Business

International Banks Suspend Operations In Cote d’Ivoire

Published

15 years ago

February 16, 2011

Two large international banks suspended operations in Cote d‘Voire on Monday as a power struggle following a disputed presidential election tightened its grip on the economy of the world’s top cocoa grower.

French bank BNP Paribas’s Ivorian unit, the second biggest banking operation in the country, was closed due to security concerns, an official said.

Citibank also said it would be closed on Monday, giving no official reason but saying it would continue to monitor the situation.

BNP Paribas and number one Societe Generale between them have around two thirds of the Cote d‘Voire market.

Citibank is a smaller operation with no retail arm but is the largest corporate finance for Cote d’Voire‘s oil and gas operations, the main creditor of its 80,000 barrel a day refinery and the third biggest cocoa exporter financer.

The West African nation has been in turmoil since a disputed November 28, presidential election between incumbent Laurent Gbagbo and rival Alassane Quattara.

Gbagbo’s planning minister condemned the bank closures and said they were breaking the law.

UN-certified election commission results named Quattara the winner, but the result was reversed by a pro-Gbagbo legal body and the incumbent remains in power despite international sanctions and threats of military force.

“The entire BICICI network is closed until further notice.

“The head office in Paris informed us of this decision yesterday at around 2300 (GMT). I’m staying home today,” the official, who could not be named because of death threats against other banking staff, told Reuters.

A spokesperson for Citi in Paris said the bank was closed on Monday and the bank was monitoring the situation.

The power struggle has hit the banking sector as Quattara, backed by western nations and regional bodies try and cut Gbagbo’s access to funds to force him from power.

West Africa’s monetary union last month cut off his access to state accounts at West Africa’s BCEAO central bank.

“It was becoming very difficult for those banks to operate in Cote d `Voire because they can’t use the BCEAO platform any more,” Standard Bank analyst Samir Gadio told Reuters.

Gadio said that procedures that usually took an hour were now taking up to eight days, added that there was a “reputational risk if they continue to operate in Cote d`Voire (and are) seen as allowing Gbagbo’s regime to survive”.

Western nations have slapped travel bans and sanctions on a range of individuals and organisations backing Gbagbo.

Cocoa exporters have stopped registering new beans for export as a result of the sanctions, and a ban called for by Quattara.

Cocoa futures touched their highest levels in over a year on Monday as fears grew the ban, initially put in place on January 24, for one month, would be extended.

But Ouattara remains trapped in a lagoon-side Abidjan hotel, protected by UN peacekeepers while Gbagbo, who has the backing of the military, remains in control of government buildings.

“The government condemns the illegal character of this decision by proceeding with their closure, BICICI and Citibank are seriously contravening their obligations under banking law

“(We) will not tolerate these acts of defiance,” budget minister Kone Katinan said on state TV.

After being cut off from the regional bank, Gbagbo sent soldiers to seize its Abidjan unit and appropriate local reserves, forcing the bank to close its Cote d‘Voire operations completely and causing problems with liquidity and cheque clearing.

Banking sources say the military has since intimidated banks into participating in a new clearing system set up in the building Gbagbo seized and some have received death threats.

“Gbagbo is not going to leave just because the banking system has shut down he will leave the day his life is at stake.

“But this is going to speed up the endgame. I don’t see how the salaries are going to get paid,” said Gadio.

Transport

Nigeria Rates 7th For Visa Application To France —–Schengen Visa

Published

2 days ago

January 28, 2026

The Tide

Nigeria was the 7th country in 2024, which filed the most schenghen visa to France, with a total of 111,201 of schenghen visa applications made in 2025, out of which 55,833, about 50.2 percent submitted to France

Although 2025 data is unavailable, these figures from Schengen Visa Info implies that France is not merely a preferred destination, but has been a dominant access point for Nigerian short-stay travel into Europe.

France itself has received more than three million Schengen visa applications, making it the most sought-after Schengen destination globally and a leading gateway for long-haul and third-country travellers. It was the top destination for applicants from 51 countries that same year, including many without visa-exemption arrangements with the Schengen Zone, and the sole destination for applicants from seven countries.

Alison Reed, a senior analyst at the European Migration Observatory said, “France’s administrative reach shapes applicant strategy, but it also concentrates risk. If processing times lengthen or documentation standards tighten in Paris, the effects ripple quickly back to capitals such as Abuja.”

The figures underline that this pattern is not unique to Nigeria. In neighbouring West and Central African states such as Gabon, Benin, Togo and Madagascar, more than 90 per cent of Schengen visas were sought via French authorities in 2024, with Chad, Djibouti, the Central African Republic and Comoros submitting applications exclusively to France.

“France acts as the central enumeration point for many African and Asian applicants,” said Manish Khandelwal, founder of Travelobiz.com, which reported the consolidated statistics. “Historical ties, language networks and established diaspora communities all play into that concentration. But volume inevitably invites scrutiny, and that affects refusal rates and processing rigour.”

That scrutiny is visible in the rejection statistics. Of the more than three million French applications in 2024, approximately 481,139 were denied, a rejection rate of about 15.7 per cent. While this rate is lower than in some smaller Schengen states, the sheer volume of applications means France contributes significantly to the total number of refusals within the zone.

For Nigerian applicants and policymakers, one implication is the need to broaden engagement with other Schengen consular hubs. “Over-reliance on a single consulate creates what one might call administrative bottleneck effects,” said Jean-Luc Martin, a professor and expert in European integration and mobility law at Leiden University. “If applicants from Nigeria default to France without exploring legitimate alternatives in countries like Spain, Germany or the Netherlands, they expose themselves to systemic risk

Martin added that the broader context of Schengen visa policy is evolving, with the European Commission’s preparing roll-out of the European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) aimed at harmonising pre-travel screening across member states.

For Nigerians seeking leisure, business or educational travel to Europe, these trends suggest that strategic planning and consular diversification could become as important as the completeness of documentation and financial proof. Governments and travel consultancies in Abuja, Lagos and beyond are already advising clients to explore alternative consular pathways and to prepare for more rigorous screening criteria across all Schengen states

By: Enoch Epelle

Transport

West Zone Aviation: Adibade Olaleye Sets For NANTA President

Published

2 days ago

January 28, 2026

The Tide

Prince Abiodun Ajibade Olaleye, a former Welfare Officer and Public Relations Officer of the National Association of Nigeria Travel Agencies (NANTA), has formally declared his intention to contest for the position of Vice President of NANTA Western Zone, ahead of the zonal elections scheduled for Thursday, February 26, 2026.

In a New Year message to members of the association, Olaleye expressed optimism about the prospects of the travel and tourism industry in 2026, despite the economic headwinds and migration policy challenges that affected operations in the previous year.

He acknowledged that reduced patronage and declining trade volumes had placed significant financial pressure on many travel agencies, but urged members to remain resilient and forward-looking.

According to him, the challenges confronting the industry should be seen as opportunities for growth, innovation and institutional strengthening.

He stressed the need for unity and collective action among members of the association, noting that collaboration remains critical to navigating the evolving global travel environment.

Unveiling his vision for the NANTA Western Zone, Olaleye said his aspiration is to consolidate on the achievements of past leaders while expanding the zone’s relevance, influence and impact “beyond imagination.” He promised a leadership focused on commanding excellence, improved member welfare and stronger stakeholder engagement.

Drawing from his experience in previous executive roles within NANTA, the vice-presidential aspirant said he is well-positioned to make meaningful contributions to the association, particularly in areas of member support, public engagement and institutional growth.

“I believe that together, we can take our association to greater heights and build a stronger, more prosperous NANTA Western Zone that benefits all members,” he said, while appealing to delegates for their support and votes.

Olaleye concluded by offering prayers for good health, peace and prosperity for members in 2026, expressing confidence that the new year would usher in renewed opportunities for the travel industry and the association at large.

By: Enoch Epelle

Business

Sugar Tax ‘ll Threaten Manufacturing Sector, Says CPPE

Published

2 days ago

January 28, 2026

The Tide

The Centre for the Promotion of Private Enterprise (CPPE) has warned that renewed calls for a sugar tax on non-alcoholic beverages could hurt Nigeria’s manufacturing sector, threaten jobs and slow the country’s fragile economic recovery.

In a statement, the Chief Executive Officer, CPPE, Muda Yusuf, said while public health concerns such as diabetes and cardiovascular diseases deserve attention, imposing an additional sugar-specific tax was economically risky and poorly suited to Nigeria’s current realities of high inflation, weak consumer purchasing power and rising production costs.

Yusuf who insisted that the food and beverage sector remains the backbone of Nigeria’s manufacturing industry, said the industry supports millions of livelihoods across farming, processing, packaging, logistics, wholesale and retail trade, and hospitality.

He remarked that any policy that weakens this ecosystem could have far-reaching consequences, including job losses, lower household incomes and reduced investment.

Yusuf argued that proposals for sugar taxation in Nigeria are often influenced by global policy templates that do not adequately reflect local conditions.

According to him, manufacturers in the non-alcoholic beverage segment are already facing heavy fiscal and cost pressures.

“The proposition of a sugar-specific tax is misplaced, economically risky, and weakly supported by empirical evidence, especially when viewed against Nigeria’s prevailing structural and macroeconomic realities.

“Existing obligations include company income tax, value-added tax, excise duties, levies on profits and imports, and multiple state and local government charges. These are compounded by high energy costs, exchange-rate volatility, elevated interest rates and expensive logistics,” he said.

The CPPE boss noted that retail prices of many non-alcoholic beverages have risen by about 50 per cent over the past two years, even without the introduction of new taxes, further squeezing consumers.

Yusuf further expressed reservation on the effectiveness of sugar taxes in addressing the root causes of non-communicable diseases in Nigeria.

By: Lady Godknows Ogbulu