The Nation Newspaper

Tag: ECOWAS

  • Herdsmen: Buhari urges implementation of ECOWAS protocols

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday blamed the non-implementation of two ECOWAS protocols on free movement of persons, goods and services for the lingering herders and farmers conflicts in West Africa.

    Buhari said this while declaring open the ECOWAS Ministerial Meeting on Conflicts between Herders and Farmers in the region organised in partnership with the countries’ ministries of Agriculture and Interior in Abuja.

    Represented by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, the president stated that the protocols were necessary in the discussions to proffer lasting solution to incessant killings in the region as a result of the conflict.

    “Two ECOWAS Protocols are critical to the conversation that we are going to have here today.

    “The 1979 Protocols of free movement of persons, goods, capital and services and the protocol relating to transhumance in 1998.

    “Regrettably, what we have been confronted with over the years is the failure to fully follow and enforce the terms of these protocol and in some cases the failure to activate sections of the protocols.

    “So that where for example transhumance certificates are to be used and endorsed by medical or immigration officials this is not the case; this has to change.

    “We can no longer continue to tolerate the undocumented movement of persons that simply contribute to the escalation of our security challenges.

    “We must be able to track the movement; we must ensure that the protocols are complied with and relevant sections are activated,’’ he said.

    The President said the vision of integration of the ECOWAS founding fathers must not be allowed to be derailed by a failure to comply with the safeguards and conditions that they in their wisdom and foresight embedded in the protocols.

    He said that was why Nigeria had taken the lead in organising the conference bringing together senior government officials with oversight for agriculture and internal security in the region and beyond to proffer solutions to the lingering problem threatening national security and regional security as well.

    Buhari noted that the economic implications were quite worrisome considering that no fewer than 70 per cent of the ECOWAS made a living by agriculture.

    According to him, many of the countries in the region are already struggling with food security and the violence if unchecked will lead to catastrophe.

    The President stated that the grazing of cattle along long distances and the whole transhumance experiences needed to be reviewed in favour of ranching.

    He said ranching was a more productive way of breeding cattle rather than work long distances, adding that the region must explore all the options and look for new and creative solutions to resolve the problem.

    He said the solution should be holistic from law enforcement to climate change and reforms in current methods and practices of crop and animal production.

    “We simply must move with the times and modernise our thinking and approach to the issues that face us,’’ he stated.

    Buhari said that the federal government and states were collaborating to work out an acceptable plan to quell the conflicts by proper management of land resources.

    “We just concluded the work plan jointly put together by the States and Federal governments on the sustainable resolution of herders/farmers’ conflicts and we are now at the point of implementing that plan,’’ he said.

    Gov.Umaru Al-Makura of Nasarawa State, told correspondents that he was grateful to the Ministry of Interior and other sister ministries backing the conference as well as the regional governments for participating.

    “There could not have been a better time for this conference having been bedeviled throughout the sub region with the crisis of farmers/herdsmen.

    “There is the need for cooperation/collaboration and synergy amongst all the states and countries within the sub-region to find lasting solutions to this problem.

    “We have been with the farmers/herdsmen crisis from time immemorial and as things are changing daily, urbanisation, population explosion, limited land for farming and difficulties in getting grazing to take place effectively due to climate change.

    “There is need for time-to-time for collaboration between the constituting states to come together to find lasting solution,’’ he said.

    The governor assured that governors, especially those whose areas were being affected by the crisis, would ensure the implementation of decisions of the conference to curb the conflict.

    NAN

  • EU launches N4.3bn projects in support of Albinos in Niger Delta

    The European Union ( EU ) on Wednesday inaugurated 956,000 euros (about 4.3 billion naira) projects in support of Person With Albinisms ( PWAs ), provision of water and sanitation management in the Niger Delta.

    The EU Head of Delegation and Ambassador to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Mr Ketil Karlsen, said this in an interview with our correspondent at the end of project inauguration ceremony in Abuja.

    Karlsen said that the projects were part of EU activities to promote, protect human rights in Nigeria and mitigate the conflict in Niger Delta region by addressing the cause of unrest and violence.

    “The EU is signing four projects with Civil Society Organisations to provide services in the Niger Delta in water and sanitation management to increase access for the locals.

    “Another one is launching a support programme for the Albino Foundation which is a wonderful project that we are really following up as a resolution from the EU parliament.

    “This stressed the importance of EU working with the people with Albinism in Africa to improve their rights and to deepen their opportunity,” he said.

    He said one of the projects was funded under European Instrument for Democracy and Human Rights ( EIDHR ) programme, while the others  were funded under component three of the Niger Delta Support Programme ( NDSP ).

    According to him, the projects have a total funding of 956,000 euros and to be implemented over a period of five years.

    He said the overall objective of the EIDHR was to help civil society organisations become an effective force for political reform and defence of human right.

    “So this is another example of close collaboration of EU with CSOs and authority in Nigeria because we know that the chain is as strong as the weakest link.

    “So we always advocate for civil society, the international community and the authority a like to approach some of the challenges that we have seen in Nigeria and some other places.”

    He said the Component 3 of the NDSP was aimed to increase access to safe, adequate and sustainable water, sanitation and hygiene service delivery to underserved population in five EU approved Niger-Delta states.

    The states, according to him, are Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Delta, Edo, Ondo and Rivers.

    He said the implementing entities include state ministries responsible for water, UNICEF, Messer SAFEGE SRLS and four local CSOs

    According to him, the choice of the projects is because water management and sanitation are vital for the livelihood of people.

    “Without good health, people cannot go to schools, they will not learn well, so this is part of wider development of securing wider opportunity for ordinary Nigerians.

    “So, this is something that is producing tangible and specific result that can be seen with our bare eyes and I think working with people with albinism is part of what has been done in the past.

    “And I think one of the wonderful things that this project will brought about is more clarity of what is the actual situation of the people with albinism.

    “How many people are there all together, what are the needs and difficulties and of course without having that point of departure, it is very difficult to design necessary policy for them.”

    He said some of the projects would last about 28 months while some would last less.

    “However, what is important is how to ensure the long lasting effect of the projects and ensure their sustainability.

    “This is one of the discussions that we need to have with our partners that how do we secure the impact of the project that when the last euros has been paid.

    “And that is about advocacy, about awareness, building on best practices and multiplier effect,” he said.

    President of Albino Foundation in Nigeria, Mr Jake Eppele, a beneficiary commended the EU for the initiative.

    Eppele said the project was to provide access to social services for persons with Albinism in Nigeria.

    He said the project was also to provide legal reform to improve the situation of people living Albinism.

    Mr Benjamin Ogbalor, Project Coordinator, Initiative for Community Development, a CSO, said his project was aimed at improving the living condition of the population of people in Isoko Local Government of Delta.

    “This is to enhance safe access, adequate, equitable and sustainable water supply, sanitation and hygiene services aiming to provide support for the peace process, conflict prevention and local governance,’’ Ogbalor said.

    NAN

  • EU prepares Nigerian women for 2019 polls

    Nigerian women possess leadership traits needed to drive the nation into prosperity. But to harness these, they must be given the opportunity, according to the Head of the European Union (EU) Delegation to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Ambassador Ketil Karlsen.

    At a seminar on women’s participation in Nigeria’s political process held in Abuja on March 23, Ambassador Karlsen said it was an irony that the Nigerian women noted for their courage and outspokenness are relegated to the background in the politics of their country.

    The event hosted by the EU to mark this year’s International Women’s Month, brought together eminent female politicians and other politically-conscious women and civil society actors from across the country to discuss the fate of women politics. It had had the theme, “How do Women Win Election in 2019?” Among those in attendance were the wife of the Senate President, Mrs. Toyin Saraki, Senator Binta Garba, who chairs the Senate Committee on Women Affairs, and Mrs. Bisi Fayemi, leading gender activist and wife of Minister of Solid Minerals.

    Welcoming participants to the seminar, Ambassador Karlsen said the idea was to discuss how to get women in the country to be more educated in politics, promote their rights and make sure there are better opportunities for them. . “We are opening the door a little bit. We are reminding ourselves that women’s right is not only for speeches at occasions. It is something that should guide our works and our lives every day of the year.”

    Much as gender imbalance is not a peculiar Nigerian problem, the EU Head of Delegation said the country would be short-changing itself by not making the political more space inclusive to enable women to contribute in shaping its destiny. “The statistics in this particular country makes it very clear: only six female senators, if I’m not mistaken, 15 female members of the House (of Representatives) and five (female) deputy governors in this great country, the biggest country in Africa. We need to ask ourselves whether this is good enough.”

    Relieving her experience in politics, Sen. Garba said her path has been dogged by the same factors that have made the political arena hostile to women with political ambitions. “Culture was against me, religion was against me. Women were used against me,” she said.

    It did not help that she hailed from Adamwa state and was campaigning in a constituency that was predominantly Muslim while she was Christian. But Sen. Garba said she stood her ground. While respecting the institutions and the religious leaders, she said she did what was needful, and those things she did spoke for her when it mattered most: “With those little things I was doing within my community, it was the women that stood their ground and said, even when Binta was nobody, she made some certain inputs towards their livelihood. That was how I became a member of House of Representatives.”

    She also had to deal with hostility of Imams and even church leaders, who questioned why she should contest election in Kaduna. “But, within me, I have this fighting spirit, and I told myself that I must be the voice of those voiceless women, whatever it would cost, I would never, never succumb to any pressure whatsoever.”

    Sen Garba came to the House of Representatives as the youngest of all 360 members in 1999,at barely 28, and she put it down to her persistence, focus, determination and refusal to succumb to intimidation and  frustration n account of her gender.  “It might not be today, but someday, somehow, I know that women in Nigeria will definitely stand up with men.”

    Sen. Garba who has been a federal lawmaker since Nigeria returned to democracy in 1999 said in 2006, former Governor of Adamawa state, Boni Haruna, asked her to contest for the Senate in her home state of Adamawa, and promised to assist her. Sen. Garba has been a senator representing Adamawa North since then.

    She urged women to be firm when they are interested in politics and be close and fair to their constituents. While appealing to all women in the country to vote for their fellow women who show interest in politics, irrespective of their political affiliations, she urged that the “35% Affirmative Action” which seeks the allocation of 35 percent of all political offices to women be enshrined in the nation’s constitution and in political parties’ constitutions.

    Mrs. Saraki expressed delight with the release of the abducted Dapchi girls, and described the loss of five of the girls as unfortunate. “I want to say that those who seek to intimidate our girls and women and prevent them from accessing education or fulfilling their potentials would never succeed in Nigeria,” she said.

    Citing a recent US Agency for International Development’s (USAID) report, she said: “When 10 per cent of girls go to school, a country’s GDP on the average increase by 35 per cent. When women have the same amount of land as men or ownership of land, there is over 10 per cent increase in crop yield.” The wife of the Senate President said allowing women to make good use of their potentials yields good dividends to any nation, adding that they should not be deterred from making needed contributions to nation building through politics. According to her, the UN estimates that gender inequality costs Sub-Saharan Africa an average $95 billion yearly.

    In a keynote presentation, the Senior Programme Manager, Global International Idea’s Programme on Political Participation & Representation (Sweden) Rumbidzai Washika-Nhunda said many women and youths around the world don’t like joining political parties because they see men as being patriarchal. The problem lies within the socialization, political and socio-cultural context,” she said.

    Identifying intra-party democratic processes as one of the key problematic areas, she said the character context and political context have inhibited women from entering into politics to present themselves as candidates for position of power and decision-making.

    “We need to realize that this is a transformative agenda. This is an agenda of redistribution of power and privileges,” she said of the imperative of allowing women in politics. She argued that only a few men would be willing to allow women to be elected into political offices. In as much as men could represent women, she noted, women’s physical bodies are needed in elective offices, and that numbers matter in a democracy.

    According to her, only about half of the countries of the world manage to help a critical minority in parliament, executive or any position of power or decision-making. She listed Sweden as one of the countries that have been fair to women in terms of political inclusiveness. “It’s suicidal for any political party in Sweden not to subscribe to the principle of gender equality and women’s political empowerment.

    She urged Nigeria to take a cue from countries like Rwanda, Bolivia, Mexico, South Africa, Senegal, Namibia, Uganda, Angola and Zimbabwe, which have some forms of legislative quotas. “We need to understand that every gender quotas, like for instance, the provision in Kenya which is also reflected in the electoral law, which is also being reflected in the political parties’ law, cascades in the political processes where the different political actors interact.”

    Washika-Nhunda maintained that when a country adopts legislative gender quotas, they are not doing women favour, stressing that it is a democratic imperative. She said it called for concern for a society to neglect 50 percent of its potentials. She also urged women in Nigeria to mobilize themselves for the 2019 general elections.

    However, Washika-Nhunda yet disabused the minds of people who reason that women alone are capable of electing themselves into power. “The democratic argument that women should vote for one another does not work. If it was applicable, all our parliaments across the world, and in particular in Africa would be having at least people who are aged 35 years and below. Why? The youths in our countries are at least 40 to 50 percent.

    Ms. Ida Hockerfelt of the Sweden Embassy in Nigeria told the gathering that her country was working on making information on women who have and are making impacts around the world available for people to access online, especially on the Wikipedia, the hub for such information, globally. She said such information would spur women across nations to rise and break barriers on their paths to success and seeing themselves as equal to men.

    According to her, only 10 per cent of information on the Wikipedia is for women. She said the efforts would further promote the cause of gender equality and significance of women in global polity.

     

  • ECOWAS Commission calls for peaceful run-off poll in Sierra Leone

    The President of ECOWAS Commission, Jean-Claude Brou, has called for the peaceful and successful completion of the Sierra Leone presidential run-off election slated for March 27.

    A member of the ECOWAS Observer Mission, Mr. Paul Ejime, stated this in a statement in Abuja on Saturday.

    Ejime said the ECOWAS Commission chief made the call in a goodwill message at the end of his three-day solidarity visit to the West African country.

    Brou, who lauded Sierra Leoneans for the peaceful conduct of the March 7 general elections, pledged that ECOWAS would continue to give the necessary support for the successful completion of the presidential run-off election.

    “As in the first round, ECOWAS will support Sierra Leone by deploying election observers during this run-off to ensure a fair and credible atmosphere that leads to outcomes that reflect the will of the citizens,” he said.

    He stressed the need for inter-agency cooperation for successful and credible electoral process, so as to further consolidate democracy in the country.

    The ECOWAS Commission chief also admonished political stakeholders not to incite their supporters to violence.

    NAN

     

     

  • Morocco trade with 15 ECOWAS member countries

    Morocco has said its trade with the ECOWAS region hit one billion dollars in 2016 and reinforced its request to join the region.

    President of the Moroccan House of Representatives, Mr Habib El Malik said this when he hosted delegation of ECOWAS parliamentarians led by the Speaker of the parliament at an inaugural session on regional integration in Rabat, Morocco on Thursday.

    The session was tagged “Towards a better movement of persons and goods among African countries: What mechanisms?”

    Malik emphasised that Morocco was committed to the promotion of regional and continental integration and trade.

    “ECOWAS and Morocco have strong relations; volume of trade between both parties was one billion dollars in 2016 which represents more than 37.3 per cent of increase compared to 10 per cent of trade in 1996.”

    “Morocco is ECOWAS’ first economic partner and we are working on partnerships to enhance trade and promote south south cooperation.”

    Malik further said there was the need for countries to put in place appropriate framework to address challenges posed by migration and integrate migrant populations to reduce security risks.

    “We have stabilised the situation of 25,000 migrants and this is part of proactive efforts to stand with other African countries; we also have about 25,000 students studying in different institutions in Morocco.

    “These show that we are committed to the promotion of regional integration and Morocco joining the ECOWAS will be of mutual benefit and open up huge prospects in ECOWAS.”

    He added that Morocco being part of the ECOWAS region would place the region as the 16th economically prosperous bloc globally and further make it possible to access foreign markets.

    Read Also: Morocco budgets $15.8 billion for 2026 world cup

    In her address, Morocco’s Secretary of State to the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Mrs Mounia Boucetta said Morocco’s admittance to ECOWAS would also promote opportunities for youth development.

    “Free movement hinges on participation of all and we will look toward the well-being of all Africa.”

    Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament Mr Moustapha Cissé Lo recalled measures put in place by the regional bloc to promote free movement of goods and persons.

    Cissé Lo also reiterated the parliament’s support to admit Morocco as part of ECOWAS.

    “Morocco’s application to join ECOWAS is to be encouraged; Morocco is a platform for communicating exchanges for overcoming challenges in the region.”

    The session ended with a declaration by participants to strengthen competitiveness of all member states, encourage economic integration promote peace and enhance cooperation.

    The participants also reaffirmed their commitment to implement the agreement on the African Continental Free Trade Area recently signed in Kigali by more than 40 African countries.

    NAN

  • NIS generates N38.5bn, $29.9m in 2017, says C-G

    The Nigeria Immigration Service ( NIS ) generated a total revenue of N38.532 billion and 29.9 million dollars in 2017.

    The Comptroller-General of NIS, Mr Muhammad Babandede, made this known at an operational review meeting with zonal coordinators and state controllers of the agency in Abuja on Wednesday.

    Babandede also said that the NIS made a total payment of N38, 531 in the year under review, leaving a surplus of one million naira.

    He said that the dollar component (29.9 million dollars) was deposited into the Federation Account in line with financial regulations.

    Giving a breakdown of the funds generated, he said N14 billion was generated from passport issuance, N72 million from ECOWAS travel documents, and N1.9 billion from address verification fees paid by passport applicants.

    Babandede said that N186 million was realised from non-refundable administrative fees, N20 billion from issuance of resident permits and N1.6 billion from e-pass (penalties paid by foreigners, who overstayed in the country).

    On the dollar component of the revenue, he said 28 million dollars was generated from passport and one million dollars from the issuance of visa on arrival.

    The NIS said the monies were generated under a Public Private Partnership (PPP) arrangement, thus the expenditure involved payments to private companies for services rendered to the agency.

    The breakdown of the expenditure shows that N10 billion was paid to Iris Technologies, N1.4 billion to New works Solutions, N303 million to the National e-Government, and N744 million to Greater Washington.

    Babandede said that N15 billion was paid to Contec, the NIS technical partner on resident permits, N219 million to the Federal Ministry of Interior for supervision of the issuance of resident permits, and N2 billion to NIS “payment to IP Telcom’’.

    The comptroller-general said N268 million was paid to the Nigeria Security and Minting Company for services rendered to the agency, one billion naira to the Federal Inland Revenue Service ( FIRS ) as tax on services rendered by the NIS.

    The immigration boss further said that N5 billion was paid to government as sub-treasury, while N101 million went to IP Telcom for document-scanning services rendered to the NIS.

    NAN

  • EU seeks ways to bridge Nigeria’s gender gap

    The Head of the EU Delegation to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Mr Ketil Karlsen, said on Wednesday that the union was seeking ways to bridge gender gap in Nigeria, ahead of the country’s general elections next year.

    A statement by the press officer to the delegation, Mr Modestus Chukwulaka, in Abuja quoted Karlsen as saying that “the EU is committed to seeing more Nigerian women participate in politics”.

    Karlsen said the EU was putting measures in place to ensure active involvement of women in politics in the country.

    He said that to this end, the EU was organising a one-day seminar to mark the International Women’s Month, in Abuja, which he said would focus attention on women’s participation in politics in Nigeria.

    He said that the seminar, scheduled to take place on March 23 would discuss how Nigeria’s leadership selection process could be made more inclusive to accommodate women.

    Participants, according to him, will explore ways in which women can be empowered to succeed in party primaries and in elections.

    He said that they would also discuss how the playing field could be levelled and made less hostile to female candidates.

    Chukwulaka said that the seminar, with theme: “How Do Women Win Elections in 2019?’’, would draw participants from the National Assembly, civil society and female politicians.

    According to him, the EU has been working with governments, institutions and civil society actors to bridge the gender gaps in Nigeria.

    “The EU has been supporting programmes, aimed at empowering girls and women, protecting their rights, transforming their lives and strengthening their voice as drivers of sustainable development.

    “Less than five per cent of Nigeria’s 469-member National Assembly is women.

    “The event will allow us to reflect on and celebrate the progress made towards full attainment of women’s rights as well as to build momentum and support for further action,” Karlsen said.

    NAN

  • EU expresses concern over herdsmen, farmers conflicts

    The European Union ( EU ) Heads of Mission on Tuesday expressed concern over what it described as escalating and disturbing killings in the conflict involving herdsmen and farmers in Nigeria.

    A statement in Abuja by the Media Officer to its delegation to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Mr Modestus Chukwulaka, urged the Nigerian government to bring perpetrators of violence of any kind to book

    The mission heads, however, commended President Muhammadu Buhari for visiting the affected states.

    The EU therefore called on the government and stakeholders to engage decisively to promote a constructive dialogue between the feuding parties.

    According to the mission, this should be done to find viable solutions and sustainable economic policies that would permit all to live in peace.

    “As a first step, the perpetrators of violence must be brought to justice. The EU confirms its full support to the Nigerian government and people in their fight against violence in all its forms.

    “The EU also expresses its condolences and sympathy to the families of those killed and injured,” the statement said.

    NAN

  • NEPC, LCCI set up panel on movement of goods in ECOWAS

    A committee, which comprises  the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC), Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), and the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has been set up to enhance the movement of goods within the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

    At the committee’s inauguration  tagged: “Nigeria ECOWAS Export Development”, it was noted that the West African sub-region is a huge market with potential for growth if well harnessed by member states.

    According to the committee, the potential of export from Nigeria into the ECOWAS region can be seen in the items of import into the region from Asia, America and Europe.

    It listed the top 10 products being imported into the region from various parts of the world to include fuel, vehicles, tractors, cycles, machinery, mechanical appliances and boilers, cereals, plastics, pharmaceuticals, fish and seafood.

    LCCI President Mr. Babatunde Ruwase noted that the forum presented an opportunity to review the state of economic integration in the sub-region, identify the challenges and proffer solutions, especially from the private sector perspective.

    He said: “For too long, private sector organisations and institutions have confined themselves to the comfort of their individual countries, while our counterparts in other parts of the world are advancing the frontiers of their economies and markets through integration.

    “In these days of the growing forces of globalisation, this individualistic disposition and outlook may not be sustainable. We need to broaden our perspectives and thinking beyond our individual countries. We should begin to develop not only national, but also continental and global outlook for our businesses and economies.”

    Ruwase emphasised the need to tackle current frustrating barriers to trade in the sub-region, noting that the trade treaties were not being implemented.

     

  • ECOWAS must run leaner, smarter organisation – Buhari

    ECOWAS must run leaner, smarter organisation – Buhari

    President Muhammadu Buhari said on Friday that the Economic Community of West African States, (ECOWAS) must run a leaner and smarter organisation by cutting costs and becoming more efficient to achieve its objectives.

    Speaking while receiving the new President of the ECOWAS Commission, Mr. Jean Claude Brou, at the State House, Abuja, the President also called on the ECOWAS Member States to pay their annual contributions as and when due.

    Buhari, in a statement issued by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, said a lot of work had already been done towards trimming the running cost for which a committee had recommended the reduction of the number of commissioners and the cost of keeping them in office.

    “We must work towards limiting costs, keeping the number of statutory positions low and running the organisation more efficiently,” he said.

    The Nigerian leader, while welcoming the new President of the ECOWAS Commission to Abuja, pledged the full support of the Federal Government in ensuring that his tenure was successful.

    He added: “The task is enormous. The job is not easy, given the many challenges facing the sub-region, ranging from issues of security and that posed by the environment, including the shrinkage of the Lake Chad.”