By Temitope Ponle

Mr David Luke, Coordinator, African Trade Policy Centre (ATPC), Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) has charged member countries on the significance of the free movement protocol.

Luke gave the charge to an International Organisation for Migration (IOM) side event on the sidelines of the commissions ongoing 53rd session of its Conference of Ministers in Addis Ababa on Saturday.

He said that the protocol would be critical to securing gains from the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

The event was tagged Digitalising Migration Response to harness Africas Economic Development and Demographic Dividend in the COVID-19 Era.

The ECA representative said the four basic freedoms which made up the African continental and regional integration agenda were in the movement of people, capital, goods and services.

He recalled that the Abuja Treaty establishing the African economic community, adopted by the defunct Organisation for African Unity in 1991, envisioned the free movement of people and the rights of residence and establishment.

This represents the fifth phase of the Abuja Treaty which is expected to be realised by 2023.

The Protocol to the Treaty on the Establishment of the African Economic Community relating to Free Movement of Persons, Right of Residence and Right of Establishment was adopted in January 2018 together with a comprehensive implementation roadmap.

Yet there has been a slow pace of signature and ratification of the protocol, he said.

According to the ECA, the protocol must be ratified by 15 member states to enter into force and 32 have signed but only Rwanda, has ratified it.

Luke said the concept of free movement of persons was often poorly understood.

We must do better than this. Freer movement cannot depend only on the AfCFTA Protocol on Services that allows for movement in relation to investment and service delivery.

True freedom of movement in Africa would instead allow African citizens to move to, live in, work, or provide a service or a business in another country on the continent, under the same or similar conditions as a citizen of that country.

He added that there might be a need to redesign the freedom of movement protocol to respond to concerns raised by policy makers.

He noted that this was to ensure that Africans could benefit fully from the liberalised market being created by the AfCFTA.

Regional Economic Communities (RECs), which have faced their own challenges with ratification and implementation of Free Movement Protocols, have a role to play in promoting increased understanding of the free movement concept.

It is the free movement of people which will boost intra-African trade under the AfCFTA, and enable African countries to proactively and swiftly respond to the twin green and digital transitions we are faced with in the 2020s, Luke said.

He stressed that Africa could not afford to not build seamless borders for tomorrows Africa, and further proposed that the ATPC and IOM organise a series of awareness raising events.

He said the events would be organised with the Rwandan Government as a principal partner.

For his part, Mr Jean-Denis Gabikini, Acting Director, Directorate of Economic Development Integration and Trade, African Union Commission, said various challenges in the continent has resulted into increased migration by youths.

At least 60 per cent of Africas population is aged below 24 years and its active contribution to economic growth, which is reflected by increased incomes and development, is not there.

Instead of making the most of this dividend we are unable to offer jobs to our youth, forcing them to seek livelihoods elsewhere, Gabikini said.

The 53rd session of the ECA Conference of African Ministers of Finance, Planning and Economic Development is tagged Africas Sustainable Industrialisation and Diversification in the Digital Era in the Context of COVID-19.

It is held onsite and online and would end on March 23. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Oladapo Udom

The Nigerian Navy on Saturday said that it had deployed six ships, two tugboats, two helicopters and a Nigerian Airforce ATR42 aircraft toward addressing maritime challenges in the Gulf of Guniea.

The Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS), Vice Admiral Awwal Gambo, said this during the inauguration of the 11th Exercise Obangame Express 2021.

He said that the multinational maritime exercise was birthed for regional maritime safety and security.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the inaugurated Exercise Obangame Express 2021 was held on board the Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS), THUNDER, at the Naval Dockyard Ltd. , on Victoria Island, Lagos.

Gambo said that the exercise was an annual multinational maritime exercise borne out of the need for Gulf of Guniea Navies to work together for regional maritime safety and security.

This is as a result of the huge resources and vast potential being continuously undermined by multifaceted domestic and cross border threats.

This challenges the dwindling prosperity of member states, he said.

The CNS said that the exercise would present an ample opportunity for the Nigerian Navy to work together with other national and regional navies in the spirit of the Yaounde Code of Conduct.

This code is designed to improve operational readiness, maritime domain awareness, information sharing practices and tactical interdiction expertise.

This will enhance the collective capabilities of Gulf of Guniea and West African nations to counter sea based illicit activities.

It will also enhance the operational capability of the Nigeria Navy in its fight against various forms of maritime crime through information and intelligence sharing, he said.

Gambo said that the sustainance of this exercise was critical to Nigerias national interest, given the huge contributions of the nations strategic maritime resources to national prosperity and development.

The exercise aims at contributing to the freedom of navigation in the Gulf of Guniea by strengthening coordination in the fight against insecurity for socioeconomic activities among member states to thrive.

This is in line with the Nigerian Navy mandate and other treaties which Nigeria is a signatory too, he said.

The CNS appreciated the Government of the United States through the U.S. African Command and other international partners for facilitating and sustaining Exercise Obangame Express over the years.

Gambo also thanked the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, President Muhammadu Buhari, for his untiring support to the development of the Nigerian Navy.

Also, the Flag Officer Commanding (FOC) Western Command, Rear Admiral Jason Gbassa, said that the exercise was focusing on maritime crime hotspots to improve maritime security operations in the Gulf of Guniea.

The exercise is an avenue for participating nations within the Gulf of Gunea and its international partners to collaborate toward addressing maritime security concerns toward the gulf.

The exercise comes against the backdrop of piracy cases, illegal fishing, illegal exploration of mineral resources, proliferation of small arms and light weapons and other local and international threats within the gulf.

Therefore, maintaining Nigerias strategic deterrence posture and influence in the maritime environment is critical to our economic prosperity and regional stability, he said.

Gbassa said that the fleet which include: NNS THUNDER, PROSPERITY, KARADUWA, NGURU, EKULU, ESE, and Tugboat Dolphin Rima and Tugboat Mira would conduct several antipiracy operation exercises.

The fleet will conduct several exercises which will also include: protection of oil and gas facilities, fleet manueovers, communication, vessel board search and rescue among others.

This exercise will be conducted alongside French Navy Ship, Dixmude, in conjunction with other navies that will be participating.

The exercise will give additional impetus to our overall operational combatant experiences to ensure that our nations territorial integrity is maintained in line with the Nigerian Navy constitutional mandate, he said.

The FOC urged the public, as partners in progress, to be free to divulge credible information to the units in their localities to get rid of all forms of criminality within our space.

Also, Ms Claire Pierangelo, the U.S. Consular General, said that a secured maritime environment is integral to other dimensions of security.

Pierangelo said that maritime threats in the Gulf of Guinea had continued to evolve and were increasingly becoming difficult to address.

Maritime security is, infact, the backbone of healthy commerce; it promotes economic development and it supports the sustainable management of all resources on which this entire region depends.

The exercise is designed to enhance collective capabilities of all participating nations to counter piracy, illegal fishing and other sea based illicit activities.

The exercise expresses one of the many ways that the United States and like minded partners ally with Nigeria and the Atlantic Africa to address maritime security, she said. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Aderemi Bamgbose

An 18 year-old-girl, Idowu Biletiri, on Saturday allegedly stabbed her elder brother, Kehinde Biletiri, to death at Igbokoda in Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State.

An eyewitness told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that trouble started when the suspect returned home after leaving the house for some days without any trace of her whereabouts.

Her deceased brother queried her on her returned, seeking to know where she had been since she left home.

It seemed she was angered by the question and then went straight for a kitchen knife which she stabbed her brother with to death.

Only the two of them were at home when the incident occurred, this have thrown the whole community into confusion and mourning, the source said.

The state Police Commands spokesman, ASP Tee Leo-Ikoro, said the incident had not been reported officially to the command.

Leo-Ikoro said the case was rather reported to the Ondo State Security Network code-named Amotekun Corps.

I can confirm that the incident occurred but it was reported to Amotekun Corps and they are in charge of the case now and until it is reported to the police, we cannot carry out any investigation, he said. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Sumaila Ogbaje

The Nigerian Army has dismissed a report by an online medium that the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru threatened to blacklist a Chinese firm over alleged supply of inferior armoured vehicles.

The Director, Army Public Relations, Brig.-Gen. Mohammed Yerima, in a statement on Saturday, said that the online report claimed that the firm supplied inferior armoured vehicles to Nigerian army

Yerima said that the entirety of the said story was a figment of the authors imagination.

He said that Attahiru did not at any time or in any event made any comment nor had any interview on the subject either with the author or anybody for that matter.

According to him, the story is false, misleading and a deliberate fabrication ostensibly published to serve a yet to be determined motive.

Whatever the motive is, we consider this publication as not only unprofessional but very unfair to the Chief of Army staff.

We demand from the publishers of African Military Blog.com, immediate retraction of the concocted story as it runs against the grain of professional journalism to willfully and wrongfully attribute a story to an unsuspecting party.

The Nigerian Army recognises and appreciates the indispensable partnership with the media in the quest for a secured, peaceful and progressive Nigeria.

It is therefore, advisable that professionalism must guide the conduct of media practice, he said.

Meanwhile, the affected medium, military Africa had since through its tweeter handle @militaryafrica on Saturday, tendered apologies to the Nigerian Army and retracted the said story.

Our attention has been drawn to a particular article written by Ekene Lionel, and Titled: Norinco under fire for supplying inferior armoured vehicles to Nigeria.

Well like to tender a sincere apologies those likely to be affected by the article, particularly the gallant troops of the Nigeria Army @HQNigerianArmy.

After further investigation, we now understand that the article is truly false and inaccurate. With that, the article has been removed.

Military Africa has always stood on the side of truth, factual, accurate and impartial defense news coverage, it said. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Sumaila Ogbaje

The Defence Headquarters says the Military cannot stoop so low to such extent to spy on one individual, as wildly and loosely alleged by the acclaimed Yoruba activist, Sunday Adeyemo also known as Sunday Igboho.

The Acting Director, Defence Media Operations, Brig.-Gen. Benard Onyeuko, stated this in a statement in response to reports that military personnel who were spying on the residence of Igboho were apprehended.

Onyeuko said that it was alleged in a viral video that soldiers were seen being accused of having been sent by the Government to do a survey of Sunday Igbohos Soka residence in Ibadan.

According to him, the self acclaimed Yoruba activist also alleged that the action of the so-called soldiers was orchestrated by the Federal Government as a result of comments he made alleging that Yorubas are no longer a part of Nigeria.

While the Defence Headquarters has no interest dragging or joining issues with Sunday Adeyemo or his associates, it is pertinent to clear the air and address these allegations squarely.

For the records, it should be noted that the Armed Forces of Nigeria, are highly professional in the discharge of their duties, with well-defined roles, responsibilities and duties in its mandate of securing the territorial integrity of the Nigerian Nation.

As such, the Military cannot stoop so low to such extent to spy on one individual, as wildly and loosely alleged.

Secondly, the Armed Forces of Nigeria is a highly disciplined and professional organisation with extant laws and regulations which guide the actions of its personnel in the conduct of their duties.

As such, it is practically impossible for military personnel on official duty to conduct themselves in such manner as alleged by Adeyemo and his cohorts, he said.

Onyeuko said that preliminary investigation had so far revealed that one of the alleged soldiers was a serial impersonator.

He added that credible eye witnesses and sources had also revealed that some associates of Igboho went in pursuit of some individuals when the motorbike conveying the impersonator and one Nigerian Air Force personnel ran into them.

According to him, the duo were immediately apprehended and taken to the said IGBOHO House at Soka before Ibadan toll gate where they were branded as spies.

Furthermore, investigations are currently underway by Nigerian Air Force and the Nigerian Army to unravel the actual circumstances which played out on the day.

The Defence Headquarters hereby warns individuals and groups to desist from disparaging the enviable reputation of the Nigerian Military by draDonald gging it into its petty issues to gain political mileage.

Such actions will not be condoned in the future, he said. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Rabiu Sani-Ali

The Police Command in Kano State says it has trained 100 personnel and other stakeholders on Sexual and Gender Base Violence (SGBV) as part of efforts to curb the menace.

The spokesman of the command, DSP Abdullahi Haruna, stated this in a statement in Kano on Saturday.

Haruna said that the personnel were exposed to sexual and gender base issues during the consultative meeting designed to develop the Police SGBV Training Manual held on March 18 and 19, in Kano.

He said that the participants comprised of 80 police officers and 20 persons selected from various organisations.

The Nigeria Police Force in partnership with the United Nations Women organised a consultative meeting and training exercise for major stakeholders and police officers handling SGBV cases involving children in Kano, he said.

Haruna said that the team was led by DCP Margaret Ochalla, Force Gender Coordinator/Adviser to the Inspector General of Police and UN Women Consultant, Mujuliat Fajebi .

He said that the team also paid courtesy visit to the Commissioner of Police, Samaila Shuaibu-Dikko, during the exercise.

Haruna said that the exercise was attended by police officers, representatives of the National Council for Child Right Advocate of Nigeria, International Federation of Women Lawyers, thePrisoners Rehabilitation and Welfare Actionamong others. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Ahmed Kaigama

The Bauchi state government, on Saturday, presented an award of excellence to Chief of UNICEF D field office Bauchi, Mr Bhanu Pathak, for improving the states health outcomes.

The New Agency of Nigeria reports that Pathak, who came to Nigeria in 2018, has just been transferred to the Ghana UNICEF office.

Alhaji Baba Tela, the state Deputy Governor, made the presentation at the send forth and award ceremony for Pathak in Bauchi. citing the awardas a recognition of his role in improving health care outcomes and care for children in the state.

Tela, who is also the Chairman of the State Task Force on Primary Health Care, said the state government appreciated Pathak for contributing immensely to strengthening the states health sector.

We commend you for using your wealth of experience in the states health sector and laying a solid foundation for others to follow.

You are part of those that encouraged, supported and gave the state a sense of belonging in strengthening health care services and securing the childrens future in the state.

Mr Pathak you have done well in the state, the state will continue to consult you through the commissioner of health and the executive chairman of the Primary Health Care Agency for advice, He said

Earlier, Dr Aliyu Maigoro, the state health commissioner, said the state health sector learnt a lot from Pathak from his wealth of experience,describing the outgoing UNICEF D chief as dedicated and focused, with good human relations.

He said the government appreciated the partnership with UNICEF, under Pathaks leadership and would continue to remember his efforts in improving the health indices of the state.

Also speaking , the Executive Chairman, State Primary Healthcare Development Agency (SPHCDA) Dr Rilwanu Mohammed, commended Pathak for improving the states primary health care services.

He recalled that the EU- UNICEF partnership under Pathak, constructed and renovated over 170 primary health care facilities that were currently functional across the state.

This was in addition to providing health facilities, food and control of severe acute malnutrition in the state, as well as strengthened health services , Mohammed said. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Ijeoma Olorunfemi

Astronomy Without Borders (AWB), an NGO on Saturday donated some kits to facilitate the learning of astronomy by children in the Games Village Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camp, FCT.

The IDP children astronomy outreach project is second in the series by AWB and targeted at ensuring that displaced children are not left out in learning about astronomy.

AWB is an astronomy group with the aim of spreading astronomy and its benefits in Nigeria.

Mrs Olayinka Fagbemiro, the National Coordinator, AWB said the project was also to raise awareness on the need to catch the children young and encourage them to embrace careers in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM).

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that part of the items donated included a solar powered learning hub for teaching STEM, Computer Systems and android tablets, internet facilities, wash hand stations, and face masks, among others.

This project is very strategic for AWB Nigeria, because this is in her quest to popularise astronomy.

We are also using it as a tool to create awareness on STEM among school kids who have been affected by insurgency in the North Eastern region of the country, she said.

Fagbemiro added that the availability of the learning kits would enable the children perform hands-on practical on their own, know about the dynamics of STEM which astronomy was part of.

She, however, encouraged children generally to embrace STEM which could create a launch path for them to other careers.

According to her, STEM careers are interesting and will open your mind to lots of discoveries.

Careers in STEM can bring a whole lot of development and sometimes children, especially the girl-child is not encouraged because they feel it is difficult.

STEM is not difficult, which is why we are playing our part by exposing these children to the knowledge of astronomy early and it will guide their career path, she said.

NAN also reports that the first IDP children astronomy outreach held in Durumi, another community in the Abuja Municipal Area Council of the FCT. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Kamal Tayo Oropo

A new report launched by the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) on the impact of COVID-19 on e-commerce in the continent, shows that the pandemic, bad as it is, has opened up new opportunities for the continents digital economy.

The report was launched on Saturday at a side event at the ECA annual Conference of African Ministers of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, holding in Ethiopia.

A statement by the communication session of ECA quoted the authors of the report as saying that the growth of the sector was made possible by improved Internet penetration rates, reduced Internet costs and growth of mobile telephony.

One of the authors, Guy Futi, said in a presentation that by 2019, Africa had registered unprecedented growth in digitalisation with some 290 million people connected to the Internet, an investment of US.4 billion in venture capital.

According to Futi, more than 30 per cent of adults in Nigeria, South Africa, Egypt and Kenya reported owning mobile phones.

While the report pointed out that Africas regulatory regime was yet to catch up with the speed with which the digital sector was growing, in general, it remained patchy and characterised by poor enforceability.

The growth of mobile technology, among the other factors, built a fertile foundation that could be buttressed by developments in venture capital and funding, online payments, and logistics.

We arrived at the conclusion that the digital economy can be a powerful catalyst for Africas economy with the potential to alleviate many of the economic burdens of COVID-19.

But more importantly, e-commerce and digital trade can serve as a powerful engine for the economic recovery now required, the authors of the report said.

The authors said that with 50 per cent of Africas citizens under the age of 35 and with 500 million mobile money accounts, there could be US billion worth of digital commerce by 2030.

Jamie McLeod, one of the authors, said the report was based on interviews with tech companies in Africa.

Some of the highlights of the report covered the range from the growth of venture capital funding in Africa to advances made in mobile and Internet penetration.

This part of the report demonstrated a rapidly changing digital environment that still has much to accomplish.

The report noted that cheaper mobile handsets had played a significant role in the regions Internet penetration.

Transsion and Samsung, who control the bulk of the market share on smartphones sold in Africa, have produced handhelds specifically targeted for the limited spending power of Africans.

More than 83 per cent of smartphones sold in Africa during the last quarter of 2019 had a price tag of US or less, the report said.

The report also noted that the largest mobile operators on the continent had continued to experience sustained revenue growth.

Safaricom, one of East and Central Africas largest operators, grew its revenues from US.63 billion in 2016 to US.20 billion in 2019.

The MTN Group in 2019 generated US.75 billion of revenue from its Nigerian subsidiary, and US.67 billion from its South African subsidiary.

Airtel Africa, with a presence in more than 14 countries on the continent, recorded US.01 billion in revenue in 2019.

Maroc Telecom, operating out of North Africa, grew its revenues from US.77 billion in 2016 to US.99 billion in 2019. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

Esenvosa Izah

A Civil Society Organisation, Coalition Against Corruption and Bad Governance (CACOBAG), has enjoined Nigerians to shun all vices, including drug addiction that destroy humanity.

CACOBAs Chairman, Mr Toyin Raheem, made the call in a statement on Saturday in Lagos.

The statement was issued in commemoration of 2021 International Day of Happiness Day, marked annually on March 20.

The theme of the Day is Keep Calm. Stay Wise. Be Kind.

Raheem said that drug abuse was a contributory factor to sadness and that it has to be eradicated.

Every crime in Nigeria can be traced to drug abuse and the effects of the hard drug are sadness, pains and pangs.

Corruption, murder, banditry, armed robbery and even money laundering can all be linked to the hard drug in one way or the other besides bringing sadness to the people.

How many corrupt elements are truly happy in the real sense of happiness?

How many drug addicts are happy?

No happiness can be derived if lives of others are jeopardised, Raheem said.

He commended the efforts of the Executive Chairman, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, retired Brig.-Gen. Buba Marwa, to rid the country of illicit substances.

CACOBAs chairman said that the importance of happiness in lives could not be overemphasised.

Marwa wants Nigeria to be a country in which all citizens are truly happy.

Hence, his determination to eradicate the use, selling and peddling of hard drugs.

A country in which drug abuse and the hard drug has no place, he said. (NAN)

Source: NAN News