News
Global Emission: ActionAid Calls for Cancellation of Nigeria, Other Developing Countries Debt
Global Emission: ActionAid Calls for Cancellation of Nigeria, Other Developing Countries Debt
By: Michael Mike
ActionAid Nigeria (AAN) has called for the cancellation of Nigeria’s foreign debt as well as that of other African countries to appease for the damage done by global emission.
The Country Director of AAN, Mr Andrew Mamedu made the call at the weekend in Abuja, while noting that in reality African countries as well as other developing countries across the globe are not owing any debt but rather they are owed by developed countries and the Global North.
Mamedu, while calling for conversation around compensation for global emission, expressed concern about the disparity in the interest rate charges on loans between the low income earners and developed countries.
He said the amount agreed to be paid by developed countries for global emission should be redistributed to disadvantaged countries.
He stressed that the Global North is indebted to the developing countries and should be made to pay.
Mamedu argued that climate change is real and we should be pushing for climate justice, which means that the countries responsible for depletion of the ozone layer and subsequent climate change
should be made to pay for their damage.
He said: “So with the global emission conversation, there’s an agreement that for global emission, there’s a specific . that each country should pay, and this amount that is being paid should be redistributed to countries that are disadvantaged. “And surprise you to note that the Global North contributes over 97% of global emission. So with that calculation, with what, for instance, I’ll pick a country like the United States.
“What the United States is currently doing in terms of global emission, the United States has up to 80 trillion dollars that it owes for global emission. But if you project it between now and 2050, so between 1960 to 2050, the United States alone has about 80 trillion dollars. And with that projection, countries like Nigeria, if Nigeria is projected to what Nigeria would get, Nigeria would get 9.9 trillion dollars as payback.
“So look at the calculation, Nigeria is owing about 50 billion dollars, right? But for our climate emission, Nigeria is supposed to then get paid 9.9 trillion dollars between 1960 and now. So the question is, who is owing who? I think we need to sit down on the roundtable and renegotiate this.
“It is unacceptable that, particularly the Global North, the high-income countries, they also are indebted because of the level of risk.”
On the disparity issue of interest rate charged between the developed and developing countries, Mamedu said: “So a country like Germany pays an interest rate of 0.8 percent. Why is a country like Nigeria charged 2 to 3 percent? “You see the difference for their own same loan that we have taken. And what that means is, it is affecting the money’s amount available for our social sector, from education to health, to water, and housing.
“So the social sector is affected. Women, agriculture, young persons are affected. We are not able to have adequate resources to run this.
“So we need to come back to the negotiation table and look at these loans that Nigeria and African countries, not just Nigeria, particularly African countries, how do we come to a point where those loans are cancelled? Or secondly, the issue of the rates that are paid in servicing those loans. Are they fair to the countries? And thirdly, the issue of global emission, the amount that is owed by these countries, the developed countries, the countries that are emitting more, like the United States is top on that list.”
He said that: “By the time you see the full reports, there’s a whole report, huge analysis around this, that shows that we are not the ones in debt. Actually, it’s those countries that are indebted to us and we are happy to sit on the table to start discussing this. Enough of this whole neocolonialism mentality, enough of this new agenda.
“So climate change is real. Climate justice for us is what we are pushing for. And part of climate justice is that the global emission that people are responsible for should be paid for.
“And if they are being paid for, those countries that are suffering from it, which are those in the global South, like us, we should be benefiting. And we can then categorically say that they owe us, 9.9 trillion dollars. And we should start thinking of how they will pay that amount between now and 2050. “
Global Emission: ActionAid Calls for Cancellation of Nigeria, Other Developing Countries Debt
Yobe police command welcomes 280 newly trained constables
By: Dungus Abdulkarim,
Yobe State Police Command has welcomed 280 newly trained Police Constables, comprising 245 General Duty personnel and 35 Specialist Cadre officers. These constables, all of Yobe State origin, successfully completed a 6-month training program at the Police Training College in Maiduguri.¹
The Commissioner of Police, CP Garba Ahmed, congratulated the constables on their achievement, emphasizing the importance of discipline, respect for human rights, and adherence to standard working procedures. He encouraged them to refrain from actions detrimental to the force and their personal careers.
The constables will be deployed to their local areas of origin, in line with the Community Policing strategy, and may be redeployed to other parts of the state as when due.
To ensure their smooth transition, He tasked officers to provide strict mentorship and close supervision.
The command appeals to the public to maintain their cooperation in ensuring the state’s security and safety.
Yobe police command welcomes 280 newly trained constables
EU-SDGN Launches Media Toolkit to Promote Inclusive Reporting
By: Michael Mike
The European Union Support to Democratic Governance in Nigeria (EU-SDGN) Programme has launched a toolkit to help community radio professionals to ensure fair, accurate, ethical, and inclusive reporting of electoral issues across the country.
The toolkit titled “Doing Civic and Voter Education: A Toolkit for Community Radio Professionals in Nigeria,” also aims to empower community radio to engage with marginalised groups, such as women, youth, Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), and Persons with Disabilities (PWDs).
According to a statement, the EU-SDGN programme, fosters inclusive voter education, provides strategies for countering misinformation and hate speech, and ensures that all members of society, especially marginalised groups, have a voice in the democratic process.
The statement said through the initiative, the EU supports media literacy and provides fact-checking tools, helping Nigerians distinguish reliable information, and thereby enhancing democratic engagement.
Speaking about the toolkit, particularly how it improves the capacity of the growing community radio professionals across the country, Executive Director, Centre for Media and Society (CEMESO), Akin Akingbulu, said: “Community radio, in particular, has developed in large numbers, and is now seen as a significant component of broadcasting plurality in Nigeria.
“A key feature of the toolkit is that it stresses the importance of combating misinformation, disinformation, and hate speech—issues that can seriously undermine the electoral process. The toolkit offers practical guidance on fact-checking, promoting digital literacy, and encouraging dialogue with communities to address harmful content.”
Noting that the toolkit strengthens the quality and inclusivity of civic education in Nigeria, Akingbulu said, “The toolkit not only equips journalists to produce accurate, unbiased content but also reinforces the crucial role of the media in shaping an informed electorate. Through this project, the EU is helping to build a more inclusive society where citizens can actively participate in the democratic process.
“As Nigeria prepares for its next elections, the toolkit is expected to have a lasting impact, encouraging informed, responsible, and inclusive participation. This will help strengthen Nigeria’s democratic values and foster an engaged electorate.
“The toolkit is part of a collective efforts in ensuring no citizen is left uninformed or excluded from the electoral process. Ultimately, the toolkit serves as a powerful reminder of the essential role the media plays in shaping Nigeria’s democratic future.”
EU-SDGN Launches Media Toolkit to Promote Inclusive Reporting
News
ECOWAS Court Kicks Off Final Training Session on its Electronic Case Management System (ECMS) Ahead of Official Launch
ECOWAS Court Kicks Off Final Training Session on its Electronic Case Management System (ECMS) Ahead of Official Launch
By: Michael Mike
Honourable President of the Community Court of Justice, ECOWAS, Justice Ricardo Cláudio Monteiro Gonçalves, on 10 February 2025, officially opened the final phase of the General Group Training on the new Electronic Case Management System (ECMS) at the Zuma Resorts, Niger state, Nigeria.
This comprehensive session for Judges, Head Case Managers, Case Managers, and other key staff is a critical step towards preparing for the official Go-Live of the system, scheduled for April 2025.
“This marks the final session in a series of training programs designed to equip all stakeholders with the necessary knowledge and to validate all system modifications, ensuring that the ECMS workflow aligns fully with the Court’s relevant texts and regulations,” the Honorable President stated.
He emphasised the significance of this session, which follows a successful Quality Assurance Workshop that allowed stakeholders to review the ECMS workflow, incorporate feedback from previous training sessions held in Lomé, Accra, and Praia, propose updates, and ensure compliance with the Court legal framework, including the Instructions to the Chief Registrar and the Practice Directions of 2012, 2020, and the newly signed 2025 edition.
During the three-day training, participants will engage in practical sessions, including system walkthroughs, workflow simulations, and role-specific training, covering all aspects of electronic case management, from e-filing a case to delivering a final decision.
“We are on the verge of a major milestone for the ECOWAS Court of Justice,” Justice Gonçalves remarked. He added that, “The Go-Live of the ECMS is scheduled for the first week of April 2025, but before that, several critical prerequisites must be completed including finalising and validating all workflows and system updates to guarantee operational readiness. I am confident that, with our collective effort, we will meet the deadline.”
The Hon. President also highlighted several preparatory steps before the Go-Live, including the deployment of technical tools, finalising user manuals, establishing a Help Desk, and ensuring robust security measures. A key focus will be on ensuring that all stakeholders are fully prepared to use the system from day one.
He urged the Court’s IT Unit to take full ownership of the transition, ensuring smooth implementation and long-term sustainability of the ECMS particularly in the face of increasing resource constraints. He also called for active participation from the participants to ensure the successful adoption of the new system.
This training session marks a pivotal moment in the ECOWAS Court of Justice’s ongoing modernisation efforts and depicts the Court’s commitment to enhance justice across the region. With the collaborative effort of all stakeholders, the Court is poised to enhance its operational efficiency and ensure greater accessibility and transparency in case management.
ECOWAS Court Kicks Off Final Training Session on its Electronic Case Management System (ECMS) Ahead of Official Launch
Yobe police command welcomes 280 newly trained constables
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