“What’s Going On” Tallies Notable News Headlines From Across The Continent — The Good, The Bad, And The Horrible — As A Way Of Ensuring That We All Become A More Sagacious African Generation. With This Column, We’re Hoping To Disseminate The Latest Happenings In Our Socio-Political Climate From Across The Continent, Whilst Starting A Conversation About What’s Important For Us To All Discuss. From Political Affairs To Socio-Economic Issues, ‘What’s Going On’ Will Discuss Just That.

FLOOD: DEATH TOLL RISES IN NIGERIA

The death toll from floods in Nigeria has increased to 603. Since last month, the flooding in coastal areas in the country has worsened as local authorities continue to provide relief to hundreds of thousands of people being evacuated from their submerged homes.

Authorities have laid the fault of the disaster on the release of excess water from the Lagdo Dam in neighbouring Cameroon and on unusual rainfalls. So far, many states from Kogi to Benue, Taraba, Jigawa and Anambra have been affected by these floods.

“President [Muhammadu Buhari] has approved the release to [National Emergency Management Agency] of 12,000 metric tonnes of food items from the National Strategic Reserve, for distribution to communities affected by flooding, across the country. NEMA has since commenced transportation of these items to the States,” the presidency revealed in a tweet on Sunday.

All Federal agencies dealing with rescue and disaster management have been directed to scale up response and intervention efforts to support the victims of flooding across the country, as well as all the affected State Governments – 33 States so far affected, and the FCT.

— Muhammadu Buhari (@MBuhari) October 16, 2022

INFLATION RATE: NIGERIA TAKE WORST HIT IN 17 YEARS

Nigeria’s inflation rate has risen to 20.77 per cent, compared to the 20.52 per cent recorded in August, the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) has revealed in its Consumer Price Index (CPI) report for September released on Monday. The NBS liken the surge to an effect of the disruption in the supply of food products, the increase in import cost due to the persistent currency depreciation and a general increase in the cost of production.

The latest inflation rate is the highest since September 2005. “In September 2022, on a year–on-year basis, the headline inflation rate was 20.77%,” the report read. “This was 4.14% points higher compared to the rate recorded in September 2021, which was (16.63%). This indicates that in the month of September 2022 the general price level was 4.14% higher relative to September 2021.”

On a month-on-month basis, the Headline inflation rate in September 2022 was 1.36%, this was 0.41% lower than the rate recorded in August 2022 (1.77%). This means that in the month of September 2022, the headline inflation rate (month–on–month basis) declined by 0.41%, relative to August 2022,” the report added.

RAMAPHOSA SHELVES ELECTRICITY AND WATER BENEFITS FOR MINISTERS

Following a public outcry, South Africa’s president Cyril Ramaphosa has scrapped his latest amendments to the Ministerial Handbook, which offers government ministers and their deputies several new benefits that include the free provision of electricity and water. South Africans considered the president’s decision as insensitive as the country is plagued with daily power outages and the rising cost of living.

“The President has listened. The President appreciates the public outcry in the context of socio-economic pressures South Africans are facing,” Vincent Magwenya, the president’s spokesperson told the media on Monday. “We can take heart in the fact that the President has ordered the withdrawal of this. The President is heartened by the fact that we have an active citizenry, that, on an ongoing basis, participates in our democratic processes [and] sometimes, vehemently so, disagrees with decisions of government.”

Since June, South Africa’s power sector has taken a hit, due to ageing and poorly maintained facilities. According to Eskom, the energy company managing South Africa’s power, On a scale of eight possible levels of intensity, the country has reached the sixth critical stage out of eight possible levels of intensity. Eskom’s CEO, Andre de Ruyter, had urged the citizens to use electricity sparingly by turning off lights in offices at night, avoid running swimming pool pumps and water heaters at peak hours.

Not presidential spox Vincent Mangwenya saying the amendment of the Ministerial Handbook was not nefarious but an attempt by Ramaphosa to balance what ministers can afford and what they can't afford.

— Simon Nare (@simonphomo) October 17, 2022

UGANDA’S PRESIDENT BANS SON FROM COMMENTING ON POLITICS

Uganda’s president Yoweri Museveni has said that his son, General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, will cease to comment on government affairs on Twitter. This is in response to the social media outcry that trailed Kainerugaba’s comments two weeks ago when he tweeted about invading neighbouring Kenya and conquering its capital, Nairobi.

“He will leave Twitter. We have this discussion. Twitter is not a problem. The problem is what you are tweeting about,” President Museveni told the media on Monday. “Talking about other countries and partisan politics of Uganda is something he should not do and he will not do it.”

As a consequence of his tirade, the 48-year-old Kainerugaba was taken off his position as head of Uganda’s ground forces, the army’s largest component. He also tendered an apology on Twitter to Kenya’s president William Ruto, writing that “If I made a mistake anywhere, I ask him to forgive me as his young brother.”

Kainerugaba’s outspokenness on social media is well known. From supporting Russia’s invasion of Ukraine to supporting Tigrayan rebels in northern Ethiopia, his tweets have raised eyebrows. In Uganda, Museveni, who is the country’s longest-serving president, has been accused of grooming his son to take over power from him. Kainerugaba has not been shy about his ambitions to become president. In May, he invited his Twitter followers to indicate their position on him running for president in 2026.

President @KagutaMuseveni: Gen. Muhoozi will leave Twitter. We have had this discussion. Twitter, however, is not a problem. The problem is what you are tweeting.@SophiaWanuna#NBSUpdates pic.twitter.com/bPLK5pfADc

— NBS Television (@nbstv) October 17, 2022

KARIM BENZEMA WINS 2022 BALLON D’OR

French international Karim Benzema has won the 2022 Ballon d’Or. This is the first time in his career that he is winning the prestigious award. The annual football award, which was held yesterday in Paris, honours a player deemed to have performed the best over the previous year, based on voting by football journalists.

“There is no age to win the #BallondOr. Sometimes player get better in their 30s and this is all down to taking care of yourself,” said the 34-year-old footballer. “This is a childhood dream. I never gave up. I always kept the joy of playing football. I’m really proud of my journey. This is the people’s Ballon d’Or.”

Karim Benzema was not the only winner at the event. Spanish and FC Barcelona player Alexia Putellas won the Women’s Ballon d’Or, a back-to-back success after winning the award last year. FC Barcelona’s Spanish starlet Gavi won the Kopa Trophy for best performing player under the age of 21, while Belgian and Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois took home the Yashin Trophy.

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