UN Set to Host Peace Building Programme to Tackle Insecurity

By: Michael Mike

The United Nations (UN) in Nigeria on Wednesday said its maiden peace-building programme tagged: “Summit of the future-new agenda for peace” is aimed at advancing measures at tackling security related issues.

UN Resident Humanitarian Coordinator in Nigeria, Mohamed Fall disclosed this during national stakeholders consultation in Abuja to map out strategies for the upcoming summit scheduled to hold from Sept.22 to 23, 2024 in New York.

The event organised by the UN in collaboration with Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution (IPCR) seeks to promote the use of dialogue as tool in tackling security challenges.

Fall said although Nigeria is Africa’s most populous nation, it has role to play as regional power in shaping regional and global agenda on peace and security.

He said: “There are a number of idioms that notes how crucial Nigeria is to the subcontinent and the world, the most notable is the following “when Nigeria sneezes, the whole continent fall sick”.

He noted that the promotion of peace and security is central to the UN and enshrined in the organisation’s Charter to save generations from the scourge of conflict.

According to him, dialogue has become important toward supporting Nigeria capture and articulate efforts in tackling peace and security challenges.

He added that: “The new agenda for peace is a fresh look at the changing security landscape and a call to reinvigorate collective security system based on principles of trust, solidarity and universality.

“The agenda stresses importance of preventive diplomacy to tackle poverty, inequalities, climate change and closing development gaps that lead to conflict in the first place.

“This would strengthen both the regional peace architecture and the global framework for addressing contemporary threats to peace and security across Africa.

“By assertively participating in these high-level deliberations, Nigerian stakeholders can amplify their nation’s voice and advocate tailored solutions that better reflects realities on the ground,” Fall said.

On his part, the Director-General of IPCR, Dr Joseph Ochogwu, underscored the need for stronger international cooperation among institutions and relevant stakeholders to tackle spate of violent conflicts.

According to him, it has become imperative to tackle root causes of conflict, prevent crises before they escalate and build equitable world for all.

“As we reflect on the profound challenges that confront us, we must recognise the critical role of solidarity in fostering sense of shared responsibility and mutual support.

“As we embark on new agenda for peace, let us heed the call for unity, compassion and collective action, the challenges we face may be daunting but they are not insurmountable.

“Only by embracing this paradigm shift where peacebuilding is viewed as everybody’s business, can we truly create the conditions for lasting peace and security.

“The time to act is now before these threats escalate and engulf us, let us rise to the occasion and fulfill our responsibility as stewards of peace and security for all,”

UN Set to Host Peace Building Programme to Tackle Insecurity

Nigeria Currently Working on Deepening Bilateral Relations with US, Says Tuggar

By: Michael Mike

Minister of Foreign Affairs, Amb. Yusuf Tuggar has revealed that Nigeria is currently working to deepen bilateral relations with the United States in line President Bola Tinubu’s Nigeria’s foreign policy thrust and initiatives.

Tuggar, made the revelation at the 248th U.S. independence anniversary dinner organized by the U.S. Embassy in Abuja on Tuesday.

The Minister who was represented by the Director of Regions in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Amb. Janet Olisa, said deepening Nigeria-U.S. ties would further cement their many years of cooperation and friendship.

The minister noted that the signing of the Nigeria-U.S. Binational Cooperation was one of the major foreign policy initiatives of the Tinubu administration that would be strengthened, while others would be explored.

He noted that Nigeria-U.S. bilateral relations had been nurtured over the years with various cooperations that have strengthened their ties.

He said: “Since our independence, we have been two nations that have continued to watch our friendship, our bond, and cooperation very tightly.

“One of the major things that happened this year was the Nigeria-U.S. Binational Cooperation agreement, and it is a testament of how important and cordial our relationship is.

“The Secretary of State just left Nigeria not too long ago. And to ensure that we had a smooth running, the Deputy Secretary of State, who had just been confirmed, hurried up to Nigeria to ensure that we had a very successful by Binational.”

The minister said that there were several other agreements and cooperations with the U.S. that Nigeria was looking into with a view to deepening and strengthening them.
“We are also looking into security, which is key to the African nation and very key to Nigeria. We are looking at strengthening the security bond between us we are thankful for all the security cooperation that we receive,” he said.

The Minister also expressed Nigeria’s gratitude to the U.S. for the various interventions in the country’s health sector challenges.

He said: “We are also grateful that in the Ministry of Health, we’ve been able to get some collaborations as well in all the AIDS programmes that have been going on.

“That is the bond of friendship, as we welcome also the incoming ambassador. We know he’s going to have a wonderful time here. I must say that we Nigerians are a people that have always understood the importance of nationhood.

“Nationhood is key to us and for that our security cannot be taken for granted. So I wish you all a very fruitful celebration and we join you to say Happy Independence.”

Speaking earlier, Amb. Richard Mills, the newly appointed U.S. Ambassador to Nigeria, said the two countries were two proud federal republics that shared a commitment to democracy and freedom.

He said that they both shared the belief that was expressed in the US Declaration of Independence 248 years ago, adding that every Nigerian and U.S. citizen shared in the right to life to liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

“As I settle into Abuja and into my role as the 22nd U.S. Ambassador to Nigeria, I look forward to meeting with many of you and how we will work together to strengthen our ties.”

Also speaking, Amb. David Greene, U.S. Embassy’s Deputy Head of Mission and Charge d’Affairs, said that the occasion was an opportunity to take a quick look at the state of the two nations’ ties, particularly given the incredible momentum in their relationship.

The U.S. envoy disclosed that there are 700,000 Nigerians living and working in the U.S., saying it underscored the significance of the U.S.-Nigeria people-to-people ties, which is the bedrock of the relationship.

Greene added that: “Our bond has always been strong. But lately it feels like we’re really sprinting forward together to make Nigerians and Americans more secure, more healthy, more prosperous.”

Nigeria Currently Working on Deepening Bilateral Relations with US, Says Tuggar

EU is Playing Active Role in Nigeria’s Renewable Energy- Isopi

By: Michael Mike

The Head of the European Union (EU) Delegation to Nigeria and the Economic Community of West African States, Samuela Isopi has said renewable energy is the way to go in the future, stating that the EU is currently playing very active role in Nigeria’s energy sector, particularly in renewable energy.

Isopi, who spoke during a cocktail on the occasion of the 9th Nigeria-EU Business Forum in Abuja, noted that the EU is among the main partners and donors in the energy sector, supporting renewable energy and also supporting critical projects, supporting mini grids at the state level in different states and big renewable energy companies as well.

She said: “Europe is a leader in this sector, Nigeria has a huge potential. Nigeria has oil and gas, but Nigeria also has a lot of sand and wind. And that, for us, is the future. And we know that Nigeria very much shares this same vision.”

On the volume of trade between the EU countries and Nigeria, Isopi disclosed that in 2023, it was 35 billion euros and in 2022, there was a record of 45 billion euros.

Isopi, while stating that oil and gas still represented the larger part of the trade, noted that the balance was in favour of Nigeria, but added that it has to be diversified.

She said: “Of course, oil and gas still represents most of the trade, but it has to be diversified.”

Isopi also revealed that the European Union has put forward, some proposals on how to boost trade relations between the European Union countries and Nigeria.

She however recalled that the EU recently mapped out for the first time, the presence of European Union companies in Nigeria and were surprised that from only those that replied to their survey, they had 250 companies in Nigeria.

She noted that the companies were not just focussing on oil and gas but that out of the numbers, 20 percent was investing in manufacturing.

Also speaking at the event, the Deputy Director-General for International Partnerships, Myriam Ferran, said the EU have had very positive feedback from previous editions of the Nigeria-EU Business Forum, saying that basically, the EU focuses each year on specific thematic to improve the business relationship between the EU, companies and Nigerian companies in specific sectors.

She revealed that: “This year, we will work on climate-resilient agriculture, we will discuss a lot about pharmaceuticals and vaccine manufacturing for instance, and we are going to talk about digitalisation. So, we can expand and we address as many companies as we can, but our objective is to reach out to even more.”

On his part, the Nigeria’s Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Senator Abubakar Bagudu said the event is happening when the Federal Government believed that there is an evolving relationship between Nigeria and the EU.

He said: “We have just signed the Samoa Agreement, so I felt it is a very good moment before the commencement of the Nigeria-EU business forum. We have sensitised the Nigerian public sector, Nigerian private sector about the EU partnerships, global gateway and the relationship with EU member nations and it is very, very important to us.”

EU is Playing Active Role in Nigeria’s Renewable Energy- Isopi