A quick catch up on today’s top stories…
1) Government invests US$17.5m to procure 100 buses for Metro Mass
Government has procured one hundred (100) intercity buses at the cost of 17.5 million United States Dollars for the Metro Mass Transit Limited (MMTL) since 2017.
According to the sector minister, Kwaku Ofori Asiamah “a total of 100 new intercity buses have so far been supplied to the MMTL at a total cost of US$17.5million. This was financed by the Government”. He again revealed that the government has also signed a contract with VDL Bus Roeselare for the supply of 100 intercity buses, spare parts, and training services.
2) Nigeria’s Senate rejects diaspora vote, throw out special seats for women
Nigeria’s Senate on Tuesday voted to reject changes to the constitution to allow citizens living abroad to vote in national elections, while a provision to allocate special seats for women to increase their political representation failed to pass.
Voters in Africa’s most populous nation will go to the polls to elect a new president and parliament in February 2023. Hopes that Nigeria’s diaspora would take part were dashed when only 29 senators out of the 92 present supported the provision. For a constitutional bill to pass, it requires the support of at least two-thirds of the 109-member senate.
3) Ford boosts EV spending to $50bn, sets up new Model e unit
Ford Motor Co on Wednesday said it will boost spending on electric vehicles to $50 billion, up from the previous $30 billion, through 2026 and run its EV unit separately from its legacy combustion engine business, in a move aimed at catching industry leader Tesla Inc.
The reorganization and additional investment comes as Chief Executive Jim Farley bets aggressively on the company’s electrification strategy. Farley said Ford plans to build more than 2 million EVs in 2026, about one-third of its annual global production, with EVs rising to 50% of its total volume by 2030.
4) TV host Ellen DeGeneres acquired another California home for whooping $21m
Daytime host, comedian and actress Ellen DeGeneres has shelled out $21M for another California home. DeGeneres recently bought a Moorish-inspired spread in Santa Barbara County, California. Realtor reported that the building has a Villa Tragara’s design influence which comes from Alhambra palace in Granada, Spain.
The nearly 12,000-square-foot property, on 2.45 acres, asked as much as $35 million in 2019, according to reports at the time, meaning the 64-year-old got quite the deal.
5) ‘No vaccination, no entry’ policy to be enforced during Ghana-Nigeria game
The Ministry of Youth and Sports has directed the National Sports Authority to ensure strict adherence to COOVID-19 protocols during the World Cup qualify between Ghana and Nigeria.
The Sports Ministry has stated that only fans fully vaccinated should be allowed entry for the first leg of the match between the two nations in Cape Coast. The directive is part of measures to control the spread of the deadly virus in the West African nation.
