The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Relations

  • Okowa hails firm for community relations

    Okowa hails firm for community relations

    •Inaugurates projects

    Delta State Governor Ifeanyi Okowa has hailed Seplat Petroleum Development Company for the progress it is making in the development of its host communities in Delta and Edo states.

    He spoke at the inauguration of eight projects embarked on by the NPDC SEPLAT Joint Venture in Ugborhen community, Sapele Local Government.

    The projects inaugurated by the governor include: the 3.6km Elume-Ugborhen road; 3.4km Ugborhen-Ugbukurusu road; 3.76km Ugborhen-Ikeresan road; 1.09km Okuovu-1 community road; Concrete drainage system/road protection in Ugborhen; Ugborhen Housing Scheme; Ugborhen Solar Powered Water Scheme; two blocks of four-classrooms and science laboratory at Adaka Grammar School; Ugborhen Ultra-modern town hall and civic centre.

    Okowa noted that investments by companies, such as  Seplat in the development of host communities would enhance the confidence of indigenes of oil producing communities, while encouraging peace in the Niger Delta and the country as a whole.

    He advised other oil prospecting companies to emulate Seplat’s effort in developing their host communities.

    Okowa said: “I am glad to see partnerships like this between oil prospecting companies and their host communities. The job of government will be much lighter if oil companies and communities partner in this manner to develop our communities. I congratulate Seplat for the good work it has done since it came into operation. I also congratulate the community for working together with the company as I look forward to seeing more oil prospecting companies engaging in this kind of positive relationships.”

    He donated ten million naira to the community for the furnishing of the town hall and civic centre.

    The governor promised to build an examination hall at the Adaka Grammar School, Ugborhen.

    The Chief Executive Officer of Seplat Petroleum, Mr. Austin Avuru, who thanked the governor for honouring Seplat’s invitation, said the welfare of members of the communities hosting the company’s operation would always remain its priority.

    He said Seplat was committed to the progress of residents “of these communities and this influenced the decision to periodically embark on development projects affecting the health, education and general well-being of the people as contained in the global MOU Seplat signed with its host communities in 2010.”

  • Xenophobia and Nigeria/South Africa relations

    The latest wave of violent attacks on the Nigerians living in South Africa has generated local and international condemnation. This article examines the   core issues of racial intolerance and dislike for foreigners, particularly Nigerians in South Africa, within the broader historical framework of the apartheid regime and the post-apartheid socio-economic relations which have over time shaped the existential notions of false community, vague entitlement and empty sense of belonging amongst a number of black South Africans. It further highlights and provides fresh perspectives to addressing reverse migration and building for Nigeria a positive foreign policy template that promotes genuine national pride and national interest.

    Indeed, the issue of xenophobia in contemporary South Africa in my view is profound psychosomatic carryovers and the negative product of the apartheid regime that cannot be wished away from the collective consciousness of the people of the rainbow nation. This is even more so, given the attendant dispossession of their heritage and personal pride by the despicable and repugnant apartheid regime, which exploited them in their own land. The reality of these historical facts has continued to obstruct the wheel of progress and development. Furthermore, the political crisis of that dark era led to social dislocation, which in turn affected their economic means, educational advancement and developing the required skill sets that would have prepared them for high-level jobs and proper integration into a new South Africa promising a brighter future.

    While xenophobic violence is not a new phenomenon in post-apartheid South Africa, the sudden explosion of violence has been attributed to a combination of factors which include local political pressures over time, increases in prices of basic goods, high levels of unemployment estimated at 25 percent and growing concerns and frustrations at the inability of the South African government under incumbent President Jacob Zuma to provide essential services to poor people and the resultant economic hardship and tensions surrounding crime and competition over scarce resources by non-national population. The continued socio-economic issues are pushing the average Black South African into extreme poverty in the midst of plenty and there is a high level of dissatisfaction with the scheme of things after the fall of the apartheid regime.

    It would be recalled that between May and June 2008, there were 135 separate violent incidents that left 62 people dead, at least 670 wounded and unfortunately, dozens were carnally assaulted and many properties destroyed and looted. In addition, the South Africa domestic environment has been hostile to non- nationals particularly, undocumented migrants and there is implicit culture of impunity, which encourages mob justice in most communities. Interestingly, South African state security institutions such as the police and immigration services show no sympathy to black settlers from other African countries; the xenophobia appears institutionalized. Therefore, Nigeria’s international diplomacy should not dwell much on the criticism of the recent xenophobic attacks in South Africa, but rather much attention should be placed on understanding the dynamics of international politics, which is a game of selective morality, outrageous paradox and double standard. Hence, concrete efforts should be made at home to culture an enabling environment that would create jobs and livelihoods for the common people in Nigeria. In addition, Nigeria must re-jig her diplomatic institutions to engage the South African government.

    It is important to note that people migrating in search of safer and more prosperous living conditions is as old as man and the right of any person to leave any country is enshrined in the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the 1965 International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination.

    While it is not possible to eliminate social tensions in any country, it is expedient on the part of the South African government and its nationals to respect universal and regional treaties, declarations, norms, protocols and conventions rather than resort to barbarous acts that have outraged the conscience of Nigerians and Africans. Indeed the unwholesome politicisation of migration as an excuse for xenophobia in South Africa must be addressed by diplomatic means by both countries. The issues and factors of migration that include increased unemployment, poverty and greed must be top in re-tooling the new Nigeria-South Africa partnership. Both countries must promote and sustain protection mechanisms for human rights and conducive environments for decent work by migrant workers and their families whether documented (economic) migrants or undocumented migrants.

    Sadly, one major challenge in Nigeria-South Africa relations over years, beyond the recent violent attacks on Nigerians and other Africans, is lack of mutual diplomatic and tactful reciprocity on the part of the South Africa government and the country’s non-state actors for the strategic role Nigeria played in the struggle against apartheid. In addition, this is why Nigerians are angry at the latest attacks. Nigeria played a frontline role in ensuring freedom for black South Africans through the mobilisation of international opinion to isolate the apartheid regime in the global community, business and sports.

    Equally, Nigeria has also provided a robust and unrestricted market for South African businesses like MTN and Multichoice. Therefore, Nigeria must also forge strategic business alliance in South Africa to balance the insalubrious business equation. Furthermore, beyond the existing skewed bilateral and economic relations in favour of South African businesses in Nigeria, there is an urgent need for both countries to initiate a liberalised migration regime and a robust migration management capacity towards enhancing and strengthening the strategic role of Nigerians in the diasporas as development partner and factoring their contributions to the overall Africa development agenda for sustainable peace and security.

    The two countries in my view are not exploiting their leadership and governance roles in sustaining the African dream and indeed the drive for poverty eradication through the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Indeed, South Africa and Nigeria, representing the two leading economies in Africa, must play leading roles in driving a sustainable green revolution that would provide food security thereby contributing significantly to overcoming hunger and social tensions that have fueled African emigrations. It is imperative for the government under the leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari to escalate and mainstream key external relations that are mutually beneficial in ties with South Africa, while respecting all treaties and obligations on persons and related matters.

    Crucially, sustained job creation particularly for youths at home and positive image-building abroad would enhance the respectability of Nigerians in the Diasporas and indeed address the negative way the world sees us as a people and a nation. Furthermore, our government at home must understand the relationship between poverty, irregular migration and the overall issues of xenophobia, which is not new in South Africa.

    Nigeria’s relevance within the global system depends on relative strength and control at the domestic level and our continued relevance within the Africa continent and indeed the changing world. Against this backdrop, Nigeria’s international communication and reputational image-building mechanisms must be hinged on diplomatic caution and decency to safeguard our nationals wherever they are in the globe, beyond the xenophobic realities in South Africa.

    In addition, the African union (AU) has to be alive to its continental responsibility for the emancipation of Africans from the clutches of poverty, walking the talk of development for its people across the continent.

    Overall, Nigeria’s international engagement strategy should be done with diplomatic finesse and dexterity and pragmatic efforts should be pursued to improve on our foreign relations mechanisms, particularly on the issues of cross-border migration. Nigeria should desire to play by the rule of international obligations in spite of its visible failings at home in providing basic social welfare and essential services for majority of its people who live on less than one dollar a day. The challenge of xenophobic attacks again is wake up call for the Nigerian government to organise its affairs by improving living conditions at home, as well as strengthening its foreign policy objectives.

     

    • Orovwuje is founder, Humanitarian Care for Displaced Persons, Lagos.
  • Will the Trump US presidency hurt Nigeria-US relations?

    Will the Trump US presidency hurt Nigeria-US relations?

    Very few in Nigeria expected Donald Trump to win the presidential elections in the US. His election was received in Nigeria, as in most foreign countries, with some concern and consternation. Public opinion in Nigeria favoured Hillary Clinton, his democratic opponent and former US Secretary of State. Her husband, Bill Clinton, was quite popular in Nigeria when he was US president. He had a street named after him in Abuja. As a political figure Donald Trump was largely unknown, and his disturbing campaign rhetoric with a tinge of xenophobia was the source of much global concern. Some of the things he said he would do if elected are quite disturbing. He said he would restrict immigration, particularly of Moslems, Africans and Mexicans, into the US; that he would build a wall on the Mexican border with the US, and that he would, if elected, repudiate some of the bilateral and multilateral trade agreements concluded by the US with other foreign countries. Very few thought this possible, Many thought  that if elected he would be compelled by global realities and strong domestic opposition to drop some of these wild ideas. Like Hitler before him the world underestimated his resolve to make America ‘great’ again, even if it means destroying long standing friendly diplomatic and political relations with America’s allies.

    Within two weeks of being sworn as President of the US, Donald Trump has, through Executive Orders, begun implementing some of the weird policies many thought were impossible. He is brave, brash, unconventional, hugely controversial and unpredictable. It is early days yet, and no one knows how far he will go in seeking to make America ‘great’ again by breaking the existing international system and order. His narrow, limited and illiberal world view has serious global consequences. He says it is ‘America First’. This is a negation of the principles and liberal philosophy that have made the US such a great and admirable nation. Under him the US will become increasingly isolationist as it turns its back on the rest of the world including its allies. It is a misguided approach, and one that will not make America a great nation again.

    In the case of Nigeria and Africa, it is safe to say that Donald Trump is not really interested in Africa. He does not know Africa, has no direct business investments there, and has probably never visited the continent, at least sub-Saharan Africa, before. Africa is really low in his world view and agenda. During his election campaign he hardly ever mentioned Africa. On the few occasions he did it was to denigrate and condemn her, particularly Nigeria and Kenya, for corruption. From that perspective, he is not likely to show much interest in African affairs. That will be good for Africa as he is unlikely to pursue any interventionist policy or strategy there. A blundering American president will not do Africa any good. China’s growing influence and economic relations with African countries may spur him to seek to engage Africa to counter Chinese influence there. But US trade and economic ties with Africa are insignificant when compared to its dominant share of world trade. Africa accounts for less than 5 per cent of world trade and most of the meagre US investments in Africa are in oil and gas and the extractive industries. America has little or no investment in the development of infrastructure in Africa. In fact, China and India now trade more with Africa than the US. So, Africa will not lose much by a possible Trump policy of benign neglect towards it. It has strategic interests in Africa (in Nigeria, Egypt and South Africa) that it will seek to maintain and protect. But the period of the cold war and competition for political influence in Africa by the great powers is over. That accounts for the relative political stability in Africa in recent years. Foreign meddling in African affairs has diminished. For now, China is in Africa largely to seek new markets for its bludgeoning exports.

    How will Donald Trump’s foreign policy affect Nigeria? On November 27, 2016, the Vanguard published excerpts of an interview with the new permanent secretary in the Foreign Ministry in which he assured the nation that the election of Donald Trump as the US president will not disrupt, or have any negative effect on Nigeria’s long standing cordial relations with the US, under successive US presidents, Republican and Democrat. That view is broadly correct. Though there have occasionally been strains in our relations with the US (Angola and Africom), particularly during the process of decolonization in Southern Africa in the1980s, our bilateral relations at all levels with the US have remained mature and cordial. Both sides recognize the strategic need to maintain the amity between them carefully developed over five decades, since Nigeria’s independence in 1960. In fact, the US was one of the countries that sponsored Nigeria’s admission into the UN soon after its independence in 1960

    However, the new permanent secretary in the Foreign Ministry was careful enough to add that, though there was really little or nothing to worry about in Nigeria over a Donald Trump presidency, the Foreign Ministry was holding a retreat for its top diplomats in Abuja on Monday, November 28, 2016, to brainstorm and deliberate on what Donald Trump’s presidency of the US could mean for Nigeria’s relations with the US. Although such retreats are not unusual and  are held when occasion demands, the retreat on the possible repercussions for Nigeria of a Trump presidency indicate some uneasiness in the Foreign Ministry about the possible effects of a Trump presidency on our bilateral relations. He said this retreat was being held to consider all the possible scenarios, options and eventualities that could have some effect on Nigeria’s relations with the US.

    Broadly, there are three issues, immigration, security cooperation, and economic co-operation that underpin Nigeria-US bilateral relations. These have to be handled by Nigeria deftly and professionally. The first is immigration which could lead to tensions with the US.. Until recently the emigration of a large number of Nigerians to the US in search of new economic opportunities to escape poverty at home was not a major issue in bilateral relations between the two countries. Now it could become one. It is estimated that there are over 1 million Nigerians now living and working in the US. Most of them are there legally and have made an immense contribution to the US in the health, education, transportation, housing, IT, and cultural sectors. Some of them are making waves in medicine, computer, engineering and computer science. There are hundreds of Nigerians teaching in American Universities as well as a preponderant number of Nigerian doctors and nurses making an outstanding contribution to the US health delivery system. Donald Trump has been reported as complaining that Nigerians were taking away jobs from white Americans. He was reported as even threatening to build a transatlantic wall to stop Nigerians going to the US. But this is totally unjustified and reprehensible.  We are very proud of the immense contribution some of our people are making to the US. Nigeria’s loss in this regard is America’s gain. It is the duty and responsibility of our government and diplomats to ensure that these Nigerians are treated fairly all across the US; that their rights are protected by the US government as legal US residents. Some of them have dual nationalities. As I write this there is as yet no Nigerian Ambassador in Washington who can begin to engage the new Trump US administration expeditiously. This is regrettable as early contacts with the new administration are vital to Nigeria’s interests in the US. It is important for Nigeria to let the new US administration understand at the highest levels how we feel about President Trump’s hostility to African-Americans in the US. For many would-be immigrants the American dream is now a nightmare.

    There are some Nigerians, possibly in their thousands, who are in the US illegally in breach of US immigration laws.  But Nigeria is not one of the seven Moslem dominated countries on which the Trump government has imposed a ban or restriction on entry into the US. This is in recognition of the fact that Nigeria does not sponsor Islamic jihadist terrorism in the US. It is a multi religious secular country. It is itself a victim of the Boko Haram terrorists that claim association with ISIS, Trump’s bogey. We have a common interest in this regard. Nevertheless, these illegal Nigerian immigrants will face a hard time under these new restrictions or travel bans introduced by the Trump administration. The travel ban order is being challenged in federal circuit courts in the US and could go as far as the US Supreme Court for final determination. Until this matter is judicially resolved Nigerians living illegally in the US may lose their jobs and possible deportation. A few, including those who have valid US entry visas, are already being denied entry into the US. The US is a nation of immigrants of diverse race and culture. But it is largely white and racist. Its loss of global power and influence will make it increasingly racist and isolationist. It will be less tolerant of new non-white immigrants. As under Trump America turns inwards one should expect that it will seek to shut its doors on Africans, including Nigerians, which constitute the largest number of African immigrant communities in the US.

    At the economic level, Nigeria cannot expect new US investments from the US. Trump has made it clear he wants American companies to invest more in the US and bring back jobs allegedly lost to foreign companies. US oil companies are doing good business in Nigeria but there are little or no US investments in other sectors of the Nigerian economy. Total US trade with Africa in 2015 was only $35 billion; its investment was a paltry $6billion, in both cases far lower than Chinese trade and investments in Africa. The African Growth Opportunities Act (AGOA) under which America seeks to promote trade with Africa by lowering American tariffs for African exports has not worked out because of poor African response and trans shipment by Asian countries of their manufactured exports for African exports. In addition African economies face an uphill task developing local industries that can compete effectively with Asian economies in the US market. Globalization of world trade has not worked very well for African economies. It has led to loss of industrial production and capacity, worsened by the global recession that has hit African economies very badly. The Joint US-Nigeria Commissions intended to promote economic cooperation between the two countries have remained largely moribund. The US is not seriously interested in these commissions. Under Trump the US may abandon them completely.

    It is in the area of security that both countries have been cooperating in recent years. ISIS threatens US security while Boko Haram presents a serious threat to Nigeria’s internal security. The US has been assisting Nigeria with non-lethal American military supplies. It has also been sharing military and security intelligence with Nigeria. The US takes the stability and security of Nigeria very seriously. Nigeria’s peace keeping role in Africa is recognized as vital to American security interests in Africa. Nigeria is still a fragile country threatened from within by ethnic, tribal, and religious divisions. America’s continued support for the stability and viability of Nigeria as a strong, democratic, peaceful and stable country is vital to Nigeria. But ultimately, it is up to Nigeria and its leadership to move Nigeria in a more positive direction that will create new jobs, reduce mass poverty and make Nigeria an economic success story. The US or any other foreign country cannot do that for us. And if Nigeria implodes you can be sure that under Trump the US will feel obliged to intervene massively to stop further emigration of Nigerians to the US.

  • Nigeria, Turkey to build on $2.3b trade relations

    The National Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industries, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA) has beefed up trade ties with Turkey, the 18th largest economy in the world. This is in view of the dwindling revenue from oil.

    The consolidation between NACCIMA and Turkey is expected to yield more investment to boost major sectors, including power, manufacturing, mining, construction, agricultur/agro-allied, aviation and security.

    NACCIMA President, Dr. Bassey Edem, who spoke at the Nigeria-Turkey business forum in Abuja, during the week, said it was imperative for the countries to strengthen extant trade relations considering the huge trade volume built over the years.

    He expressed Nigeria’s readiness to negotiate specific incentives for investors in consultation with appropriate government agencies and also assist incoming and existing investors with the provision of support services as well as facilitate procurement of all business approvals.

    “Nigeria and Turkey have over the years sought a way to fill the vacuum that exists between the two country’s trade relations, through signing bilateral agreements, organizing trade shows and exhibitions in Nigeria and Turkey to encourage both countries open up more trade and investment relations,” he said.

    According to the president, the trade volume between the two countries which stood at $2.3 billion as at 2014, needs to be enhanced, hence the need for Turkish business partners to utilise the opportunity of the forum to further develop long term business relationship with Nigerian counterparts.

    He said: “Even though Turkey currently has a comparative advantage with respect to trade relationship between it and Nigeria, we believe this could be balanced when our Turkish counterparts consider more of technology transfer by partnering with their Nigerian counterparts to invest in some specific sectors of the Nigerian economy most especially at this time that the Nigeria Government is very committed to the diversification of the economy from crude oil.”

    Noting that Nigeria is among the next destinations for global economic prosperity, he said the country’s emerging market economy is positioned as the largest in Africa and 26th in the world, with a Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of over $520 million and a population of over 170 million people.

    He added that Nigeria remains a thriving investment destination in Africa with the certainty of good return on investment within a reasonable time span.

    President Republic of Turkey, Mr. Tayyip Erdogan, said Nigeria plays an important role in Turkey’s African initiative hence Turkey has high interest in expanding her business foray in Nigeria.

    “As the Turkish business community, we also support Nigeria’s goal of becoming one of the top-20 countries by 2020. We believe that Turkey has an important role to play for Nigeria to realise this goal,” Erdogan said.

    He reiterated that the country is  working towards substantial partnership to increase the trade volume between both countries in a short time.

  • Improving civil-military relations

    Improving civil-military relations

    •The bloody conflict between the Nigerian Army and the Shi’ite Islamic group in Zaria makes regular dialogue between the military and civil groups imperative

    The bloody battle between the Shi’ite Islamic group led by Sheikh Ibrahim ElZakzaky and the Nigerian Army is most regrettable. The monumental loss of lives and property should provoke indignation by all Nigerians. We are pained that some Nigerians could confront the military armed and trained with public funds in the manner it happened in Zaria and at such a great cost. But, the question to ask is what caused the showdown and what should be done to avoid a repeat?

    We note that this is not the first time such confrontation and casualties would be recorded. As the military explained even with video evidence, the Shi’ite group had blocked a federal highway, thus preventing motorists from pursuing their legitimate businesses. Many plying the road were made to park by the roadside by men of the Elzakzaky Islamic Movement who insisted that it was their anniversary and that had conferred on them the right to effect a blockage.

    This was wrong. The highway belongs to all. Not even the federal or state government has the right to block it without acceptable reason and due notice.

    Although Nigerians have the right to protest or hold rallies, this should be done with due caution. Each person’s or group’s right should be exercised with due attention paid to the rights of others. The Islamic group had no right superior to those of other citizens who had cause to ply the road on the fateful day. The freedom of movement enshrined in the 1999 Constitution is basic and available to all and could not be denied anyone except as allowed by law. It should be noted that the Nigerian Army thus had the right of way on the day.

    It is unfortunate that the Islamic group, emboldened by previous similarly illegal moves, sought to deny the Chief of Army Staff and his entourage of passage on the way to paying courtesy call on the Emir of Zaria. It was a needles and costly affront. No group of Nigerians has the right to take the laws into its own hands. We commend the army for engaging the group in a discussion with a view to freeing the highway. We find it difficult to blame the military for responding to the heaving of missiles at the senior military officers sent to discuss with leaders of the group. They acted under provocation and, as the military authorities have pointed out, they responded within the rules of engagement in such circumstances.

    Nigerians must realise that these are no normal times. The security breach in many parts of the country, especially the Boko Haram war in the North has made the military a target of attacks by groups. It is therefore foolhardy to challenge the soldiers to a battle without consideration of the consequences. The military represents the Nigerian state and no group can be allowed to feel superior to the state.

    However, if it is true that the army went back to the site the following day to level the abode of the group’s leader and unleash terror on the people, this is hard to justify. All security forces ought to realise that the best available to them for use in resolving such conflict is minimum force.

    We call on the military authorities to look into the matter with a view to drawing useful lessons for the future. Training in civil-military relations should be stepped up to avoid unnecessary blood-shed. The leadership of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs also owes a responsibility to the Nigerian nation to institute programmes to douse tension in the land and educate their members on the need for peaceful coexistence.

    Groups such as Elzakzaky’s should be tutored on the limits of their rights and how to relate with institutions and symbols of state. We note in this connection that such rifts are decades old and this makes regular orientation courses and programmes among and between religious bodies, and in conjunction with security agencies, necessary.

  • Buhari’s international relations

    SIR: With the victory of President Mohammadu Buhari in the 2015 general elections, Nigeria has become the beautiful bride in the choppy waters of international politics and diplomatic relations. However, there is a growing perception that the renewed relationship and friendship between the United States and Nigeria is being driven solely by America’s need for trade relations in the face of the growing influence and dominance of China in African affairs.

    President Buhari’s ambitious pronouncements represent the keystone of his administration’s foreign policy direction, at least in the short- term, when he pledged to world leaders his uncommon commitment to fighting terrorism, insecurity and corruption. This perhaps underscores his shuttle and summit diplomacy to the G7 summit, and indeed the most recent visit to the global seat of power– the White House.

    Certainly, President Buhari’s recent state visit to the White House and his various town hall engagements with the business and Diaspora community is a welcome start, given President Obama’s and America’s interests and desire for sustainable peace and good governance in Nigeria after the elections. It has become necessary to explore one of the strategic pillars of former President Clinton’s foreign policy doctrine towards Africa -AGOA – on export to the United States, which is also being echoed by the Obama administration to our economic advantage.

    The African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) enacted in 2000 and the subsequent AGOA Acceleration Act of 2004 under the President Bush administration gives preferential trade access to African nations that open their economies and are willing to build free markets. This window of opportunity must be engaged for the development of small and medium enterprises and its attendant benefits of job creation.

    At this moment, another promising way for Nigeria in the new excitement of international relations with the G7 is to engage more meaningfully with the European Union (EU) in more practical ways by rejecting the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) proposals. The EPA is trade agreement between the EU and African countries and indeed Nigeria. The EPA as it currently stands portends negative effects for industrial development. Sadly, the insistence of the EU on the elimination of tariffs for 80% of trade would undermine Nigeria’s ability to industrialise and we would remain a perpetual supplier of raw materials.

    Furthermore, the European Union’s unwillingness to abolish agricultural subsidies will continue to sustain the unfair competition against our products and the tight intellectual property rules will make access to knowledge skills and technology more difficult for Nigerians and indeed Africans.

    Therefore, the government should maintain diplomatic stance at African regional level of not being a part of the loathsome EPA between EU and African countries in order not to mortgage our collective future in the selective game of international politics and diplomacy in the name of globalisation and free markets.

     

    • Samuel Akpobome Orovwuje

     Orovwuje@yahoo.com

  • Identify your relations, Anambra govt tells victims’ families

    The Anambra State Government has called on families whose relations got missing in the Onitsha tanker fire melee to visit the hospitals for identification of some of the victims.

    A fuel tanker crashed into a building at a motor park at Upper Iweka, Onitsha, caught fire and killed about 70 persons. Many were injured.

    A statement by the Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism, Mrs. Uju Nwogu and her Health counterpart, Dr. Joe Akabuike, urged the families to visit the Onitsha General Hospital mortuary to identify the bodies.

    It said there were still some unidentified bodies deposited at the hospital mortuary.

    The statement reads: “The Anambra State Government hereby calls on families whose members have been missing since Sunday, May 31 to visit the Onitsha General Hospital mortuary to ascertain if such persons are among the victims of the petrol tanker fire accident.

    “Government is informing the public that there are still some unidentified corpses, deposited at the Onitsha General Hospital mortuary and families looking for their loved ones are advised to visit the Onitsha General Hospital mortuary for inspection of the unidentified corpses and collect them for burial.

    “Government once again commiserates with the victims’ families and prays God to give them the fortitude to bear the unfortunate loss”.

  • Russo-American relations softly, softly

    The on-going civil war in Ukraine in which the Russian federation is directly and indirectly involved is a cause for global worry. America and its allies in the west have also personalised the crisis by trying to put all the blame on the Russian President, Vladimir Putin who is being isolated and treated almost like a pariah at global conferences.

    His government is being subverted at home through economic sanctions imposed on it by the west especially the European Union and United States and Canada. In recent years, apart from armaments, Russia has been reduced to almost a primary producer of gas and petroleum from its vast oil fields stretching from the Caucasus to the wilderness of Siberia.

    This makes it easy for Russia’s economy to be undermined because unlike countries in the west, it has almost become a mono-cultural economy depending on exploits of hydrocarbons but Russia remains a great country with its possession of nuclear armaments that is capable of burying the whole world a few times over if pushed to the wall and forced to embark on a suicidal mission of using nuclear weapons against its enemies which would in retaliation destroy it. This is the danger of mutual annihilation which the world now faces. We all thought that we had moved away from the cold war.

    But because of the Ukraine crisis and apparent Russian desire to assert itself globally and to defend the interests of ethnic Russians in independent countries that are the successor states of the Soviet Union. Her interest in this regard will also put her on a path of conflict with the rest of the world especially the western world. This problem can only be solved not by sabre-rattling but by dialogue and diplomacy and by respecting the mutual interest of Russia and the west.

    Russia since the collapse of the Soviet Union rightly feels that it is being ignored and being relegated to the status of a minor global player and sees the military adventurism of the United States in the current uni-polar world in which American power is largely unchallenged.

    Russia is particularly irked by American military interventions in Iraq, Afghanistan, Libya and in the expansion of NATO to the borders of Russia especially the incorporation of states in the former Soviet bloc into the European Union and the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation. The intended desire by Ukraine to join NATO and to become a member of the European Union was seen by Russia as an unacceptable provocation. The annexation of Crimea which was part of Ukraine but largely inhabited by Russians was Russia’s reaction to the provocation in Ukraine. Crimea for centuries had been the major warm water port of Russia.

    If Ukraine had fallen into unfriendly hands, Russia felt that its interest would be challenged and threatened. This is why when Russia annexed with Crimea, Europe and America apparently understood Russia’s desire to protect its national interest and they were not in the position to do anything that would have precipitated the military conflict with Russia.

    The west is angered by continued Russian support for rebels in Luhansk and Donesk, two areas that have declared themselves independent of Ukraine and that are 90 percent inhabited by Russians. Russia continues to deny its involvement in the fighting in eastern Ukraine but there is no doubt that Russia is directly involved. Many high-ranking Russians do not see Ukraine as an independent country.

    They can not envisage a situation in which their forces would be fighting Ukrainians. They see such a scenario as reminiscent of Nazi created Ukraine during the Second World War. For example, the mother of Mikhail Gorberchev was a Ukrainian and she is buried there. So also are the parents of many Russians to the extent that it has become a psychological problem to see Ukraine looking west rather than looking east to Russia.

    It is not in the interest of Ukraine itself to have Russia as a permanent enemy because the long arm of the United States, short of going to war, cannot protect Ukraine and it must therefore establish a modus vivendi with Russia that would guarantee its autonomy while having a friendly relation with Russia and normal diplomatic relations with the rest of the world. This is not to suggest a policy of finlandisation for Ukraine but it must exercise restraint in its policy choices and take the interest of Russia into consideration at all times.

    This is what is called real politik in international relations. What is ideal is not necessarily real. The ideal of total and untrammelled independence of Ukraine irrespective of Russia’s interest is not realistic. Peace in Europe cannot be guaranteed through Russian isolation and treatment of Vladimir Putin as a non-person rather, his friendship has to be cultivated and Russian economy has to be assisted to prosper and it is in her prosperity that political liberalism would thrive in Russia.

    Because hardship created by sanctions would no doubt lead to rabid nationalism in Russia arising out of hardship and frustration. The current western policies of pushing Putin into the warm embrace of rising China has thus replicated the alliance formation that led to the division of the world after 1945 into two rival camps armed to the teeth with nuclear weapons. The world does not need this again but unfortunately, this is what current policies in the west and in Russia are leading to.

    The danger we now have is that the Obama administration is being pushed to embark on bellicose and military policies towards other competitors for global influence and power particularly Russia and China. This is at a time when the situation in the Middle-east is becoming more and more complex following the creation of a blood-thirsty Caliphate which America sees as a direct threat to it and its allies.

    The spread of the nuclear weapon states to unstable countries like Pakistan, North Korea and possibly Iran in the future poses enough threat to the world and requires solidarity among the established nuclear weapons states particularly the United States, Russia and China which unfortunately do not see eye to eye on most issues facing the global community.

    If the world is to have peace, America must ensure that its interest harmonise with the interests of Russia and China without America sacrificing the interest of its allies. I believe this can be done as Putin has publicly called for dialogue along this line. America should take the gauntlet and welcome Putin into the dialogue while exercising its right to ensure that Putin respects international law as it concerns national sovereignty of all nations.

  • ‘Poor customer relations bane of public transport’

    Poor customer relations remains a major challenge with public transportation as customers and service providers have continued to have brushes on a daily basis.

    Speaking with a cross-section of passengers who daily patronise some of these commuter busses, especially the BRT busses across Lagos metropolis and its environs, they confided in The Nation that their experiences have been anything but palatable.

    Although many of the respondents acknowledged the fact that the busses have helped to ameliorate the stress of public transportation to a reasonable extent across the state, the unruly behaviour of the officials remains a sore point for many.

    In recent times, there have been allegations of incivility and bad behaviour against the officials of the BRT, many of whom were accused of undermining the good intentions of the state government.

    In a chat with The Nation, some passengers, observed that one of the issues that set passengers and officials on a collision course is the problem of scarcity of change after collection of fares from prospective passengers.

    Sharing his experience, a passenger, who simply gave his mane as Steve, recalled that he once requested his change from BRT official but the latter flared up cursing him under his breath.

    “The unruly behaviour of these BRT officials is most unbecoming of supposed service providers serving the public.”

    Corroborating Steve, some passengers also complained that most of the BRT ticketers are morally bankrupt, a situation which may have been responsible for their bad manners.

    Buttressing his point with a vivid example, a respondent who identified himself as Mr Jide, a regular passenger on board BRT, said “These ticketers, I believe, are touts who the Lagbus is trying to culture but it is not just working. I can only urge the authorities of Lagbus to keep trying to change their orientation. That’s all. Or if possible, change all of them because the bad in their midst can further corrupt the others.”

    However, speaking with some of the drivers and ticketers at different designated busstops, they punctured most of the arguments being canvassed by some of the passengers.

    In the assertion of Mr. Abdulaho Oyewole, a BRT driver, he said most of the passengers lack decorum and are not civil in their manners as well.

     

  • Nigeria, Ghana to strengthen trade relations

    Nigeria, Ghana to strengthen trade relations

    Although there has been informal trade between Ghana and Nigeria, it has not grown to the level of signing a bilateral trade relations. The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Trade Protocol has also not boosted trade between both countries except on a very low scale where business  men buy goods between the two countries and sell to retailers in the individual countries. However, a recent sensitisation forum on ‘Doing Business in Ghana’ held in Lagos, sought to strengthen trade relations between both countries.

    President, Lagos Chamber of Commerce (LCCI), Mr. Remi Bello said the forum is a platform to give enlightenment, education and exchange of ideas on how to boost trade and investment between Nigeria and Ghana and indeed, within the West Africa sub region. He said: “For too long, private sector organisations and institutions have confined themselves to the comfort or illusion of their individual countries, while our counterparts in other parts of the world are advancing the frontiers of their economies and markets through integration.”

    He said with a robust market of about 350 million people, significant benefits of economies of scale would be enjoyed by West African firms in the event of full market integration. This, he argued, would reduce unit cost and enhance competitiveness.

    While calling for partnership and cooperation of the various private sector entities in the sub region, Bello made a case for greater advocacy by private sector organisations to promote economic integration and remove all barriers, especially non-tariff barriers to trade and investment.

    Nigerian Ambassador to Ghana, Mr. Ademola Oluseyi Onafowokan, in his submission, said the formation of the Nigeria/Ghana Business Council has become more imperative with the call by United States President, BarackObama for African countries to look inward if they are to advances their economies. He said the challenge has been thrown at the sub-region to increase the sub-regional trade.

    The chairman of the forum and former Minister of Industry, Mrs. Nike Akande expressed optimism that the Business Council would be beneficial to both countries. She also promised that the Council will work with the Ghana Investment Promotion Council as well as its Nigerian counterpart as a one-stop- investment advisory point to assist investors in both countries.

    Ghanaian Minister of Trade and Industry, Mr. Haruna Idrisu, while commending the efforts towards the formation of a Business Council between the two nations, regretted that Nigeria has not lived up to her bidding as the big brother in the region. He stated that his country have signed the common bilateral treaty but regretted that Nigeria has not signed hers.

    Earlier, former Nigerian Foreign Affairs Minister, Mr. Henry Ajumogobia commented the goodwill shown by Ghana in the formation of the Business Council such as the non- restriction of goods and services from Nigeria into their country and asked for equity and reciprocity from Nigeria.