The ECA office for North Africa concluded in Tunisia a four-day capacity building workshop on Modernizing Libya’s Tax System focusing on E-Taxation Services. The training aimed to enhance the Libyan tax authority’s practical knowledge of international best practices in e-taxation and strengthen their ability to set an efficient e-taxation system.
“This training has been an opportunity for our team to share with Libya its extensive experience in building and sustaining sound tax systems to support economic development and improve public revenue,” said Adam Elhiraika, Director of the ECA Office for North Africa. “It also allowed us to contribute to the promotion of South-South cooperation between our member countries thanks to the valuable contributions of trainers provided by the Egyptian Taxation Administration,” he added.
The training brought together senior managers, supervisors, and IT personnel involved in the development and implementation of e-taxation systems in Libya. Participants enhanced their skills in areas such as taxpayer registration, electronic filing, return processing, and data analytics, with special attention to the needs of large taxpayers. The training also deepened their understanding of international best practices in e-taxation and the legal, organizational, and technical requirements for a successful digital transformation of tax operations.
Libya’s economy currently remains highly dependent on oil production, making it vulnerable to fluctuations in production levels and global oil prices. These disruptions can have significant impacts on government revenues when they happen.
To address this issue, the Libyan government has been working to diversify public revenues and reduce the national economy’s reliance on hydrocarbons by increasing tax collections and promoting non-oil exports. However, tax revenue mobilization has remained weak so far due to issues such as widespread tax evasion, a narrow tax base, and low levels of taxpayer compliance.
This initiative comes in support to the Libyan Tax Authority 2021 strategy which aims to modernize income tax administration and advance the digital transformation of tax processes alongside reforms in legislation, institutional structure, infrastructure, and human resources.
– on behalf of United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA).
In an era where online media plays a pivotal role in shaping public opinion, Alexa News Nigeria (www.Alexa.ng) has emerged as a prominent player, leaving an indelible mark on the nation’s political discourse.
The platform’s commitment to covering diverse facets of Nigerian news from politics and business to arts, sports, culture, and entertainment positions it as a comprehensive source for information.
In politics, Alexa News Nigeria plays a pivotal role in shaping narratives and influencing public opinion. Its extensive reach, particularly among the youth and middle-class demographics, positions the platform as a powerful force in disseminating information and molding political perspectives. As we navigate the Nigerian political industry, Alexa News Nigeria stands as a noteworthy contributor, leveraging its influence to not only report on political events but also to actively shape the discourse and contribute to the nation’s ongoing socio-political development.
Understanding the media is of the utmost democratic importance. The media, whether newspapers, television, film, or social media, impacts our lives: our understanding of politics past and present, our democratic engagement, and our opinions. If we think of politics as the exercise of power, the importance of the media becomes clear: it is a place in which politics takes place. It also becomes clear that you don’t need to be a politician to ‘do politics’; the media can be used to impart a political viewpoint, including party political ones. In turn, politics and politicians also impact the media through regulation and law. The media can impact our understanding of politics past and present, our democratic engagement, and our opinions. It is not a one-way linear process though. Audiences are not necessarily passive ones, absorbing what they are told; they can resist meanings, challenge them, and create their own.
Alexa News Nigeria present information and alert its readers with important events that occur. This information adds to what they think and the actions they take. Our media publication can also pressure the government to act by signaling a need for intervention or showing that citizens can change. Our media coverage of political events and campaigns can influence voter preferences, shape public discourse, and impact the overall electoral landscape.Our media reporting helps in prompting people to take action. Just before an election, for example, voters who earlier had only a mild preference for one party or candidate may be inspired by media coverage not only to take the trouble to vote but perhaps also to contribute money or to help a party organization in some other way. Interest groups, nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), religious groups, and labour unions (trade unions) cultivate the formation and spread of public opinion on issues of concern to their constituencies. These groups may be concerned with political, economic, or ideological issues, and most work through the mass media and social media as well as by word of mouth.
Knowledge about politics and government activities increases due to the socialization and enlightenment functions of the mass media.Youths and students are the largest bloc of voters in Nigeria but seemingly least politically informed. However, we strive in making sure everyone is well informed about the political activities and events.
Alexa News Nigeria (www.Alexa.ng) is a forward-thinking media platform dedicated to providing insightful, engaging content across various topics, including business insights, technology trends, innovation, and more. Alexa News Nigeria (www.Alexa.ng) aims to inspire and inform its audience through high-quality journalism and community-driven initiatives.We are a fiercely independent, pro-investigation multi-media online news platform based in Nigeria, and focused primarily on politics, policy and economy.
We are passionate, not just about the nice details, but also the ugly sides that speak truth to governments, businesses, and leaders, both locally and globally. We resolve to relentlessly pursue truth in our passion to inform and empower Nigerians.
Alexa News Nigeria (www.Alexa.ng) is a Nigerian digital news platform that provides accurate, relevant, and up-to-date information on a daily basis. The independent, pro-investigation multi-media online news platform focused primarily on politics, policy and economy. Jokpeme Joseph Omode, the editor in chief and CEO of Alexa News Nigeria is expanding its coverage beyond Nigerian borders and have been growing its official website’s news and media portfolio. www.Alexa.ng was created with intents to cover local and international news, politics, business, entertainment, technology and sports news.
“We are looking to make a significant impact on the country’s information narrative by bringing smart, straightforward news to Nigeria’s political and media space, with commentary from political heavyweights and Nigerian leaders & business innovators, whose collective insight will be instrumental in telling the Nigeria business story from inside,” says Joseph Omode.
In an industry saturated with sensational sites, clickbait giants, fake news merchants, religious/ethnic promoters, and pro/anti-government platforms, Alexa News Nigeria has stood out as a credible go-to news source for every southerner, northerner, Christian, Muslim, Pagan, anti-government/pro-government individual, secessionist, and its growing global audience. Hard work, grit, skilled journalists, and management with a keen eye for excellence, have set Alexa News Nigeria apart from the rest as it keeps building a unique audience.Joseph Omode later stated that the news platform would be tailored to meet the needs of an increasingly diversified readership base both in Nigeria and outside the shores of the country. Alexa News Nigeria is providing quality journalism, had defied the odds, broke boundaries, pulled down walls, and divided oceans.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Alexa News Nigeria.
Tullow Oil has finalized the sale of its non-operated interests in Gabon to Gabon Oil Company (GOC) for $307 million, marking a strategic portfolio shift for the UK-based independent and a notable development for Gabon’s energy sector. The transaction transfers Tullow’s remaining production interests – estimated to contribute approximately 10,000 barrels per day in 2025 – to the state-owned company and concludes over two decades of Tullow’s presence in the country.
The African Energy Chamber (AEC) supports this transaction, viewing it as a constructive milestone for Africa’s oil and gas sector. While international companies remain essential to the development of the continent’s energy resources, the AEC sees the growing operational capacity of national and regional firms as a sign of a maturing sector – one that increasingly encourages balanced partnerships between foreign and local players.
“This deal is not just about asset transfers, but about momentum,” says NJ Ayuk, Executive Chairman of the AEC. “African companies are stepping up, taking on more responsibility, and proving their ability to manage complex upstream operations. It shows the value of partnership and long-term investment in building capacity on the continent.”
Rather than a retreat from foreign participation, the deal underscores the potential for new kinds of collaboration – where African national oil companies (NOCs) are not just resource holders but active participants with operational and commercial expertise. GOC, which has steadily expanded its portfolio since its establishment in 2011, is among a growing group of African NOCs taking on greater roles in the day-to-day management of assets.
Tullow, for its part, views the sale as a key step in focusing on its core operated assets in Ghana and Ivory Coast while strengthening its balance sheet. Proceeds from the transaction will go toward repaying the company’s $150 million revolving credit facility, helping improve financial resilience and allowing Tullow to pursue a more streamlined investment strategy.
As the energy landscape in Africa evolves, deals like this one signal increased dynamism within the sector. Indigenous and national companies are becoming more confident and capable participants, while foreign investors continue to find value in working alongside local partners who bring deep market knowledge, regional networks and a long-term commitment to development. The AEC maintains that this balanced model – where African and international firms grow together – will be key to the continent’s future energy success.
Federico Petersen, Chief Commercial Officer of marine LNG infrastructure operator Golar LNG, has confirmed his participation as a speaker at African Energy Week (AEW): Invest in African Energies 2025, taking place from September 29 to October 3 in Cape Town. His participation follows a series of landmark achievements across the continent, positioning Golar LNG at the forefront of Africa’s natural gas revolution.
In July 2025, the company announced that its Gimi floating LNG (FLNG) unit has reached commercial operations date under a 20-year lease-and-operate agreement for the Greater Tortue Ahmeyim (GTA) project offshore Senegal and Mauritania. Backed by an estimated 15 trillion cubic feet (tcf) of natural gas, the Gimi facility will produce 2.4 million tons per annum (mtpa) of LNG, ramping up to its nameplate capacity of 2.7 mtpa.
AEW: Invest in African Energies is the platform of choice for project operators, financiers, technology providers and government, and has emerged as the official place to sign deals in African energy. Visit https://AECWeek.com/ for more information about this exciting event.
In Nigeria, Golar LNG signed a project development agreement in June 2024 with global energy company the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation for the deployment of a new FLNG facility offshore the Niger Delta. With a planned processing capacity of 400-500 million standard cubic feet per day, the facility will produce LNG, LPG and condensate, with first gas targeted for 2027.
The project falls under Nigeria’s broader “Decade of Gas” initiative, which aims to monetize the country’s 209 tcf of gas reserves and accelerate energy access and industrial growth. Supported by reforms such as the Petroleum Industry Act and the Nigerian Gas Flaring Commercialization Program, the project is a critical step toward establishing Nigeria as a global gas hub.
In Cameroon, Golar LNG operates the Hilli Episeyo FLNG facility offshore Kribi, which made history as the world’s first LNG conversion and the project that introduced Cameroon as the world’s 20th LNG-exporting nation in 2018. In October 2023, the vessel offloaded its 100th LNG cargo to the Energy Integrity, underscoring nearly six years of reliable operations.
With a nameplate capacity of 2.4 mtpa and a strong track record of commercial uptime, Hilli Episeyo continues to serve as a benchmark for small- and mid-scale FLNG deployment. Golar LNG holds a 50% interest in Trains 1 and 2, with the facility enabling the monetization of associated gas while contributing to regional energy diversification and security.
“Golar LNG’s proven ability to deliver bankable, scalable FLNG infrastructure in frontier markets has redefined what’s possible for gas monetization in Africa. With operations in Senegal, Mauritania, Nigeria and Cameroon, the company is a true partner to Africa’s energy future,” states Tomás Gerbasio, VP of Commercial and Strategic Engagement, African Energy Chamber.
Federico’s participation at AEW: Invest in African Energies highlights Golar LNG’s commitment to advancing FLNG development and natural gas monetization across Africa. In line with the company’s growing presence in Africa’s energy landscape, Golar LNG will participate as a Gold Partner at this year’s edition of the conference and exhibition, which serves as a strategic platform to showcase innovative FLNG solutions and a long-term commitment to the continent’s energy development.
President Cyril Ramaphosa has appointed Justice Dunstan Mlambo as Deputy Chief Justice of the Republic of South Africa, with effect from Friday, 1 August 2025.
The appointment is with accordance with section 174(3) of the Constitution.
“Judge Mlambo has since November 2012 served as Judge President of the Gauteng Division of the High Court of South Africa. “President Ramaphosa has in writing informed Chief Justice Mandisa Maya that in appointing Justice Mlambo, the President has considered the views of the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) and the views of political parties represented in the National Assembly,” the Presidency said in statement on Thursday night.
The President also expressed to the Chief Justice his appreciation for the transparent, inclusive and robust process undertaken by the JSC.
“This process exemplified the Commission’s commitment to upholding the nation’s constitutional values,” said the Presidency.
The Presidency added that the Commission had enhanced the nation’s confidence that the appointment of the Deputy Chief Justice was firmly grounded on merit, fidelity to the Constitution and a vision for the continued transformation and strengthening of the Judiciary.
“President Ramaphosa similarly thanks the incoming Deputy Chief Justice Mlambo for stepping forward to assume a new responsibility of critical national importance, and wishes Justice Mlambo well in strengthening the rule of law, enriching jurisprudence and asserting the rights of all citizens.”
The position of Deputy Chief Justice had been vacant since then Deputy Chief Justice, Mandisa Maya, became Chief Justice following the retirement of Chief Justice Raymond Zondo last year.
Earlier this month, the JSC announced that it would recommend Justice Mlambo for the position of Deputy Chief Justice.
South Africa’s proposed Africa Energy Efficiency Facility could emerge as a defining achievement of the country’s G20 Presidency – a bold, continent-led initiative that embodies African leadership on the global stage and turns commitments into action.
United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Chief of Mitigation Branch: Climate Division, Hongpeng Lei – who delivered remarks at a side event at the Energy Transitions Working Group meeting this week, applauded South Africa’s “vision of placing energy efficiency at the core of the… G20 energy agenda”.
“This gathering is more than a technical forum. It is a political and strategic turning point. It is a moment where Africa steps forward with confidence and clarity to shift to a legacy of practical climate action rooted in equity, innovation and resilience.
“We are here to lay the foundations for what could become a defining outcome of South Africa’s G20 Presidency – the African Energy Efficiency Facility. This initiative reflects the shared priorities of the G20 Energy Transitions Working Group. Affordability, energy access, climate resilience and inclusive growth… all begin with efficiency.”
Hongpeng noted that South African leadership on the facility “references the G20 evolution from high level priorities to… regional action”.
“By the time we reach COP30 in Brazil, it could stand as a model on how the G20 delivers community, credibility and concrete solutions.
“This facility, proudly championed by South Africa and the African Union and supported by UNEP is… a long-term platform to mobilise finance… technical assistance and skill up the efficiency solutions across the continent.
“It will serve as a strategic G20 legacy initiative. One that reflects the ethos of this Presidency, Africa led, globally supported and designed to deliver results where it matters the most,” Hongpeng said.
The UNEP representative noted that energy efficiency is the most equitable pass way to reduce emissions, expand energy access and ensuring energy security.
“But it is not just a numbers game. It is about development, dignity and delivery.
“We have an opportunity and responsibility to ensure that this facility becomes more than a concept. Let it be the enduring symbol of what this G20 Presidency stands for – African solutions for global challenges built on equity, innovation and partnerships.
“We call on G20 members, development banks and the African partners to secure predictable and ethical financing for this facility. Let the message be clear: Africa is not waiting, Africa is leading. Let us rise to the moment, deliver a legacy worthy of this G20,” Hongpeng concluded. – SAnews.gov.za
Africa Energy Commission Executive Director, Rashid Ali Abdallah, has welcomed South Africa’s proposal – through the G20 Presidency legacy programme – to establish an energy efficiency facility.
He was delivering remarks on the sidelines of the third G20 Energy Transitions Working Group (ETWG) meeting in the North West this week.
Abdallah highlighted that for the African Union, energy efficiency is “at the core” of the development agenda through the African Energy Efficiency Strategy – which, amongst others, has set a target to increase energy productivity over the next 25 years.
“To achieve African Energy Productivity target and contribute to the global doubling [of] energy efficiency by 2030… the continent needs access to sustainable finance and a strong coordination of the institutional framework with good human capacity.
“It is for this reason that we welcome the proposal by the South African G20 Presidency to establish an energy efficiency legacy programme. This decision not only compliments our work as the African Union but reinforces the role of energy efficiency in addressing the challenge of energy security and equality,” he said.
According to the United Nations Sustainable Development Group, some 600 million Africans still do not have access to electricity.
Abdallah noted the South African government’s pursuance energy security and access.
“This agenda is particularly relevant to Africa, as the continent is lagging in achieving the Sustainable Development Goal with over 70% of the population living in energy poverty.
“Access to renewable and affordable energy is essential to powering economies and powering essential services such as healthcare, clean water and education and improving living standards,” the Executive Director said.
He added that as the African continent continues to improve sectors, including health, education, water and food security, “the importance of energy efficiency cannot be overlooked”.
“Energy efficiency in Africa spans across all sectors. For example, 40% of utility in Africa Union states report electricity losses of over 20% – a stark contrast to the 6 to 10% seen in developed countries.
“By improving this deficiency, we can save a significant amount of investment on the generation and transmission infrastructure on the continent. This compliments the implementation of the African Single Electricity Market and Continental Power System Master Plan initiative being spearheaded by the African Union,” Abdallah explained.
Savings will also be extended to cash strapped households.
“For household appliances and equipment, market transformation not only saves money but also accelerates access of modern cooking.
“Adopting efficient lighting, modern transformer and cooling appliances has the potential to save African infrastructure investment equivalent to 40GW and more than US $20 billion in savings by 2040,” Abdallah said. – SAnews.gov.za
HE Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani met Tuesday with HE Secretary-General of the United Nations Antonio Guterres, on the sidelines of the International Conference for the Peaceful Settlement of the Question of Palestine and the Implementation of the Two-State Solution, held in New York.
During the meeting, they discussed cooperation between the State of Qatar and the United Nations, developments in the Gaza Strip and the occupied Palestinian territories, joint efforts to deliver humanitarian aid to the people of Gaza, ways to advance international efforts for a peaceful resolution of the Palestinian issue and the implementation of the two-state solution, in addition to a number of regional and international issues of common concern.
HE Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs reaffirmed during the meeting the State of Qatar’s firm position in supporting the Palestinian cause until the brotherly Palestinian people regain all their legitimate rights.
Government has welcomed the South African Reserve Bank’s (SARB) decision to cut the repo rate by 25 basis points to 7%.
“Government welcomes the decision by the South African Reserve Bank to reduce the repo rate by 25 basis points to 7%. The move provides much-needed relief for South African households, many of whom continue to face financial pressure due to the rising cost of living,” Acting Government Spokesperson, Nomonde Mnukwa, said on Thursday.
Addressing a media briefing on the MPC’s decision on the repo rate, SARB Governor Lesetja Kganyago said the decision to reduce the policy rate was unanimous.
Mnukwa said the rate cut is expected to ease the burden on consumers by lowering the cost of borrowing, while also creating conditions more conducive to stimulating investment, supporting businesses, and driving economic activity.
“The decision reaffirms the soundness of South Africa’s monetary policy framework and the importance of coordinated efforts to support inclusive growth. Government continues to implement structural reforms and improving the ease of doing business to unlock the full potential of the economy and create jobs,” Mnukwa explained. – SAnews.gov.za
When historians and the public think about the end of domestic slavery in west Africa, they often imagine colonial governors issuing decrees and missionaries working to end local traffic in enslaved people.
Two of my recent publications tell another part of the story. I am a historian of west Africa, and over the past five years, I have been researching anti-slavery ideas and networks in the region as part of a wider research project.
My research reveals that colonial administrations continued to allow domestic slavery in practice and that African activists fought this.
In one study I focused on Francis P. Fearon, a trader based in Accra, the Ghanaian capital. He exposed pro-slavery within the colonial government through numerous letters written in the 1890s (when the colony was known as the Gold Coast).
In another study I examined the Lagos Auxiliary, a coalition of lawyers, journalists and clergy in Nigeria. Their campaigning secured the repeal of Nigeria’s notorious Native House Rule Ordinance in 1914. That ordinance had been enacted by the colonial government to maintain local slavery in the Niger Delta region.
Considered together, the two studies demonstrate how local campaigners used letters, print culture, imperial pressure points and personal networks to oppose practices that had kept thousands of Africans in bondage.
The methods Fearon and the Lagos Auxiliary pioneered still matter because they show how marginalised communities can compel power‑holders to close the gap between laws and lived reality. They remind us that well‑documented local testimony, amplified trans-nationally, can still overturn official narratives, compel policy change, and keep institutions honest.
Colonial ‘abolition’ that wasn’t
West Africa was a major source of enslaved people during the transatlantic slave trade. The transatlantic trade was suppressed in the early 19th century, but this did not bring an end to domestic slavery.
Accordingly, when the Gold Coast was formally annexed as a British colony in 1874, the imperial government declared slave dealing illegal. And slave-dealing was criminalised across southern Nigeria in 1901. On paper these measures promised freedom, but in practice loopholes empowered slave-holders, chiefs and colonial officials who continued to demand coerced labour.
On the Gold Coast, the 1874 abolition law was never enforced. The British governor informed slave-owners that they might retain enslaved persons provided those individuals did not complain. By 1890, child slavery had become widespread in towns such as Accra. According to the local campaigners, it was even sanctioned by the colonial governor. This led to some Africans uniting to establish a network to oppose it.
The Niger Delta region of Nigeria had a similar experience. The colonial administration enacted the Native House Rule Ordinance to counteract the effects of the Slave-Dealing Proclamation of 1901 which criminalised slave dealing with a penalty of seven years’ imprisonment for offenders. The Native House Rule Ordinance required every African to belong to a “House” under a designated head. It went on to criminalise any person who attempted to leave their “House”. In the Niger Delta kingdoms such as Bonny, Kalabari and Okrika, the word “House” never referred to a single dwelling. Rather, it denoted a self-perpetuating, named corporation of relatives, dependants and slaves under a chief, which owned property and spoke with one voice. By the 1900s, “Houses” had become the primary units through which slave ownership was organised.
Therefore, the Native House Rule Ordinance compelled enslaved people in Houses to remain with their masters. The masters were empowered to use colonial authority to discipline them. District commissioners executed arrest warrants against runaways. In exchange, the House heads and local chiefs supplied the colonial administration with unpaid labour for public works.
African campaigners in Accra and Lagos organised to challenge what they perceived as the British colonial state’s support for slavery.
Fearon: an undercover abolitionist in Accra
Francis Fearon was an educated African, active in the Accra scene during the second half of the 19th century. He was highly literate and part of elite circles. He was closely associated with the journalist Edmund Bannerman. He regularly wrote to local newspapers, often expressing concerns about racism against Black people and moral decay.
On 24 June 1890, Fearon sent a 63-page letter, with ten appendices, to the Aborigines’ Protection Society in London. That dossier would form the basis of several further communications. He alleged that child trafficking continued.
As evidence, he transcribed the confidential court register of Accra and claimed that Governor W. B. Griffith had instructed convicted slave-owners to recover their “property”.
Fearon’s tactics were audacious. He remained anonymous, relied on court clerks for documents, and supplied the Aborigines’ Protection Society with evidence. He pleaded with the society to investigate the colonial administration in the Gold Coast.
Although the society publicised the scandal, subsequent narratives quietly effaced the African source.
Lagos elites organise – and name the problem
Like Fearon, Nigerian campaigners also wrote to the Anti-Slavery and Aborigines’ Protection Society. They denounced the colonial government in Nigeria for promoting slavery, but they did not remain anonymous.
By this time, the Native House Rule Ordinance had prompted some enslaved people to flee the districts in which it was enforced. They sought refuge in Lagos. Through these arrivals, Lagosian elites learned of the ordinance. They unleashed a vigorous campaign against the colonial state.
The principal figures in this movement included Christopher Sapara Williams, a barrister, and James Bright Davies, editor of The Nigerian Times. Others included politician Herbert Macaulay, Herbert Pearse, a prominent merchant, Bishop James Johnson and the Reverend Mojola Agbebi. Unlike Fearon’s lone-wolf strategy, they mounted a coordinated assault on the colonial administration. They drafted petitions, briefed sympathetic European organisations, and inundated local newspapers with commentary.
Their arguments blended humanitarian indignation with constitutional acumen. They insisted that the ordinance contravened both British liberal ideals and African custom.
After years of pressure the law was amended and then quietly repealed in 1914.
Why these stories matter now
Contemporary scholarship on abolition is gradually shifting from asking “what Britain did for Africa” to examining the role Africans played in ending slavery.
Many African abolitionists who fought and lost their lives in the struggle against slavery have long gone unacknowledged. This is beginning to change.
The two articles discussed here highlight the creativity of Africans who, decades before radio or civil-rights NGOs, used transatlantic information circuits. They exposed colonial governments that continued to rely on forced-labour economies long after slavery was supposed to have ended.
They remind us that grassroots documentation can overturn official narratives. Evidence-based advocacy, coalition-building, and the strategic use of global media remain potent instruments.
– The African activists who challenged colonial-era slavery in Lagos and the Gold Coast – https://theconversation.com/the-african-activists-who-challenged-colonial-era-slavery-in-lagos-and-the-gold-coast-261089
