The Nation Newspaper

Tag: ECCAS

  • Boko Haram: Jonathan, Congolese, E/Guinea leaders seek support for Nigeria

    Boko Haram: Jonathan, Congolese, E/Guinea leaders seek support for Nigeria

    President Goodluck Jonathan and two African leaders on Monday called for more international support against terrorism in the region.
    They made the call when President Denis Sassou N’Guesso of the Republic of Congo and President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo of the Republic of Equatorial Guinea paid a one-day working visit to Nigeria.

    The leaders met behind closed-doors for about three hours at the Presidential Wing of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.

    Their visit followed the decision taken by the Heads of State and government of the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS) during their summit in Yaoundé, Cameroon, on February 16.

    The three Presidents also welcomed the proposal to have a joint Summit of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and ECCAS to further mobilise international support for the Multi National Joint Task Force (MNJTF).

    While President Jonathan promised to contact the ECOWAS Chairman on the proposal, the visiting Presidents undertook to relay the outcome of the meeting to the other Heads of States and Government of the ECCAS.

    A release at the end of the meeting reads: “The visiting Presidents held very warm and useful discussions with their host on issues of common interest to the countries of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

    “The three Presidents reviewed the current security challenges facing the West African and Central African Regions, especially terrorism and the menace by Boko Haram.

    “They unequivocally condemned the insurgency, its destructive activities such as indiscriminate killing of peoples and the wanton destruction of properties, the abduction of innocent women and children, especially young school girls, who had been turned to sex slaves.

    “They underscored the imperative of a multi-prolonged approach to fighting the terrorist group and in particular, commended the initiative of the member states of the Lake Chad Basin Commission (LCBC) for a Multi National Joint Task Force (MNJTF) to combat the Boko Haram insurgents.

    “They welcomed the active support of the international community especially the African Union, the United Nations and other partners for the efforts of the LCBC and the Benin Republic to enable the earliest deployment of the MNJTF.

    “While underscoring the fact that the MNJTF is wholly owned and driven by the member states of the LCBC, they urged the international community to render necessary material and financial support and assistance to its on-going efforts.”

    Speaking with journalists at the end of the meeting, President N’Guesso said the meeting deliberated on the Ebola Virus Disease and insurgency in the region.

    He said: “As we know Africa is confronting two challenges. Significantly, Ebola is affecting basically countries in West Africa. These countries are: Liberia, Guinea and Serra Leone. Also, the operations of the terrorists generally affecting countries in the Sub-Saharan Africa and in northern Africa, particularly Boko Haram which has been affecting Nigeria, Chad and Cameroun.”

    “Like you know at the last meeting of the Africa Union, the Heads of State took some very important decisions principally to check the Boko Haram attacks in Nigeria, Niger, Cameroun and Chad. Following the meeting of the African Union, the Economic Community of Central African Countries had a meeting recently in Yaoundé to address particularly the Boko Haram challenge in Africa and to see the possibility of ameliorating the grave situation.”

  • Maritime security: Africa, U.S, UK naval chiefs meet in Calabar

    Naval chiefs from Africa, the United States and the United Kingdom converged on Calabar on Monday to strategise on ways to ensure a safe and secure maritime environment in the Gulf of Guinea.

    The News agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the meeting, expected to end on Wednesday, had no fewer than 14 African naval chiefs in attendance at the Tinapa Lakeside Hotel.

    In his opening remarks, the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Adm. Dele Ezeoba, said the meeting was called because of challenges and threats to the economic interests of states in the Gulf of Guinea (GoG).

    He said GoG strategic location informed the decision to collaborate on the security of the region and the convocation of the first Regional Maritime Awareness Capability Conference (RMACC) in Calabar.

    Ezeoba said the GoG had become a source of concern to the region and the international community given its myriad of security challenges.

    He said the threats on regional security included piracy, sea robbery, drug and human trafficking, pipeline vandalism and crude oil theft.

    Ezeoba also listed illegal, unregulated and unreported fishing, proliferation of small arms and light weapons and environmental degradation as sources of threats in the GoG.

    “Regrettably, these threats constitute serious challenges and adversely impact on the collective maritime governance imperatives and economic wellbeing of nation states in the GoG.

    “It is, therefore, imperative to emphasise that no meaningful development can take place in an atmosphere of insecurity within the global commons.

    “As discomforting as these threats would appear, they are not insurmountable hence the clarion call for the enthronement of constructive, proactive, sustainable and holistic maritime security architecture.

    “Such structure would ensure a secure and safe maritime environment for optimal exploration and exploitation of the abundant maritime resources.

    “These resources are germane for socio-economic growth and national development of the sub-Saharan Africa while providing economic opportunities for the rest of the world,’’ Ezeoba said.

    Ezeoba said the security of the GoG should be anchored on the Yaounde declaration “within the context of extant code of conduct, protocols and memoranda of understanding of the GoG commission, ECOWAS and ECCAS’’.

    “It is only logical that we also place maritime security on the top rungs of our national security priorities.

    “An effective maritime security regime in the GoG must be pitched on core attributes such as the elimination of sea blindness within the African continent, sincerity of purpose, strength of character and above all, the political will of all member-states and stakeholders.”

     

  • Nigeria, others lose $300bn to oil theft, illegal fishing

    Nigeria, others lose $300bn to oil theft, illegal fishing

    African countries have lost about $300 billion to oil theft and illegal fishing in the continent, the Chairperson of the African Union, Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma has said.

    She spoke yesterday at the opening ceremony of the first summit of Heads of States and Governments of the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS), the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the Gulf of Guinea Commission (GGC),in Yaounde, the Cameroon.

    According to her, the continent has lost $200 billion in five decades to illegal fishing and $100 billion to illegal bunkering since 2003.

    “We cannot allow this incursion of resources to continue”. She warned

    President Goodluck Jonathan was among the 25 African leaders that were at the opening ceremony of the summit, which focuses on maritime safety and security in the Gulf of Guinea.

    The leaders gathered under the UN Resolution 2039 of February 2012, for the Gulf of Guinea region where 200 million people are living under threat of piracy, transnational maritime crimes.

    The summit is to provide a coordinated regional and international response to the scourges of piracy, drug trafficking, armed robbery and other illegal maritime activities in the Gulf of Guinea.

    At the summit, the leaders will review and adopt a series of measures that were previously reviewed at the March 2013 inter-ministerial conference held in Cotonou (Benin).

    The Nigerian Navy disclosed that the country records between 10 to 15 attacks monthly on its stretch of the Gulf of Guinea.

    According to statistics released at the summit, in the year 2012, 45 per cent of the crimes were committed on Nigeria’s borders, Togo 25 per cent, Ghana three per cent, DRC three per cent, Cameroon five per cent, Sierra Leone two per cent, Benin three per cent and Cote d’ Ivoire two per cent.

    The International Maritime Organization (IMO) also broke down the attacks recorded to 58 in 2011, 45 in 2012, 34 of which occurred between January and September of the same year as against 30 in 2011 during the same period.

    The attacks have resulted to insecurity, threats to economic growth and political stability in neighbouring countries.

    The UN Secretary General, Ban Ki-Moon in his message delivered by Abou Moussa, commended the leaders of the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS), the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the Gulf of Guinea Commission (GGC).

    The summit, he said, is the best option available to save citizens of the affected countries from poverty since crime diminishes their economic power.

    The host, President Paul Biya, called on his colleagues to make sacrifices to reverse the negative trend.

  • Why Nigeria didn’t appeal ICJ ruling on Bakassi-Jonathan

    Why Nigeria didn’t appeal ICJ ruling on Bakassi-Jonathan

    President Goodluck Jonathan has given reasons why Nigeria did not appeal the ruling of the International Court of Justice, which awarded the oil-rich territory of Bakassi to Cameroon in 2002.

    Speaking during an interactive session with Nigerian community in Yaounde, Cameroon, on Sunday night, Jonathan said that Nigeria did not appeal in order to ensure the protection of Nigerians living in Cameroon.

    According to him, when two countries are friendly, the people of the two countries also tend to be friendly, but when the two countries disagree, their citizens tend to disagree also.

    He also explained that Nigeria had no new evidence within the period of time that was given that will make a difference in the judgement.

    Jonathan is in Cameroon for the summit of Heads of States and Governments of the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS), the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the Gulf of Guinea Commission (GGC), which started yesterday and focusing on maritime safety and security in the Gulf of Guinea.

    While the area had been heavily guarded by Cameroonian soldiers since their country took control of the territory from Nigeria on August 14, 2008, there is a deadline for Nigerians there to decide to become Cameroonian latest by August 2012 or leave the territory.

    He said: “You all know what happened in Bakassi, there is no need to go back on why we couldn’t appeal. We had no new evidence within the period of time that was given that will make a difference in the judgement.

    “Our people should live a good and decent life in Cameroon. The forces of animosity are gradually dying down and the relationship is improving”. He added

    Jonathan assured the citizens that his government was totally committed to their welfare and that their concerns on high cost of residence permits, high cost of tuition fees for students among others would be tabled before his host, President Paul Biya in order to find amicable solution to them.

    Commending the good reports on Nigerians in Cameroon, he assured that the various concerns raised on security, power, infrastructural deficits back home in Nigeria are all being tackled.

    He maintained that two years of his administration has recorded significant progress in key sectors.

    Urging Nigerians in diaspora to ignore negative reports that exaggerate the problems back home, he said that they should take time out to look at the parameters, GDP growth, foreign direct investments, which, he said, showed that “the economy is strong.”

    Stressing that investors do not take money to countries where nothing is happening, the President claimed that out of every $10 that comes to the continent, $4 comes into Nigeria.

    Speaking on agriculture and cement, he noted that non-importation of rice has impacted on the country’s revenue, saying, “We cannot be a giant of Africa when we keep importing rice, we must put a stop to that. The way we are going we will soon be exporting rice in few years. We are now exporting cement about 20 million tonnes”.

    Admitting that Nigeria has health challenges, Jonathan said: “I can assure you we are on course, I will make you happy. We will exploit the opportunity”.

    He also expressed unhappiness that Nigeria is among the four countries in the world with cases of polio.

    “I’m uncomfortable with the figure, why should Nigeria be among the four countries in the world with polio? We are committed to eradicating polio and we will eradicate it”. He assured

    On the power sector, he said that his administration was almost done with the privatisation exercise and when completed, the sector “will take a life of its own.”

    He said that work has been going on on road infrastructure after the flood experienced in the country last year.

    President Jonathan also disclosed that he personally advocated voting by Nigerians in diaspora, but that he cannot use executive fiat to veto it.

    Stating that the process is on course, he urged them to be patient until the constitution is finally amended.

    He however advised those passionate about the issue to write a petition to the National Assembly in order to push for the amendment.

    He said: “On diaspora votes, I advocated for it but before we can have it the constitution will have to be amended. I cannot use executive fiat to do it, we have to follow the constitution. We have a very vibrant diaspora and should be heard. You should send your petition to National Assembly so that they will know is not only Mr. President that is interested in it”.

    Promising that he will not allow them to be victimized or maltreated, Jonathan dispelled fears that the Federal Government has abandoned Nigerians who remained in the peninsula after its transfer to Cameroon.

    Nigeria High Commissioner to Cameroon, Hadiza Mustapha, in her opening remarks said the Nigerian community “is the best community any ambassador could ask for. They are hardworking, patrotic, law-abiding and have good working relations with the Mission”.

    She said the good working relationship existing between Nigeria and Cameroon has brought about reduction in harassment of citizens living in the host country.

    She said the complains of Nigerian citizens have been tabled before the Cameroonian authorities and “so far we have no reason to doubt the commitment of our host government to address the issues”.

    The President of the Nigerian Union, Center Region, Ebere Valentine, assured the President that Nigerians in Cameroon will continue to become good ambassadors and “project the image of our country well”.

    He appealed for more government involvement in the welfare of Nigerians in Cameroon as regards the cost of residence permit, saying 50 per cent reduction will be a welcome development”.

    Olukorede Adenowo, Managing Director, Standard Chartered Bank, West and Central Africa, who is the representative of Nigerians in the Corporate Sector in Cameroon, said that there were opportunities that exist in the Cameroons and advised Nigerian businessmen to take advantage of the geographical proximity and the comparatively high prices.

    He noted that Nigerian businesses were active in aviation, general commerce, downstream oil and gas and banking in the Cameroon.

    He said other areas Nigerians can assist in terms of foreign direct investment and simultaneously make decent returns in Cameroon are in oil and gas exploration and production, commercial and residential real estates, entertainments, shopping malls.

    “We have been instrumental in working with our High Commission in bringing in several Nigerian businesses and helping them find their feet in Cameroon. We Nigerian professionals are ready and available to do more”, he said.

    Representative from the Bakassi Peninsular, Chief Etim Effiong, commended President Jonathan for not abandoning those of them that choose to remain in the Cameroon as Nigerians.

    According to him, they couldn’t bare to abandon the land that belonged to their fore-fathers for years and expressed happiness that the Nigerian government was working with the Cameroonian government to make them safe and at home in their community.