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Council of European Union’s Africa Working Group Begins 4-day Visit to Nigeria
Council of European Union’s Africa Working Group Begins 4-day Visit to Nigeria
By: Michael Mike
Members of the Council of European Union’s Africa Working Party (COAFR) have arrived in Abuja to begin a four-day working visit to the country.
During the visit taking place from 26-29 February 2024, the COAFR members will engage with Nigerian authorities, government agencies, civil society groups, regional and international organisations and private sector actors in Abuja and in Lagos.
According to a statement on Sunday by the European Union in Nigeria, the Africa Working Party (COAFR) is mandated with the supervision and management of EU external policy towards the 46 countries of the sub-Saharan Africa, the African Union and other sub-regional organisations, including ECOWAS.
The Africa Working Party (COAFR) is composed of representatives of all 27 EU Member States, chaired by a permanent member of the European External Action Service (EEAS), and assisted by representatives of the Commission and the General Secretariat of the Council. It works under the auspices of the European Union’s Foreign Affairs Council (FAC), itself composed of the Ministers of Foreign Affairs, Defense and/or development of the 27 Member States of the European Union.
The statement said in Abuja, the visiting COAFR members will meet with key Federal Government ministries and agencies starting from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Office of the National Security Adviser, the Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning, among others.
They will also have an interactive session with the ECOWAS Commission on regional developments and integration processes.
In Lagos, the COAFR is expected to meet with the Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, the Consuls General of EU Member States, and the leadership of the European Business Chamber (EuroCham) Nigeria.
They will also visit several EU-funded projects in the state featuring digital and innovation, critical infrastructure and connectivity and migration. Deliberations during the meetings will centre on further boosting EU-Nigeria partnership.
The Africa Working Party’s (COAFR) visits to African countries aim at promoting direct contact, mutual information exchange and feedback between the political and foreign policy organs of the European Union and their African counterparts. They play an important role on taking stock of state and non-state actors views, perspectives, aspirations and expectations regarding their partnership with the European Union, its closest neighbour and its sister continent.
The team will commence a similar visit to the neighbouring Republic of Benin at the end of its current mission in Nigeria.
According to the statement, this is the group’s first-ever working visit to Nigeria, noting that in addition to the representatives of 17 EU Member States also officials from EU institutions, are expected to be in the team.
The statement further revealed that this year’s working visit will be the eleventh visit of the COAFR to the African continent, and the third visit to West Africa – following earlier visits to Senegal and Burkina Faso (2015) and Ivory Coast and Ghana (2019).
It said more than ever before, several top EU officials have visited Nigeria in recent years and months, underlining the importance the EU accords its partnership with the country.
Last October, the EU’s Commissioner for International Partnership, Ms. Jutta Urpilainen, her counterpart for Energy, Ms. Kadri Simson, led other top officials to participate in the EU-Nigeria Strategic Dialogue Meeting held Abuja. The Deputy Secretary General of the European External Action Service (EEAS), Ms Helena Konig, and the Managing Director, Africa at the EEAS, Ms. Rita Laranjinha, were also in the country shortly before then, following the visits in 2022 of European Commission’s Executive Vice President Margrethe Vestager in February 2022, EU and Member States Maritime Security Coordinators in April 2022 and senior officials of the European Commission in charge of Energy and Home Affairs.
is mandated with the supervision and management of EU external policy towards the 46 countries of the sub-Saharan Africa, the African Union and other sub-regional organisations, including ECOWAS.
The Africa Working Party (COAFR) is composed of representatives of all 27 EU Member States, chaired by a permanent member of the European External Action Service (EEAS), and assisted by representatives of the Commission and the General Secretariat of the Council. It works under the auspices of the European Union’s Foreign Affairs Council (FAC), itself composed of the Ministers of Foreign Affairs, Defense and/or development of the 27 Member States of the European Union.
In Abuja, the visiting COAFR members will meet with key Federal Government ministries and agencies starting from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Office of the National Security Adviser, the Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning, among others. They will also have an interactive session with the ECOWAS Commission on regional developments and integration processes.
In Lagos, the COAFR is expected to meet with the Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, the Consuls General of EU Member States, and the leadership of the European Business Chamber (EuroCham) Nigeria.
They will also visit several EU-funded projects in the state featuring digital and innovation, critical infrastructure and connectivity and migration. Deliberations during the meetings will centre on further boosting EU-Nigeria partnership.
The Africa Working Party’s (COAFR) visits to African countries aim at promoting direct contact, mutual information exchange and feedback between the political and foreign policy organs of the European Union and their African counterparts. They play an important role on taking stock of state and non-state actors views, perspectives, aspirations and expectations regarding their partnership with the European Union, its closest neighbour and its sister continent. The team will commence a similar visit to the neighbouring Republic of Benin at the end of its current mission in Nigeria.
This is the group’s first-ever working visit to Nigeria. In addition to the representatives of 17 EU Member States also officials from EU institutions, are expected to be in the team. This year’s working visit will be the eleventh visit of the COAFR to the African continent, and the third visit to West Africa – following earlier visits to Senegal and Burkina Faso (2015) and Ivory Coast and Ghana (2019).
More than ever before, several top EU officials have visited Nigeria in recent years and months, underlining the importance the EU accords its partnership with the country. Last October, the EU’s Commissioner for International Partnership, Ms. Jutta Urpilainen, her counterpart for Energy, Ms. Kadri Simson, led other top officials to participate in the EU-Nigeria Strategic Dialogue Meeting held Abuja. The Deputy Secretary General of the European External Action Service (EEAS), Ms Helena Konig, and the Managing Director, Africa at the EEAS, Ms. Rita Laranjinha, were also in the country shortly before then, following the visits in 2022 of European Commission’s Executive Vice President Margrethe Vestager in February 2022, EU and Member States Maritime Security Coordinators in April 2022 and senior officials of the European Commission in charge of Energy and Home Affairs.
Council of European Union’s Africa Working Group Begins 4-day Visit to Nigeria
Governor Buni inspects the ongoing construction of township roads in Yobe
By: Yahaya Wakili
His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Yobe State, Hon. Mai Mala Buni CON, yesterday inspected some ongoing township roads and a health facility project at the Yobe State University Teaching Hospital in Damaturu.
The governor, who was on an unscheduled visit to the projects, said he was there to see the quality and pace of work on the projects.
He said the road projects were initiated to improve the transportation of goods and services for the socio-economic development of the communities.
Governor Mai Mala Buni explained that good roads are for the success of the post-insurgency agenda, while drainages would save houses from the annual floods.
The governor, who expressed satisfaction with the quality and speed of work, charged the Commissioner for Works, Engr. Umaru Duddaye, to ensure that there is value for money in all the ongoing projects.
Similarly, the governor called on the contractors to execute the projects in accordance with the specifications and other contractual agreements.
The Commissioner for Works assured the governor that his ministry was under close supervision of all the projects to ensure that all specifications were adhered to by the contractors.
He said the government is currently executing additional seven kilometers of road projects and fourteen kilometers of concrete drainage in the commissioners quarters and Nasarawa areas of Damaturu mentropolis.
He commended the efforts of Governor Buni to save the inhabitants of the benefiting communities from the menace of the annual floods.
At the College of Medical Sciences of the Yobe State University Teaching Hospital Damaturu, the governor inspected the progress of work on the project.
He assured that the government would ensure the timely completion of the projects and put them to use for the benefit of the people.
Governor Buni inspects the ongoing construction of township roads in Yobe
Senator Lawan condoles the loss of late Gadaka in Damaturu
By: Yahaya Wakili
President of the Ninth Senate, Senator Ahmed Ibrahim Lawan, Ph.D., GCON, Sardaunan Bade, Yobe North Senatorial District, paid a condolence visit to the family of late Alhaji Ibrahim Ali Gadaka in Damaturu yesterday, May 6, 2024.
The late Ibrahim Ali Gadaka was a former Commissioner of Education in Yobe State.
The President of the 9th Senate also visited the family of the late Engr. Abba Jakusko, who was a retired director in the works department of the Yobe state ministry of works, to condole with them on his passing.
Thereafter, Senator Ahmed Lawan proceeded to visit Alhaji Muhammad Mairami, the deputy director of protocol to the Yobe State Governor, His Excellency, Rt. Hon. Mai Mala Buni CON, over the death of his son. Ahmad Muhammed Mairami. His son passed away recently at the age of 16.
May Almighty Allah grant the souls of all the deceased eternal rest in Aljannatur, Fidaus. Ameen.
Senator Lawan condoles the loss of late Gadaka in Damaturu
News
Women Empowerment in Agriculture Takes Center Stage as Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI) Launches South-South Agricultural Program
Women Empowerment in Agriculture Takes Center Stage as Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI) Launches South-South Agricultural Program
The agricultural support program of the Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI) was launched today in Uyo with a special focus on women empowerment in agriculture.
As part of this program, one hundred women from the South-South geopolitical zone received financial support of five hundred thousand naira each.
Senator Oluremi Tinubu, the First Lady of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, who was represented by Mrs. Hajiya Nana Shettima, the wife of the Vice President, emphasized the importance of government and non-governmental organizations supporting local farmers for sustainable development. She expressed confidence that this initiative will not only transform the lives of the beneficiaries but also contribute to food sufficiency in the region.
Governor Umo Bassey Eno of Akwa Ibom expressed his appreciation for the commitment of the Renewed Hope Initiative and praised Senator Oluremi Tinubu for her efforts to unite and involve the wives of all Governors in the 36 states of Nigeria, irrespective of their political affiliations.
During the event, Pastor Patience Eno, the wife of the Governor of Akwa Ibom, welcomed the First Lady and her entourage, assuring them of their support in the progress of RHI programs aimed at empowering women.
Dr. Mrs. Gloria Diri, the wife of the Governor of Bayelsa State and the Zonal Chairman of the South-South, also expressed her support for the initiative enumerating the success story of RHI in the lives of many women and special groups accross the country
The highlight of the occasion was the formal presentation of cheques to the wives of the Governors in the South-South region, as well as RHI monetary support to one hundred persons with special needs
Women Empowerment in Agriculture Takes Center Stage as Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI) Launches South-South Agricultural Program
Governor Buni inspects the ongoing construction of township roads in Yobe
Senator Lawan condoles the loss of late Gadaka in Damaturu
Women Empowerment in Agriculture Takes Center Stage as Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI) Launches South-South Agricultural Program
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