President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima, has urged world leaders at the 2025 G20 Leaders’ Summit to adopt a fair global framework that ensures Africa and other developing regions benefit equitably from critical minerals, technology, and global financial reforms.

Speaking at the summit’s third session, Tinubu emphasized that communities hosting critical minerals should not remain impoverished while their resources fuel global industries.

He stressed the importance of value addition at the source, local beneficiation, and transparency to protect mining communities.

“Nigeria calls for a global framework that promotes value addition at the source, supports local beneficiation, and ensures communities hosting these resources are not left behind. This issue goes beyond economics and speaks to the moral character of the world we aspire to build,” Tinubu said.

People-Centred Progress in the Digital and Green Economy

Tinubu highlighted that Africa’s industrial transformation depends not only on resource possession but on responsible extraction and trade practices that ensure shared progress.

He said that decent work must anchor green and digital transitions, providing every citizen the opportunity to contribute and thrive. Through Nigeria’s Renewed Hope Agenda, Tinubu added, the government is investing in digital literacy, vocational training, and youth entrepreneurship to equip Nigerians with future-ready skills.

Ethical AI and Inclusive Partnerships

On artificial intelligence, Tinubu called for global ethical standards that prioritize safety, transparency, equity, and job creation. He stressed that AI should empower societies rather than displace workers, advocating for collaborations between developed and developing nations, public and private sectors, and innovation and inclusion.

“The G20 must address systemic bias and foster sustained multilateral dialogue to ensure AI benefits are shared equitably and its risks responsibly managed,” he added.

Reforming Global Financial Architecture

Tinubu also urged G20 leaders to reform the international financial architecture, emphasizing the need for a more equitable and responsive system to manage global financial flows and address recurring debt crises affecting developing nations.

He noted that Africa’s positive development trajectory requires sustainable financing to implement priority projects effectively. Rising debt burdens, he said, have “dragged economies back into cycles of fragility,” turning local challenges into global vulnerabilities.

“The G20 must prioritize debt sustainability and responsible utilization of critical minerals in its agenda for inclusive development,” Tinubu said.

Vision for Africa: Value Creation and Dignity

Tinubu concluded that Africa should no longer be viewed merely as a supplier of raw materials but as a continent of innovation, value creation, and dignified work. He stressed that economic progress should be measured not only by growth but by the opportunities and dignity afforded to every citizen.

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Morocco’s Slum-Free Cities Program has improved the living conditions of 372,316 families as of the end of October, according to State Secretary for Housing, Adib Ben Ibrahim.

Speaking at the Upper House on Tuesday, Ben Ibrahim said an additional 68,950 families are currently benefiting from completed or ongoing housing projects. He noted that the total cost of the program has reached MAD 63.72 billion, with the Ministry of Housing contributing MAD 14.65 billion.

He credited the program’s success to collaboration between the Ministry of Housing and other government agencies, including the Interior Ministry and the Ministry of Economy and Finance.

Ben Ibrahim said that 62 cities and urban centers have now been classified as “slum-free,” in line with Morocco’s national housing policies under the leadership of King Mohammed VI.

Over the past four years, the government has improved housing conditions for more than 69,300 families, he added. The rate of family relocations rose from about 6,200 per year between 2018 and 2021 to around 17,330 per year between 2022 and 2025. The increase was most notable in large cities such as Casablanca, Marrakech, Temara-Skhirat, and Salé.

Despite the progress, Ben Ibrahim acknowledged ongoing challenges. These include a growing number of households in need, limited participation by eligible families in relocation programs, low interest in some new housing sites, and insufficient infrastructure in certain areas. He also highlighted high costs associated with completing external urban works, which require additional funding.

The State Secretary cited the relocation project in Skhirat-Temara as a model for successful public-private partnership. The project replaced informal settlements with permanent housing rather than temporary shelters, benefiting 22,643 families out of 33,300 targeted.

Following its success, Morocco launched a new five-year plan (2024–2028) focused on replacement housing to address land shortages, particularly in major urban areas. The plan aims to assist the remaining 120,000 families still awaiting relocation under the Slum-Free Cities initiative.

Ben Ibrahim also addressed the aftermath of the September 2023 Al Haouz earthquake, which exposed major gaps in Morocco’s housing and reconstruction systems. The 6.8-magnitude quake killed nearly 3,000 people and damaged more than 55,000 homes.

He said the government’s MAD 11 billion (USD 1.1 billion) reconstruction plan has achieved 90% completion, with most affected homes rebuilt. However, the Moroccan Human Rights League has disputed this figure, reporting that around 16% of households have yet to receive assistance.

Protests erupted in Rabat on Monday as earthquake survivors accused authorities of neglect and corruption in aid distribution. Many said they were excluded from beneficiary lists due to unresolved land titles and administrative delays, while others cited rising construction costs and poor road access in mountainous areas.

These disputes, analysts say, reveal a wider gap between Morocco’s urban relocation programs and rural reconstruction efforts, underscoring the need for more inclusive and locally adapted housing policies.

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Nigeria has been ranked as the country with the lowest life expectancy globally, according to new data from the United Nations World Population Prospects. The report places the nation’s average lifespan at 54.9 years, with men expected to live up to 54.3 years and women only marginally higher at 54.9.

The figures position Nigeria at the bottom of the 25 countries with the shortest life expectancy, just below Chad (55.2 years) and South Sudan and the Central African Republic (57.7 years). Twenty-two of these countries are located in sub-Saharan Africa, with Lesotho (57.8), Somalia (59.0), and Mali (60.7) also among the lowest ranked.

Health experts attribute the country’s poor performance to persistently high maternal and infant mortality rates, weak healthcare systems, and limited access to essential medical services, especially in regions plagued by insecurity. The World Health Organisation lists cancers, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, chronic respiratory illnesses, and mental health disorders among the leading causes of death globally.

The Federal Ministry of Health has pledged reforms aimed at expanding universal health coverage and strengthening public health infrastructure. However, progress has been slow, hindered by funding gaps and implementation challenges.

Reacting to the UN data, medical expert Dr. Raymond Kuti questioned the accuracy of the figures, arguing that Nigeria’s life expectancy may be understated. “The criteria they use are often faulty. They just want us to believe that we have a low lifespan,” he said, while urging for more reliable national data to reflect the country’s true health realities.

International organisations continue to call for greater investment in healthcare, nutrition, and sanitation to improve living conditions and raise life expectancy across Africa’s most populous nation.

Source: The Guardian

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