Echotitbits – Nigeria News

Category: World

  • More World Leaders Celebrate Biden-Harris’ Electoral Victory Over Trump

    More World Leaders Celebrate Biden-Harris’ Electoral Victory Over Trump

    President Emmanuel Macron of France and many other world leaders have congratulated Joe Biden as the President-elect of the United States of America.

    Macron, in a statement, said: “The Americans have chosen their President. Congratulations @JoeBiden and @KamalaHarris!

    “We have a lot to do to overcome today’s challenges. Let’s work together!”

    To President Muhammadu Buhari, Biden was being elected as the US President “at a time of uncertainty and fear in world affairs.”

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    Buhari said: “Your election is a significant reminder that democracy is the best form of government because it offers the people the opportunity to change their government by peaceful means.

    “The most powerful group are not the politicians, but voters who can decide the fate of the politicians at the polling booth.

    “The main fascination of democracy is the freedom of choice and the supremacy of the will of the people.”

    “Respect for the will of the people is the very reason why democracy remains the best form of government, despite its limitations from one polity to another, and from one society to another.”

    “I am thrilled by the fact that you are an experienced politician who had served as Congressman for 40 years and a Vice President for eight years. This is a remarkable track record that gives us hope that you will add value to the presidency and world affairs.”

    Buhari also noted that “with your election, we look forward to greater cooperation between Nigeria and the United States, especially at economic, diplomatic and political levels, including the war against terrorism.”

    On international affairs, Nigerian President urged Mr. Biden to “deploy your vast experience in tackling the negative consequences of nationalist politics on world affairs which have created divisions, conflicts and uncertainties.”

    The Nigerian leader also called on Biden “to introduce greater engagement with Africa on the basis of reciprocal respects and shared interests.”

    Ukranian President Volodymyr Zelensky, whose 2019 call with President Donald Trump sparked impeachment investigations, took to Twitter to congratulate President-elect and his running-mate, Kamala Harris.

    According to him, “Congratulations to @JoeBiden @KamalaHarris! #Ukraine is optimistic about the future of the strategic partnership with the #UnitedStates. 🇺🇦 and 🇺🇸 have always collaborated on security, trade, investment, democracy, fight against corruption. Our friendship becomes only stronger!”

    Also, President Cyril Ramaphosa of South Africa said: “We congratulate President-elect @JoeBiden and Vice President @KamalaHarris and the American people on your election. We look forward to working with you and deepening our bonds of friendship and cooperation.”

    On his part, President George Weah of Liberia said: “Congratulations to U.S.President-elect Joe Biden on his historic win. He assumes the leadership of the United States at a very challenging time for the country and the world as we all face a global health crisis. I urge all Americans to forge together in peace and unity.

    “As the traditional ally of the United States, Liberia stands ready to further enhance and rekindle our long, historic and unique bilateral relations.
    Congratulations!”

    Speaker Nancy Pelosi, in a statement, described Biden-Harris’ victory as historic.

    “Today marks the dawning of a new day of hope for America. A record-shattering 75 million Americans cast their ballots to elect Joe Biden President of the United States – a historic victory that has handed Democrats a mandate for action.

    “In President-elect Joe Biden, Americans elected a leader ready on Day One to finally begin to crush the coronavirus so we can safely reopen our economy and schools. In President-elect Biden, the American people delivered a mandate for lower health costs, a mandate for creating bigger paychecks by rebuilding America’s infrastructure, and a mandate for cleaner government that works for the public interest, not the special interests. And in President-elect Biden, they have elected a unifier who values faith, family and community, and who will work tirelessly to heal our nation.

    “President-elect Biden and Vice President-elect Harris won with a strong margin, and they will have a strong Democratic House Majority by their side. Working together, we have the opportunity to deliver extraordinary progress For The People,” Pelosi said.

    A former British Prime Minister Theresa May also wrote: “Congratulations @JoeBiden and @KamalaHarris. Your election marks a new chapter in the history of your country and in the special partnership between our two nations. #democracy The UK & US will always work together to defend our shared values.”

    Also commenting on the election, a former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said: “The voters have spoken, and they have chosen @JoeBiden and @KamalaHarris to be our next president and vice president.

    “It’s a history-making ticket, a repudiation of Trump, and a new page for America.

    “Thank you to everyone who helped make this happen. Onward, together.”

    A former deputy governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Kingsley Moghalu, also wrote: “Congratulations to @JoeBiden and @KamalaHarris !

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    “@JoeBiden is the 46th President of the United States! This is the will of the American people. Real democracies respect the will of the people and the institutions that uphold that will. Anyone else’s opinion is irrelevant now. Americans themselves have spoken.

    “In a democracy, no one should be bigger than the voters. America has held elections for 200 years. The Democrats were crushed when @HillaryClinton lost in 2016 and @realDonaldTrump won, but they accepted it. Now that Trump has lost and @JoeBiden won, the same must happen.

    “If Trump had won, would the election have been “rigged” and ballots sweepingly described as “illegal”? The whole world is watching the planet’s most powerful country. If this is happening there, what moral standing would it have to censure others on democracy?

    “The votes have spoken and, although Trump has the right to go to court, his effort should be channeled in a more professional and responsible manner, not wholesale denunciation of a system that WORKS and always has.”

    Idowu Sowunmi

  • WHO Director-General, Ghebreyesus, Hasn’t Tested Positive for COVID-19

    WHO Director-General, Ghebreyesus, Hasn’t Tested Positive for COVID-19

    Contrary to some reports, the Director General of the World Health Organisation (WHO), Tedros Ghebreyesus, has not tested positive for the Coronavirus (COVID-19).

    The clarification was made by WHO through its official Twitter handle, saying: “Contrary to some incorrect reports, @DrTedros hasn’t tested positive for #COVID19. He has been identified as a contact of a person who tested positive.
    Dr. Tedros is feeling well and is in self-quarantine as a precautionary measure, in line with WHO protocols.”

    It would be recalled that Ghebreyesus has announced in a series of tweet via his verified handle that he’s in self-isolation over the coming days and self-quarantine from home.

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    In a Daring Operation in Northern Nigeria, US Special Forces Rescue American Hostage

    According to him: “I’ve been identified as a contact person of someone who has COVID-19 symptoms, I am well and without symptoms but will self quarantine over the coming days and self quarantine from home.

    “It is critically important that we all comply with health guidance. This is how we will break chains of #COVID19 transmission, suppress the virus, and protect health systems.

    “My colleagues and I at WHO will continue to engage with partners in solidarity to save lives and protect the vulnerable.”

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    Climate Change Financing: AfDB Appoints 80 Experts towards Accessing $10bn Green Climate Fund

    Ghebreyesus and other WHO officials have been at the forefront of fighting the COVID-19 pandemic since it broke out early in the year.

    Idowu Sowunmi

  • Climate Change Financing: AfDB Appoints 80 Experts towards Accessing $10bn Green Climate Fund

    Climate Change Financing: AfDB Appoints 80 Experts towards Accessing $10bn Green Climate Fund

    African Development Bank has designated representatives from 80 government institutions, civil society organisations and universities for training as experts in developing climate financing proposals.

    Following a thorough independent selection process, 80 participants were chosen, with approximately 40 from English-speaking countries and 40 from French and Portuguese-speaking countries.

    The trainees would pass on their knowledge to potential beneficiaries of the Green Climate Fund, a $10 billion endowment set up in 2010 to help countries implement their climate agenda through loans, equity, guarantees and grants.

    The 120-hour training programme would be managed by Climate Change and Green Growth Department of African Development Bank, with funding from Korea-Africa Economic Cooperation Trust Fund.

    The scheme is being built on ongoing work by African Development Bank, Green Climate Fund and other partners to support the bank’s regional member countries to directly access Green Climate Fund resources.

    “The Green Climate Fund is expected to be a major source of climate finance for the African continent. Accessing finance from the Fund is challenging because of the complexities of designing climate change projects to fulfill the funding criteria.

    “This training will boost capacity amongst African nationally determined authorities, governments and consultants by training trainers to run future training courses,” said Manager of the Environment and Climate Finance Division in the Department of Climate Change and Green Growth at African Development Bank, Gareth Phillips.

    The Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has made the training to be shifted from in-person to online. This has the advantages of making it less costly to run and more carbon efficient.

    The project’s theory of change is based on three main components, which complement ongoing work by the bank to enhance the capacities of several African countries to access Green Climate Fund resources through small grants from the Africa Climate Change Fund.

    These components include: developing training materials and an online platform to support direct access to the Green Climate Fund, training a pool of experts and certifying them to support African governments and institutions, and facilitating south-south learning.

    Idowu Sowunmi

  • In a Daring Operation in Northern Nigeria, US Special Forces Rescue American Hostage

    In a Daring Operation in Northern Nigeria, US Special Forces Rescue American Hostage

    Idowu Sowunmi with agency reports

    An American citizen abducted last week in Niger has been rescued during a high-risk U.S. military raid in neighbouring Nigeria, officials told ABC News early Saturday.

    The mission was undertaken by elite commandos as part of a major effort to free the U.S. citizen, Philip Walton, 27, before his abductors could get far after taking him captive in Niger on Oct. 26, counter-terrorism officials told ABC News.

    The operation involved the governments of the U.S., Niger and Nigeria working together to rescue Walton quickly, sources said. The CIA provided intelligence leading to Walton’s whereabouts and Marine Special Operations elements in Africa helped locate him, a former U.S. official said.

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    Then the elite SEAL Team Six carried out a “precision” hostage rescue mission and killed all but one of the seven captors, according to officials with direct knowledge about the operation.

    “They were all dead before they knew what happened,” another counter-terrorism source with knowledge told ABC News.

    President Donald Trump called the rescue mission a “big win for our very elite U.S. Special Forces” in a tweet and the Pentagon lauded the rescue mission in a statement.

    “U.S. forces conducted a hostage rescue operation during the early hours of 31 October in Northern Nigeria to recover an American citizen held hostage by a group of armed men,” said Pentagon chief spokesperson Jonathan Hoffman.

    “This American citizen is safe and is now in the care of the U.S. Department of State. No U.S military personnel were injured during the operation.

    “We appreciate the support of our international partners in conducting this operation.”

    And Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said: “Thanks to the extraordinary courage and capabilities of our military, the support of our intelligence professionals, and our diplomatic efforts, the hostage will be reunited with his family. We will never abandon any American taken hostage.”

    ABC News consultant Mick Mulroy, a former deputy assistant secretary of defense and retired CIA officer, said preparations for Walton’s rescue likely started when he was abducted.

    “These types of operations are some of the most difficult to execute,” he said. “Any mistake could easily lead to the death of the hostage. The men and women of JSOC (Joint Special Operations Command), and the CIA should be proud of what they did here. And all Americans should be proud of them.”

    Eric Oehlerich, an ABC News consultant and retired Navy SEAL, said Walton was “lucky” that such a mission was possible such as short time after he was abducted, when others have been held for years.

    “Men in these top-tier special forces units train their entire adult lives to be ready when called upon, hostage rescue operations are inherently dangerous,” he said. “Those men put someone else’s life above their own, they do so selflessly….it’s an illustration of utter commitment.”

    A former U.S. counter-terrorism official emphasized generally how long the odds are for rescue in the “highly dangerous” missions — less than 30%. But the official said that it’s crucial to act as quickly as possible so that hostages don’t wind up in the hands of al Qaeda or ISIS.

    “The longer a hostage is held the harder it is to find an exact location to be able and conduct a rescue operation,” the official said.

    U.S. and Nigerien officials had said that Walton was kidnapped from his backyard last Monday after assailants asked him for money. But he only offered $40 USD and was then taken away by force, according to sources in Niger.
    Walton lives with his wife and young daughter on a farm near Massalata, a small village close to the border with Nigeria.

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    Nigerien and American officials told ABC News that they believed the captors were from an armed group from Nigeria and that it was not considered terror-related. But hostages are often sold to terrorist groups.

    Concern grew quickly after the kidnapping that an opportunity to rescue Walton could become much more dangerous if he was taken by or sold to a group of Islamist militants aligned with either al Qaeda or ISIS and American special operations commanders felt they needed to act swiftly before that could occur, said one counter-terrorism official briefed on the hostage recovery operations.

    A U.S. State Department spokesperson confirmed after the kidnapping that an American citizen had been abducted in Niger and said the U.S. government was “providing their family all possible consular assistance.” The spokesperson declined to comment on the case, citing “privacy considerations,” but added, “When a U.S. citizen is missing, we work closely with local authorities as they carry out their search efforts, and we share information with families however we can.”

    Another American, Christian humanitarian aid worker Jeffery Rey Woodke, 60, has been held hostage for the past four years since being kidnapped in northern Niger by armed militants.

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    Niger, home to 22 million people and three times the size of California, is one of many Sahel nations plagued by terrorism and instability, but its military has been a close U.S. partner in the fight against regional jihadist groups, including affiliates of both al Qaeda and ISIS.

    Last week, a U.N.-backed donor summit raised $1.7 billion to support the region’s governments as Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned the humanitarian crisis is at a “breaking point,” with 13.4 million people in need of assistance.

    © ABC News

  • Mali Crisis: Buhari, Jonathan Celebrate Considerable Successes

    Mali Crisis: Buhari, Jonathan Celebrate Considerable Successes

    President Muhammadu Buhari and former President Goodluck Jonathan Thursday met in Abuja over the political crisis in Mali.

    Giving updates on the considerable improvement in the management of the crisis in Mali, Jonathan, who is the Special Envoy/Mediator to the West African country, said the mission given to him by the leaders of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) was almost fully done, as a transition government with a largely civilian face has been inaugurated in Mali.

    He said: “The President has been sworn in, the Prime Minister, and Ministers too. The military has only four portfolios for serving officers, and the government has taken off.

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    “The Council, which will work like parliamentarians, will be inaugurated soon.”

    Jonathan added that ECOWAS Chairman, President Nana Akufo-Addo of Ghana would formally brief West African leaders soon.

    Responding, Buhari expressed delight that crisis in Mali had calmed down considerably, following interventions by ECOWAS leaders.

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    According to him, “We can’t do hop, step and jump like other developed nations of the world, but one is delighted at the successes recorded.”

    It would be recalled that after the intervention by the military in Mali, ECOWAS leaders had insisted on a transition government led by a civilian, and return to constitutional order within 12-18 months, among other demands.

    Idowu Sowunmi

  • African Development Bank Appoints Yacine Fal as Director-General, President’s Cabinet Office

    African Development Bank Appoints Yacine Fal as Director-General, President’s Cabinet Office

    For effective administrative and operational work and activities at the President’s Cabinet Office, African Development Bank Group has announced the appointment of Yacine Fal as the office’s Director General effective November 1.

    Fal, a Senegalese, has been described as a seasoned and results-oriented business development and service delivery professional with over 20 years of experience in banking, legal and procurement fields.

    As Director-General, Fal would primarily provide oversight of all units and departments directly reporting to the President.

    She would also ensure enhanced delivery efficiency and effectiveness for all presidential initiatives and bank operations, as per agreements with respective Vice Presidency Complexes.

    The new director-general would oversee the work of senior staff to improve overall coordination and engagement of the President and Chairman of the Board of Directors with the Board.

    Speaking on the appointment of the new director-general, President of the African Development Bank Group, Akinwumi Adesina, described Fal as “a highly capable manager.”

    According to him, “Fal brings vast knowledge and experience of the bank’s legal, procurement, human resources, processes, systems, and operations to her new position.

    “I am delighted to have Fal lead a restructured Cabinet Office of the President that will comprehensively support the delivery of my vision and mandate to strengthen the bank and accelerate Africa’s development.”

    Also commenting on her appointment, Fal said: “I am greatly honoured by the confidence reposed in me by President Adesina to support him in ensuring the successful implementation of his bold vision for the bank and the continent.

    “I look forward to leading teams in the President’s Cabinet Office to provide managerial, administrative and operational bandwidth and to assure the success of the President’s vision and mandate following his historic re-election with 100 per cent vote of the bank’s shareholders.”

    Fal joined the African Development Bank as a Principal Legal Counsel in the procurement unit (1998-2007) and subsequently served as Manager in charge of the reform implementation team in the office of the President (2007-2008).

    She was appointed Officer in Charge of the Procurement and Fiduciary Services Department (2010-2011); and Manager of the Procurement Services Division (2008-2013). She later served as the Resident Representative of the bank’s Morocco Office (2014-2017).

    In 2016, Adesina appointed Fal as the Deputy Director General of the North Africa Business Development and Service Delivery Office.

    Fal holds a Masters of Law degree (1984) from University of Dakar, where she specialised in corporate and tax law, and a postgraduate degree in International Law (1987) from University of Paris X.

    Idowu Sowunmi

  • Aftermath of #EndSARS: Presidential Panel on Police Reforms Okays Five-point Demand of Protesters

    Aftermath of #EndSARS: Presidential Panel on Police Reforms Okays Five-point Demand of Protesters

    A meeting with the leadership of Nigeria Police Force and other stakeholders had agreed to meet the demands of the #EndSARS protesters which included halting use of force against demonstrators and unconditional release of arrested Nigerians.

    The meeting affirmed and described the five-point demands of the protesters and the #EndSARS movement as genuine concerns that should be urgently addressed by the Federal Government.

    In a communiqué issued at the end of the stakeholders’ meeting on the Implementation of the Recommendations of the Presidential Panel on the Reform of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), it was agreed thus:

    “Following the public protests regarding various forms of human rights violations by the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) and the consequent disbandment of the unit by the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, there arose the need for stakeholder engagement to build trust and restore public confidence in law enforcement.

    “The agitations also brought to the fore, the need to implement the recommendations of the Presidential Panel on the Reform of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS).

    “The Forum was addressed by the Inspector General of Police and the Executive Secretary of the National Human Rights Commission.

    “The Forum collectively: welcomed the dissolution of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) by the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Adamu; reaffirmed the constitutional rights of Nigerians to peaceful assembly and protest; further affirmed the sanctity of life of every Nigerian and the role of the Police in protecting this right; affirmed that the five-point demands of the protesters and the #EndSARS movement are genuine concerns and will be addressed by the government.”

    Police Killings: IGP Adamu Bans FSARS, Other Tactical Squads from Patrols

    Following directives by President Muhammadu Buhari on dissolution of SARS and immediate response to yearnings of Nigerians, Adamu Tuesday replaced the squad with a new team called Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) and convened a stakeholders’ meeting.

    The meeting, organised by the Office of the Inspector General of Police and National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), was a multi-stakeholders’ forum attended by Ministry of Police Affairs, Police Service Commission, leaders and representatives of civil society organisations in Nigeria, activists from the entertainment industry and the #EndSARS movement and development partners.

    According to the communiqué signed by the Inspector General of Police and Executive Secretary of the National Human Rights Commission, Tony Ojukwu, Esq, the Forum noted that the dissolution of SARS presents an opportunity to embark on comprehensive reforms aimed at repositioning the Nigerian Police Force as a modern, responsive and citizens-centred law enforcement organisation.

    “The Forum further notes that the proposed reforms should be anchored under the basis of the White Paper on the Report of the Presidential Panel on the Reform of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad which was jointly authored by the National Human Rights Commission, the Federal Ministry of Justice, and the Nigeria Police Force.

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    “The Forum affirms that reform proposals for the Nigerian Police Force will be based on Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and existing legislations such as the Nigeria Police Act, 2020, the Nigeria Police Trust Fund Act, 2019, the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015 the Anti-Torture Act, 2017, and the National Human Rights Commission Act, 2010 amongst others.

    “Following the dissolution of SARS, the Forum calls for the following immediate steps to be taken in restoring public confidence and trust in the Police: an order by the Inspector General of Police to all State Commands to halt the use of force against protesters; unconditional release of arrested protesters and citizens; open communication and outreach to citizens to establish trust and confidence and a roadmap for the implementation of the White Paper of the Presidential Panel on the Reform of the SARS.

    “The Forum welcomed the proposal to set up an Independent Investigation Panel to look into the violations of human rights by the defunct SARS and other segments of the Nigerian Police. The Forum agrees to the setting up of this Independent Panel by the National Human Rights Commission within the next one week. An open call for Memoranda from members of the public whose rights have been violated by the defunct SARS and other segments of the Police will be released by the Commission within one week.

    “The Forum recommends the psychological evaluation, training and retraining of disbanded SARS officials prior to re-deployment. The Forum resolves to set up the following Technical Sub-Committees to design an implementation roadmap and work plan for the implementation of the White Paper: Training, Capacity and Re-orientation; Logistics: Infrastructure, Communications and Technology; Arrest, Detention, and Investigations; Regulations, Oversight and Accountability and Financing and Partnerships.”

    Buhari-led Government Approves 5for5 Demand of #EndSARS Protesters

    The communiqué stated that sub-Committees would be supported by the National Human Rights Commission and other civil society organisations.

    Those who attended the meeting include: Kole Shettima of MAC Arthur Foundation; Innocent Chukwuma of Ford Foundation; Jude Ilo of OSIWA; Segun Awosanya (segalinks) of #EndSARS Movement; Yemi Adamolekun of Enough is Enough; Clément Nwankwo of PLAC; Rafsanjani of CISLAC; Kemi Okonyedo of PWAN; YZ of CITAD; Folarin Falana Falz; Deji Adekunle of NIALS; Chris Ngwodo ( SSA to President Research & Policy); Fatima Waziri (Rule of Law Adviser); and Abdulrahman Yakubu of NHRC Secretariat.

    Others are: Hilary Ogbonna of NHRC secretariat; Halilu Adamu of NHRC Secretariat; Ben Aguh of NHRC secretariat; Uju Agomuoh of PRAWA; and Onyinye Ndubuisi of UNDP.

    Idowu Sowunmi

  • At Nordic-African Business Meeting, AfDB Calls for Transformational Agro-industrialisation Projects

    At Nordic-African Business Meeting, AfDB Calls for Transformational Agro-industrialisation Projects

    African Development Bank (AfDB) has made case for agro-industrialisation projects by seeking support from Nordic country partners towards adding value to the competitive production of commodities such as cocoa, livestock and cotton in order to leverage the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA).

    Speaking at a webinar held on Thursday by Nordic-African Business Association (NABA), Vice President for Private Sector, Infrastructure and Industrialisation at African Development Bank, Solomon Quaynor, called for a strategic investment opportunities in Africa.

    He explained that this singular gesture would allow “African production to participate more in these value chains and also to increase jobs and increase incomes to private sector and also the African economy.”

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    One good example of this is Africa Finance Corporation (AFC) and AP Moller Capital’s Arise Group of Companies, in partnership with Olam of Singapore.

    The digital webcast, jointly organised by NABA, Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Scatec Solar and AFC, was part of a day-long event aimed at reconnecting Nordic businesses with the continent.

    Nordic-African Business Summit has been hosted for nine consecutive years in Oslo – with more than 3,000 guests and 300 speakers from over 40 countries taking part so far.

    Quaynor, who was joined by African Development Bank’s Executive Director for the Nordic countries, Ireland and India, Paal Bjornestad, addressed a virtual audience made up of Nordic business representatives, government and private sector and interested individuals.

    The panel entertained various questions, such as that of bankability which includes market and profitability/cashflow risk, lack of a conducive enabling environment, properly conducted Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA), and challenges of integrity of sponsors and contractors.

    Other questions focused on project financing available for investors, trade finance, and whether the bank has invested in tourism projects.

    Responding, African Development Bank said it supported “all projects which support economic development, but we have decided to be selective and focus on areas of our comparative advantage.”

    The bank is being more selective and targeting larger transformational industrialisation projects. “We also support financial institutions to indirectly support smaller projects. We will also be pivoting more from maximising our direct loans to using guarantees to crowd in other private investors,” Quaynor added.

    On the criteria for Bank support in smaller projects, he said: “In areas where the opportunities are small but very important, such as off-grid renewable energy, we support through platforms such as SEFA (the Sustainable Energy Fund for Africa)…

    “Overall we need bankable projects, credible business plans…and we need to be sure that ESG and compliance work has been done.”

    The bank’s mandate to spur sustainable economic development and social progress on the African continent, saw $9 billion in commercial and concessionary lending in 2019, Quaynor outlined, during his presentation on the bank’s activities and priority areas, which was followed by a question and answer session.

    This lending went towards its priority High5s, across its key cross-cutting themes – that is mainstreaming gender, support to fragile markets, and climate-friendly projects. Twenty five per cent was to the private sector.

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    One example of this is Boko Mine and Port in Guinea, described as a “truly transformative project.”

    The $1.4 billion integrated mining and related transport infrastructure project has benefitted from a 14-year senior loan of up to $100 million from African Development Bank, with up to a three-year grace period.

    The project is expected to add $400 million to Guinea’s GDP, $300 million to the country’s trade balance annually during the operational phase.

    Additionally, over 4,000 jobs would be created during its construction phase, as well as 700 permanent and 1,500 temporary jobs during the operational phase.

    Idowu Sowunmi

  • #EndSARS Protest Day 3 Causes Gridlock on Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Gains International Support

    #EndSARS Protest Day 3 Causes Gridlock on Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Gains International Support

    The #EndSARS protest against the brutality and misconduct of officers of the Nigerian Police Force, especially its tactical unit, Special Anti Robbery Squad, notoriously known as SARS again for the third day gained momentum casing massive gridlock on Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.

    The protesters who thronged the streets had earlier caused massive gridlock in Alausa when they marched to the State House of Assembly and their after to the Alausa section of the Lagos-Ibadan expressway.

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    Armed with placards that reinforce their demand, the protesters barricaded the highway from the Secretariat bus-stop, opposite Magodo Phase II.

    As a result of the blockage, traffic gridlock extended to the Otedola Bridge along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.

    Friday witnessed thousands of protesters, they stormed the State House of Assembly to demand outright disbandment of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad, SARS, over series of atrocities committed by the operatives, killing and maiming innocent citizens.

    The Lagos State Deputy Governor, Dr. Kadri Hamzat, while addressing the protesters charged the police authority to ensure it put a stop to the incessant harassment of Nigerians by some officers of the anti-robbery squad, adding that any officer of the squad found to have harassed innocent Nigerian should be arrested and prosecuted.

    ‘It’s okay to protest but I say clearly that it is wrong for any law enforcement agent to maim or criminalise another Nigerian without reasonable course. The police or the law enforcement agents must do their job. In doing that job, you cannot trample on the right of the citizens.

    “You cannot say our youths, because of their looks or they are carrying computer are guilty of a crime. The police job is to arrest people and send them for prosecution if they do something wrong. That tenets must be adhered to.

    “We are not against police fighting robbery but we are saying do not unjustifiably hurt our children because of their looks. Whoever is responsible should be arrested and prosecuted,” he said.

    The Street protests against the notorious Nigerian police unit, SARS, have caught the attention of the international community with supports from celebrities.

    On Friday, which is day 3 of the protest, the #EndSARS hashtag did not only trend in Nigeria but in the UK, Canada, and the United States.

    While protests have been taking place in at least six states in Nigeria including the FCT, the #EndSARS hashtag has remained on Twitter’s Nigeria top 10 trend table since the weekend, The Guardian reported.

    One of the many international celebrity who has shown and voiced his support for the cause was British-Nigerian actor John Boyega, just as Nigerian music stars Davido, Wizkid, Tiwa Savage, Runtown, Falz and DJ Spinal have participated in the March against the notoriously perceived SARS that have for long been accused of brutalising, harassing and extorting Nigerian youths, including extrajudicial killings.

    Popular international cyber-activists known as Anonymous, also joined in the campaign.

    In the UK a Nigerian professional athlete, who owns the first Black-owned cigar line, Mike Edwards has also called for a protest in London.

    According to a report by The Guardian Nigeria Edwards would be leading a protest to the Nigerian High Commission in London on Sunday. In support of the protest by Edward, award-winning actress, Nse Ikpe-Etim tweeted to join in the London protest.

    Similarly, plans are ongoing to kickstart #EndSARS protest in other foreign countries such as Germany, USA and Canada.

    Nigerians are protesting, yet again, after years of horror stories of brazen extortion, illegal detentions, and illegal murders of Nigerians, mostly youths, by the notorious police unit, at the hands of local police. The protesters are demanding the government to scrap the police’s notorious unit.

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    Lagos Police Command Says Opebi Shooting Has Nothing to Do with #EndSARS Protest

    The recent fury was sparked after graphic footage showing officers from the SARS police unit dragging two men from a hotel in Lagos and shooting one of them in the street.

    In the disturbing footage taken by visitors at a hotel and posted on to social media on Saturday, armed officers of the SARS can be seen dragging two limp bodies from the hotel compound into the street before one of the men is shot.

    The video has sparked a deluge of footage and stories posted on to social media alleging recent atrocities and brutality by the notorious SARS unit, long accused of rampant abuses.

    On Sunday, Nigeria’s inspector of police, Mohammed Adamu, banned SARS, and other “tactical” police units focused on armed crimes from stop and searches, from setting up roadblocks and said officers would always be uniformed.

    The governor of Lagos, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, promised “appropriate actions will be taken, and speedily too”. According to the police, a dedicated complaints unit has in recent years improved accountability for police abuses, The Guardian Nigeria reported.
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  • WTO DG: Nigeria’s Okonjo-Iweala Makes Final Round

    WTO DG: Nigeria’s Okonjo-Iweala Makes Final Round

    Nigeria’s Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala and South Korea’s Yoo Myung-hee, are the two candidates, out of five, who made the final round of the selection process for the top job of Director General of the World Trade Organization (WTO).

    Reports stated that the trio of United Kingdom’s Liam Fox, Kenya’s Amina Chawahir Mohamed Jibril, and Saudi Arabia’s Mohammad Maziad Al-Tuwaijri did not secure enough support needed to scale the second round of consultations.

    With two women scaling through to the final round, it is almost certain that the WTO will be led by a woman DG for the first time in the organization’s 25-year history, a report by Reuters stated.

    Nigerian born Okonjo-Iweala was Nigeria’s finance minister twice, first in the Olusegun Obasanjo administration and second in the Goodluck Jonathan administration. She has experience working at international governance bodies as a former managing director of the World Bank and as a chairman at the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization.

    Yoo has a 25-year career in government and is South Korea’s trade minister. She has helped expand her country’s trade network through bilateral accords with the U.S., China, and the U.K.

    WTO General Council Chairman David Walker plans to formally announce the results to the institution’s delegates on Thursday morning in Geneva. The third and final phase of the consultation process will begin later this month and run until Nov. 6, after which the WTO will endeavor to name a consensus winner of the race.

    Clouding the outlook for the selection process is the U.S. presidential election Nov. 3. The WTO makes decisions on a consensus basis, and a lack of American support for any of the finalists could mean delays in picking the new director-general.

    If WTO members are unable to select a leader by consensus, a vote requiring a qualified majority could be held as a last resort, which would be an unprecedented development for the organization.

    The campaign to lead the WTO during the most turbulent period of its 25-year existence is playing out against the backdrop of the pandemic, a worldwide recession, the U.S.-China battle for trade supremacy and the American election.

    President Donald Trump has blasted the WTO as the worst trade deal in U.S. history and pledges to overhaul it to better suit the country’s interests.

    The vacancy for the top WTO job arose when Brazil’s Roberto Azevedo decided to step down at the end of August, a year before his term was due to end.

    WTO members view the race as an opportunity to reshape the organization, whose mission of economic integration is under threat from protectionist policies around the globe. Without reform, it risks being sidelined during the biggest economic crisis in a century.

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