“The current problem (of Nigeria) is not really about subsidy removal. It is about that Nigeria is broke. Pure and simple!
This statement was made today by the information minister, Lai Mohammed while speaking to news men shortly after the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting at the Presidential Villa, Abuja today, Wednesday.
He went on: “it is like somebody who has been earning N100,000 a month and he is faced with a situation where his employer says henceforth you will be earning N10,000 a month. He would need to make some very painful decisions and some very painful adjustments.
“That is the situation with Nigeria today. A few months ago, we were earning as much as $100 for every barrel of crude. In the months of February and March, we were short of…so, we no longer have the resources, the foreign exchange to bring in refined fuel products.
“And our economy is shrinking. We appreciate the fact that the decision is going to affect everybody. We appreciate what we are going through, but Nigerians should also know that the government has the responsibility at times to take very difficult decisions. So, it is not always about popularity.”
Lai Mohammadu spoke along with the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami and Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola as well as Labour Minister, Dr. Chris Ngigie. FEC was held to review most contemporary national issues which prominently revolved around the fuel hike, its attendant challenges and industrial action by the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC).
This came even as the Minister of Labour, Ngige denied allegations that the government is encouraging labour factionalism by negotiating with both Ayuba Wabba and Joe Ajaero led factions at separate meetings to forestall the planned strike.
Ngige said that the door is still open for talks with the federal government, saying: “we are ready to discuss with anybody even civil society groups. We as government will not encourage factionalism, if for anything we are unifying them by bringing them together to talk about issues that concern their unions and Nigerians.
“We have a right to talk to whoever we want. We will open our doors to them for negotiations when they come back.”
The Minister said that government has agreed to reconstitute the Board of Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPPRA) which is one of the demands of the NLC.
According to Nigige, the reconstitution would be done within a fortnight from now to accommodate input from Labour in the new development.
Similarly, the AGF, Malami discountenanced criticisms arising from the federal government legal approach for injunction against the industrial action, saying that it was necessary especially as NLC did not give the government the constitutional 15 days notice. [myad]
A retired captain of the Nigerian Army, Friday William, has hung himself on a mango tree outside his apartment in Calabar, the capital of Cross River state.
Williams, a father of eight, according to a neighbour, Abasi Imoh, allegedly tied a rope on the mango tree outside his apartment at 34, Edim Otop Street in the night while his family was asleep and hung himself for a reason yet to be ascertained.
“We woke up in the morning to behold the body dangling on the mango tree outside the compound and we do not know what was responsible for his action.”
The neighbour said before hanging himself, the retired captain reportedly sent a text message to his son, who lives in Port Harcourt at about 10pm, to condole with him over his death and advised him to be strong to take care of his siblings.
“He sent the text to his first son at about 10 pm to condole with him over his own death, but the son did not see the message until he got a call the next morning that his father had committed suicide and I feel he had tied the rope ready for the act before he sent the text.”
Abasi said that the man had about three cars and got a lot of money from his retirement benefits two years ago and was living well, which is the reason many people are surprised with his action. “He was not poor because he had three cars and had built a house in his village and was generally doing well that is why we were surprised with his action.”
Meanwhile, his remains have been taken to his hometown in Mkpat Enin, Akwa Ibom State. [myad]
A call for a nation-wide strike by a faction of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) failed today in many states of the federation as workers reported at their work places even as normal activities of the day continued.
Reports reaching us from various states, indicated that workers and residents virtually ignored the call by the labour union to embark on strike over the increase in pump price of fuel.
The News Agency of Nigeria correspondents who monitored the situation in states report that key institutions like banks, schools, state and federal secretariats, hospitals, markets and all major commercial centres were opened for normal activities.
In Bauchi State, where some youths demonstrated the previous day in support of the deregulation of the downstream oil sector, labour officials did not attempt to enforce the strike.
A civil servant working with the state government, Sanusi Ibrahim, said most workers were not in support of the strike.
“When we were not paid our salary for over eight months, what did the NLC do?
“Before the removal of subsidy, we were buying fuel at the cost of N300 per litre; in some states, even N500. Now the fuel is available at maximum of N145. The NLC should leave us alone.”
Normal activities are also going on in Damaturu, the Yobe State capital, with banks, schools, hospitals, state and federal secretariats open for business.
NAN correspondents in Yola also report that normal activities are going on in Yola and other major towns of Adamawa State as schools, banks, markets, as well as the State and Federal secretariats remained open.
Many people who spoke on the failure of the strike said they were not convinced that the action was the best alternative in the present circumstance.
Mallam Adamu Danwanzam, the Chairman of Yola Perishable Food Items Sellers Association, said his members were not in support of the strike action.
Also speaking, the state chairman of Private School Proprietors in Adamawa State, Hajiya Dijatu Balla, said her members had no business with the strike action.
Malam Husaini Isa, the Chairman of Commercial Tricycle Association in Adamawa State, also distanced his members from the strike, pointing out that for many months, his members had been buying fuel for N200 per litre and as such the new prize of N145 per litre was a relief.
The situation is the same in Dutse, Jigawa State as people went about their normal businesses. At the State and Federal secretariats, civil servants were seen attending to their official duties.
A bank staff who pleaded for anonymity said that they observed the situation for some time and decided to open at about 9am as against official time of 8am.
Officers and men of the Nigeria Police Force were seen in strategic places to ensure safety of lives and property.
There was however a partial compliance in Gombe State as the NLC Monitoring Committee went round to ensure compliance.
Most places of work, schools, banks and the state radio and television stations were closed.
One of the over 200 girls abducted by Boko Haram insurgents from the Government Girls Secondary School, Chibok in Borno state, rescued today from the notorious Sambisa Forest has confirmed that all the girls are still in the Forest.
The rescued girl whos name was given as Amina Ali Nkeki girl Amina, said however that six of the girls, abducted along with her in April 2014, have died.
Amina Nkeke, who is now 19 year old said: “all the girls are in Sambisa forest, but six of them had died.”
She said that the remaining girls are “well secured and protected” to stop the Nigerian Army from rescuing them.
After her rescue, Amina who is now with a four months old child, was taken to Chibok, where she was identified by her parents. A family member, Yakubu Nkeki, said his wife had a telephone conversation with Amina`s mother and confirmed that they had been reunited.
“It’s a joyful time for me,” said Nkeki, who is the father of another of the abducted girls. He said: “the girl will be taken to the state capital Maiduguri on Thursday.”
The Chibok girl was said to have been rescued by members of the Civilian JTF, a paramilitary force that assists the military in the fight against insurgency in the north-east.
The vigilante group was said to have found her on Tuesday in the Sambisa Forest, close to the border with Cameroon.
An eye witness, Aboku Gaji, gave an account of how he took part in a nightly patrol with the Civilian Joint Task Force (JTF), on the edge of the Sambisa Forest when the girl and some companions wandered out at about 7 p.m.
He said that he recognized her as one of the missing schoolgirls, although she looked different and in poor physical condition.
“Their bodies didn’t look good. They had had no bath and were in a dirty condition,” he said.
He added that the young woman was part of a group asking for help, including a man who identified himself as her husband and the father of her baby.
The man said that he had been kidnapped by Boko Haram from the town of Mubi, taken to Sambisa Forest and married to Nkeki.
However, acting director of Army Public Relations, Colonel Sani Kukasheka Usman, who identified rescued girl as Falmata Mbalala, said she had been rescued by government troops at Baale near Damboa – an account corroborated by the minister of information, Lai Mohammad.
The Army said: “in continuation of Operation CRACKDOWN, troops of 25 Brigade Damboa in conjunction with Civilian JTF deployed in one of the blocking positions at Baale, near Damboa, rescued one Miss Amina Ali and a suspected Boko Haram terrorist, Mohammed Hayatu, who claimed to be her husband. Both were brought to Headquarters 25 Task Force Brigade Damboa at about 2.30pm today.”
“Preliminary investigation shows that she is indeed one of the abducted Chibok School girls abducted by Boko Haram terrorists on 14th April 2014 in Chibok and her name is Amina Ali as against Falmata Mbalala that was earlier stated. In addition, she is a nursing mother with a 4-month-old baby girl who was named Safiya. Both the suspected Boko Haram terrorist and the nursing mother have been taken to Maiduguri for further medical attention and screening.” [myad]
A Sharia Court Judge in Basawa in Zaria, Kaduna State, Haruna Aliyu, has been arraigned before an Upper Sharia Court, for alleged attempt to rape a married woman.
The accused was brought to the Court located in GRA Zaria, by the police on a one-count charge of attempt to commit rape.
The prosecutor, Sgt. Ibrahim Hussaini told the court that the accused was apprehended by the police at about 7:00p.m on Monday with the woman.
He said that a lawyer, Aminu Adamu-Mohammed of Waff Road Sabongari, reported the case through a phone call to Sabongari Divisional Police Headquarters.
The prosecutor said that the complainant had accused Haruna of luring one Fatima Alhassan, a house wife, to a hotel on Samaru road in Zaria with the intention of committing adultery.
The prosecutor said the offence is punishable under Sections 226 and 116 of the Penal Code Law.
The accused however pleaded not guilty to the offence, and his counsel, M. G. Sadiq requested the court to grant his client bail.
The Judge, Mustapha Umar granted the accused bail in the sum of N50, 000 with two sureties in like sum.
He ordered that one of the sureties must be a civil servant on GL 10 or a Village Head.
Umar adjourned the case to June 6, for further hearing. [myad]
The Chairman of the Governorship Election Petition Tribunal for kogi State sitting in Abuja, Justice Halima Muhammad, has announced that he will soon fix a definite date for the judgment in the case.
Muhammad said the judgment date would be communicated to all parties in the matter.
This followed the completion of all the petitions as announced by Counsel to the African Democratic Congress (ADC), one of the parties in the matter, Oba Maduabuchi.
At the resumed hearing on Tuesday, the Counsel said that he had filed the party’s final written address.
Maduabuchi prayed the court to nullify the election of Governor Yahaya Bello on the grounds that he did not poll the highest majority of votes during the election.
He also told the tribunal that the election of the governor was devoid of the principle of the Electoral Act hence, should be nullified.
Counsel to Bello, Babatunde Daudu, prayed the tribunal to discountenance and dismiss the ADC petition.
“The ADC petition lacks merit and there is no standard ground for which the petition should be given victory,” Daudu said.
President Muhammadu Buhari has said that corruption in the Nigeria Army nearly made Nigeria to capitulate to Boko Haram, having rendered the once vibrant Army incapacitated and unable to quickly defeat the insurgents.
President Buhari, who spoke today at an audience with the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, Dr. Ahmed El-Tayeb, regretted the loss of as many as 14 local government areas of the Nigerian territory to Boko Haram, a situation which he said greatly tarnished the reputation of the Nigerian Armed Forces.
The President said that with measures taken by his Administration to curb corruption and provide better weaponry, logistics, training and welfare for soldiers on the frontlines, the Nigerian military has now almost totally incapacitated Boko Haram as a fighting force and recovered all territories that were lost to the terrorist sect.
“When we curbed corruption and removed the injustice in the military, we began to make progress.”
He solicited the support of Muslims across the world for Nigeria’s war against Boko Haram, saying that the war against terrorism is also a war against injustice, which is not condoned by Islam and all the major religions.
“You can’t kill the innocent in churches or in mosques and shout Allahu Akbar,” President Buhari said, adding that the visit of Dr. El-Tayeb and his expression of solidarity with Nigeria in the war against terrorism is a clear indication of global Muslim support for Nigeria against the unjust killing of the innocent by terrorists.
The President, who reaffirmed his Administration’s determination to resettle all persons who were displaced by the Boko Haram insurgency, thanked the Grand Imam for the donation of scholarships, educational and medical supplies to Nigeria’s Internally Displaced Persons.
Dr. El-Tayeb told President Buhari that Muslims all over the world share Nigeria’s pains from terrorism and will continue to support efforts to ensure the return of peace and unity amongst all faiths in the country. [myad]
The tone and tenor of speeches of Heads of State and government at the Regional Security Summit hosted on Saturday by President Muhammadu Buhari suggest that the countries in the Lake Chad region are looking beyond the Boko Haram terrorism.
Smart leaders they are, they didn’t present themselves back-slapping each other in a congratulatory mood over the enormous feat they have accomplished in the last ten or so months, substantially reducing the terrorist threats in the region to the point of being described as a mopping up operation.
They were conscious of the fact the the Chibok Girls have not been found. No success can be declared in this war without the girls being found and reunited with their families.
In addition, the world has come a long way since Gorge W. Bush stood there atop the ship “Abraham Lincoln” being saluted by the flight deck crew to read a speech announcing an end to the Iraq war. “The 2003 Mission Accomplished” banner dominated the background as he spoke. But with hindsight, the world knows that the war against Iraq is still work in progress.
The then American President, George Bush was to say to a CNN interviewer a few years later that he regretted the outlandish display. In November 2008 specifically, Bush indicated that he regretted the use of the banner, stating that it conveyed the wrong message.
There are many who believe that the United States isstill paying a price for that massive public relations failure.
In all probability, the world would have benefited more from the leaders if the summiteers in Abuja had to say everything on the war situation as it enters its end in their territories but they, instead, chose to dwell on the the promise of the future and what can be done to steer the economy and humanitarian situation into better times.
While acknowledging the progress so far made, the summiteers who included French President Francois Hollande, Nigeria’s Buhammadu Buhari and ten other African Presidents, prime ministers and delegates concluded that defeating Boko Haram Terrorist Group will require a sustained comprehensive approach based on clear and coordinated plans of engagementat at the regional level. Such an approach, they said, must confront challenges relating to effective security operations, providing civilian security and civil administration, restoring stability, and promoting economic development and job creation to break the cycle of violence in all countries where Boko Haram is active.
Among other things, they recommended the enlistment of local community and religious leaders as constantly hammered on by President Buhari; increased intelligence sharing; the prioritization of the public education system and sparing no effort in the continuing search for the Chibok schoolgirls and all those abducted by Boko Haram by pooling intelligence resources.
The leaders also agreed to support the victims of sexual violence or forced marriage by Boko Haram, and the need to provide them with appropriate support including reintegration to communities; that defeating the insurgency requires more than a Military solution but that it also requires government-led development action to tackle the root causes of insurgency in the Lake Chad Basin through the development of education and economic opportunities.
The summit agreed to address the humanitarian situation affecting millions of IDPs, refugees and host communities in Nigeria, Cameroon, Chad and Niger. The critical situation of the inhabitants of the newly-liberated towns and villages was also adjudged to be very pathetic. The summit agreed to provide and rehabilitate facilities in the devastated towns and villages with a view to creating conditions for citizens to live without fear of violence and return to conventional life and called for additional support from the international community. They, in addition, took special note of the 20,000 unaccompanied children (below the age of 18 years) displaced by the conflict and over 6000 minors,under the age of five years, and agreed to work together with international organisations to reunite those children with their families.
One other major step toward a lasting solution towards permanent peace in the region is identified as coming through the acceleration, specifically within three (3) years, of the implementation of the Lake Chad Development and Climate Resilience Action Plan as presented on the margins of COP21 in Paris in consultation with communitiesof the Lake Chad. It is hoped that the accelerated implementation of the Action Plan would go along way in bringing development to the Lake Chad Basin.
As a matter of fact, the summit blamed the impact of climate change for the unemployment and crime in the region and urged the LCBC and other willing partners to pursue the goal of inter-basin water transfer project with a view to restoring its normal level, mitigating drought, re-establishing fishery, irrigation and navigation.
For Nigeria in particular, the period of the summit was used to receive an important visitor described as a friend of Africa, Francois Hollande who, in a literal sense killed two birds one stone. He engaged his host, President Buhari in a bilateral meeting in the early part of the day and in the afternoon,joined the other leaders at the summit. The two presidents reviewed the activities of the Multinational Joint Task Force, MNJTF and the progress made since the Climate Change agreement, COP 21 in Paris. President Hollande gave commitment to Nigeria on the resettlement of IDPs as well as his continuing support towards the reestablishment of full security in the Lake Chad region. Five agreements were signed between the Nigerian parties and their French partners.
A cultural agreement and a scientific and technical agreement were signed by government ministers. Dangote Group’s Dansa Foods Limited signed an agreement with the French company Nutriset for the production of nutritional foods in the North East. The state development commission, AFD of France signed two credit agreements with the Ministry of Finance and one with Zenith Bank for amounts that were not disclosed.
In the margins of the security summit, the President also received in audience and at their request, Presidents Macky Sall of Senegal, Patrice Talon of Benin and Idris Deby Itno of Chad.
The President also had audiences with the British Secretary for Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Rt. Hon. Phillip Hammond, the U.S Deputy Secretary of State Anthony Blinken and the Deputy President of the European Union Ms Federica Moghereni.
President Macky Sall raised concerns about the need for the emergence of a good candidate for the Chairmanship of the soon-to-be vacant African Union Commission in view of the decision of Mrs Zuma not to run for a second term. He told President Buhari that his country has such a capable candidate.
He also raised an issue concerning the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan.
President Patrice Talon seemed very keen to strengthen the very warm and friendly relations he met on the ground between his country and Nigeria. He intends to pay a State visit to this country in the shortest possible time.
President Deby Itno gave important news about some Boko Haram hideouts on the border between our countries against which Chadian troops will soon to be tackling.
He was also interested in promoting a railway line linking Nigeria and Chad.
Right Hon. Philip Hammond had a lengthy time with President Buhari, their discussions spanning a wide range of issues including, of course Boko Haram, the reconstruction of the damaged infrastructure, the insecurity in the Niger Delta, corruption and the issue of population growth in the country.
Although this summit also discussed a yet-to-be fixed donors conference on the rebuilding of the LBCD areas, the EU brought the good news of the plan to spend 140 million Euros in that regards in the next five years.
The EU also announced a plan to spend 40 million Euros in the reconstruction of the Northeast. The US promised an immediate return of Nigeria’s stolen350 million Dollars held up their country. China, the African Development Bank,ADB, the Islamic Development Bank, IDB, the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund, IMF have all pledged various contributions they will be making.
President Muhammadu Buhari’s just-concluded Regional Security Summit, which was the second after the initial one by President Hollande in Paris two years ago, has produced a communique unprecedented in terms of the strong words used and the space devoted to fighting terrorism, post-conflict resettlement and rehabilitation as well as ways of bringing social and economic justice, growth and development to a battered part of Africa. It also unveiled an expansive security cooperation agenda that can binds the West and Central African states to their U.S., European and Asian partners towards a lasting peace, itself a prerequisite for progress and development in the region and the continent. In spite of the foot dragging by some participants, President Buhari’s key takeaways will include a benign consent to a partnership of the willing to recharge the Lake Chad with waters from rivers in Central Africa.
On account of these milestones, the leaders had no hesitation is agreeing to make the Regional Security Summit a regular one.
Garba Shehu is Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity. [myad]
The factional President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Ayuba Wabba, has said that he was not aware of any court ruling restraining the labour unions from proceeding on nation-wide strike, starting from today, Wednesday.
This was even as the NLC sister union, the Trade Union Congress (TUC) announced its backing out of the strike because its members have been duly educated on the benefits of the fuel subsidy removal.
Meanwhile, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Babachir David Lawal who late last night gave warning that the government would apply the law of no-work-no-pay for any civil servant to go on strike, has equally described the strike action as illegal and that whoever disrupt the workers from performing their lawful duty would be dealt with adequately.
The NLC factional leader, Wabba, who spoke to news men shortly after his faction had a botched meeting with the Federal Government representatives, led by the SGF, said: “we have not been put on notice and we are not aware.
“We have not been served and I can say that as we are here, we have also informed them that we are not aware of any court ruling.”
Wabba, who marched on the streets of Abuja today along with a few of his members said that the congress had not received any ruling from the Industrial Court restraining the NLC from embarking on the planned strike, emphasizing: “we are not aware of any court ruling that has been served on NLC.” He said that he was leading his team into the strike because the government had refused to reverse the N145 increase of petrol pump price, among other issues.
“The issue and the mandate we have is to the effect that the generality of Nigerian workers feel that the pump price of N145 per litre is too outrageous and out of proportion. “Therefore, it is something that with the hard economic situation, it is very difficult for them to go by, especially in the context of the quantum of the increase. “Therefore, even the attempt to try to see how this can be mitigated was not actually made possible at the meeting. We thought that we should not continue in a process where we think the end product has not been able to meet our minimum expectation and this would not bring succour to the larger Nigerian public. “It is on this decision; we thought that it is not necessary for us to continue in the process as the mandate given to us by the NEC today is the effect of reversal of the pump price especially.” also speaking to news men today, Wednesday, the SGF said: “anyone embarking on strike is doing so illegally.” Lawal also said government’s responsibility is to guarantee security of lives and property as well as freedom of movement and association, adding that anyone found in anyway trying to compel Nigerians to do otherwise, would be challenged by the laws of the land. Furthermore, Lawal said the Federal Government had taken the painful decision to liberalize the petroleum sector, knowing that there could be possible adverse consequences to the comfort of Nigerians. “But it is a decision needed to be taken at this time and it is the President’s believe that for a better future, painful decisions need to be taken now. “The government is determined to bring Nigeria out of previous rot and take bold decisions where necessary, with some expected to be painful. “There is no other choice to this matter; if the President had a choice to take other options that would be less painful than this, he would have gone for it.”
The SGF explained that the Federal Government, after two consecutive days of deliberations, had full cooperation from the TUC and the Joe Ajaero-led faction of the NLC to set aside the planned strike. According to him, a faction of the NLC completely agreed with the position of the TUC that they will participate in all the technical committees and that work continues on Wednesday as usual. He, however, noted that the elected NLC representatives had decided that unless government addressed their demands, they would have no further participation in the process. “We only received a notice from them on Saturday and it is government position that it is not humanly possible to respond to their demand within the time frame. Government is fully assured that there will be no strike. “Again, we will like to report to Nigerians that the Industrial Court has given an injunction that no strike should hold by NLC and TUC. “Government wishes to assure all Nigerians that they should report at their duty posts and go about their jobs as usual.”
This was as the President of TUC, Bobboi Kaigama, said: said: “we want to say that we have disengaged ourselves from this strike because we have been duly educated on the benefits of the fuel subsidy removal.” Kaigama pledged continued support for government policies that would benefit Nigerian workers. The Joe Ajaero-led faction of the Nigeria Labour Congress has also backed out of the planned labour strike. [myad]
Nigeria’s Federal Government has made it clear that it would invoke the provision of “no work no pay” in respect of any staff who absents him or herself from work to join the strike action from tomorrow, Wednesday.
It said that from tomorrow, heads of the departments in various government establishment have been directed to open attendance registers for the workers.
In a statement today, Tuesday, signed by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Engineer David Babachir Lawal, the Federal Government expressed surprise that despite the court injunction today, restraining labour unions from embarking on strike, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) still insists on embaring on an indefinite strike from Wednesday, 18th May.
“The attention of all Public Officers is drawn to the notice issued by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) to embark on an indefinite strike from Wednesday, 18th May, 2016. This notice is regrettably given in spite of an Order by the Industrial Court against the strike action.
“Government, therefore, calls upon and advises all workers to respect the laws of the land and to desist from participating in an illegal strike action. Government undertakes to guarantee the safety of workers and their work places, and expects that normal work will continue in the interest of the nation. Accordingly, Security agencies have been directed to ensure unimpeded access to offices, work places and markets. Acts of intimidation, harassment, including barricading of gates, locking up of offices, blocking of roads and preventing workers from carrying out their lawful duties will be met with appropriate response by the law enforcement agencies.
“All workers, whether in public or private sector are further reminded of the Trade Dispute Act, 2004, which provides that “where any worker takes part in a strike, he shall not be entitled to any wages or remuneration for the period of the strike and any such period shall not count for the purpose of reckoning the period of continuous employment and all rights dependent on continuity of employment shall be prejudicially affected accordingly.”
“Accordingly, all Ministers, Permanent Secretaries and Heads of Government Agencies are hereby directed to invoke the provision of “no work no pay” in respect of any staff who absents him or herself from work to join the strike action. Attendance registers are required to be opened in all Ministries, Departments and Agencies.” [myad]
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“The current problem (of Nigeria) is not really about subsidy removal. It is about that Nigeria is broke. Pure and simple!
Abuja 2016: Turning Point For Lake Chad Region? By Garba Shehu
Smart leaders they are, they didn’t present themselves back-slapping each other in a congratulatory mood over the enormous feat they have accomplished in the last ten or so months, substantially reducing the terrorist threats in the region to the point of being described as a mopping up operation.
They were conscious of the fact the the Chibok Girls have not been found. No success can be declared in this war without the girls being found and reunited with their families.
In addition, the world has come a long way since Gorge W. Bush stood there atop the ship “Abraham Lincoln” being saluted by the flight deck crew to read a speech announcing an end to the Iraq war. “The 2003 Mission Accomplished” banner dominated the background as he spoke. But with hindsight, the world knows that the war against Iraq is still work in progress.
The then American President, George Bush was to say to a CNN interviewer a few years later that he regretted the outlandish display. In November 2008 specifically, Bush indicated that he regretted the use of the banner, stating that it conveyed the wrong message.
There are many who believe that the United States is still paying a price for that massive public relations failure.
In all probability, the world would have benefited more from the leaders if the summiteers in Abuja had to say everything on the war situation as it enters its end in their territories but they, instead, chose to dwell on the the promise of the future and what can be done to steer the economy and humanitarian situation into better times.
While acknowledging the progress so far made, the summiteers who included French President Francois Hollande, Nigeria’s Buhammadu Buhari and ten other African Presidents, prime ministers and delegates concluded that defeating Boko Haram Terrorist Group will require a sustained comprehensive approach based on clear and coordinated plans of engagementat at the regional level. Such an approach, they said, must confront challenges relating to effective security operations, providing civilian security and civil administration, restoring stability, and promoting economic development and job creation to break the cycle of violence in all countries where Boko Haram is active.
Among other things, they recommended the enlistment of local community and religious leaders as constantly hammered on by President Buhari; increased intelligence sharing; the prioritization of the public education system and sparing no effort in the continuing search for the Chibok schoolgirls and all those abducted by Boko Haram by pooling intelligence resources.
The leaders also agreed to support the victims of sexual violence or forced marriage by Boko Haram, and the need to provide them with appropriate support including reintegration to communities; that defeating the insurgency requires more than a Military solution but that it also requires government-led development action to tackle the root causes of insurgency in the Lake Chad Basin through the development of education and economic opportunities.
The summit agreed to address the humanitarian situation affecting millions of IDPs, refugees and host communities in Nigeria, Cameroon, Chad and Niger. The critical situation of the inhabitants of the newly-liberated towns and villages was also adjudged to be very pathetic. The summit agreed to provide and rehabilitate facilities in the devastated towns and villages with a view to creating conditions for citizens to live without fear of violence and return to conventional life and called for additional support from the international community. They, in addition, took special note of the 20,000 unaccompanied children (below the age of 18 years) displaced by the conflict and over 6000 minors,under the age of five years, and agreed to work together with international organisations to reunite those children with their families.
One other major step toward a lasting solution towards permanent peace in the region is identified as coming through the acceleration, specifically within three (3) years, of the implementation of the Lake Chad Development and Climate Resilience Action Plan as presented on the margins of COP21 in Paris in consultation with communitiesof the Lake Chad. It is hoped that the accelerated implementation of the Action Plan would go along way in bringing development to the Lake Chad Basin.
As a matter of fact, the summit blamed the impact of climate change for the unemployment and crime in the region and urged the LCBC and other willing partners to pursue the goal of inter-basin water transfer project with a view to restoring its normal level, mitigating drought, re-establishing fishery, irrigation and navigation.
For Nigeria in particular, the period of the summit was used to receive an important visitor described as a friend of Africa, Francois Hollande who, in a literal sense killed two birds one stone. He engaged his host, President Buhari in a bilateral meeting in the early part of the day and in the afternoon,joined the other leaders at the summit. The two presidents reviewed the activities of the Multinational Joint Task Force, MNJTF and the progress made since the Climate Change agreement, COP 21 in Paris. President Hollande gave commitment to Nigeria on the resettlement of IDPs as well as his continuing support towards the reestablishment of full security in the Lake Chad region. Five agreements were signed between the Nigerian parties and their French partners.
A cultural agreement and a scientific and technical agreement were signed by government ministers. Dangote Group’s Dansa Foods Limited signed an agreement with the French company Nutriset for the production of nutritional foods in the North East. The state development commission, AFD of France signed two credit agreements with the Ministry of Finance and one with Zenith Bank for amounts that were not disclosed.
In the margins of the security summit, the President also received in audience and at their request, Presidents Macky Sall of Senegal, Patrice Talon of Benin and Idris Deby Itno of Chad.
The President also had audiences with the British Secretary for Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Rt. Hon. Phillip Hammond, the U.S Deputy Secretary of State Anthony Blinken and the Deputy President of the European Union Ms Federica Moghereni.
President Macky Sall raised concerns about the need for the emergence of a good candidate for the Chairmanship of the soon-to-be vacant African Union Commission in view of the decision of Mrs Zuma not to run for a second term. He told President Buhari that his country has such a capable candidate.
He also raised an issue concerning the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan.
President Patrice Talon seemed very keen to strengthen the very warm and friendly relations he met on the ground between his country and Nigeria. He intends to pay a State visit to this country in the shortest possible time.
President Deby Itno gave important news about some Boko Haram hideouts on the border between our countries against which Chadian troops will soon to be tackling.
He was also interested in promoting a railway line linking Nigeria and Chad.
Right Hon. Philip Hammond had a lengthy time with President Buhari, their discussions spanning a wide range of issues including, of course Boko Haram, the reconstruction of the damaged infrastructure, the insecurity in the Niger Delta, corruption and the issue of population growth in the country.
Although this summit also discussed a yet-to-be fixed donors conference on the rebuilding of the LBCD areas, the EU brought the good news of the plan to spend 140 million Euros in that regards in the next five years.
The EU also announced a plan to spend 40 million Euros in the reconstruction of the Northeast. The US promised an immediate return of Nigeria’s stolen350 million Dollars held up their country. China, the African Development Bank,ADB, the Islamic Development Bank, IDB, the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund, IMF have all pledged various contributions they will be making.
President Muhammadu Buhari’s just-concluded Regional Security Summit, which was the second after the initial one by President Hollande in Paris two years ago, has produced a communique unprecedented in terms of the strong words used and the space devoted to fighting terrorism, post-conflict resettlement and rehabilitation as well as ways of bringing social and economic justice, growth and development to a battered part of Africa. It also unveiled an expansive security cooperation agenda that can binds the West and Central African states to their U.S., European and Asian partners towards a lasting peace, itself a prerequisite for progress and development in the region and the continent. In spite of the foot dragging by some participants, President Buhari’s key takeaways will include a benign consent to a partnership of the willing to recharge the Lake Chad with waters from rivers in Central Africa.
On account of these milestones, the leaders had no hesitation is agreeing to make the Regional Security Summit a regular one.
Garba Shehu is Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity. [myad]