Welcome to our weekly roundup of top African stories from last week.

We reacted to the unutilised Covid-19 funds by Nigeria’s Ministry of Health, the explosion in Ibadan, Oyo State, and the Abuja kidnappings. We also responded to the WEF 2024 report, humanitarian needs of the Masindi flood victims, Somalia-Ethiopia tensions, among other top stories.

Covid-19 Funds: Health Ministry Must Return Unspent Billions

We described the unspent Covid-19 funds by Nigeria’s Ministry of Health as a matter of serious concern that required urgent remedial action. We called on the House of Representatives to hold individuals and entities responsible for the lapse in fund utilisation accountable. Read more

Ibadan Explosion: Illegal Miners Must Be Brought to Justice

The assurance of the government of Oyo State, southwest Nigeria, to bring perpetrators of the explosion that killed two people and injured over 70 others to justice must not end with just rhetoric. We called on Governor Seyi Makinde to ensure thorough investigations are conducted and the perpetrators of this deadly act are punished accordingly. Read more

Port Harcourt Refinery: Nigerians Need Explanation

The lack of trust between citizens and the government of Nigeria has again been widened following the failure of the government to deliver on its promise concerning the Port Harcourt refinery. We urged President Bola Tinubu, the Minister of Petroleum Resources, as well as the NNPCL GMD to explain to Nigerians in clear terms when the refinery would actually resume oil refining. Read more

WEF Report 2024: How Africa Can Respond to Five Top Risks

The World Economic Forum (WEF) recently released its Global Risks Report for 2024, itemising the challenges the world will likely face for the next ten years. How ready is Africa to deal with these challenges? We urged African countries to prepare to address the challenges posed by climate change through an approach that combines sustainable development, adaptive strategies, and international cooperation. We also called on countries to also develop strategies that aim to counter misinformation spread and work with relevant civil society organisations (CSOs) to carry out effective public awareness campaigns. Read more

Guinea: Health Ministry Should Provide Inclusive Diphtheria Response

After disappearing for over 30 years in Guinea, cases of diphtheria are on the rise in the country, and the government needs to step in to curb the outbreak. We called on the Guinean Ministry of Health to intensify its support for providing adequate medical facilities and training for medical workers. Read more

Uganda: Urgent Aid Support Needed for Masindi Flood Victims

It seemed as though the government of Uganda had abandoned the victims of the recent floods in Masindi, with displaced families relying on mudfish to survive. We called on the Ugandan Ministry of Disaster Preparedness and Refugees to immediately provide adequate food supplies, shelter, and other essential support to the Masindi flood victims. Read more

Abuja Kidnappings: We Demand Strong Government Response

We reacted to how President Bola Tinubu’s administration has continued to let Nigerians down with respect to the waves of kidnapping and killings in the country. We demanded investigations into these criminal activities, and suspected culprits held accountable. We also called on the security agencies in Nigeria to step up efforts in intelligence gathering in the FCT and other Nigerian states. Read more

Kenya: Health Ministry, Citizens Must Play Role in Cholera Response

We urged Kenya’s health ministry to take immediate action to curb the rising number of cholera cases and ensure the outbreak does not deteriorate further. Read more

Somalia-Ethiopia Tensions: Why AU Must Urgently Intervene

Can Africa cope with another avoidable conflict? The African Union (AU) needs to urgently intervene in the tensions between Somalia and Ethiopia before things get out of hand. We called on the AU’s Peace and Security Council (PSC) to urgently step in to find solutions between both nations to avoid plunging the Horn of Africa into security and humanitarian crises. Read more

Travel Expenses Directive: Nigerians Deserve Accountability

President Bola Tinubu appeared to have violated his recent directive mandating a 60 percent reduction in travel expenses, as more than 50 officials travelled with him to Imo State, southeast Nigeria, to attend the inauguration of Governor Hope Uzodinma for a second and final term. We called on the president to prioritise accountability and transparency by promptly addressing the breach of protocol. Read more

That is the roundup of some stories that made headlines last week. More headlines are available on Development Diaries.