Ebola Still Ravaging DR Congo, Death Rate Hits 1,540, Over 2,000 Infected – WHO

June 28, 2019

The death toll in the latest outbreak of Ebola in the Democratic Republic of the Congo has risen to 1,540, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO).

In an update today, June 28, the world health body said 2,284 people have been infected since the outbreak in the country’s Ituri and North Kivu provinces nearly 11 months ago.

However, vital work of tracing people infected with the deadly virus is progressing, in spite of evidence of “several” massacres in the affected area earlier this month, the organization said.

In spite of the insecurity, WHO insisted that frontline workers were doing all they could to tackle Ebola in North-east DRC.

“We had 637 people who survived the disease, and I think this is important,” Dr Ibrahima Fall, WHO Assistant Director-General for Emergency Response, told newsmen in Geneva, according to a statement.

He noted that about 90 people are currently receiving treatment for Ebola virus disease infection, while new cases have dropped from 106 two weeks ago, to 79 last week.

At the same time, the UN human rights office, OHCHR, announced that a “robust” probe found that 117 people had been killed in “several massacres” involving multiple villages in gold-rich Ituri, between June 10 and June 13.

“The investigative team confirmed that at least 94 people had been killed in Djugu territory and 23 in Mahagi territory, including a yet to be undetermined number of women and children.

“Some of the victims were beheaded. Homes and warehouses were burned down after being looted.

“The ferocity and scorched-earth nature of the attacks suggests the assailants intended to prevent survivors from being able to return to their villages,” OHCHR spokesperson, Marta Hurtado, said.

Hurtado was quoted as saying that most of the victims belonged to the Hema community, while the remaining ones were Alur people.

She added that the attackers were reportedly from the Lendu community, echoing an earlier alert from the UN refugee agency, UNHCR.

UNHCR had earlier reported that thousands of people displaced by violence had arrived in Uganda this month, with an average of 311 people crossing the border daily, double the number for May.

Fall explained that major urban centres of Butembo and Katwa were now seeing only “sporadic” cases of infection, thanks to full access.

He, however, cautioned that in Beni, a large town in North Kivu, Ebola had claimed nine lives since Monday.

Contact tracing there and other preventative work was slowed earlier this week amid attacks by taxi drivers who were upset about the death of a colleague who sought help too late, according to him.

Turning to remote areas, Fall confirmed that the “very volatile” security situation had complicated the WHO’s work to tackle “a new hotspot” in Mabalako and Mandima.

“The outbreak started there last year and spread to other regions, so it’s important to break the vicious cycle, to contain very quickly the situation in Mabalako and Mandima, where we have more than 55 per cent of the cases coming from.”

He said for the first time in the current outbreak, Ebola had also reached small forest-based villages such as Alima, where access is “more challenging”.

Fall blamed the situation on the presence of armed groups from DRC and neighbouring Uganda.

“You cannot just say, ‘I have access, I can go.’ You have to negotiate; you have to assess conscious that the risk is still important.

“This is because as you know, with Ebola, you only need one case to start spreading or one high-risk contact not followed transfers the disease,’’ he said.

Asked about the infection threat in Uganda, where three people with Ebola died earlier this month after arriving from DRC, the WHO official insisted “there has been no transmission” of the virus.

Source: The Nation.

Those Campaigning For Me As Running Mate To Osinbajo In 2023 Are Mischief Makers – Niger Gov

Editorial staff

June 28, 2019

Governor of Niger State, Abubakar Sani Bello has described those who have started campaigning for him as Vice Presidential candidate to Vice President Yemi Osinbajo in the 2023 Presidential election as mischief makers.

In a statement today, June 28 by his Chief Press Secretary, Mrs. Mary Noel Berje, the Governor said that it is not the time to talk about 2023, knowing very well that Nigeria had just came out of elections and the governments are yearning to fulfil promises made to the people.

He stressed that there is no basis or justification for such campaigns and posters, insisting that it is the handiwork of mischief makers trying to distract the government’s attention from discharging its mandate to the citizens.

“Our priority is to support Federal and State Government policies and programmes and to fulfil their campaign promises as the tenure is just beginning.

“We hereby describe the posters as well as their authors as FAKE and UNPATRIOTIC.

“We are fully focused to work for our people, and we remain loyal to the ruling party and the Federal government ably led by President Muhamadu Buhari.”

There have been certain 2023 campaign posters bearing images of Governor Sani Bello and Vice President Osinbajo that emerged today, June 28 across social media platforms, projecting the governor campaigning for the position of the Vice President to Professor Yemi Osnibajo as President in 2023.

But, the governor Sani Bello called on well-meaning people of Niger state and Nigerians to disregard such posters as it is the handiwork of mischief makers who always take delight in heating up the polity for their selfish interests.

Smoke Indian Hemp, Break Rules And Get Dismissed, NYSC Boss Warns Corps Members

Editorial staff

June 28, 2019

The Director-General of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Brigadier-General Shuaibu Ibrahim has warned that any corps member caught smoking indian hemp would be dismissed.

General Shuaibu Ibrahim, who addressed Batch B Stream 2 corps members undergoing orientation at the NYSC Permanent Orientation Camp in Sagamu, today, June 28, stressed that if any corps member is caught breaking the rules or abusing drugs and substances, he or she would be handed over to the police and dismissed for good.

“Let posterity guide you in every decision and action you take in life. You can imagine how much your parents have invested in you so that they could have rest of mind in their old ages knowing full well you are capable of fending for yourself.

“How do you think they will feel if anyone of you is dismissed for bad conduct? Everywhere you go in life they will ask you what happened. So, I implore you to always be of good conduct and imbibe the tenets of the scheme for which you were called to serve.

“Unity and discipline, fundamental aspects of your orientation, should guide you throughout the duration of your service.”

He advised the corps members to take advantage of the Skills Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development (SAED) programme put in place by the NYSC to empower the youth develop the entrepreneurship skills to make them self-reliant.

He said that the Bank of Industry and the CBN are ready to provide incentives in form of short loans to aid corps members’ commercial drive.

“Once you benefit from the loan scheme please I beg you not to default so that others too can benefit from the programme.

“Gone are the days where you can relax somewhere after obtaining your certificates and expect white collar jobs at the centre.

“You must develop your creative enterprise and make jobs where none exists. Seek to be employers and not employees.”

The Director General asked corps members to be security conscious at all times while also imploring them to avail themselves with the numbers of security officials at their places of posting.

“Your ID cards are what identifies and enables people to come to your aid if need be. Please have them with you at all times.”

Nov. Guber Poll: APC Governors Storm Kogi, Drum Support For Yahaya Bello

Editorial staff

June 28, 2019

Delegates of the Governors that were elected on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), yesterday, June 27, stormed Lokoja, capital of Kogi State to drum support for the second term ambition of Governor Yahaya Adoza Bello of the State.

At the APC’s state secretariat where the visit was conducted were chairman of the Progressives Governor’s Forum (PGF), who doubles as governor of Kebbi state, Senator Atiku Bagudu; Yobe state governor, Alhaji Mai Malla Bunni and other dignitaries. Also in the entourage is the immediate past governor of Bauchi state, Barrister Mohammed Abubakar.

The PGF chairman said that they were in the state to assure the party leaders and stakeholders of their support for their colleague, Governor Yahaya Bello.

The Kebbi governor described Governor Yahaya Bello as a very energetic young man, whose youthful zest has positioned Kogi on the path of progress and development.

He said that in a recent meeting of governors with representatives of World Bank, they confirmed that based on the excellent performance of Kogi on the Nigerian Erosion and Water Management Projects (NEWMAP), the state would soon access about $27million in the other phase of the projects.

He said that he and the other governors are aware that Governor Yahaya Bello has respect for the APC members and has achieved great feat in the party, confirming that all the stakeholders had worked very hard to achieve such historic feet.

He called on the party stakeholders to continue to believe the party and be a one strong indivisible household so as to continually emerge victorious.

The Kebbi State governor advised recently reconciled members to make further effort to also reconcile some other members who are still not with the party in the progressive interest of the APC in the state.

In his response, Governor Yahaya Bello said that he was highly elated by the visit of the governors and other delegates which he said was an indication of the support he has received from the APC as a party.

He said that whatsoever feat the APC has achieved in the recently concluded general and state assembly elections was a tip of the ice berg as compared to what would be witnessed in the forthcoming governorship polls.

He said that his administration has done very well in securing the people of the state, particularly integrating the seemingly divided ethic group to become one united front.

The chairman of the APC in the State, Alhaji Abdullahi Bello, thanked all the visiting governors for finding the time to come to the state, adding that the APC members had gathered to rejoice with one another over the recent achievements of the party.

He said that Governor Yahaya Bello built and groomed the APC to a winning machine in the state even as he said that when he became the chairman of the party in the state, the governor, being an all inclusive personality, charged the executives to reconcile all aggrieved parties and on the long run such drive has since yielded good fruits as the party has become a one big strong family.

He said that state party stakeholders in a previous meeting unanimously adopted indirect primaries format for its primaries owing to the success which the format offered in the last general and state assembly noting that a ‘winning team does not change formula.’

How Hackers Emptied My Bank Account, Communication Commission Boss Narrates

Editorial staff

June 28, 2019

The Executive Vice Chairman (EVC), Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Professor Umar Garba Danbatta has narrated how internet criminals emptied his bank account, a situation that is rampant and making the digital transformation of Nigeria into a network society a far distant cry.

“My humble self was a victim of hackers. Cyber criminals penetrated my dollar accounts sometimes ago. I immediately alerted the bank, but before they could act, everything I had in that account was taken. Electronic stealing or e-stealing has become sophisticated in our climes and the problem requires a holistic approach to checkmate it.”

Professor Dambatta who spoke while declaring open the 88th Edition of the Telecom Consumer Parliament (TCP) at the Shehu Muas Yar’Adua Centre, Abuja, however said that the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) and the NCC are taking the lead in evolving pro-active measures to checkmate cyber-crimes.

He said that currently the ONSA coordinates the Nigerian Society of Computer Emergency Response Team, while the NCC takes charge of the Cyber Security Incident Response Team.

Professor Danbatta said the country should not be left behind in digital transformation particularly as some nations have started adoption 4G and 5G technologies, stressing that all hands must be on deck to prevent anything that would reverse the gains recorded in the telecom industry in the last two decades.

Telecom industry, he said, now contributes more than 10 per cent to the nation’s gross domestic product (GDP) per quarter, while “the pursuit of increased broadband penetration is particularly being driven by the NCC to bring about the desired level of digital transformation that will positively impact the government businesses and individuals to achieve better efficiency and effectiveness in their daily engagements.

“Today, access to the internet/data services sectors such as financial services, healthcare, agriculture, oil and gas, transportation, commerce and government has continued to have powerful transformational effect on the economy.

“In Nigeria, of the 173.6 million mobile lines across telecommunication networks in the country, 119 million of them are also used by their users to access internet services. Broadband or high-speed Internet penetration currently stands at 33.7 per cent.

“This translates to over 64.3 million broadband subscriptions. Efforts are also ongoing by the Commission, the service providers and other stakeholders to more than double the current broadband penetration figure in the next five years.”

Source: TheNation

African Countries Depend On Other Continents For 85% Of Total Trade – Report

Editorial staff

June 27, 2019

Report of the Committee on the Impact and Readiness Assessment of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Agreement has concluded that African countries have been depending on countries outside the continent for over 85 percent of its total trade.

The report, which was formally submitted today, June 27 to President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, by AfCFTA Chairman, Desmond Guobadia, emphasized: “African countries depend on countries outside the continent for over 85% of her total trade.”

The report said that intra-African trade which is trade among African countries constituted only 14.6% of Africa’s total trade with the world whereas intra-EU trade during the same period was 69.8%, intra- American trade was 46% and intra-Asian trade was 59.6%.

It said that the low level of intra-African trade pointed to low production capacity of African countries, high tariff and non-tariff barriers to trade. In order words, African countries are still far from achieving self-sufficiency across all sectors.

“Another factor is the preference of African countries to trade with countries outside of Africa due to colonial ties and other economic and political considerations.

“It is envisaged that the trade liberalization offered by the AfCFTA will make African goods more attractive and potentially cheaper than similar products from outside the continent.

“The AfCFTA therefore provides immense opportunities for Nigeria’s manufacturing and service companies to expand to Africa. Today, many Nigerian companies have developed capacity in some of these sectors and have long desired to expand to Africa but have been constrained by trade barriers which AfCFTA is expected to remove.

“Our study has shown that the AfCFTA is not without major risks and undesirable impacts. The most significant of which is the potential rise in smuggling and abuse of rules of origin. The risk is that it will provide incentive for traders to disguise goods imported from outside the continent as made- in-Africa goods, to qualify for duty-free treatment.

“This risk is high for Nigeria considering that 92% of Nigeria’s imports come from the rest of the world and smuggling, under-reporting of imports and other forms of abuse of rules of origin already constitute major challenges faced by Nigeria in ECOWAS.

“The risk is further complicated by the lack of capacity, resources and “will” on the part of some African countries, to enforce their borders. Tackling this threat will require collective efforts at the highest level of ECOWAS and the African Union.

“Our report recognizes that there will be significant adjustment costs to manage the negative impacts and to take advantage of the opportunities.

“The adjustment costs will include retraining workers in declining sectors to be able to take up employment in growing sectors, providing capital to business owners to retool their plants to remain operational and attracting investments to growing sectors in order to produce goods and services to export to Africa.

“The Committee proposed policies, programmes, projects and interventions which may position Nigeria adequately for the AfCFTA.

“We identified sectors which can act as arrowheads for Nigeria’s expansion into Africa, while efforts are intensified to attract private sector investments to the productive sectors.

“Our report shows that on the balance, Nigeria should consider joining the AfCFTA and using the opportunity of the ongoing AfCFTA Phase I negotiations to secure the necessary safeguards required to ensure that our domestic policies and programs are not compromised.

“Specifically, we recommend the following safeguards:

a. extension of the timelines to achieve trade liberalization and integration ambitions and possibly replacing them with a readiness criteria

b. introduction of explicit rules on import quota restrictions;

c. adoption of a common Market Access Offer for Trade in Goods and Trade in Services for ECOWAS, including synchronized Sensitive and Exclusive Lists;

d. adoption of the common Market Access Offer for Trade in Goods to replace and supersede the 2013 ECOWAS Common External Tariff (CET), which created vulnerabilities for Nigerian industry and manufacturing; and

e. adoption of appropriate continental customs cooperation and other mechanisms to tackle predatory trade.

“Considering the potential impact of predatory trade on her economy, Nigeria should consider championing the effort at ECOWAS and AU/AfCFTA to implement and enforce these safeguards.

“At the domestic level, we recommend that: A: a National Action Committee on AfCFTA be established to coordinate relevant ministries, departments and agencies to drive the implementation of the AfCFTA readiness projects and initiatives.

B the AfCFTA negotiation mandate should be updated based on the report of this Committee and submitted to Your Excellency for your consideration and further directives.

“We also recommend that the Nigeria Office for Trade Negotiations (NOTN) be strengthened by enacting its Enabling Law expeditiously.”

Buhari Gives Commission Marching Order On Raising 100 Million Nigerians From Poverty

Editorial staff

June 27, 2019

President Buhari presides over Swearing-In of the Chairman and Commissioners of the Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission in State House on 27th June 2019. | State House Photo

President Muhammadu Buhari has asked new chairman and members of the Revenue Mobilization, Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) to help his government in fulfilling the promise of raising 100 million from poverty level which he made in his speech on Democracy Day on June 12.

“In my speech on June 12, Democracy Day, I informed Nigerians that this administration has laid the foundation for transforming our country and liberating our people from the shackles of poverty by putting policies and measures to integrate our rural economies to the national economic grid.

“One measure is to extend credit facilities currently available to be able to encourage and support domestic production of basic goods and reduce our reliance on imported goods.

“I set a target for our country to lift 100 million Nigerians out of poverty in ten years. This commitment is to further challenge the Revenue Mobilization, Allocation and Fiscal Commission to rise to its constitutional responsibilities and mandate.”

President Buhari, who inaugurated the Commission’s chairman and members today, June 27, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, advised the Commission to concentrate more on expanding the sources of revenue to the Federation Account and other non-oil sources including solid mineral. He asked members to use all legal ways and means to strengthen the Commission’s monitoring mechanism and block leakages of revenue from the Federations Account.

“All relevant laws and regulations on revenue collections and remittances should be fully complied with and appropriate sanctions visited on defaulters.”

President Buhari assured members that his government will continue to provide all the necessary support that will facilitate the achievement of the Commission’s constitutional mandate even as he called on the National Assembly to enact relevant enabling laws that will guarantee the Commission the legal ability to ensure that defaulters of revenue laws are appropriately sanctioned.”

He reminded members that the Commission is empowered by the Constitution to among other duties to monitor the accruals to and disbursement of revenue from the Federation Account; review, from time to time, the revenue allocation formulae and principles in operation and advise government on the need for any changes, advise the Federal, State and Local Governments on fiscal efficiency and methods by which their revenue is to be increased;

Others, he said are to determine remunerations appropriate for Political/Public Office Holders, make recommendations and submit findings by a report thereto to the government of the Federation or of the State, as the case may be, regarding the formula for the distribution of the Federation Accounts and the Local Government Accounts and discharge such other functions as may be conferred on the Commission by Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, this Act, or any other Act of the National Assembly.

“The mandate of the Commission is very wide and has an important role for our country’s economy. The Commission must be fair and just to the three Tiers and Arms of Government without compromising its core mandate.

The President said that the appointment of the Chairman and members of the Commission was carefully considered based on their proven track records of hard work and integrity.

He hoped that they will rapidly and systematically set to work to address all areas of the Commission’s mandates in a businesslike manner.

Buhari’s Govt Counters Christians’ Letter To British Parliament Over Alleged Persecution

Editorial staff

June 27, 2019

The Government of President Muhammadu Buhari has repudiated claims by a group styling itself as Northern Christian Elders Forum, who alleged that his administration is practicing bigotry and alienating Christians.

The response by the government is contained in a counter letter to the British Parliamentary Group, signed by Nigeria’s High Commissioner to UK, George Adetola Oguntade.

Two letters were addressed to Rt Revd Philip Mounstephen, a former secretary of the Church Missionary Society (CMS) and now Head, “Independent Review of Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) Support of Persecuted Christians, “and Baroness Berridge, the Chair of “All Parliamentary Group for International Freedom of Religion or Belief. “

In the correspondences, the Nigerian government strongly dismissed as inconceivable and outrightly false, allusions to the effect that the Boko Haram terrorism served a government agenda against Christians.

“It would be useful for me to engage with this process to ensure that you are thoroughly briefed on the situation in Nigeria, “High Commissioner Oguntade wrote in the correspondences.

Responding to the interim report on Foreign and Commonwealth Office Support for Persecuted Christians, Oguntade, a retired Justice of the Supreme Court, told Rev. Mounstephen:

“The safety and security of all Nigerians, whatever their faith, is a fundamental priority of the Buhari Government. The government knows that Nigeria can only achieve its potential if there is religious tolerance and cooperation.”

The High Commissioner explained that President Buhari’s deputy is a Pastor, adding that the President “has befriended Church leaders and church groups both within and outside Nigeria.”

He added that the President’s cabinet is balanced between Muslims and Christians, noting that he himself was a former Chancellor of the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion).

According to Justice Oguntade, Vice President Osinbajo has maintained regular contacts with Christian and Muslim leaders as part of efforts to build and sustain interfaith dialogue.

Stressing that the country’s security challenges had no ethnic and religious colourations, the High Commissioner said the farmers/herders clashes predated the Buhari administration, noting that such clashes bordered on the desire for pasture by the herders and the desire to protect crops from encroachment and destruction by the farmers.

Oguntade explained that these clashes had a long history and the Buhari administration is taking a major step to address the root cause of these crises and violent clashes pitting Muslim and Christian farmers alike against the herders.

According to the High Commissioner, “the issue of grazing routes is historically central to these conflicts and the Buhari administration is taking a holistic approach to the matter with a view to ending it once and for all, so that Nigerians can live in peace with one another.”

He assured the international community that the Buhari Administration would ensure that “the competition over scarce land is resolved peacefully for the benefits of all parties.”

The Nigerian government also rejected attempts by the reporting group to link Boko Haram terrorism with official policy, stating clearly that these violent acts by the terrorist group predated the Buhari administration, like many others that were inherited on coming to office in 2015.

The Nigerian High Commissioner to the UK said criminal groups such as the Boko Haram terrorists who kill Muslims and Christians do not represent Muslims.

“Boko Haram is a murderous death cult whose savagery has destroyed thousands of lives.

“The Government is totally dedicated to eradicating their stain from our land.

“Since the Buhari administration has been in power, Boko Haram has been significantly degraded – with the support and assistance of the UK Government. We shall not rest until this mission is completed and the people of North East Nigeria – both Christians and Muslims – can live in peace again.”

The two letters were each accompanied by a copy of an opinion article signed by the President and published on November 30, 2018, by London-based “Church Times,” entitled: DON’T POLITICISE RELIGION IN NIGERIA.

In the article, President Buhari, among other things, said Muslims and Christians can flourish together.

“These two great religions (Islam and Christianity) can not only peacefully coexist but flourish together. But we must first turn to one another in compassion. For as Amos teaches us: “Do two walk together unless they have agreed to meet?”.

“We must resist the temptation to retreat into our communities because if we do, our palette of possibilities will remain primary. It is only when we mix them together that we can imagine new and greater possibilities.

“As our constitution spells out, politicizing religion should have no place in Nigeria. However, it is all the more reprehensible when in doing so; it feeds fears and plays to man’s baser instincts.

“For it makes us turn away from one another; it makes us retreat into our communities and walk different paths; and it blinds us to each other’s God-given dignity, ” the President said in the article, published in Church Times.

PDM Protests Its Exclusion From FCT Senatorial Contest, Wants It Cancelled

Editorial staff

June 27, 2019

The Peoples Democratic Movement (PDM) and its Senatorial Candidate, Ekechi Doris Chinyere, have protested their exclusion from participating in the February 23 Senatorial election in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), and asked the National Assembly Election Petition Tribunal of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to cancel the election.

The party and its candidate also wanted the Tribunal to nullify the declaration of Senator Philip Tanimu Aduda who was declared by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as the winner of the election on the ground that the election was not lawfully conducted.
In the petition marked as EPT/FCT/S/03/19, filed by their counsel, Aliyu Lemu, the two petitioners prayed the Tribunal for an order nullifying the return and declaration of Senator Aduda of the PDP as the winner of the election on account of their wrongful exclusion.

They prayed for another order compelling INEC to conduct a fresh election into the office of the senator representing FCT, Abuja within 90 days from the date of the judgment of the Tribunal.

hinyere also prayed the Tribunal to declare that she was validly nominated by the PDM but unlawfully excluded by INEC and that Aduda, being the candidate of PDP, was not lawfully or validly returned as winner of the February 23 election.

The petition was predicated on 27 grounds among which were that Chinyere is the person nominated by PDM as a registered political party but was unlawfully denied participation despite being validly nominated.
The grouse of the two petitioners was that the logo of PDM was not put on the ballot paper by INEC as required by law and was not credited with any votes at the election.

The two petitioners also averred that following the release of INEC timetable on the 2019 General Elections, the PDM on October 7, 2018 conducted its Primary Election monitored by officials of INEC and where the Senatorial Candidate emerged the winner.

They further claimed that the candidate, upon the submission of her name, picked INEC form CF001 and duly filled same and returned it to INEC in compliance with the Electoral Act.

They further averred that upon fulfillment of the requirements of the law, they proceeded to the polls with confidence and assurances of a clear victory only to discover that their name and party logo were missing on the ballot paper.

PDM and its candidate asserted that INEC, without any lawful cause, wrongfully excluded their names and logo from the ballot after they had invested resources on campaigning and mobilizing supporters throughout the senatorial district.

Alleging that the unlawful exclusion cost them immeasurable losses in resources and electoral fortune, the two petitioners complained that their supporters were disenchanted and politically apathetic on the grounds of the unlawful exclusion and therefore prayed the Tribunal to nullify the February 23 Senatorial Election in Abuja and order INEC to conduct a fresh one that would have their logo on the ballot paper.

Meanwhile, hearing in the petition has commenced before a three man panel headed by Justice Okechukwu. A. Ezoke.

Nigeria Supports Fair, Equitable Free Trade In Africa – President Buhari

Editorial staff

June 27, 2019

President Buhari receives Report of the Presidential Committee on Impact and Readiness Assessment African Continental Free Trade Area (AFCFTA) Agreement in State House on 27th June 2019 | State House photo

President Muhammadu Buhari has made it clear that Nigeria will continue to support free trade as long as it is fair and conducted on an equitable basis.

Receiving the report of the Committee set up to assess the impact and readiness for the Africa Continental Free Trade Area Agreement(AfCFTA), at the Presidential Villa today, June 27, Buhari noted that AfCFTA will have both positive and negative effects on Nigeria and African region.

“As Africa’s largest economy and most populous country, we cannot afford to rush into such agreements without full and proper consultation with all stakeholders.”

President Buhari noted that intra-African trade is only 14 percent of Africa’s total trade whereas the consumption is mostly of goods imported from outside the continent.

“For AfCFTA to succeed, we must develop policies that promote African production, among other benefits.

“Africa, therefore, needs not only a trade policy but also a continental manufacturing agenda. Our vision for intra-African trade is for the free movement of “made in Africa goods”. That is, goods and services made locally with dominant African content in terms of raw materials and value addition.

“If we allow unbridled imports to continue, it will dominate our trade. The implication of this, is that coastal importing nations will prosper while landlocked nations will continue to suffer and depend on aid.”

The Nigeria leader stressed that many of the challenges facing Africa today, “whether security, economic or corruption are rooted in our inability, over the years, to domesticate the production of the most basic requirements and create jobs for our very vibrant, young and dynamic population.”

He said that henceforth, Africa will that it negotiated agreements create business opportunities for Africa’s manufacturers, service providers and innovators.

“The AfCFTA we aspire to have should therefore not only create wealth for investors but also jobs and prosperity for our vibrant and hardworking citizens. The benefits of economic growth must be prosperity for the masses.”

The African Union Heads of States, had over a year ago, adopted the Phase I Agreement on the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) at its 10^th Extraordinary Summit in Kigali, Rwanda, on 21^st of March 2018.

Since then, a lot has been said about Nigeria’s decision to conduct a detailed study on how this agreement will impact us as a country.

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