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Tag: Africa

Xenophobic attacks will lead to calamity in Africa, says Obasanjo

Former Nigeria’s President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo has critisised South African leaders for allowing xenophobic attacks to continue in the country.

He was however quick to say that, if the leadership of the country allows its youths to continue killing other fellow Africans, it will be a calamity for South Africa and the African continent as a whole.

The former President who featured on Kaduna based Liberty Radio Programme, Guest of the Week at the weekend said “it is understandable to say the South African youths are being childish, but it is unacceptable for their leaders to watch them go on rampage against fellow Africans.”

He however stated categorically that any leader who allows xenophobic attacks to linger under his watch is not fit to be an African leader.

According to Obasanjo who spoke extensively to Liberty Radio on the newly established Obasanjo Presidential Library, no African country can attain development in isolation.

“They must move together as a continent if the desired development is to be achieved.

“What all African countries must remember is that, Nigeria fought for
decolonisation of most of that African countries. But, whether anyone
remembers what Nigeria did for decolonisation of African countries or not is not even an issue, the issue, the issue is that any African must not be treated as unwanted in any part of Africa.

“Any leader who allows xenophobic attacks to happen and linger under his watch is not fit to be an African leader.

“If youths are behaving childishly, then, what is the leadership doing? It is understandable to see children behaving childishly, but if the leaders also behave childishly, that is a calamity for that country and for Africa”.

Speaking about the Presidential Library, where he built a Church and Mosque, the former President said, as a leader of the country, he needed to lead by example, without bias to any religious group.

He said he was raised in a community where Christian and Muslims co-exist
peacefully and he had lived with that all his life, adding that, even as
President of Nigeria, he used to fast during Ramadan and during lent.

The former President however condemn the situation where people now kill one
another in the name of religion, saying anyone who kills in the name of
religion is an enemy of God.

On the fight against corruption, former President Obasanjo commended
President Muhammadu Buhari led administration on the anti graft war,
reiterating that Buhari has not disappointed him, except that he is weak in
the area of economy.

March 5, 2017
AFRICA’S FIRST BARTENDER REALITY SHOW BEGINS

INFUSED with elements of entertainment, nightlife and fashion, a new African reality TV show, The Barman TV, will showcase the elegance and dignity in bartending career, while showcasing Africans youths in this chosen field for robust global networking and competition that will make the career more attractive to many.

According to a co-creator of the reality series and Operations Director of its production company, HA! HA! Media, Miss Chioma Onyenwe, the initiative was born out of the idea that Africa is in need of a platform to develop and raise respect for the craft. “This we feel will have more success than attempting to enlist African bartenders to international competitions as it does not provide a level playing field,” she said.

Barman TV judges

Onyenwe explained that the journey to find West Africa’s top bartender kicked off with auditions on January 30, 2017 with over 80 competing bartenders from Ghana, Nigeria, Sierra Leone and Liberia, who were screened by seasoned professionals from the hospitality industry.

They include head judge and show creator of Caesario de-Mederios, Spirits Industry Professional, Founder AHL Marketing – a niche spirits activation agency operating in Nigeria, Ghana and Ivory Coast, also a certified wine and spirits educator, Lara Rawa, lawyer and bartender, founder Enti cocktails and Lagos cocktail week and Chris Beaney, President of the Ghana Bartenders Guild and ex Manager Crazy Homies & Lucky 7 London.

She revealed that experienced spirit industry professional and TV presenter, Mark Barrett also joins the cast of ‘The Barman TV’ as the show host.

A contestant being auditioned for Barman TV

As producers of the series plan filming of the first season in April this year, Onyenwe said, “the show has managed to attract the interest of several respected industry greats such as Hidetsugu Ueno who will be joining us from Tokyo, Dale Degroff, author of ‘The Craft of the Cocktail’ and ‘The Essential Cocktail’ and Tom Dyer, multiple world flair champion who will be joining us from London to teach flair.”

Onyenwe noted that brands who are interested in showcasing their products to trade and consumer audiences as part of the televised show have a unique opportunity to do so “by entering their brands as a featured product for use by the contestants in the course of their challenges and training. Registration is currently on-going at www.thebarmantv.com,” she said.

On the vision of the company and entertainment value of the show, the co-creator remarked that, “telling stories is no joke but laughter is the best medicine. Ha! Ha! Media is primarily focused on creating original content for mixed media on the path of the less traveled story.”

February 11, 2017
Africa: Rice farmers lose $200m to parasitic weeds yearly

A team of researchers, representing the Africa Rice Center (AfricaRice), the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) and Wageningen University, has raised the alarm over the enormous economic impact of parasitic weeds on rice production in Africa, threatening the food security and livelihoods of millions of resource-poor rice farmers and consumers in the region. The weeds threaten rice production in at least 28 countries on the continent that have rain-fed rice systems.

The most affected countries are Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Guinea, Madagascar, Mali, Nigeria, Sierra Leone Tanzania and Uganda.

The team said smallholder farmers are losing every year half a million tonnes of rice worth about $200 million because of the weeds. Parasitic weeds are among the most destructive and problematic weeds to control. “When these plants invade food crops, they turn into ferocious weeds,” said Agronomist at AfricaRice, Dr Jonne Rodenburg. The most important parasitic weed species in rice are Striga asiatica, S. aspera, S. hermonthica and Rhamphicarpa fistulosa.

They are all endemic to Africa and can also parasitise other cereal crops like maize, sorghum and millet. The team of researchers reveal that these parasitic weeds, which survive by siphoning off water and nutrients from host crops, have invaded 1.34 million hectares of rain-fed rice in Africa, affecting an estimated 950,000 rural households. They are increasingly becoming severe due to an intensification of agricultural production and climate changes.

The areas affected by parasitic weeds are home to some of the world’s poorest farmers. Studies by AfricaRice and partners have shown that parasitic weeds seem to predominantly affect women farmers in Africa as they are often forced to grow rice on the most marginal and parasitic weed-infested plots. The researchers warn that these parasites are spreading fast in the rainfed rice area and if nothing is done to stop them in their tracks, the damage will increase by about US $30 million a year.

Rice is the second most important source of calories in Africa. It is also critical for smallholder incomes. Demand for rice is growing at a rate of more than 6% per year – faster than for any other food staple in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), because of changes in consumer preferences and urbanisation. Rice production is increasing across SSA, but the continent still imports some 40 per cent of its rice.

AfricaRice and its partners have been investigating and developing efficient parasitic weed management strategies that are affordable and feasible for resource-poor rice farmers.

February 10, 2017
Africa: A Continent of Hope- UN Secretary

Far too often, the world views Africa through the prism of problems. When I look to Africa, I see a continent of hope, promise and vast potential.

I am committed to building on those strengths and establishing a higher platform of cooperation between the United Nations and the leaders and people of Africa. This is essential to advancing inclusive and sustainable development and deepening cooperation for peace and security.

That is the message I carried to the recent African Union Summit in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia — my first major mission as United Nations Secretary-General.

Above all, I came in a spirit of profound solidarity and respect. I am convinced that the world has much to gain from African wisdom, ideas and solutions.

I also brought with me a deep sense of gratitude. Africa provides the majority of United Nations peacekeepers around the world. African nations are among the world’s largest and most generous hosts of refugees. Africa includes some of the world’s fastest growing economies.

The recent resolution of the political crisis in the Gambia once again demonstrated the power of African leadership and unity to overcome governance challenges and uphold democracy, human rights and the rule of law.

I left the Summit more convinced than ever that all of humanity will benefit by listening, learning and working with the people of Africa.

We have the plans in place to build a better future. The international community has entered the second year of implementing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, an all-out effort to tackle global poverty, inequality, instability and injustice. Africa has adopted its own complementary and ambitious plan: Agenda 2063.

For the people of Africa to fully benefit from these important efforts, these two agendas need to be strategically aligned.

It starts with prevention. Our world needs to move from managing crises to preventing them in the first place. We need to break the cycle of responding too late and too little.

Most of today’s conflicts are internal, triggered by competition for power and resources, inequality, marginalization and sectarian divides. Often, they are inflamed by violent extremism or provide the fuel for it.

The United Nations is committed to working hand-in-hand with partners wherever conflict or the threat of conflict endangers stability and well-being.

But prevention goes far beyond focusing solely on conflict. The best means of prevention and the surest path to durable peace is inclusive and sustainable development.

We can speed progress by doing more to provide opportunities and hope to young people. More than three out of five Africans are under 35 years of age. Making the most of this tremendous asset means more investment in education, training, decent work, and engaging young people in shaping their future.

We must also do our utmost to empower women so they can play a full role in sustainable development and sustainable peace. I am pleased that the African Union has consistently placed a special focus on gender equality and women’s empowerment.

I have seen it again and again: When we empower women, we empower the world.

I travelled to Africa as a partner, friend and committed advocate for changing the narrative about this diverse and vital continent. Crises represent at best a partial view. But from a higher platform of cooperation, we can see the whole picture – one that spotlights the enormous potential and remarkable success stories in every corner of the African continent.

With that perspective, I have no doubt we can win the battle for sustainable and inclusive development which are also the best weapons to prevent conflict and suffering, allowing Africa to shine even more vibrantly and inspire the world.

António Guterres is Secretary-General of the United Nations

February 4, 2017
GTBank bags best corporate governance award

Guaranty Trust Bank Plc, has been awarded ‘Best Corporate Governance, Africa’, in the Financial services category at the 2017 Corporate Governance Awards.

The event, organized by the Ethical Boardroom Magazine, recognizes outstanding companies who have exhibited exceptional leadership in the area of governance and professional ethics.

According to Spenser Cameron, the Managing Editor of Ethical Boardroom: “Deciding upon which African financial services company had scooped the top prize for 2017 was a hard task, considering all the final nominees had excelled and over-achieved in their governance practices over the last twelve months, however, there could only be one winner and that was Nigeria’s very own Guaranty Trust Bank. The West African banking powerhouse has shown the rest of Africa how it’s done by continually placing ethics and integrity at the heart of its business, whilst creating long term value for its stakeholders”

Commenting on the award, Mr Segun Agbaje, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Guaranty Trust Bank plc, said; “We are delighted to be recognized as the Best Bank in Africa for Corporate Governance by a globally renowned and well respected magazine. This award is an affirmation of the Bank’s strict adherence to the values of professionalism, quality service delivery and internationally accepted corporate governance standards, which have enabled us, create an oasis in the African banking industry.

Agbaje further stated that, “Our ardent commitment to global best practices and standards has seen us emerge the first Nigerian Bank to fully implement all ISO certifications namely; ISO/IEC 27001- for Information Security, ISO 20000 – for IT Service Management and ISO 22301 – for Business Continuity Management and PAS 99:2012 Integrated Management System certification by the British Standard Institute (BSI). Presently, the Bank has the best credit rating assigned to any Nigerian Bank by both local and international rating agencies (B/stable by Standard & Poor’s and B+ by Fitch Rating), which further attest to our adherence to international best practices and standards.

“As an institution publicly quoted both on the Nigerian and London Stock Exchange, GTBank ensures compliance with the Code of Corporate Governance for Public Companies issued by the Securities and Exchange Commission (‘the SEC Code’), the Code of Corporate Governance for Banks in Nigeria Post Consolidation issued by the Central Bank of Nigeria (‘the CBN Code’), as well as disclosure requirements under the Disclosure and Transparency Rules of the Financial Services Authority (FSA) in the United Kingdom, which are applicable to non-UK companies with GDRs listed on the London Stock Exchange.”

February 1, 2017
Implications of Trump presidency for Africa

With the inauguration of Donald Trump as the 45th President of the United States of America, there are indications that the country’s relationship with various regions of the world would change. Assistant Editor LEKE SALAUDEEN examines how his administration will affect US-African relations.

WITH the inauguration of Donald Trump as the 45th President of the United States, a new chapter has opened in United States-African relations. His emergence raised fundamental questions about what is likely to change in America’s role in the world; every region of the world, including Africa, has been pondering over how it will impact on them.
The fear of African countries was aggravated by the silence of the then Republican candidate on Africa throughout the campaign. He did not give any indication about his policy direction as far as Africa is concerned. While Trump’s campaign had focused heavily on US relations with Russia and China, he didn’t talk about Africa from a policy perspective.
The US relationship with Africa has strengthened significantly under the presidency of Barack Obama, as evidenced by initiatives such as the first US-African Leaders Summit and the US-Africa Business Summit in August 2014, with over 1,000 participants in attendance.
Under Trump, there may be changes; if his general comments during the campaign are anything to go by. Trump had said in one of his campaign outings that if he were to become president, he would seek to renegotiate all of the US foreign trade deals. He prefers bilateral trade agreements (BITs), rather than multi-party agreements, such as the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), which has been a critical programme for US-African relations since the era of former President Bill Clinton.
AGOA was signed into law in 2000. It offers incentive for African countries to export their products to the US. In 2013, AGOA imports into the US totalled $26.8 billion. While Trump has voiced out his opposition to the TPP, he is yet to comment on AGOA. But his declaration “to put American first” casts doubt over the continuance of AGOA and other favourable trade arrangements with Africa. Experts in international trade have predicted that AGOA may be subject to particular scrutiny under Trump, as it promotes African imports to the US without simultaneously promoting US exports to Africa. Multi-party agreements like AGOA contribute to the trade deficit that Trump has criticised repeatedly. Thanks to AGOA, the US has had a trade deficit with sub-Saharan African for many years. In 2014, the US exported $25.38 billion worth of goods to sub-Saharan African countries, while importing $26.75 billion. The deficit was more pronounced in 2013 prior to the dip in the commodities market, with $39.29 billion in imports and $23.94 billion in exports.
In the area of foreign aid, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) committed $10 billion to sub-Saharan Africa in 2014 alone. USAID is the only platform through which the US supplies assistance to Africa. Other programmes, such as the Peace Corps, the State Department, the Millennium Challenge Corporation and the Department of Agriculture provides significance assistance to non-profit organisations, small businesses, governments and individuals across the continent.
This, according to experts, is likely to change under Trump’s presidency. They premised their argument on his promise that he would lower the amount of foreign aid that the US sends abroad; though he has not specified how he would implement the cuts. Africa is the largest beneficiary of US aid. A sudden decrease in aid would undoubtedly have a significant disruptive impact on many countries on the continent, such as Rwanda which relies on it for about half of its budget.
Trump’s immigration policy is likely to be anti-Africa. He has, for example, repeatedly announced that as president, he would ban all foreign Muslims from entering the United States, at least temporarily. This policy would undoubtedly alienate many ally countries on the continent. It is not clear if Trump would extend the ban to Muslim Heads of State, of which there are several dozen. Around 30 per cent of sub-Saharan are Muslims, while the North African countries are predominantly Muslims. For instance, 50 per cent of Nigeria’s population is Muslim, including President Muhammadu Buhari.
In addition, Trump has vowed to increase standards for the admission of refugees and asylum seekers. He cited abuses of the refugee-immigration system as impetus for his policy. Strict enforcement of this policy through scrutiny of potential refugees will significantly affect some population of Africans. African countries such as Sudan, Eritrea and Congo are among the 10 top countries seeking US refugees.
Besides, voluntary immigrants from Africa have accounted for an increasing number of immigrants to the US in recent years. According to records, in 200o, there were 881,000 African-born immigrants living in the US, compared to the 1.8 million in 2013. Many Africans enter the US through the diversity visa programme, which requires a high school education or equivalent, or two years experience in an occupation that requires at least two years of training or experience. This policy, which encourages legal immigration from countries other than the sending countries of current immigrants to the US, may likely be reviewed by the Trump administration.
Last year, the US Census Bureau reports that the country exported 43.44 billion worth of goods to Nigeria and imported $1.92 billion, making it a significant trade partner. In 2013, the office of the United States Trade Representative notes that Nigeria was 40th largest good export market and the 30th largest goods market for the US. Besides, Nigeria is the largest economy in Africa, and has significant political economy on the continent. Although US-Nigeria relation strengthened under President Obama, a policy such as the ban which Trump has threatened to introduce would wear on the budding partnership.
A United Nations diplomat, Robinson Thomas, has advocated greater security cooperation between the Trump presidency and African countries. He said: “We expect the greatest continuity in US-Africa relations in the area of security co-operation, specifically on counter-terrorism, with Africom likely to emerge as the central pillar of the new administration’s engagement with the continent. Created in 2007, Africom has already been expanded under Obama and Trump’s consistent rhetoric on tackling Islamist terrorism makes it extremely likely that counter-terrorism operations in Africa will receive priority funding as other overseas spending is reduced.
Thomas added: “The reduced relevance of Africa under Trump combined with past expressions of support for the tactics of leaders such as Syria’s Bashar Al-Assad raise concerns over the degree to which the US will in future provide checks on questionable practices by allies, such as disregard for human rights.
“Certain governments may further seek to position themselves more overtly as allies in this fight in order to secure other funding or to use the same tactics for what is effectively internal repression of dissent. Furthermore, Trump’s call during the campaign for restrictions on Muslim immigration to the US has alienated many Muslim Africans, and any closer cooperation between the US and African allies particularly where domestic tactics are seen as heavy-handed are likely to further drive recruitment for terrorist groups. How this play out will vary by country, as local issues tend to dominate as drivers of recruitment and strategy for such groups.
“We expect the projection of American soft power in Africa to look very different under Trump compared to previous administrations. Support for civil society, and programmes such as Power Africa, are likely to have funding cut, partially to be redirected back at home. While this is unlikely to directly impact on American business, it does leave even more space for competing ideas on what is an appropriate model for African development and the values on which that is based. Authoritarian-led development models have received a lot of attention in recent years off the back of strong growth in Ethiopia and Rwanda, and industrial policy has seen resurgence as a tool for economic transformation”.
A Nigerian scholar in International Relations, Dr Chidi Okafor, said Trump presidency will plunge the US into unprecedented territory and presages which may turn out to be the biggest overhaul in US foreign policy since the Second World War. He said Trump’s opposition to multi-lateral trade deals and abrasive policy stances, including a proposed ban on Muslim immigrants, threats to kill the families of terrorists and a plan to build a wall on the Mexico border have provoked concern among international allies.
Okafor said: “Trumps frequent diatribes against globalisation, focussing on a rigged system that delivers prosperity and jobs to other countries at the expense of the US hints at a radical departure from the country’s post-war international consensus. With Trump’s often spontaneous utterances veering wildly from isolationism to heavy-handed interventionism, many have confidently predicted the likely impact of a Trump presidency on African relations.
“Trump’s consistent opposition to multi-lateral trade deals could endanger the African Growth and Opportunity Act, a landmark piece of legislation introduced in the Clinton era which gives African countries tariff free access to the US market. Barack Obama signed off on a 10 year extension to the Act aimed at creating 350,000 African jobs. The Act enabled US trade with sub-Saharan African of $52.1 billion in 2014. Trump has yet to single out AGOA, but his frequently expressed opposition to free trade deals, including the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) signed by Clinton and the Trans-Pacific Partnership, introduced by Barack Obama is likely to concern African states involved in AGOA.”
On climate change, Okafor said the disposition of Trumps will affect Africa. According to him, Africa is likely to be the continent most affected by climate change, with huge impacts on water and food security. “But Trump does not believe in climate change. He has said he will cancel the Paris climate change agreement and cut federal climate change programmes.
“This position is likely to result in hastening the impacts of climate change on the rest of the world, most especially Africa, while at the same time derailing international efforts to help the world’s poorest countries with new environmental challenges,” Okafor concluded.

January 24, 2017
Africa Re leads 40,000 cotton, maize farmers’ reinsurance programme in Senegal

West African Development Bank (BOAD), the National Agriculture Insurance Company of Senegal – Compagnie Nationale d’Assurance Agricole du Sénégal (CNAAS) have chosen Africa Re to lead the reinsurance programme of 40,000 cotton and maize farmers in Senegal, jointly with AXA CS and CICA Re.
In a statement signed by Africa Re Assistant Protocol Officer, Mutiu Tijani, in Lagos, the body said: “Agriculture, a key sector of the African economy, employs 60 per cent of the working population and accounts for 35 per cent of the GDP. This sector is exposed to several climate-related risks such as drought or floods, which undermine food production and jeopardise food security.
“Until recently, projects to insure farmers against such risks in Africa were mainly micro insurance pilot projects limited to regions or villages and did not enable a real development of agriculture insurance.
“With the technical assistance of FINACTU consultancy firm, BOAD and CNAAS initiated an innovative national index-based insurance project in Senegal to promote agriculture insurance in the WAEMU zone. This project is certainly innovative in Africa inasmuch as it targets all the farmers of a sector and makes positive use of the institutions of the sector. Indeed, the project targets about 40,000 farmers of the cotton sector, which is very well structured in Senegal; 5,000 of them are also maize farmers.”
The statement further read that in order to effectively conduct the project, the BOAD and CNAAS decided to join forces with a lead reinsurer of international standing to assist in designing and pricing insurance products of the project, support CNAAS in building technical capacity in agriculture insurance and insure most of the risks of the products designed.
“These institutions chose Africa Re and its partners (AXA CS and CICA Re) whose competence and experience match the requirements of this significant project, which will serve as an example and will pave the way for other African countries as regards insurance of their farm products.
“Hitherto, only non-African reinsurers reinsured agriculture risks in Africa. At present, Africa Re has asserted its leadership jointly with its partners, thereby taking a clear stance as leader and pioneer of African reinsurance by reinsuring agriculture and climate-related risks, which constitute a growing challenge to African countries”, it said.

January 23, 2017
AfDB lauds Nigeria’s leadership role in Africa

The outgoing country Director of the African Development Bank (AfDB), Dr Ousmane Dore has said Nigeria’s leadership role in Africa is unquestionable.

He commended the country’s exemplary leadership role in Africa through the Directorate of Technical Cooperation in Africa (DTCA), a window for assisting poor and fragile African countries.

He who spoke during a brief farewell visit to the Minister of State, Foreign Affairs, Hajia Khadija Bukar A. Ibrahim in Abuja, however urged Nigeria government to replenish its Technical Cooperation Fund which is domiciled in the AfDB.

He said Nigeria’s leadership role in Africa is unquestionable especially in setting up the Nigeria Technical Cooperation Fund (NTCF) as a window for assisting poor and fragile African countries.

Dore who came to bid goodbye to the minister, said he has been promoted to the position of Director-General of the Central African Regional Office of AfDB.

“The AfDB is proud of Nigeria’s exemplary role in championing the development of Africa and has decided to follow Nigeria’s lead with a Hi-five programme which will tackle Power generation, Food Shortage, Industrialisation, Integration and Poverty as its focal goals across Africa in the next couple of years,” he said.

‘’The Federal Government under President Muhammadu Buhari, though presently going through its share of the global economic shock, should replenish the Technical Cooperation Fund,’’ he noted.

In 2004, the Federal Government set up a Nigeria Technical Cooperation Fund worth $25 million which was domiciled in the AfDB under the supervision of DTCA. The Fund has been used for various development projects and programmes in all the countries in Africa

‘’The AfDB is proud of Nigeria’s exemplary role in championing development of Africa and has decided to follow Nigeria’s lead with a Hi-five programme which will tackle Power generation, Food Shortage, Industrialisation, Integration and Poverty as its focal goals across Africa in the next couple of years.”

Respoding, ,Hajia. Khadija thanked Dr Dore for the cooperation the AfDB enjoyed with the DTCA and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and noted that the current global economic trend affected all economies adversely but that President Buhari is positioning the country to continue to offer its traditional leadership role on behalf of the continent.

She also welcomed Dr Dore’s determination to showcase Nigeria’s exemplary role in Africa and invited him to continue to use his influence to encourage other African countries to cooperate with country in moving the continent forward.

The Acting Director General of the DTCA, Mr Mohammed Kachallah, commended the minister for sparing time from her very busy schedule to host the departing AfDB chief.

January 20, 2017
AfDB chief seeks Africa’s economic transformation

President of the African Development Bank (AfDB) Dr Akinwumi Adesina has called for improved access to financing to accelerate the transformation of African economies.

Speaking before African leaders at the Africa-France Summit in Bamako, Adesina said Africa can speed up its economic transformation through the bank’s five main priorities which are the High 5; Light Up and Power Africa; Feed Africa; Industrialise Africa; Integrate Africa; and Improve the Quality of Life of African Populations.

These priorities align with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the African Union’s Agenda 2063, as demonstrated by an independent evaluation conducted by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP). However, Adesina noted that the resources needed for Africa’s economic transformation are enormous.

That’s why AfDB is poised to launch the Africa Investment Forum designed to create a space where supply and demand can meet.

Advocating for agroindustrialisation and involvement of young people, Adesina said: “The solution to the migratory crisis is in Africa is why the bank launched the Enable Youth programme which will help create 1.5 million jobs in 30 countries, helping to engage young people in Africa.

January 19, 2017
Stay away from Bayelsa, ex-militant leader, Africa, tells Avengers

A prominent ex-militant leader, Mr. Africanus Ukparasia, yesterday, vowed to resist renewed threats by the Niger Delta Avengers (NDA) to begin attacks on oil installations in the region. Ukparasia, formerly known in the creeks of the Niger Delta region as ‘General’ Africa warned the NDA to stay away from the region, especially his home state of Bayelsa.

The former commander of the Movement for Emancipation of Niger Delta (MEND) reportedly spoke in Yenagoa when he patrolled the creeks of Bayelsa. Ukparasia, who chairs the Bayelsa State Waterways Security Task Force (BSWSTF), said he would not joke with his mandate to secure the creeks of the state and stop the nefarious activities of avengers and their ilk. He said the gods of Bayelsa would not allow avengers to cause chaos, and further degrade the state’s environment, noting that his task force was ready to deal decisively with anybody, who tried to turn the state into a theatre of a needless war and destruction of lives and property.

Ukparasia said he would not fold his arms and watch a ragtag group to give the military reasons to invade Niger Delta communities. “We advise Bayelsans to report any suspicious movement in their communities, as it is the duty of all to be vigilant against the nefarious activities of criminals who cause problems to give the military reason to invade our communities for innocent people to suffer,” he said.

He said the task force would no longer allow the destruction of oil facilities in Bayelsa, with the attendant consequences of low federal allocation and nonpayment of salaries. He also advised youths not to fall for the antics of some persons deceiving them to buy firearms to partake in a phantom arms buyback programme of the Federal Government.

He said: “The Waterways Security Task Force headed by me was legally established by the Federal Government in collaboration with the Bayelsa state Government to stop crime and criminal activities along the waterways of Bayelsa state. “We pledge to work with the security agencies to maintain peace and order in the state.

We, hereby, warn that anyone trying to sabotage the peace in the state will be decisively dealt with as no stone will be left unturned to maintain the peace currently being enjoyed in the state. “We call on the security agencies to watch the activities of some undesirable elements in our society to avert any possible breakdown of law and order.” He advised Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State to imitate his Bayelsa State counterpart, Seriake Dickson, by working with all persons that could bring peace to the region regardless of party affiliations.

In a related development, following the renewed threats by avengers, the Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta and Coordinator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP), summoned all the former Niger Delta agitators to an emergency meeting. A statement by PAP’s Media Consultant, Mr. Wabiye Idoniboyeobu, said the meeting held in Benin City, the capital of Edo State, on Wednesday, adding that all the ex-agitators vowed to maintain the peace in the region.

January 14, 2017