Economy
FG, Afreximbank partner on $1bn healthcare investment
![](https://naijablitznews.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Afreximbank.jpg)
The Federal Government and African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) have committed to a $1 billion partnership to revolutionise Nigeria’s healthcare sector.
The $1 billion Healthcare Value Chain Programme established through a Memorandum of Understanding between Afreximbank and the Federal Ministry of Health is geared at improving access to quality healthcare, reduce medical tourism, and empower the domestic healthcare workforce.
This initiative falls under the Presidential Initiative for Unlocking Healthcare Value Chains, PVAC, with a view to comprehensively strengthening Nigeria’s healthcare sector.
In a meeting with Afreximbank President, Professor Benedict Oramah, at the Presidential Villa yesterday, President Bola Tinubu said: “We welcome this significant step towards investing in Nigeria’s healthcare sector.
”This facility is a great commitment to humanity. We are open and ready to assist this project in every way possible.”
The President noted that the initiative would reduce the need for outbound medical tourism by providing exceptional care within Nigeria and also stem the tide of healthcare talent migration by fostering a thriving domestic healthcare sector.
On his part, the Afreximbank President and Chairman of the Board of Directors, Prof. Benedict Oramah, said: “For too long, our continent has watched as its best and brightest medical minds have migrated to Europe and America.
”But we are now poised to develop a domestic healthcare sector which can retain talent, eventually rivalling and even surpassing systems in other regions.”
The discussions also focused on the transformative potential of the 500-bed African Medical Centre of Excellence, AMCE, Abuja, currently nearing completion and its broader impact on healthcare across the continent.
The AMCE Abuja, the first of five planned across Africa, is poised to become a leading centre for research, clinical services, and medical education.
It will focus on three critical non-communicable diseases – Oncology, haematology, and Cardiology – alongside general care capabilities.
This, coupled with collaborations with global partners, such as King’s College London, the University of Wisconsin Teaching Hospital, and Christies Hospital Manchester, demonstrates a new direction for African healthcare provision.
According to Oramah, AMCE Abuja will not only provide world-class medical services but also serve as a training ground for future generations of healthcare professionals.
“Afreximbank, in collaboration with King’s College London, is establishing a Medical & Nursing School in Abuja to support this mission.
”This initiative, along with partnerships with other medical institutions across Africa, aims to create a sustainable pool of skilled medical personnel within the continent,” he said.
AFC commits $40m to build Africa’s first medical centre of excellence in Abuja
Meanwhile, Africa Finance Corporation, AFC, a leading infrastructure financier, has pledged up to $40 million to support the construction of the first African Medical Centre of Excellence, AMCE, in Abuja.
The 500-bed facility is being developed by the Africa Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank), in partnership with King’s College Hospital, London, KCH, following an agreement reached at the inaugural AMCE African Health Forum in Abuja weekend.
The project is set to strategically leverage KCH’s unmatched diagnostic, clinical, and capacity-building expertise, focusing on three core non-communicable diseases, namely oncology, cardiology, and haematology.
With a commitment to world-class research, education, and development, AMCE aims to establish itself as a leader in clinical services.
The AMCE initiative signals a healthcare revolution in West Africa, aiming to redirect the course of medical tourism away from the continent.
It envisions the creation of a series of world-class medical centres of excellence in Africa, providing widespread access to critical healthcare in the region.
AMCE Abuja, a first-of-its-kind medical treatment and research center, will unfold in four phases over six years.
AFC, as a new shareholder, will play a pivotal role in the initial phase, involving the construction of a 170-bed specialist hospital, set to expand to 500 beds by the third phase.
With construction progress already over halfway complete, the facility is on track to commence operations in the first quarter of 2025.
Samaila Zubairu, AFC President and CEO, expressed the organization’s commitment to transforming healthcare in Africa and contributing to a reversal in medical tourism.
He emphasized the importance of building a world-class facility that captured medical spending in Africa, promotes specialist skills development, and attracts healthcare practitioners to local communities.
Benedict Oramah, President and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Afreximbank, lauded AFC’s partnership, emphasizing its significance in addressing Africa’s healthcare infrastructure challenges.
He called for more partners to join this crucial endeavour to revolutionize healthcare in Africa and make a lasting impact on community well-being.
Economy
CBN sells $20,000 to BDCs at 1,580
![](https://naijablitznews.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/CBN.jpg)
The Central Bank of Nigeria has announced the sale of dollars to Bureau De Change operators.
This was disclosed by the apex bank in a statement signed by the Acting Director of Trade and Exchange Department, Dr W. J Kanya, on Friday.
The latest intervention of the central bank comes days after the Nigerian naira has been taking a beating at both the official and parallel market where it has depreciated to about 1,670/$ on Friday.
The circular partly read, “This is to inform the Bureau De Change Operators and the general public that we are providing more liquidity into the market.
“To this end, the CBN has approved the sale of US$20,000.00 to each eligible BDC at the rate of N1,580/$. This is to meet the demand for invisible transactions.”
The bank said the BDCs are allowed to sell to eligible end-users at a margin not more than one per cent above the purchase rate from CBN.
Eligible BDCs interested in this transaction were advised to make the Naira payment to the CBN.
Economy
SEE Black Market Dollar (USD) To Naira (NGN) Exchange Rate Today 6th September 2024
![](https://naijablitznews.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Naira.webp)
By Mario Deepromoter
The exchange rate for a dollar to naira at Lagos Parallel Market (Black Market) players buy a dollar for N1635 and sell at N1645 on Friday 6th September 2024, according to sources at Bureau De Change (BDC).
Black market dollar to Naira exchange rate on Friday 6th September 2024 can be accessed below.
The official naira black market exchange rate in Nigeria today including the Black Market rates, Bureau De Change (BDC), and CBN rates. Please note that the exchange rate is subject to hourly fluctuations influenced by the supply and demand of dollars in the market. As of now, you can purchase 1 dollar at a certain rate now, however, it’s important to keep in mind that the rate can shift (either upwards or downwards) within hours.
How much is a dollar to naira today in the black market?
Dollar to naira exchange rate today black market (Aboki dollar rate):
The exchange rate for a dollar to naira at Lagos Parallel Market (Black Market) players buy a dollar for N1635 and sell at N1645 on Friday 6th September 2024, according to sources at Bureau De Change (BDC).
Please note that the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) does not recognize the parallel market (black market), as it has directed individuals who want to engage in Forex to approach their respective banks.
Dollar to Naira Black Market Rate Today
Dollar to Naira (USD to NGN) Black Market Exchange Rate Today
Buying Rate N1645
Selling Rate N1635
Dollar to Naira CBN Rate Today
Dollar to Naira (USD to NGN) CBN Rate Today
Buying Rate N1625
Selling Rate N1630
Please note that the rates you buy or sell forex may be different from what is captured in this article because prices vary.
Economy
NNPC Announces Date To Start Lifting Petrol From Dangote Refinery
![](https://naijablitznews.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Dangote-Refinery-1.jpeg)
The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd.) has revealed that it will start lifting petrol from the Dangote Refinery from September 15th.
This is coming a few hours after the Refinery debunked reports claiming that the NNPCL had started the lifting of its petrol and selling for N897 per litre.
Speaking on TVC News’ “Journalists’ Hangout” show on Thursday, the Executive Vice President of Downstream, NNPC Ltd., Mr. Adedapo Segun explained that the corporation is awaiting the September 15 deadline provided by the Refinery to start lifting petrol.
Segun also said that foreign exchange (forex) illiquidity has been a significant factor influencing the fluctuation in prices of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), which are governed by unrestricted free market forces, as provided for in the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), 2021.
He revealed that the current fuel scarcity was expected to “subside in a few days as more stations recalibrate and begin selling PMS.”
He said Section 205 of the PIA, which established NNPC Ltd., stipulated that petroleum prices were determined by unrestricted free market forces.
According to him, “The market has been deregulated, meaning that petrol prices are now determined by market forces rather than by the government or NNPC Ltd. Additionally, the exchange rate plays a significant role in influencing these prices.”
Segun, who said no right-thinking individual would be comfortable with the current fuel scarcity, added that the NNPC Ltd. has nearly a thousand filling stations nationwide and was collaborating with marketers to “ensure that stations open early, close late, in order to maintain adequate fuel supply to meet the needs of Nigerians.”
He assured Nigerians: “We are also engaging relevant authorities to ensure products diversions are prevented and timely deliveries to all stations are ensured. The scarcity should ease in the next few days as more stations recalibrate and begin operations.”
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