The Nation Newspaper

Tag: bilateral

  • Nigeria, Israel to strengthen bilateral trade ties

    Nigeria and the Israel have entered into a partnership to strengthen their bilateral trade relation.

    Bank of Industry (BOI) Acting Managing Director Mr. Waheed Olagunju,told Israeli Ambassador to Nigeria Mr. Guy Feldman, who visited him that the deal was timely.

    He said the ambassador came when Nigeria was trying to increase its agro-processing capacity, urging domestic and foreign investors to take advantage of the opportunity to invest in the agricultural sector.

    Olagunju said the deal would also seek areas of collaboration in the Federal Government’s recently launched Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP).

    The BoI chief maintained that there is a lot of money to be made by Isreali investors in Nigeria. “Most foreign companies that invested in Nigeria reaped profitably. We believe if the Israeli business model is right, they can reap much more in the Nigerian economy because of our vast natural and resource endowments,” he said.

    While pointing out that there is no country as blessed as Nigeria, Olagunju assured that BoI was  ready to work with Israelis who want to do business in Nigeria.

    “Whoever wants to do business in Nigeria can always work with BoI and we will give them all our support. We are on ground in Nigeria to hold the hands of both domestic and foreign investors who want to do business in the country,” he said.

    According to Olagunju, the  Development Finance Institution (DFI) was looking forward to a very good time with its foreign and domestic development partners, with Israeli investors being one of the most outstanding.

    “You are coming at the right time when the country is trying to improve and increase its agro processing capacity because we have had bumper harvest last year and we are still going to have more in the coming years. If steps are not taken urgently to improve the agro processing industry, there could be post harvest losses and this will serve as a disincentive to farmers,” Olagunju noted.

    He explained that Nigeria was stepping up her agro-processing capacity to ensure that she preserves and adds value to her agricultural produce, while also preparing them for the export market.

    Responding, Feldman said the Israeli Government believes that there is much more both economies can do in terms of trade, stating that the partnership would identify areas on how to improve and strengthen bilateral trade agreements between Nigeria and Israel.

    “Israel has ideas and innovations where Nigeria can tap from to drive any sector of the economy. The trade between the two countries is something which we have more with the smallest countries in Europe and other places and this shows that something is definitely wrong somewhere, because we believe Nigeria is a huge economy and we believe we can do na whole lot more,” he said.

    The Israeli envoy said he believes that if both countries do what they should to make the trade bigger than what it presently is, Nigeria, in the middle of this century, will be comparable with China because the growth in any aspect of Africa is the biggest in the world.

    “Nigeria is a huge market where the possibilities are incredible. We can support the Nigerian economy with communication, cyber security intelligence, agricultural and small business support. We share lots of things we can do together, but we need to find the mechanism to strengthen our partnership,” Feldman said.

    He, however, added that the Israeli government has decided to push very hard on coming back to Africa, saying that Nigeria is one of the top 20 biggest economies in world in terms of Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

    “This is why we are yearning to come back to be a part of it. We are here to some good business,” Feldman noted.

  • Iran seeks bilateral relation with Kebbi

    The Iranian Ambassador to Nigeria, Saeed Koozochi, has said his country is ready to explore bilateral relationship with the Kebbi State government in the economic and scientific sectors as well as foster cultural ties between people of the two countries.

    The Ambassador spoke at the Government House in Birnin Kebbi when he led a group of Iranian businessmen alongside the Ambassador of Nigeria to Iran, Amb. Tukur Mani, who visited Governor Atiku Bagudu of Kebbi State.

    Amb. Koozochi said both Iran and Kebbi people have the same religion in common and the people of Kebbi State and his country share the same faith.

    “This gives room for the achievement of economic, scientific and cultural ties to set goals.”

    He said his country was attending an international exhibition organised between Iran and Nigeria with over 50 Iranian companies and industries showcasing their products from fields of industrial, construction, aviation and pharmaceuticals.

    “With support from the Kebbi government we can achieve our target in investment in the state,” the envoy said.

    Governor Bagudu expressed his satisfaction about the visit, pledging the state government’s cooperation. He noted that Kebbi is peaceful and full of opportunities for investors.

    “The state has the widest agricultural belt in Nigeria. It can supply sugarcane for the production of sugar for Iran and Nigeria. The young people of the state are willing to go into entrepreneurial activities. “The state also has large deposit of limestone for cement. So Kebbi is ready to partner investors in order to boost our economy.”

    The Iranian delegation has already engaged in bilateral discussion with the Kebbi State government on cement manufacturing, agriculture, water resources, construction, town planning, and has scheduled to visit Argungu fishing village.

  • Expert seeks review of bilateral agreements in agric

    Expert seeks review of bilateral agreements in agric

    World Bank Consultant, Prof Abel Ogunwale, has urged the Federal  Government to review  its bilateral and regional trade agreements to ensure they create jobs and opportunities for Nigerians  in the agric sector.

    In an interview, Ogunwale of  Agricultural Extension and Rural Development, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, Ladoke Akintola University, Ogbomosho, Oyo State, said  bilateral and regional trade agreements are meant for development and so  that the  government should  negotiate trade agreements at the multilateral, regional and, bilateral and domestic levels, that will best promote longer term sustainable and inclusive development objectives across the agric sector.

    He said the incoming regime should pursue international agreements that will with domestic policy to foster increased productivity, decent job creation and higher standards of living for all, in a sustainable and equitable manner.

    While preserving regional integrity has been a key challenge in the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), Ogunwale said there is need  to  promote  items  support integration processes and boost the possibility of building regional value chains.

    He  said efforts  should be  directed at boosting  intra-Africa trade and  that  particular attention should also be paid to new mega trade deals, which will have a significant impact on  agriculture, trade flows and investment.

    He stressed the key role that private sector,  would play in bringing such  agreements into life, by  translating new trade opportunities into effective business relations.

    While acknowledging that addressing  challenges in a multilateral trade round requires time, Ogunwale urged the government to take urgent actions to address barriers, using all available trade and agricultural policy vehicles to improve regional and international markets for food.

    In addition, he advocated  capacity building and technical assistance programmes to facilitate removal of agricultural trade barriers, improve supply chains and increase farmers’ access to markets, including complying with trade rules and regulations,  complex sanitary and phytosanitary standards.

    With a new regime coming in place, he said there should an aggressive free trade agenda in agriculture where the government   will ensure the United States, European Union  and South Africa  to  open their markets up to Nigerian  agric produce and the right to define its own agricultural policies  to meet its domestic needs.

  • A perfect bilateral gift

    He walked into an unlit hall simply dressed in a long sleeve shirt and a pair of brown chinos. Then, on came the lights and echoes of Happy Birthday greeted him on all sides. The party was soon to begin.

    Was Mr Giovanni De Berti embarrassed? No; only pleasantly surprised. It was the handiwork of his friend, Capt. Shehu Iyal, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Aviation.

    Was it just another birthday bash? No, for De Berti is not just another guy. He is Italian-Nigerian, having just nationalised. So, what better way to show vintage friendship and hospitality than springing a well-packaged surprise on a day Berti was a year older? But there seems to be more to it than that. Such a treat may send a nice message back to Italy that Berti is in good company in his new home.

    De Berti said he felt like a young lad celebrating his birthday for the first time. He was full of excitement. Friends, dignitaries and associates poured champagne and celebrated with him. Captain Iyal sat closely by his side as they enjoyed the ambience.

    In his short speech, he said, “I felt honoured. I am so happy. This is the first time in my life I am being celebrated this way. I am just happy.”

    He cut the cake and the party began. The guests danced to a series of soft music that suited the atmosphere. The flashlights of paparazzi cameras flooded the hall.

    Berti narrated how supportive his host has been during his three-year stay in the country. He stressed the bond between them.

    “The party, for me, was something incredible. My brother Shehu gave me an incredible surprise and I am grateful. I am very happy that my brother and I celebrated this birthday together and it was an honour for me.”

    He spoke about his experience in the country. “My life in Nigeria and Abuja has been very nice and I have spent almost three years in Nigeria. He is really a brother, a brother forever. In any part of the world, in any moment, he can count on me like the most important version of his life.

    “He is a special person, a real friend with capital F. Nigeria is my home.”

    As the celebration ended, the memory would linger in the mind of everyone who attended and made the night a memorable one for De Berti and his friend.

  • ‘Nigeria loses billions due to non-compliance with bilateral agreements’

    ‘Nigeria loses billions due to non-compliance with bilateral agreements’

    Mr. Dayo Bush-Alebiosu, accomplished architect, astute administrator and lawmaker of the Federal Republic, is currently Chairman, House Committee on Treaties and Bilateral Agreements. Bush-Alebiosu who acknowledged the fact that Nigeria is a signatory to over 400 treaties and protocols covering a wide range of bilateral agreements among others, is, however, unhappy that the country is yet to reap the socio-economic benefits of most of these conventions. He spoke with Ibrahim Apekahde Yusuf

    Nigeria is a signatory to over 200 protocols and conventions but from preliminary investigation, I understand a little over 15 have been ratified so far. Why is this so and what do we stand to gain by signing these treaties?

    To be honest with you, I used to think that Nigeria has just 200, and I thought less than a quarter of these conventions had been domesticated. But now we know it’s close to 400. The whole essence of been part of any treaty or protocol is so that the nation and the citizenry at large can benefit I suppose. But that has not been the case with Nigeria.

    But one country that has reaped bountifully from treaties is South Africa. I can say without any fear of contradiction that South Africa has been the sole beneficiary because of how seriously they have taken treaty.

    As to whether Nigeria is thriving in that area, I will tell you no. it is based on the treaty that we signed we have companies like Shoprite, Protea Hotel, Stanbic IBTC, Standard Chartered Bank and so many of them. You can imagine how well they’ve done here because they could understand this and took good advantage of existing treaties.

    It is based on some of these treaties we have signed out there that is why you see all kinds of companies operating here today.

    For example, look at the Bilateral Air Safety Agreement (BASA) we have signed that is why the British Airways at the moment enjoy a lot of unfair advantage over us. For instance, they can fly to any part of the country without any restriction as such. But a national carrier or airline operating from Nigeria would to make connecting flights from London to other parts of UK, which means that you are also helping to boost the revenue earnings of those towns because you cannot fly there straight from Lagos or Abuja.

    What this means is that our local aviation industry cannot and will never thrive because we don’t have the quantum of investment other competing nations have.

    I remember a couple of years back during the argument between Nigeria authorities and BA, when the Prime Minister David Cameron, said in an interview that the solution is to first of all ensure that we domesticate the BASA.

    Is there any constitutional backing for some of these conventions and beyond rhetorics, what really is in it for Nigerians?

    I’m aware that Section 12 of the 1999 Constitution expressly states that for any treaty to have the backing of the law it must be passed by an act of the National Assembly. The act that established the procedure goes on to explain how these treaties must be domesticated before imposing financial obligations on the country.

    Talking about benefits, there is a lot we can gain from domesticating these treaties as I have said. But for the domestication of the Montreal Convention on compensation of air accident victims, the victims of the Dana Air crash there won’t have been compensation for the victims’ families. In the Montreal convention, it is stated clearly how much they were to be paid and all that. But we kept hearing that we have not been able to locate the families.

    In Lagos state for example, if you die without a will there is a department in the ministry of justice that takes charge pending when things are going to be resolved.

    So, the only way we can really benefit from the various treaties is by ensuring that we domesticate them first of all. I believe where there is a will, there is a way.

    Can you be more specific on the quantum of losses that Nigeria has greatly suffered in recent times as a result of non-domestication of these treaties?

    As far as I know what we loss in terms of revenue and foreign exchange runs into billions yearly. It is mindboggling. For example, if you look at how much is being lost in the aviation industry you will be amazed. How many connecting flight are lost. So how do you expect the Chanchangi airlines of this world to enjoy a level playing field if they run their operations at such an exorbitant cost?

    So if you continue to drive me out of business because I don’t have the fund, how will the business grow? And that’s why we will continue to have the problem we have in the aviation industry. Aviation is not something you play around with, the BASA is very important and then you hear some people say it’s not necessary, maybe they need to go double check the way it’s been done in other countries.

    A country like the United States, I’m aware though is signatory to many protocols is known to have breached some of them. Take the Kyoto protocol on climate change for instance. The US is known to have violated this. As a country don’t we also have a right to say no, we can’t be bound by some of these conventions?

    Before I answer your question let me say for the records that our committee is peopled by experienced lawyers, diplomats who have a good grasp of international diplomacy, bilateral agreement, negotiations and all that. Some of them are professors, technocrats among what have you. So, we are on a familiar terrain.

    As some other advance countries do, before they enter into any treaty they argue on the basis of what is favourable to them and all what not because they see these texts well ahead. But it might interest you to know that most of these conventions are hardly available in black and white so it is nearly almost difficult to attempt a clinical study on them as such. Speak with 30 expert lawyers, you will find that quite a number of them don’t have access to the text of most of these treaties and this creates a problem.

    I don’t want to play the blame game but in all of this you could see that somebody somewhere is not actually doing his job. You recall shortly that the National Assembly are suppose to be a part of the whole process but they never seems to be doing that, so I can put it to you that your constituency is actually to blame largely for the way things have actually gone?

    I beg to disagree there. First, the committee on treaty is a new committee of the House, it’s never been there, we’re the pioneer committee and the reason the National Assembly established this committee was us to get things right. Normally, there are processes and procedures before we say bring this treaty, and let us domesticate it and that is what has necessitated us into passing the bill. The treaty making deal was sponsored by Hon. Emmanuel Ejime, chairman, Tobacco Control. He said, you know what, with the way things are its high time will consulted with the National Assembly. Right from the onset before going ahead to pass this bill, I mean to sign these treaties, you can see clearly now what will happen.

    I will give you another example; Nigeria went and sign to become a ratified the premium for tobacco and shortly after signing, we gave a lot of room for tobacco company to come.

    I’m not trying to play the blame-game here, but when these companies come here they are given tax cuts, whereas Nigerian companies that have gone outside the country to operate to enjoy similar incentives.

    Still talking treaties, what best practice can Nigeria readily adopt maybe within West Africa sub region or even advance economy?

    I tell you when it comes to best treaties; Australia has the best legislation in that area. We can also copy Ghana because they are doing well. Yes it’s an executive function to sign these treaties, but this must be done in conjunction with the lawmaking body, which is the National Assembly before the laws of the land can stand. If by now less of the treaties are yet to be domesticated these have infringed on the treaties that have been for long are yet to be domesticated and yet, they have gone to sign and even imposed financial obligations on the country one way or the other. Yet what they are paying is not even recognised by the constitution. What court do you take them to? They can go to court and that’s why in some cases, companies perpetrating oil spillage can’t be tried in Nigeria because some of the conventions guiding their operations haven’t been domesticated in the first place so they can run go scot free should any issue arise.

     

  • Us, Nigeria to hold bilateral trade forum

    MEMBERS of the Nigerian-American Chamber of Commerce (NACC) are set for talks on bilateral trade between their countries.

    At a briefing in Lagos, the chamber’s deputy president, Mr Binta Famutimi, said the event is expected to promote the development of trade, commerce, investment and industrial technologies between both countries public and private sectors.

    “It is a vital forum to address challenges of enhancing Nigerian and American relations. This year’s event promises a rich mix of cultures and contacts, with members of the chamber from its branches in Abuja, Abeokuta, Ibadan, Kaduna, Port Harcourt, Owerri and American corporate bodies set to make their presence count,“ he said

    The chamber denied that it is a Lagos affair, saying it plans to open branches in other states to strengthen its relationship with the private sector.