Over 100 Companies to Participate in Abuja China-Africa Trade Expo

By: Michael Mike

The organisers of the China-Africa Economic and Trade Expo have announced details for the upcoming event, scheduled to take place in Abuja from November 28 to November 30, 2024.

The trade expo will not only showcase a broad range of products but will also place significant emphasis on Chinese engineering technology.

According to a statement from the organisers, over 100 companies are expected to participate in the trade exhibition, the second of such in Africa after an earlier one held in Nairobi early this year.

The Organising committee, which includes more than eight agencies affiliated with Hunan Province in China and the Nigerian Federal Trade Agency, confirmed that the expo will be held at the Abuja Trade & Convention Centre.

“The theme of this year’s expo is “China and Africa Joining Hands for a Better Future” and will feature a series of activities across multiple sectors, including investment and trade, infrastructure, healthcare, and engineering machinery.

The Opening Ceremony and the China-Africa Infrastructure Cooperation Forum (Nigeria) will commence at 10am. This forum will address the opportunities and challenges in China-Africa infrastructure cooperation, facilitating in-depth discussions on critical topics such as infrastructure connectivity, innovative investment and financing models, green and sustainable development, and business transformation. The forum aims to bring together stakeholders for meaningful exchanges and cooperation, promoting the signing and implementation of key projects.”

Following this, the China-Africa Business & Healthcare Matchmaking Conference will take place from 3:00 PM to 5:30 PM.

“This event will introduce leading enterprises from Hunan and present the investment and trade environment in various African countries through representatives from African chambers of commerce, investment promotion agencies, and businesses.

Key focus areas will include healthcare, new energy, manufacturing, construction materials, textiles, fisheries, and infrastructure development, facilitating “one-on-one” discussions between Hunan enterprises and African business associations.”

On the first day of the expo, there will also be an exhibition showcasing engineering technology from Nigeria and China, which will continue until the final day. The exhibition will feature nine distinct areas, highlighting products in: New energy, Architecture (building hardware), Machinery (construction machinery & agricultural equipment), power transmission and transformation), Home Appliances & Furniture, Manufacturing, Pan-infrastructure, Circular Economy, and Comprehensive Area.

With robust support and collaboration from various stakeholders in both China and Africa, the China-Africa Economic and Trade Expo has successfully hosted three sessions, establishing a new platform for local economic and trade cooperation. The third session of CAETE, held in Changsha, Hunan, in June 2023, covered 100,000 square meters and resulted in 120 signed projects valued at $10.3 billion. Over 1,700 exhibitors from Chinese and African enterprises, business associations, and financial institutions participated.

In May 2024, the inaugural China-Africa Economic and Trade Expo in Africa took place in Nairobi, resulting in 43 signed projects worth $1.402 billion.

Over 100 Companies to Participate in Abuja China-Africa Trade Expo

Nigerian Troops Repel ISWAP SVBIED Attack in Kukawa, Inflict Heavy Losses on ISWAP

By Zagazola Makama

Troops of Sector 3, operating under the Multi-National Joint Task Force (MNJTF) and Operation Hadin Kai, have successfully thwarted a major assault by Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorists in Kukawa, Borno State.

The attack, which involved the use of a suicide vehicle-borne improvised explosive device (SVBIED), ended in a decisive victory for the Nigerian military.

Intelligence sources told Zagazola Makama that the insurgents launched their attack with the SVBIED leading their assault team. However, the swift and strategic response of soldiers from the 101 Special Forces Battalion neutralized the immediate threat, triggering an intense gunbattle.

During the engagement, several ISWAP fighters were killed, while the terrorists were forced to abandon significant amounts of equipment and supplies as they fled.

The troops received air support from the Air Component of Operation Hadin Kai, which carried out precision strikes on retreating ISWAP fighters. This aerial reinforcement helped to consolidate the military’s dominance, forcing the insurgents to retreat in disarray.

While the exact number of casualties among the insurgents remains undisclosed, troops recovered several pieces of equipment.

A Military intelligence sources said that ISWAP may attempt to regroup and retaliate, potentially targeting reinforcements or military bases using improvised explosive devices (IEDs) or ambush tactics.

Troops have therefore been advised to maintain heightened vigilance, particularly in anticipation of a possible attack on the military base in Malam Fatori.

Nigerian Troops Repel ISWAP SVBIED Attack in Kukawa, Inflict Heavy Losses on ISWAP

EU-RoLAC, State Judiciaries, Others  Identify Poor Inter-Agency Cooperation As Reasons For Slow Justice Delivery

By: Michael Mike

A gathering of more than 25 state Judiciaries and key stakeholders in the field convened in Ilorin at the weekend, pinpointing inadequate interagency collaboration within the nation’s judicial framework as the primary cause for the sluggish pace of justice administration in the country.

This was the highlight of the Network of Justice Reforms Teams (JTRTs) Conference organised by the EU-funded Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption (RoLAC II) Programme of International IDEA in partnership with the Federal Ministry of Justice (FMoJ).

The Conference noted that the deficiency of modern technologies has been recognized as a significant contributing factor to the substandard execution of justice in Nigerian courts and law enforcement procedures, as indicated by reports emerging from the conclusion of the Network of Justice Reforms Teams (JTRTs) retreat in Ilorin.

The JTRTs conference, spanning three days, united various criminal justice institutions to deliberate on justice sector reform, advocate for reform models, and establish new objectives for enhancing justice delivery in Nigeria. 

Representatives from the Administration of Criminal Justice Monitoring Committees (ACJMCs) were also in attendance. Over time, RoLAC and the FmoJ have hosted JRTs with the principal objective of fostering coordination in justice delivery.

Advocates of the retreat assert that these network meetings provide platforms for exchanging experiences and knowledge-sharing, leading to a wide array of reforms, including the adoption of the Administration of Criminal Justice Laws by all 36 states in the federation.

Speaking at the end of the Conference on Thursday, Dr Oluwatoyin Badejogbin, Project Manager Component 1 – Criminal Justice Reform of the RoLAC II Programme, International IDEA, spoke on the need to speed up justice delivery and decongest the correctional facilities.

Badejogbin said: “It is evident that congestion in correctional facilities and delays in criminal case prosecutions, as well as civil justice proceedings, stem from the lack of coordination within the criminal justice system.

“When crucial agencies fail to communicate effectively with one another, critical aspects are overlooked. One agency expects the other to fulfil certain responsibilities, while the other anticipates reciprocal actions, resulting in a breakdown of processes.”

“For instance, when the police and the Department of Public Prosecution fail to synchronize their efforts, criminal case files may not be submitted, or they are not returned to the police with the essential legal guidance. Consequently, suspects languish in custody, with no clarity on the status of their cases, leading to prolonged detention in correctional facilities.

“However, when there is seamless cooperation between these agencies, such gaps are mitigated,” he elucidated.

The RoLAC II coordinator highlighted that the primary objective of the retreat was to identify existing gaps and address them effectively by the conclusion of the justice reform team session.

“We anticipate that critical actions will be formulated and implemented, particularly at the state level, following this justice reform team gathering,” he remarked.

Further elaborating on the retreat, Prof. Mohammed Tabiu, a facilitator with RoLAC II, emphasized the added advantage of inclusivity, as the retreat engaged not only stakeholders from the Judiciary but also various other entities in a coordinated manner. 

“The emphasis on coordination, harmony, and collaboration rendered this retreat distinct.

“Throughout the three-day event, a diverse range of initiatives across states aimed at enhancing the administration of justice, particularly in criminal justice, were scrutinized. 

“RoLAC has been striving to harmonize these developments among states, ensuring adequate support for optimal outcomes. 

“The dissemination of lessons learned to other stakeholders will facilitate the widespread benefits of these endeavours across the country,” the professor said.

Earlier on Tuesday Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Federation, AFG, and the Kwara State governor, Mall. Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq emphasized that essential reforms are integral to President Bola Tinubu’s administration’s strategic agenda.

Fagbemi articulated: “As you are cognizant, the reform of the justice sector occupies a central position in this administration’s strategic agenda. 

“A key facet of our Renewed Hope Agenda is to drive judicial reforms to foster sustainable socio-economic growth and investment, underpinned by the rule of law, and to address the impediments hindering the dispensation of justice in our nation.

EU-RoLAC, State Judiciaries, Others  Identify Poor Inter-Agency Cooperation As Reasons For Slow Justice Delivery