The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

  • UN backs Adama Barrow

    UN backs Adama Barrow

    The UN Security Council voted unanimously on Thursday to back Gambia’s new President, Adama Barrow and called for a peaceful transition of power.

    The resolution called on former president Yahya Jammeh “to carry out a peaceful and orderly transition process,’’ and to transfer power to Barrow in accordance with the Gambian constitution.

    The UN resolution called for support of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) “in its commitment to ensuring the respect of the will of the people as expressed in the results of the December 1, 2016, elections.’’

    Barrow is the 3rd President of The Gambia.

    He was sworn in as President of The Gambia at a ceremony in the Gambian Embassy in Dakar, Senegal, today, having won the presidential election of December 1, 2016.

  • Naira’s depreciation threatens adoption of ECOWAS single currency

    The adoption of a single currency among members of Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS)  by 2020  is under threat, it was  learnt Thursday.

    The region noted that the depreciation of Naira has posed serious threat to the realization of the agenda.

    This was disclosed Thursday by members of the ECOWAS Macroeconomic Policy Committee on Multilateral Surveillance, during a two day technical meeting in Abuja.

    They noted that even when various policies have been introduced and at various stages of implementation in member states countries, the current economic situation in Nigeria has impacted negatively on the economy of member states.

    First to throw the bombshell was the Out-going Chairman of the ECOWAS Macroeconomic Policy Committee on Multilateral Surveillance, Ommy Sar Ndaiye, who noted that the depreciation of the value of the naira and other economic challenges facing member states, especially Nigeria are affecting the economy of the entire region and also the plans for the adoption of a single currency in the region.

    “The depreciation in value of the naira and other economic factors in Nigeria are affecting ECOWAS. We all know that whatever happens in Nigeria weighs heavily on our economies. If there are challenges there it would reflect on the region”, she said.

    While noting that the commission has made remarkable progress in its macroeconomic policies, Ndaiye also urged the committee to chat the way forward for the economy of member states.
    She therefore urged the committee members to look inward and find better ways to strengthen economic ties within the region.

    Also, Commissioner of the ECOWAS Macroeconomic Policy and Economic Research, Mamadou Traore lamented the vulnerability of the economy of member states.

    The meeting Traore said was aimed at reviewing the 2015 report, as well as monitor,  evaluate and make appropriate recommendations that would help revive the economy of member states.

    He stressed that “Despite efforts by the commission to strengthen the economy of ECOWAS, the economy is still vulnerable to external shocks”.

    The commissioner also urged member states to update their database on a regular basis on measures that drives economic growth and also furnish same to the commission for proper information.

    He said the 2015 report on the Macroeconomic convergence for the region showed a slowdown in growth of the economy when compared to 2014.

    Traore, identified factors such as lack of raw material, poor state of infrastructural development in member states countries and the depreciation in value of the naira as being responsible.

    The commissioner said since the deadline for the adoption of single currency is fast approaching, the committee should set agenda to look into the progress made so far as well as identify challenges that may hinder its smooth operation.

  • Dasuki’s lawyer fault claim on permission to visit late father

    Dasuki’s lawyer fault claim on permission to visit late father

    Lawyer to former National Security Adviser (NSA), Sambo Dasuki, Ahmed Raji (SAN) has faulted claim that his client was given permission to visit his late father, Ibrahim Dasuki, in an Abuja hospital.
    Raji, while speaking after proceedings in the case involving Dasuki on Wednesday at the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Maitama, Abuja, said it was doubtful that such permission was extended to his client by the state.
    Raji said the purported offer was doubtful because none of his client’s lawyers was contacted on the issue.
    He said: “As his counsel, we are not aware of that offer. Our client has not told us anything of that nature. We would have expected that if such a gesture was going to be made to him we as his counsel should have been involved so that we can advise him properly.
    “As I am speaking to you, I am hearing of this for the first time,” Raji said.
    The lawyer faulted the continued detention of his client after bail had been granted to him by courts, including the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Community Court.
    Meanwhile, proceedings were put off yesterday in the $2.2B  fraud charge brought against Dasuki and others by the Federal Government.
    The decision to adjourn proceedings was informed by agreement by lawyers in the case that hearing be shifted to another date in view of the death of Dasuki’s father.
    Trial judge, Justice Huseini Baba-Yusuf adjourned to December 7.
    The court on October 21 agreed to request by parties in the case that the two charges involving Dasuki, marked: FCT/HC/CR/43/2015 and FCT/HC/CR/42/2015 be heard Justice Baba Yusuf.
    The first case involved Dasuki, a former Director of Finance, Office of the NSA, Shuaibu Salisu; a former Executive Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Aminu Baba-Kusa and his two companies –  Acacia Holding Limited, and Reliance Referral Hospital Limited.
    They are accused, in the case currently before Justice Baba-Yusuf, of diverting about N13.6 billion, property of the office of the NSA.
    The second case (that was before Justice Affen), involves Dasuki, ex-Minister of State for Finance, Bashir Yuguda, a former Director of Finance at the office of the NSA, Shuaibu Salisu, a former governor of Sokoto state, Attahiru Bafarawa, his son, Sagir Bafarawa and their company, Dalhatu Investment Limited.
    They are accused, in the second case, of diverting about N9.2billion from the office of the NSA.

  • FG moves against use of chemical weapon

    The Federal Government is taking steps to prevent use of chemical weapons for insurgency and militancy in the country.

    Apart from banning unneeded dangerous chemicals from coming into the country, the government is also monitoring the use of dangerous chemicals needed for other legitimate use in Nigeria.

    The Acting Director General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Mrs. Yetunde Oni and the Permanent Secretary of Political and Economic Affairs in the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation and Chairman of the NAC/BWC Office, Ambassador Olukunle Bamgbose, disclosed the new move in Abuja on Monday.

    They spoke during an international workshop on Assistance and Protection Against Chemical Weapons” organised by the National Authority on Chemical and Biological Weapons Conventions Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF), the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), the African Union (AU) and Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

    Oni said: “You are aware NAFDAC is not solely meant for food and drugs alone, we also control chemicals. In a bit to do what is expected of us in ensuring the chemicals are used for the purpose for which they are meant, NAFDAC restructured and we established the chemical evaluation and research directorate. The onus is on this directorate to ensure that whoever is bringing in the chemicals is given a checklist.”

    According to her, there is increasing evidences that chemical can contribute to health, environmental and security problems at various stages during their life-cycle from production, import and disposal.

    Bamgbose said that the event seek to identify and bridge the gaps in the implementation of the Chemical Weapon Control and proffer improvement.

    The workshop, he said, is also to evolve a National Action Plan to guide and regulate the use and threat to the use of chemical weapons in Nigeria among others threats.

    The ECOWAS Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security, Mrs. Halima Ahmed warned the Federal Government against ignoring the possibility of the Boko Haram and Niger-Delta militants using biological and chemical weapons for terrorism.

    She said: “ECOWAS is committed to ensuring that chemical and biological weapons threats are not allowed with the consequences of their usage in Syria and other parts of Middle Eat. On no account should Boko Haram insurgents and Niger Delta militants be allowed to have access to chemical and biological weapons in Nigeria or other terror groups in Africa.”

    The Director General, Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) represented by the Project Officer, Assistance and Protection of the organisation Esmel Oscar Meless urged the domestication of all legal instruments to prohibit usage of chemical and biological weapons  in West Africa and Africa.

  •  ECOWAS urges FG to tackle logging, wildlife crimes

    The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has appealed to the Federal Government to employ the services of environmentalists to tackle issues of logging and wildlife crimes.

    Mr Bougonou Djeri-Alassani, the Head of Division, Environmental Policies and Regulations of the commission, made the appeal in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Wednesday.

    Djeri-Alassani, explained that many citizens depended on tree cutting to earn a living, hence the need for the consultation to tackle the challenges in the country.

    He suggested that adequate financial support be given to dependents on those natural assets to encourage and enable them find alternatives to their illegal businesses.

    Djeri-Alassani said the damages which were currently done in forests at the sub-region were dangerous for the future generation.

    According to him, ECOWAS has adopted a convergence plan for the sustainable management and utilisation of forest ecosystems and a Sub-Regional Action Programme to combat desertification in West Africa.

    “Tackling issues of illegal logging and sale of ivory products are not easy to handle without adequate consultation of experts in the field.

    “If some supports can be given to the dependents of these forests, it will help to reduce illegal logging and sale of ivory produce,’’ he said.

    On the forthcoming Conference of Parties (COP 22), Djeri-Alassani said the commission had just concluded a meeting with its member states to prepare them on decisions and the adoption of the Paris Agreement.

    He said that ECOWAS member states would participate in the conference to be held in Morocco by November.

    NAN reports that during the COP 22, parties will begin preparations for entry into force of the Paris Agreement on climate change.

  • Dasukigate: FG to pay N15m to Dasuki for damages

    Dasukigate: FG to pay N15m to Dasuki for damages

    …Declares his arrest and continued detention illegal

    The Community Court of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has declared the arrest and continued detention of former National Security Adviser (NSA), Sambo Dasuki unlawful, arbitrary and a violation of his right to liberty.

    The Court said it was wrong for the Federal Government to continue to detain him over undisclosed offences after he had been granted bail by three deferment courts before which he had been arraigned.

    The court, in a unanimous judgment of a three-man panel, read by Justice Friday Chijioke Nwoke awarded N15 million damages against the Federal Government and ordered it to immediately release him and his properties that were confiscated by state’s agents.

    The court, which held that the Nigerian state was unable to substantiate its continued detention of Dasuki, also faulted the search of his houses in Abuja and Sokoto without valid search warrant.

    The judgment was on a fundamental rights enforcement suit filed earlier this year by Dasuki.

  • Nigerian to head ECOWAS centre for disease control

    The West African Health Organization (WAHO) has appointed Prof. Abdulsalami Nasidi of Nigeria as the Acting Executive Director of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Regional Surveillance and Disease Control Centre (RCDC).

    Prof. Nasidi is the country coordinator, National Centre for Disease Control NCDC.

    His appointment was announced Thursday by Dr. Xavier Crespin at the Inaugural meeting of the Governing Board of the RCDC in Abuja.

    He also disclosed that works are in progress on the proposed ECOWAS Regional Rapid Response Team (ERRRT)  “ECOWAS White Force”. The team, when established is expected to respond to any disease outbreak within the region.

    Crespin explained that the selection process of members of the team was already in progress and it is expected to be in place by September 2016.

    He said: “On the recommendation of the Director General of WAHO and in accordance with Article 16 of the ECOWAS Regulation on the “Creation and Functioning Modalities of ECOWAS Regional Surveillance and Disease Control Centre”, Professor Abdulsalami Nasidi was appointed by the President of the EOWAS Commission as the Acting Executive Director.”

    “However, the proposed selection of members of the EVOWAS Regional Rapid Response Team (ERRRT) “ECOWAS WHITE FORCE”, cannot be done at this meeting, as the selection process is still ongoing in the countries,” he further explained.

    Adding that, “we expect the Governing Council to provide relevant suggestions that will expedite this process to enable us put together this team by September 2016.”

    On the inaugural meeting of the board of RCDC, Crespin said that the governing council has the task of supervising the activities of the centre in strict compliance with ECOWAS rules and regulations.
    While also warning that the task before the council were high, NAHO DG however said the organization has what it takes to deliver best practice for disease surveillance and control.

    Also, Nigeria Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Oluwole who declared open the inaugural meeting of RCDC revealed that the African Union (AU) has designated this centre as the West African coordinating centre for the Africa centre for the Africa Centre for Disease Control (ACDC).

    He also revealed that one of the first assignments of RCDC would be the hosting of the 6th African field Epidemiology Network (AFENET) and 1st RCDC Scientific conference for enhancing global health security through field epidemiology training programs slated for August.

    Prof. Adewole also assured RCDC of the country’s willingness to provide the necessary infrastructure for the immediate operationalization of the EVOWAS RCDC.

    RCDC has four main responsibilities- increased surveillance and information systems for early detention; strengthening of Laboratory capacity; preparedness and emergency response; and retention of trained healthcare workforce.

    The decision to establish the RCDC was reached following the devastating impact of the outbreak of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) and Lassa Fever in West Africa, with far reaching economic effects in the three most affected countries of Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea.

    The idea was endorsed at the 48th EOWAS Summit of the Heads of States and Government held in Abuja in December, 2015.

    The outbreak exposed the weakness of the region’s health systems, an indication of a lack of readiness to respond effectively to serious health security threat in line with the core capacities outlined by the International Health Regulations (IHR).

    Nigeria’s role in curtailing the spread of these disease in the region was deciding factor for the siting of R DC in the country.

    In his goodwill remark, United States (US) Centre for Disease Control (CDC) country coordinator, Dr. Tom Nickson urged the region not to devout so much energy at other aspect like building and equipment at the expense of human capacity building.

    Constant training and retraining of the workforce, he argued was of importance to the success of the centre.

    Other partners at the inaugural meeting of the governing council like JICA, Red Cross and others pledges their support towards the success of the centre.

    The National Assembly also pledged it’s support towards the success of the centre for the good of the region, and that of the people of Nigeria.

     

  •  Obasanjo laments ECOWAS inability to founding fathers’ expectations

     Obasanjo laments ECOWAS inability to founding fathers’ expectations

    … says Leaders’ lack of political will is to blame

    Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has lamented the inability of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to effectively meet the expectations of the founding fathers 41 years after its establishment.

    Obasanjo identified lack of political will on the part of leaders of member – states  as a major factor why the organisation has not fostered real economic union, growth and development in the West African sub – region. The ex – Nigerian leader made the observation on Monday when President of the ECOWAS Commission, Marcel Alain de – Souza, led a four-man delegation on a courtesy visit to him at his residence on  Presidential Hilltop Estate, Abeokuta, Ogun State.

    He said it is shameful that for whatever reason that ECOWAS countries would have  to be begging international communities for supply of food and other humanitarian aides to any challenged part of West Africa.

    He, therefore, made case for a deeper and stronger economic integration among ECOWAS member – nations as that would help stem the tide of  growing youth unemployment in countries of West Africa.

    According to him, a stronger economic integration coupled with political will from leaders of ECOWAS member nations would ensure growth and development as well as create a wide market for the sub – region’s jobless hands.

    He also rued that ECOWAS founding fathers never envisaged that issues of internal conflicts could weigh heavily on the sub – regional body such as it experienced experienced in countries such as Sierra Leone, Liberia, Mali, Guinea-Bissau, Cote D’ Voire among others.

    According to him, those conflicts retarded the growth of member nations since 41 years ago when ECOWAS was established.

    “Let me emphasis that 41 years ago ECOWAS was established, the expectation of all of us was very high, I think we will not be fair to ourselves if we do not say to ourselves we have not moved as fast and as far the expectation 41 years ago had been.

    ” But as you have rightly said there has been issues that have come up that were unexpected, I think again we must tell ourselves the truth that there has not been enough political will on our part to move that sub regional organisation as fast and as far as we should have done.

    “I have maintained that all of us in West Africa, in our different countries and indeed in Africa we are sitting on a keg of gun powder for as long as we do not pay adequate attention to youth unemployment. A situation where more than 50 per cent of our youths are unemployed is extremely dangerous.

    “We now have a situation in part of West Africa where people now are dying of starvation. Is it that we are not producing enough food? Or if we are producing, what we produced are evenly?

    “It is shameful for whatever that has led us to be begging international communities for supply of food to any part of West Africa, it is not right.

    “I want to say this that most of these conflicts; most of these causes of insecurity or breach of security were because adequate attention had not been paid to what I will call inclusiveness.

    “Inclusiveness in terms of political, economic and social development of all our countries. Inclusiveness gender wise, inclusiveness social wise, inclusiveness religious wise, inclusiveness ethnic wise and we must appeal to our leaders in our sub region to take these issue of inclusion seriously,” Obasanjo said.

    Earlier in his speech,  de-Souza said he was in Abeokuta to familiarize  himself with Obasanjo having been appointed President of ECOWAS and also seek his advise on matters concerning sub-regional body.

    Souza, who spoke through an interpreter,  said he was inclined to visit Obasanjo because the former Nigerian President has always showed commitment to ECOWAS,  always making himself available for the Commission.”

    He disclosed that Obasanjo is a Special ECOWAS’ envoy to Guinea-Bissau, stressing that the visit to Abeokuta was premised on the fact that Obasanjo was one of the founding fathers of ECOWAS and to know if he has come out with any solution to the crisis in Guinea-Bissau.

     

     

  • Experts, academics urge West African leaders to end child poverty

    Experts, academics urge West African leaders to end child poverty

    A group of experts hosted by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), United Nations Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF), the International Labour Organization (ILO) and other organizations have issued a communique urging West African leaders to eradicate child poverty.
    Similarly, the experts also highlighted the need to monitor child poverty with separate measurements along geographic, gender and socio-economic lines.
    The region’s considerable overall economic growth in recent years has not resulted in improvements in the life of vast numbers of children, many of whom still lack access to proper nutrition, basic healthcare, education, clean water and housing.
    Since the publication of a UNICEF global study on childhood poverty in 2003, there has been an expansion of policies aimed at addressing the multiple factors that feed into the problem in Sub-Saharan Africa. Nevertheless, in most countries, inequalities and social exclusion continue to fuel the persistence of high levels of child poverty.
    “Child poverty is not only about monetary poverty, but about the actual deprivations children are experiencing,” noted UNICEF Regional Advisor on Social Policy Gustave Nebie, “Children have a right to education, healthcare, information, nutrition, housing, clean water and adequate sanitation. We must ensure our children are free from crippling deprivations today – and enable them to grow into the leaders we need for the future.”
    The call to action issued today is the outcome of an International Conference on Child Poverty and Social Protection held at the ECOWAS Commission in Abuja, May 23–25. The conference was organised by ECOWAS, UNICEF and the ILO, along with academic networks Comparative Research Programme on Poverty (CROP) and Equity for Children. It was attended by 70 noted regional and global experts and academics.
    As different Sub-Saharan countries battle a range of health and environmental crises, the negative effects on child welfare deepen and expand to varying degrees across the region. Epidemics such as Ebola, natural disasters, including flooding and droughts, and armed conflicts can all counteract improvements that have been made. However, the experts noted at the conference, factors that can be addressed by economic policy, such as poor working conditions, low salaries and high unemployment, can actually have an even greater impact on child poverty.
    Putting policies in place that address these problems is critical to reducing child poverty and creating a better future, the experts said. They also highlighted the need for social protection measures such as providing cash grants and subsidies.
    “Children are not only the most fragile layer in society, they are also the workforce of tomorrow,” said ECOWAS Commissioner Mamadou Traore, “We must put in place a roadmap for the development and adoption of sustainable policies for the eradication of child poverty and for effective and dynamic social protection in the region.”
    Noting the significant role that development partners play in the region, the experts also called on them to place child rights at the forefront of the regional development agenda.
  • 730 illegal immigrants repatriated in Cross River

    730 illegal immigrants repatriated in Cross River

    Comptroller of the Nigerian Immigration Services in Cross River State, Mrs Funke Cecilia Adeuyi, says 730 illigal immigrants have been repatriated from the state this year.

    Adeuyi told reporters in Calabar that 39 have also been refused entry into the country for lack of proper travel documents within the period.

    She said they were mostly nationals of countries of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

    She denied rumours that Immigration personnel in the command were extorting money from members of the public for job placement.

    “From all I know nobody has come to me with such report. But we have been hearing rumours of fraudsters who hide under the canopy claiming to be immigration staff collecting money from people. There was a situation reported to us from the Nigerian Police and we realized that when we went there to identify the person, the person was not an immigration officer as he claimed and the police is handling that. So none of my officers is involved in such thing.

    “For now there is nothing like Immigration recruitment anywhere. So members should not allow themselves to be deceived or duped by fraudsters who operate under so many guises and collect money from them under the guise that they will be given job. Any immigration that will take place in Immigration, there will be no monetary implication. Recruitment is free, open and will be well publicized.”

    She also said one can collect his or her international passport less than 48 hours after application in the command.