The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Minister of Foreign Affairs

  • Nigeria-Morocco to sign 15 bilateral agreements – Minister

    Nigeria-Morocco to sign 15 bilateral agreements – Minister

    15 agreements in various areas of cooperation, are expected to be signed between Nigeria and the Kingdom of Morocco.

    This information was given by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr Geoffrey Onyeama

    Confirming this to State House correspondents in Abuja on Friday, Onyeama said President Muhammadu Buhari and the Moroccan King, Mohammed VI would be witnesses to the signing.

    According to the minister, the agreements which will create mutual benefits to both countries, will touch on trades, oil and gas, fertilizer production amongst others.

    “There are about 15 agreements that are going to be signed in various areas of cooperation.

    “You know in private sector, Dangote company will be signing agreement on fertilizer production because Morocco is a big fertilizer producer and of course we are hoping that together we can be able to produce fertilizer at affordable price in this country.

    “In the agricultural area, fishery, there is an agreement to be signed there; Air travel Agreement, the Sovereign Wealth Fund; to help us in the in the Clean Energy,’’ he said

    On what Nigeria stands to gain from the King’s visit, he said: “Hopefully in the short and medium terms it could run into billions.

    “We are looking at a trans-Africa gas pipeline that is going to run along the coast of West Africa from Nigeria to Morocco giving us the potential to supply gas to Europe directly. We are talking billions of dollars there.

    “The potential is enormous. The visit is very important, it is a win-win visit, win for Morocco and win for Nigeria.’’

  • Nigeria, Morocco to sign 15 bilateral agreements

    Nigeria, Morocco to sign 15 bilateral agreements

    Nigeria and Morocco are set to sign fifteen bilateral agreements.

    The King of Morocco, His Majesty King Mohammed VI, who is on three-day visit to Nigeria, was received by President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    The two leaders are to witness the signing of the agreements.

    Speaking with State House correspondents, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyema said that the agreements would touch on Trades, oil and other sectors.

    On what Nigeria stands to gain from the Morocco King’s visit, he said: “Hopefully in the short and medium terms it could run into billions. We are looking at a trans-Africa gas pipeline that is going to run along the coast of West Africa from Nigeria to Morocco giving us the potential to supply gas to Europe directly. We are talking billions of dollars there.

    “And also production of fertilizer, Morocco is a big … So establishing production plant here to produce fertilizer and supply to West Africa sub region is also going to run into billions of dollars.

    “The potential is enormous. The visit is very important, it is a win-win visit, win for Morocco and win for Nigeria,” he stated.

  • Sex Scandal: Accused Reps Challenge Entwistle over evidence

    Sex Scandal: Accused Reps Challenge Entwistle over evidence

    Though the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama was absent for the second time running at the hearing of the allegation of sexual misconduct leveled against three members of the House of Representatives, the joint committee nonetheless listened to submissions from the lawmakers.

    The Joint House Committees on Ethics and Privileges and Foreign Affairs also began the investigation Wednesday without presentation or representation from the Ambassador of the United States to Nigeria, James F. Entwistle.

    But the three accused lawmakers not only professed their innocence, they also threatened to commence legal proceedings against the US government and the hotel from which the accusation initially emanated.

    Recall that Hon. Mohammed Garba Gololo (APC, Bauchi), Hon. Samuel Ikon (PDP, Akwa Ibom) and Hon. Mark Gbillah (APC, Benue) who were part of 10 legislators invited by the US government for the International Visitor Leadership Program held between April 7 and 13, 2016 in Cleveland, Ohio were accused of sexual misconduct.

    But the lawmakers Wednesday accused Entwistle of falsehood and racial bias, while re- echoing their earlier statements that they were denied fair hearing in the matter.

    Mark Gbillah, one of the accused became misty- eyed at the event after giving his testimony.

    Though the Chairman of the joint Committee Hon. Ossai Nicholas Ossai said the Minister wrote in to say that he was attending the Federal Executive Council meeting and that he would be in attendant Thursday, he insisted that Entwistle must be present at the hearing.

    Hon. Mohammed Gololo (Bauchi, APC) while presenting his case denied the allegation and described it as unsubstantiated by the US envoy to Nigeria.

    According to him, he never met any hotel attendant in the course of his visit to the United States of America for the programme and that he never had a maid clean his room while he was in Cleveland, Ohio.

    While demanding an apology for being falsely accused, Gololo wondered why the hotel maid he allegedly grabbed did not shout for help.

    He said Entwistle had failed to prove his case. “These postponements (of appearance by minister) are denials in disguise,” he claimed.

    Hon. Mark Gbillah (Benue, APC) while giving his side of the story described the allegation on the sex scandal as a baseless one, adding that he never engaged with a car park attendant to arrange a prostitute  for him.

    He expressed readiness to sue the US Embassy in a law court and claim damages over the allegation, saying the allegation emanated from deep-rooted animosity and disdain for Nigeria and other developing nations, by the United States of America.

    He challenged the US envoy to provide proof to back his allegation that he asked a car park attendant at the hotel to procure the services of a prostitute for him, adding that he was a victim of racial profiling,

    Samuel Ikon (Akwa-Ibom, APC) said he was not involved in any discussion with any hotel car park attendant during the US visit.

    His health condition at that time could not have allowed him solicit for sex. He said the accusation has caused him profound embarrassment and called on Entwistle to provide evidence against him to probe the allegation.

    Ossai adjourned hearing to Thursday saying it would give the Minister of foreign Affairs an opportunity to provide insight into the matter.

    He however insisted that Entwistle must testify at the Thursday hearing.

  • Kidnapping: FG meets with delegation from Sierra Leone 

    Kidnapping: FG meets with delegation from Sierra Leone 

    Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama, has met with a high-powered delegation from Sierra Leone led by Dr. Samura Mathew Wilson Kamara, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Sierra Leone.

    The meeting was not unconnected with the recent abduction and rescue of the senior Sierra Leonian diplomat who was kidnapped on the Abuja – Kaduna highway on 30 June 2016.
    The meeting also afforded both countries to discuss other issues, including matters of bilateral interest.

    The Ministers expressed their commitment to revive the Nigeria/Sierra Leone Joint Commission with a view to strengthening bilateral relations between their two countries.

    The Ministers exchanged views on global affairs including, notably, the reform of the United Nations Security Council which will be on the agenda of the 27th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union taking place in Kigali, Rwanda from 10 – 18 July 2016.

    The Ministers took note of the current state of affairs in the Security Council reform effort and the multi-dimensional challenges in the process. They underscored the need for greater solidarity among African countries in the reform effort.

    The meeting took place in a cordial atmosphere which reflects the excellent longstanding relations between Nigeria and Sierra Leone.

  • Ministers, SGF shun Senate invitation

    Ministers, SGF shun Senate invitation

    The frosty relationship existing between the Presidency and the Senate further deepen Thursday.

    Three ministers and Secretary to Government of the Federation (SGF), Mr. Babachir David Lawal, summoned by the Senate to appear before its separate committees failed to honour the invitation.

    The development emerged as Senate Thursday adjourned plenary for three weeks to observe its end of session.

    The Senate, Thursday, got messier, as the Secretary to Government of the Federation (SGF), Mr. Babachir Lawal and four Ministers, shunned summons extended to them by the Upper Legislative Chamber.

    Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), Mallam Ababakar Malami, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Geoffrey Onyeama; and Minister of Communications, Mr. Adebayo Shittu, were invited to face various Senate committees to clear certain grey areas.

    Specially, the Senate summoned the AGF on Tuesday to appear before its committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters to explain why the suit against Senate President, Abubakar Bukola Saraki and Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu, over alleged forgery of the Senate Standing Rules of 2015 became necessary.

    This resolution to invite the AGF followed the adoption of a motion of national urgent importance raised by Senator Dino Melaye (APC, Kogi West).

    On the other hand, the SGF, Mr. Lawal and Foreign Affairs Minister, Onyeama did not also turn up to clarify in honour of their invitation.

    Lawal and Onyeama were invited to explain the criteria adopted in the selection of ambassadorial nominees recently forwarded to the Senate for consideration and confirmation by President Buhari.

    While Minister of Communications, Mr. Shittu who was invited by the Senate committee on Communications to explain the reduction of the fine imposed on MTN for alleged operational misconduct by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC)

    Shittu did not also show up.

    The MTN sanction was originally N1.04 trillion, later reduced to N780 billion and again reduced to N330 billion by the Federal Government.

    The non-appearance of the Minister of Communications may have prompted a motion by the Chairman, Senate Committee on Communication, Senator Gilbert Nnaji which got Senate nod to summon the Minister and some other stakeholders once again.

    The two prayers of the motion asked Senate to “Direct the Committee on Communication to invite all the relevant stakeholders including the Minister of Justice, Accountant General of the Federation, Minister of Communication, executive vice chairman of NCC, Governor of Central Bank, managing director MTN Nigeria Limited and all other parties involved in all negotiations of the MTN deal to shed light on the matter especially whether the reduction was in accordance with the regulation of the NCC governing fines and penalties.

    To “Urge the Federal Government to move the initial amount of N50 billion from the CBN recovery account to the CBN/NCC treasury single account.”

    The prayers were unanimously adopted.

    Senate President, Abubakar Bukola Saraki directed the committee chairman report back in two weeks by the time the Senate resumes from its break.

    Nnaji noted in his lead debate that Senate is aware that the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) enabled by the Nigerian Communications Act, 2003 is the statutory regulator for the telecommunications industry in Nigeria.

    He said that as the regulator, the commission has been imposing fines on erring telecom operators over the years and proceeds from the redemption of such fines have been lodged in the commission’s designated account.

    The Enugu East lawmaker recalled that in October 2015, in line with the Nigerian Communications Commission Registration of Telephone Subscribers) Regulation, 2011, the Nigerian Communications Commission imposed a fine of N1.04 trillion on MTN Communications Nigeria Limited for failing to deactivate 5.2 million unregistered subscribers on its network.

    He prayed the Senate to note that Section 19 and 20 of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) registration of telephone subscribers’ regulation 2011 does not empower the commission or another entity or government officials to reduce any fine so imposed.

    Nnaji regretted that the MTN fine was unilaterally reduced from N780 billion without the input of the Ministry of Communications and the NCC which “constitutes a flagrant breach of this regulation and an attempt to whittle down the authority of the commission.”

    He added that through some negotiation process excluding the ministry and the commission but championed by the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation; MTN was requested to pay the sum of N50 billion as a gesture of good faith towards the settlement of the fine.

    “Mr President, the Senate recalls that the attendant confusion created by the claim and counter claim over the veracity of the payment of the said N50 billion by MTN and the domiciliation of the money in a CBN recovery account, as if the money in question was a stolen fund, prompted the committee on communications to embark on a fact finding meeting of all stakeholders involved on March 10, 2016.

    “These included the Attorney General of the Federation, Accountant General of the Federation, Minister for Communications, Governor of Central bank of Nigeria, executive vice chairman of NCC, and the managing director MTN Nigeria Limited.

    “The senate regrets to discover by the admission of the accountant general of the federation at the meeting that the said N50 billion was actually lost in a CBN recovery account on the instruction of the accountant general of the federation.

     

    “Further regret to discover through a document available to the committee that MTN had already made a proposal of final payment of N300 billion as at the time of the meeting of the meeting in March which led the committee to conclude that there was a secret agreement between MTN, the Attorney General of the Federation, the Accountant General of the Federation to admit the N50 billion as the commencement of the execution of a final agreement of N300 billion.

     

    “The senate alarmed to observe that the reduced fine of N780 billion was further slashed to N330 billion through a settlement payment plan that smacks of unpatrotism and insensitivity of the parties that agreed to the new amount in spite of the economic plight currently facing the country.

     

    “The senate laments that Nigeria has been shortchanged in this whole process of account of the ridiculous settlement payment plan coupled with the disparity in the exchange rate regime when the fine was imposed abinitio compared with the current prevailing exchange rate where the value of naira is taking a downward slide.

    “The senate notes therefore as the representatives of the Nigerian people we are saddened about this development coming at a time when the Nigerian economy needs all the available capital infusion to bolster it,” Nnaji said.

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  • Germany, Nigeria to strengthen relations says envoy

    Germany, Nigeria to strengthen relations says envoy

    The Minister of State, Foreign Office, Germany, Mr Markus Ederer, has assured Nigeria of his country’s support for President Mohammadu Buhari’s Administration.

    Ederer gave the assurance in Abuja Monday during a Bi-National Commission (BNC) meeting prelude with the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Geoffery Onyeama.

    Ederer is head of Germany delegation led to the Nigeria-German BNC meeting of the 6th working Group on Political Consultation.

    He described the relationship between Nigeria and his country as not just important but very strategic, adding that the meeting was an expression of the deep relationship between them.

    The envoy stressed on the need for the two countries to strengthen the existing relationship between them; adding that the two countries need the support of each other.

    “Nigeria is really important because we don’t have bi National commission with many countries but Nigeria is an exemption here.

    “You talk about support, in the globalized world you have to support each other.

    “We have common issues we are dealing with which includes climate change, migration, and human security. We are happy to have Nigeria as partners. The issue of Security Council is our common agenda.

    “When we look at our development cooperation, the issue of renewable energy and security, we have a very broad agenda and which we need to touch every year.

    “And that is why I am here with my delegation,’” he said.

    In his remark, Onyeama said the importance of relationship between Nigeria and Germany could not be undermined.

    He said the visit of President Mohammadu Buhari to Germany earlier was to cement the existing relationship between the two countries.

    “It was a very important meeting because it set d tone for his administration.

    “The meeting gave him an opportunity to meet with important West leaders and to set an agenda that has really highlighted a major impact that has been trajectory for this administration,” he said.

    While expressing appreciation for the meeting the minister said tha the bi-national meeting would consolidate the relationship.

    The Permanent Secretary to the Ministry, Amb. Bulu Lolo who led Nigerian delegation to the BNC said that the meeting was a mecahanisim to strengthen the relationship between them.

    The bi National conference is a mechanism between Nigeria and Germany, we have used it to cover a lot of issues, regional, international issue, through the mechanism our relationship has been strengthen,” he said.