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ECOWAS Court Orders Côte d’Ivoire to Pay CFA50 million for Violation of Citizens Rights
ECOWAS Court Orders Côte d’Ivoire to Pay CFA50 million for Violation of Citizens Rights
By: Michael Mike
The ECOWAS Court of justice on 30th of November, 2023, declared the State of Côte d’Ivoire liable for violation of rights of Adou Kouamé and nine other Ivorians, and ordered the Ivorian government to pay 50 million CFA Francs to each of them as compensation.
In its judgement delivered by Hon Justice Ricardo Claúdio Monteiro Gonçalves, Judge Rapporteur, the Court declared that the Respondent – State of Côte d’Ivoire violated the right to healthy environment and health, right to private and family life, right to adequate standard of living and food, right to freedom of religion and right of minorities to have their own culture.
However, the Court dismissed the Applicants – Adou Kouame and Others’ claim that their right to property was violated, for lack of sufficient evidence of ownership. The Court also declared the second, thirteenth and fourteenth Applicants in the suit as improper parties before the Court, stating that they did not present evidence showing their relationship with the parents they claimed to be representing respectively. The Applicants request for collective compensation was dismissed by the Court too.
In the case with suit number ECW/CCJ/APP/08/21, the Applicants – Adou Kouame, village head of Similimi and 14 other residents, claimed that the State of Côte d’Ivoire’s failure to protect them from the negative effects of the mining activities in their community violated their right to healthy and sustainable environment, and health, right to religious and cultural freedom, right to private and family life, right to adequate standard of living and food, and right to property guaranteed under international laws cited in the application.
The Applicants’ lead counsels, Mr Rashidi Ibitowa, Ms Geneviève Aïssata Diallo and Mr Jonathan Kaufman argued that the Ivorian government did not “take measures to give effect to human rights protected by international law,” adding that the mining operations have had adverse effects on plantations, forests, rivers and places of worship causing them health hazards from polluted water, polluted air, explosions, noise pollution and ground tremors. And that their ancestral places of worship were destroyed by the mining activities including altars for sacrifices and they are of the opinion their ancestors are angry with them because their prayers and invocations were no longer answered.
They also asked the Court to hold the State liable for failure to validate the impact assessment results of 2010 that would have resettled them, adding that the Ministry of Mining and Geology renewed the mining licence of the company in 2018 despite the fact that the environmental damage persisted, and the company had not fulfilled its obligations.
They demanded 12 billion CFA francs as compensation for the estimated 600 residents of Similimi, and another 3 billion CFA francs for the Applicants for the prejudice suffered, and an order for their resettlement, among other reliefs.
The Respondent – State of Côte d’Ivoire said that following the exploitation of the mines, and the residents’ demand for compensation from the mining company as well as complaint of adverse effect on water and human health, the Minister of Environment engaged its agencies – Ivorian Anti-Pollution Centre (CIAPOL) and the National Environment Agency (ANDE) and that their reports led to the suspension of the activities of the mining company by an Order of 11 November 2015.
However, the company was allowed to resume activities in 2016 while implementing corrective measures, adding that periodic meetings between all parties continued until 2020 and that a general meeting was also held in 2021.
The Respondent asked the Court to declare the case inadmissible arguing that the matter was within the jurisdiction of national courts and that the claims of the Applicants were ill-founded and should be dismissed.
In the judgment, the Court which held that the matter was within its jurisdiction, also asked the State of Côte d’Ivoire to ensure the residents of Similimi community located in Bondoukou district in Côte d’Ivoire were resettled in compliance with relevant laws, ensure a healthy environment is restored rapidly, end the ongoing environmental degradation, and hold the perpetrators responsible for the environmental degradation.
The State of Côte d’Ivoire was ordered to bear the cost of litigation, and submit to the Court within three months, measures taken to implement this judgment.
Also on the bench were Justices Edward Amoako Asante (presiding) and Dupe Atoki (Member).
ECOWAS Court Orders Côte d’Ivoire to Pay CFA50 million for Violation of Citizens Rights
Yobe State EXCO Line Up Projects For Commissiong
By: Mamman Mohammed
The Yobe state executive council at its first meeting of the year today lined up some infrastructural projects completed and ready for commissioning.
Addressing the media after the EXCO Meeting, the state Commissioner for Information, Alh. Abdullahi Bego, said “these projects and programmes cut across many sectors, including healthcare, agriculture, education, road construction and Empowerment.
The council resolved to embark on a major modernization initiative to change the face of Damaturu to a befitting state capital in 2025.
The council expressed confidence that many of the ongoing legacy that will be ready for commissioning soon “include the Potiskum Modern Market, Ngalda and Yunusari markets all of which are currently at 90% stages of completion, and the Geidam Modern Market which is now at 75% completion stage, and the Potiskum Truck Transit Park now at 90 percent completion stage”.
The EXCO noted that the four modern SESAME SEEDS processing factories in Machina, Nguru, Potiskum and Damaturu have been completed and ready for inauguration.
Similarly, the phase one of the Fika-Maluri road has been completed while work on the second phase is ongoing. The Kukuri-Chukuriwa-Dawasa is 95% completed, Karasuwa-Galu- Gashu’a main road is completed.
“The Gashu’a-Masaba road is at 48% completion, Chumbusko-Tagali road is 100% completed, Nguru-Balanguwa is 75% completed, while Balanguwa-Kumaganam is at 60% completion stage.
“Danchuwa-Garin Bingel (100% completed); and the Danchuwa-Jajere road (97% completion stage); with a number of township roads under the first phase in Nguru, Jajimaji, Gashu’a, Potiskum, Damagum, Damaturu, Buni-Yadi, Babban Gida, and Geidam completed.
In the second phase, Nguru township roads were completed 100%; Potiskum and Damaturu are at 80% while Geidam and Gashu’a township roads are now at 40% stages of completion. We also have ongoing township road projects in Fika, Buni-Yadi and Yunusari towns.
The Damaturu-Buni Yadi, Damaturu-Bayamari, Potiskum-Gashu’a, Bayamari-Yunusari, and Geidam-Bukarti roads cut off by the floods last year have been repaired.
“There is also ongoing rehabilitation of Yunusari-Yusufari road; Jajimaji-Karasuwa road; Yunusari-Kafiya-Kanamma road junction.
“The state government is also currently constructing a road from Potiskum to Ngojin and from Fadawa to Daya in Fika Local Government area” the council stated.
The state executive council noted the delivery of healthcare equipment to the state donated by World Medical Relief in the United States.
“These equipment include hospital beds, infusion pumps, patient monitors, surgical instruments and tools, defibrillators, fetal monitors and ventilators, amongst others”.
The EXCO. noted with satisfaction the graduation of the Buni Scholars in India in the face of the economic challenges making the state proud with increase in qualified personnel in various fields.
Yobe State EXCO Line Up Projects For Commissiong
WEF 2025: Nigeria, Global Leaders Target $29trn African Economy By 2050
** As VP Shettima reaffirms Nigeria’s resolve to champion AfCFTA
By: Our Reporter
Vice President Kashim Shettima has joined other world leaders to push for the full implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) with a target to boost Africa’s economy to $29 trillion by 2050.
He restated Nigeria’s readiness to spearhead the AfCFTA and take advantage of the market potential of the sector for digital transformation and economic integration of the African continent.
This is just as the President of the World Economic Forum (WEF), Børge Brende, pointed out the transformative potential of the AfCFTA, projecting that its full implementation could boost Africa’s economy to $29 trillion by 2050.
Senator Shettima and the global leaders declared their nations’ positions on Wednesday during a forum of Friends of AfCFTA on the sidelines of the ongoing 2025 annual meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland.
The Vice President, while addressing the forum tagged, “Forum Friends of AfCFTA: Turning Digital Trade into a Catalyst for Growth in Africa,” reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to AfCFTA as a vehicle for shared prosperity.
According to VP Shettima, Africa stands in a unique position to take advantage of global talent deficits, citing a Korn Ferry study that projects a global human talent shortage of more than 85 million people by 2030.
“By 2050, Nigeria’s population will surpass that of the United States, becoming the third most populous nation on earth at 440 million people,” he stated.
Citing Africa’s growing digital landscape, the VP said Nigeria’s technological strength is propelling it into the knowledge age.
“Today, we have 220 million telecom subscribers and 163 million internet users in Nigeria alone. This provides us with immense opportunities to empower our people. While our highest oil export earnings were $35 billion in 2011, India last year earned about $120 billion from outsourcing alone.
“The African Continental Free Trade Area is not only an economic arrangement but a bold statement of our shared destiny,” VP Shettima stated, adding that while Africa may have missed the agricultural and industrial ages, it is positioned to thrive in the post-industrial knowledge age.
On his part, the WEF President, Brende, while welcoming Vice President Shettima and other African leaders to the “Forum Friends of AfCFTA,” said Africa’s demographic advantage presents huge economic opportunities for the continent.
He noted that while most nations face workforce challenges, Africa’s young population positions it for unprecedented growth.
“If the Secretary General of the AfCFTA is given all the support he deserves, we can boost intra-African trade by a staggering 50%.
“As of today, $29 trillion represents one-third of the global GDP. Africa is such a growing continent, and one of its key promises is demography. The challenge now is creating new jobs for the youth population,” he stated.
Others who spoke at the event included the Presidents of South Africa, Cyril Ramaphosa; Botswana, Duma Boko; DR Congo, Felix Tshisekedi; Somalia, Hassan Sheikh Mohamud; Prime Minister of Egypt, Mostafa Madbouly; Confederation of African Football President, Patrice Motsepe; Former British Prime Minister, Tony Blair; amongst numerous global CEOs.
WEF 2025: Nigeria, Global Leaders Target $29trn African Economy By 2050
MAN OF THE YEAR Award By THISDAY Newspapers/ARISE Media Group
CELEBRATING PRESIDENT BOLA TINUBU
The President/Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, His Excellency, Bola Tinubu, has been announced “MAN OF THE YEAR” by THISDAY Newspapers and ARISE News Board of Editors.
The prestigious recognition reaffirmed Mr. President’s exemplary leadership, visionary thinking, and unwavering commitment to transforming the country amid mounting economic and security challenges.
The awards organisers also noted that the President has marched on with courage and determination to change Nigeria for the better, and proven to be a leader who is driven more by convictions and taken decisions which are in the best interest of the nation.
To commemorate this milestone, THISDAY is unveiling a Special Edition on Monday, January 27, 2025, to afford the President’s
aides, friends, well-wishers, and associates the opportunity to share in the joy and pride that the award brings to Mr. President through placement of Congratulatory/Goodwill messages to honour the awardee among other award recipients.
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MAN OF THE YEAR Award By THISDAY Newspapers/ARISE Media Group
“GOODBYES ARE NOT THE END, BUT THE BEGINNING OF NEW JOURNEYS,” SAYS MAJOR GENERAL MAINA………as He Hands Over to Major General UM Alkali, the 7th Commandant of AWCN
Yobe State EXCO Line Up Projects For Commissiong
WEF 2025: Nigeria, Global Leaders Target $29trn African Economy By 2050
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