportunity to all Americans, many of the products that are being made abroad could be made here today.

And, if we do these things with an unwavering commitment to bolstering American industrial strength, which we will power using clean energy that we also harvest here at home, we will also lead in making the cutting-edge products and services of tomorrow. Biden will do more than bring back the jobs lost due to COVID-19 and Trump’s incompetence, he will create millions of new manufacturing and innovation jobs throughout all of America.

If he follows through with the concrete steps outlined to Buy American, Make It In America, Innovate in America, Invest In All of America, Stand Up For America, and Supply America, it will turn the clock back on decades of US offshoring and bring perhaps a final end to globalization as we know it.

This posture will play very well with both sides of America’s political divide, especially the Republican Party, whose cooperation he will need to govern. It is also likely to return vitality to America’s North-East, known for its industrial activity, but which has been in decline since the 1980s.

This has implications for America’s purchase of Nigerian oil, which has also been in decline due to a growing focus on domestic energy production in the US. In August 2020, the US announced that it had slashed its imports of Nigerian crude oil to 9.37 million barrels in the first five months of this year, 11.67 million barrels lower than what it bought in the same period of 2019.

The highest monthly volume of Nigerian crude purchased by the North American country so far this year was 2.12 million barrels, compared to 11.78 million barrels in 2019.

Its purchases plunged by 63.03 percent in the first quarter of 2020 to 5.53 million barrels, compared to the last quarter of 2019 when it bought 15.07 million barrels from Nigeria. It is a state of affairs that is unlikely to change.

Immigration

Donald Trump’s populist America First nationalism necessarily came with distrust, if not outright demonisation, of immigrants. This distrust played very well with Mr Trump’s base and was central to his appeal. Mr Trump first made national headlines with the birther conspiracy, making the false claim that his predecessor, Barack Obama was not born in the United States. In his declaration for the presidency, he called Mexicans who come into the US rapists.

As such, his executive order banning immigrants from eight countries – six of which are majority Muslim – just days after assuming office, was very much in line with his campaign posture.

The eight countries were Chad, Iran, Libya, North Korea, Somalia, Syria, Venezuela, and Yemen. In January this year, Nigeria, Eritrea, Kyrgyzstan, Myanmar, Sudan and Tanzania were added to the list. This addition caught Nigeria’s authorities by surprise. The reason given by the Trump administration was security concerns around sharing personal data — including immigrants’ criminal histories, stolen passport information and suspected links to terrorism — with the United States and Interpol member countries.

As of this moment, Nigeria remains on the list. Joe Biden, as part of his campaign promises on immigration, has pledged1 to rescind that ban. Such a move will please many in the Nigerian diaspora resident in America, whose family ties have come under pressure because of the ban.

Three Nigerian-Americans, all Democrats, have won elective office in the 2020 election cycle, growing the ranks of Nigerian-Americans with political influence. Already one of the successful non-white groups in the country, this political influence will only grow with time.

The Nigerian diaspora is also highly engaged in events in Nigeria. Their remittances have played a crucial part in sustaining families for decades, and they are now organising themselves politically as well.

A diaspora that is more engaged with Nigerian affairs is more likely to, encouraged by a resurgent Democratic party, get more involved in Nigeria’s politics, and force through reforms in the way things are done in this country.

Regional Security

American involvement in the Sahel is mostly associated with its support for France-led Operation Barkhane, a counter-insurgency operation in Sahelian countries of Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali Mauritania and Niger. The US maintains a military base in Niger, with a lean strength of 1000 men. The Trump administration maintained this light presence with a very tiny budget of $60 million, an indication that it considers the region least amongst its foreign priorities, and is happy to play a support role for the French.

However, the US Africa Command has tried to step up cooperation with Nigeria in recent times, with the latest being its warning in September that Al Qaeda was making a play for North-Western and Southern Nigeria.

At the onset of the current government, the Obama administration mulled over the sale and provision2 of surveillance drones or other larger-scale assistance to Nigeria because of the latter military’s reputation for brutality and incompetence and because Boko Haram still ranks as a lower priority compared to the threat posed by Islamic State jihadists in the Middle East.

A lot of things have happened in four years. The influx of foreign terror elements in the region and in Northern Nigeria have put defence relations between the US and Nigeria on the spotlight. The recent hostage rescue3 conducted on (northern) Nigerian soil by the US Navy’s Seal Team Six with very minimal collaboration4 with the Nigerian government speaks to many things, chief of which is its impatience with the Nigerian government and its negative perception in dealing with terrorism.

A Biden administration would not differ so much with the departing Trump white house, but one thing we expect would be a return on the emphasis on the respect of human rights in the fight against Boko Haram and other armed Islamist militias in the region.

Biden has committed to ending America’s forever wars, but it is not a new promise to American voters. Obama and Trump promised the same thing during their campaign. With the Islamic State reduced to a hit and run group, A president Biden would continue its support for counter-terror operations in the Sahel, but as usual, acting through France and other proxies with boots on the ground.

Diplomatic relations with Abuja

Africa has been on the short end of the stick with US policies under the Trump administration, with Trump infamously referring to countries in the continent as “shit hole countries”. For Nigeria, during President Buhari’s April 2018 visit to the White House, reports alleged that the US president referred to Nigeria’s president Buhari as “lifeless”.

This untoward approach toward diplomatic relations with Nigeria became more evident as Nigeria’s foreign minister, Geoffrey Onyeama, claimed in February 2020 that he was “somewhat blindsided” by the Trump administration’s ban on immigration from Nigeria, as he only learned about the ban a few minutes before his with the US Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo, to discuss the possible expansion of US-Nigeria cooperation. A Biden-led government is likely to be more receptive not only to immigration from Nigeria but would also respect the diplomatic history both nations share.

In addition, the US has become a major opposition to the ascendancy of former Nigerian minister of finance, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, as Director-General of the World Trade Organisation (WTO). A similar play to this was the US role in the delay to reelect Dr Akinwumi Adesina as President of the African Development Bank (AfDB), following corruption allegations he was cleared off by a panel of inquiry.

The US insisted on an independent investigation, which ultimately arrived at the same conclusion as the first. SBM projects that with a more balanced and traditional diplomatic approach from the Biden-led government, Nigerians seeking international offices are likely to face less opposition.

Furthermore, SBM expects that a Biden led government is likely to put more pressure on the Nigerian government with respect to the issues of human rights violation. Following the influence of Nigerian’s in diaspora in their support for the #EndSARS protests, which drew the attention of President-Elect, Joseph Biden, as well as Hillary Clinton, who both released statements supporting the protesters.

Mr Biden had spoken out during the #EndSARS protests urging the Nigerian government to “cease the violent crackdown on protesters in Nigeria, which has already resulted in several deaths.” He added that “The United States must stand with Nigerians who are peacefully demonstrating for police reform and seeking an end to corruption in their democracy”.

He further encouraged the Nigerian government to “engage in a good-faith dialogue with civil society,” Biden continued, “to address these long-standing grievances and work together for a more just and inclusive Nigeria”.

SOURCE: https://brandspurng.com/2020/11/07/what-can-nigeria-expect-from-president-biden/

Appreciates all Stakeholders for the collaborative efforts in managing incidence

Lagos, Nigeria – 7th November 2020 – OVH Energy, owners of the Apapa petroleum products storage facility the subject of the ongoing fire incident, hereby inform the Apapa residents and general public that the fire was put off at 04:43 am on Saturday, 7th November.

We wish to express our sincerest appreciation to all stakeholders and individuals who contributed to the timely management and extinguishing of the fire incident at OVH Energy terminal 1, at Apapa, Lagos.

We commend the invaluable efforts and support of the Federal Fire Service; Adova Plc; NPA; Lagos State Fire Service; 11 Plc; MRS; UBA; NEMA; LASEMA; Julius Berger; NNPC; NIPCO; NAPIMS; Folawiyo Energy Ltd; Total Nigeria Plc; HOGL Energy Ltd, Nigerian Army; Nigerian Navy; Nigerian Police; Union and our host communities in the management of the outbreak.

To the general public who contributed in one way or the other in extinguishing the outbreak, accept our deepest appreciation.

As a responsible corporate citizen our priority is the safety of life and property of all stakeholders. We are committed to a goal of zero health and safety incident, so we have commenced immediate investigation of the cause of the fire.

SOURCE: https://brandspurng.com/2020/11/07/ovh-energy-extinguish-fire-at-terminal/

Nice

OPPO Releases A93 Smartphone with AI-Powered Portrait Photography, Ultra-Sleek Design and Fast Performance

Today, OPPO is launching the latest OPPO A93 in Nigeria. OPPO A93 introduces trendy technology that makes your style stand out with an Ultra Sleek smartphone body. This means that you’ll get cutting-edge AI portrait photography features packed into a truly premium design, along with functions that make life more efficient and can keep up with the pace of your lifestyle. With the latest generation of OPPO A Series, OPPO A93 lets you enjoy your life effortlessly.

The A93 boasts of premium features such as a 6.43 Inch Dual Punch-Hole Super AMOLED Screen, 108MP Ultra Clear Image, In-Display Fingerprint, 8GB RAM + 128GB storage (expandable up to 512GB), 7.48mm Ultra Sleek Design, 6 AI Portrait Cameras (Rear-48MP+8MP+2MP+2MP, Front- 16MP+2MP), 4K Video Shooting with Video Stabilisation & Slo-mo options, 4000 mAh Battery + 18w Fast Charge, MediaTek Helio P95 and most importantly, runs on ColorOS 7.2 based on the recent Android 10.

“A-Series has been designed so that the trendsetting generation can attain a quality smartphone that suits both their life and personal style, and with a sleek design that you won’t be afraid to flaunt outdoors. said Nengi Akinola, Marketing Manager, OPPO Nigeria. Designed based on research on local consumers, OPPO A93 ticks off all the right boxes for a phone that boasts AI cameras to deliver breathtaking portrait photos and advanced charging technology to ensure that your phone won’t hold your lifestyle back. OPPO A93 meets the high expectations and the values that our ambitious users hold dearly in both form and style.”

With OPPO A93 in-hand and show it to your circle of friends, as it’s been designed with a 7.48mm Ultra-Sleek Body that easily slides into a pocket and jacket without the bulge, or tucks neatly into a small bag or clutch that gives you the premium experience like no others.

To ensure that users are fully immersed in their content, OPPO A93’s 6.43’’ dual punch-hole display comes with a brilliant FHD+ Super AMOLED Display with a large 90.7% screen-to-body ratio. The display uses Mini Dual-Punch Holes that boast this price segment’s smallest camera diameter of only 3.7mm and ensures that that the phone screen’s real estate is maximized so that you're fully enjoying your video game and can see every detail in your shot.

OPPO A93 also introduces Shiny Matte, which sees the return of the shimmers and brilliant streaks of light that users enjoyed with the last A-Series phone. But with OPPO A93, the design has been updated with not only a premium feel that’s soft to the touch and easy on the eyes but is now also fingerprint resistant due to popular demand. Shiny Matte uses a brand new optical coating technique that increases the coating’s depth from 250 nanometers to 400 nanometers, which accentuates the light’s refraction while enhancing the colours.

OPPO A93 will come with the Shiny Matte texture in three colours. Magic Blue, showcases a unique blend of blue and purple colours that appear to reflect a new colour with every angle. Matte Black is a colour that screams prestige and is inspired by high-end automobiles. Metallic White offers a refreshing white colour that in certain angles will permeate shades of pink.

Under the hood, OPPO A93 packs a camera powerhouse that’s designed to give you the skills to take pictures like a professional. With a suite of six AI portrait cameras embedded within OPPO A93, you can post photos of yourself to show the best you with easy-to-use portrait photography and video stabilization features.

The front of the phone boasts a Dual Cam that empowers you to easily flaunt beautiful selfie portraits that use hardware-level processing to add a bokeh effect to your photo. In fact, with Dual Lens Bokeh, you’re equipped not only to capture portrait selfie photographs, but the feature has been upgraded to support both videos and multiple-people in the shot. With software-level AI processing, the finest of details on a person including their earrings and hair are accounted for and won’t end up being blurred out in the final footage.

AI Portrait Color enables you to capture fashionable urban street style photos or travel photos from a new perspective by making portraits pop with colour. AI Portrait Color mutes the background colours black and white while enhancing the natural colours of the person or a group of people within the photo using AI. In the vein of capturing you in your best moment, OPPO A93 comes with photography features that ensure that your natural beauty and all facial details are preserved in the final shot.

AI Super Clear Portrait guarantees that even the finest facial details like your eyebrow are clearly represented, or can even be reconstructed, while AI Beautification 2.0 presents customized beautification features that are tailored to local user beauty preferences and automatically detect existing makeup such as lipstick, then show customized effects.

To empower you to capture the best low light portraits, AI Night Flare Portrait is an OPPO-exclusive feature that combines the bokeh effect and lowlight-HDR algorithms to capture artistic photos that add beautiful night flares on portrait photos shot against the backdrop of city lights.

It’s a shot you won’t be able to capture with any other phone. if you’re looking to capture a selfie in the evening, AI Super Night Portrait makes sure that your selfie results in a brightened and clear shot even in low light conditions. On top of these features that will add a professional flair to your photos, the third generation of Ultra Steady Video enables you to effortlessly film a vlog while walking down the street but ensure that you’re capturing stabilized, clearer and sharper videos.

Ultra Steady Video use a hardware-software solution that combines the Electronic Image Stabilization algorithm with an embedded gyroscope within the front-facing camera so you’ll be able to capture the moment, on-the-go or even on-the-run, without the jittery footage. 

OPPO A93 introduces ways to optimize your phone’s battery life during the day or while you’re asleep. AI Night Charging uses AI Learning through machine learning to learn the user’s sleep habits and charge the phone exactly to 100% upon the moment they wake up from their slumber. In the worst-case scenario, if you’re without a battery charger during the day, Super Power Saving Mode optimizes the last 5% of your battery life by turning the display black and white, while running just six predetermined apps.

OPPO A93’s optimized user experience starts with its powerful MediaTek Helio P95 AI chipset, 8GB of memory and 128GB of storage, which can be extended up to 512GB through a 3-Card Slot. But this is just the tip of the iceberg. OPPO A93’s Anti-Lag Algorithm can detect and clear data that cause memory errors, making stutters and freezes less likely.

As an added benefit, reading and writing data in the file system becomes faster and more efficient. With improvements to the Memory Defragmentation feature, the chance that the phone stutters is reduced by up to 54% as compared to the previous generation, while file reading and writing performance is improved by up to 28% thanks to Automatic Database Optimization.

Or if an interruption isn’t caused by a device but life’s circumstances like a phone call coming in when your fingers are caked with batter or drenched in water, OPPO A93 has the perfect solution. With Air Gestures you can pick up calls without directly touching the phone by simply waving your hand as far as 20 cm or even 50 cm. 

At the same time with ColorOS 7.2, it’s fast and easy to access information starting with Quick Return Bubble enables you to multitask on your phone. When you switch apps or screens, a floating bubble pops up and keeps track of the app or game’s status, which you can return to at a later time with a simple tap. With High-bandwidth Digital Content Protection (HDCP) you can even cast copyrighted HD shows to a big screen from the leading video and entertainment apps including Netflix HD and Amazon Prime Video.

Market Availability

OPPO A93 is now available in all 36 states of Nigeria at N125,000 only and can be purchased by visiting www.buyoppo.ng or https://www./mlp-oppo-store/ or walking into any accredited dealership. The OPPO A93 comes in Magic Blue & Matte Black colours, with 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage, which can be expanded to support up to 512GB through a 3-Card Slot.

OPPO is a leading global smart device brand. Since launching its first smartphone - “Smiley Face” - in 2008, OPPO has been in relentless pursuit of the synergy of aesthetic satisfaction and innovative technology, Today, OPPO provides customers with a wide range of smart devices spearheaded by the Find and Reno Series, ColorOS operating system, as well as internet services such as OPPO Cloud and OPPO+.

OPPO operates in more than 40 countries and regions, with 6 research institutes and 4 R& centres worldwide and an international design centre in London, OPPO’s more than 40,000 employees are dedicated to creating a better life for customers around the world.

SOURCE: https://brandspurng.com/2020/11/06/oppo-releases-a93-smartphone-with-ai-powered-portrait-photography-ultra-sleek-design-and-fast-performance/

The Lagos State Police Command has vowed to resist any form of planned protest, procession or gathering under any guise or nomenclature in Lagos as the government and residents of the State recover from the devastating havoc and violence unleashed by suspected hoodlums who had hijacked the last #EndSARS protests.

A release issued on Thursday by the Police Command informed the general public that based on intelligence from relevant security agencies, some unpatriotic elements and groups of people have concluded plans to orchestrate another set of destruction on the State in furtherance of the recent #EndSARS violence, which has been analysed as dangerous and counterproductive.

“Premised on this, the Command, therefore, wishes to warn private individuals, groups of students and others who might be contemplating any form of protest or gathering whatsoever, to desist as the Police and other security agencies will collectively and tactically resist any security threat or threats to public peace, which might be triggered by another protest in Lagos State”, the statement said.

The Police Command, therefore, implored parents and guardians to discourage their children or wards from embarking or joining any protest in the State due to the possibility of another hijack by armed hoodlums to wreak havoc in Lagos.

“We encourage the general public to ignore any call for protest and go about their lawful businesses as all hands are on deck to maintain law, order and public safety across the length and breadth of the State”, it added.

SOURCE: https://brandspurng.com/2020/11/05/we-will-resist-any-planned-protest-in-lagos-police/

The Ekiti State House of Assembly approved the Renaming of the University of Education, Science and Technology, Ikere Ekiti to the Bamidele Olumilua University of Education, Science and Technology.

Bamidele Isola Olumilua (1940 – 4 June 2020) was a Nigerian politician who was the elected Governor of Ondo State, Nigeria from January 1992 to November 1993 during the Nigerian Third Republic, elected on the Social Democratic Party (SDP) platform. He served as a diplomat of Nigeria to the state of Canada. He was the Chancellor, Ekiti State University.

SOURCE: https://brandspurng.com/2020/11/03/ekiti-state-govt-renames-university-of-education-science-and-technology-ikere-ekiti-after-bamidele-olumilua/

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The Kwara mall is being cleaned and renovated after the poor state and undesirable condition created by looters who plundered and created a bad situation for owners of shops in the mall.

The sad state of the mall during the clean up makes one wonder that if the mall is in this state then in what state would the owners be.

Image credits: @xultan_visual

SOURCE: https://brandspurng.com/2020/11/03/kwara-mall-looting-before-and-after-the-clean-up-photos/

BBC Africa Eye uncovers Crowd1 global pyramid scam run from Europe to dupe Nigerians, others

The best scams always come in disguise. And Crowd1 may be one of the the most audacious scams out there.

It looks like a high-tech marketing business that’s making a ton of money for people across Africa. All you need is a smartphone and some hustle. But behind the promises and the hype, BBC Africa Eye’s Ayanda Charlie finds some ugly truths, some wealthy scammers, and a whole pyramid of lies.

A new investigation by BBC Africa Eye has uncovered an audacious global pyramid scam, run from Europe, that is using smartphones to cheat ordinary people across Africa, Asia and Latin America.

Crowd1 describes itself as “the fastest growing crowd marketing company in the world” and produces social media videos that show members buying new cars and enjoying luxury holidays.

BBC Africa Eye’s documentary: “Unmasking the Pyramid Kings,” can be seen in full on YouTube.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M0EjjArvzXA

Using nothing but a smartphone, Crowd1 claims you can become a millionaire by promoting and selling a series of exciting digital products to your network.

These claims have persuaded thousands – perhaps millions – of people across Africa to hand over the 99 Euros that buys an entry-level membership to Crowd1.

But a six-month investigation by BBC Africa Eye reveals that behind the slick marketing, Crowd1 is peddling a range of bogus products and false promises to cover an old-fashioned pyramid scheme based on recruitment.

The BBC has found that the recruitment of new members is heavily incentivised by Crowd1.

In its online webinars and events, members are encouraged to sign up their families, their Facebook friends, and the people they know from church.

Successful recruiters earn a commission for bringing in new members, and – as with a classic pyramid scheme – for any additional people brought into Crowd1 by those recruited.

The most important of Crowd1’s products – an “educational package” you have to get if you want to become a full member – is effectively worthless.

The scheme appears to have made a fortune for a handful of European scammers, many of them Swedish, but it has left behind a trail of debt and poverty in countries, including South Africa, Kenya and Nigeria.

The BBC documentary includes devastating testimony from a woman in South Africa who spent her entire life savings on Crowd1 in the belief that she was buying “shares” in a business that would pay out a “salary.”

“My heart is broken,” she told the BBC, “because I wasted all my money that I could have used to buy a house.

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“Now I am living in a shack, with no money.

“I don’t have an income or a business.

“I’m just in disbelief and I am ashamed.”

Africa Eye also spoke to Samtos, a young man in Lagos, Nigeria, who said that when the COVID-19 lockdown hit Nigeria, he was concerned about how to earn an income and was “sweet-talked” into joining Crowd1 by a friend.

Samtos told the BBC that the scammers are in Europe “enjoying everything they are gathering from poor people”.

Crowd1 told the BBC that it is not a scam or a pyramid scheme and does not break any South African law.

They said it is a legitimate network-marketing company that offers products to its members and enables them to earn money by marketing those products.

Crowd1 does not make money from recruitment, they insist, but only from these sales.

Crowd1 stressed that all its products are genuine.

Launched in April 2018, BBC Africa Eye is a bi-weekly TV and online investigations series broadcast in English, French, Hausa and Swahili.

Using pioneering techniques and a large network of on-the-ground reporters, BBC Africa Eye has uncovered hidden local stories across Africa and held power to account.

The unique investigations tackle topics that are of interest and concern to young and underserved audiences and aim to strengthen and encourage investigative journalism across the region.

SOURCE: https://brandspurng.com/2020/11/02/bbc-africa-eye-uncovers-crowd1-global-pyramid-scam-run-from-europe-to-dupe-nigerians-others/