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State Governments Advised to Enter into Trade and Investment Partnerships with Countries in Africa for Prosperity of Their People
State Governments Advised to Enter into Trade and Investment Partnerships with Countries in Africa for Prosperity of Their People
By: Michael Mike
State governments across the country have been advised to enter into trade and investment partnerships with counties on the African continent to improve welfare and prosperity of indigenes of their states, and boost intra-African trade.
The advice was given by President of the Nigeria-Namibia Chamber of Commerce, Mr. Ben Gbade Ojo while presenting a paper at the Namibia-Delta State Trade and Investment Summit held in Warri, Delta State
Ojo said state governments in Nigeria can boost their economies and create more employment opportunities for their peoples by promoting and engaging in trade and investment relations with African countries.
In his paper titled: “Unlocking New Trade and Investment Opportunities between Namibia and Nigeria,” Ojo stated that: “Trade is widely accepted as an important engine of economic growth and development. There are many regions and countries of the world that have been able to lift their people from poverty to prosperity through trade. In Africa however, trade has not served as a potent instrument for the achievement of rapid and sustainable economic growth and development”.
He lamented that “Intra-African trade (trade among African nations) stands at around 13% compared to approximately 60%, 40 %, 30% intra-regional trade that has been achieved by Europe, North America and the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) respectively. Even if allowance is made for Africa’s unrecorded informal cross-border trade, the total level of intra-African trade is not likely to be more than 20%, which is still lower than that of other major regions of the world”.
According to Ojo: “That African countries do not trade much with each other has meant that they have been unable to fully harness the synergies and complementarities of their economies and take full advantage of the economies of scale and other benefits (such as income and employment generation) that greater market integration would have provided. There are cases where products and services could have been sourced competitively from other African countries but were procured from outside the continent”.
He said: “Enhancing intra-African trade presents a multitude of benefits. It fosters the evolution of regional value chains and catalyzes productivity and innovation” adding that intra-African trade also enhances economies of scale which means that “as the scale of output goes up, average costs of productiondecline—at least up to a point.”
He congratulated the Delta State Government on this visionary initiative and called on all other states to join Delta State in promoting international trade and investments for the improved welfare and prosperity of their people and states.
The well attended summit was graced by His Royal Majesty, Ogiame Atuwatse III, the Olu of Warri and His Excellency, Humphrey Geiseb, High Commissioner of Namibia to Nigeria, Cameroun and Chad. The Olu of Warri also hosted Mr. Ojo, the Namibian High Commissioner and other summit dignitaries at his palace.
State Governments Advised to Enter into Trade and Investment Partnerships with Countries in Africa for Prosperity of Their People
Police arrest six officers over killing of okada rider in Lagos
By: Zagazola Makama
The Lagos State Police Command have arrested six of its personnel, including an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), over the killing of a commercial motorcyclist at Onosa town, Ibeju-Lekki area of the state.
Sources confirmed the development to Zagazola Makama on Saturday saying the incident occurred in the early hours of Aug. 29 when a team of policemen allegedly on illegal duty clashed with a group of okada riders.
According to the sources , the officers, led by ASP Dauda Irimia of the Division Motor Traffic Department (MTD), were attacked by motorcyclists in their large numbers.
“In their bid to ensure their safety, the ASP used his firearm, which resulted in three of the riders sustaining injuries. They were rushed to Luscent Private Hospital, Ibeju-Lekki, where one of them, Muazu Abubakar, 22, was confirmed dead,” said the sources.
The incident sparked a violent protest as youths and commercial riders blocked the Lekki–Epe expressway, disrupting traffic along the busy corridor.
The Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Command, personally led reinforcement teams that dispersed the protesters, cleared the barricades, and restored the free flow of traffic.
He thereafter engaged youth and community leaders in dialogue to sustain peace and prevent further escalation.
Meanwhile, the ASP who fired the fatal shot and five other members of his team have been arrested and detained.
Police said a thorough investigation into the incident had commenced, adding that appropriate disciplinary measures would be taken against those found culpable.
Police arrest six officers over killing of okada rider in Lagos
Security forces bust child trafficking syndicate in akwa ibom, arrest five
By: Zagazola Makama
Security forces in Akwa Ibom have arrested five suspected members of a child trafficking syndicate along the Ikot Ekpene–Aba highway.
Zagazola Makama learnt from sources that detectives attached to the Criminal Surveillance Unit (CSU), while on stop-and-search duty on Aug. 28, intercepted an 18-seater Toyota Hiace bus belonging to Uwakmfom Transportation Company.
According to the sources , one of the passengers, identified as Precious Emmanuel Bassey, was found with a two-year-old girl, Glory Edet Etim, but could not give a satisfactory account of the child.
“She was immediately arrested and, upon interrogation, confessed that she was taking the child to Lagos for trafficking. She also admitted to having earlier sold another child,” said the sources.
The sources added that based on her confession, four other suspects Godspower Edet, Esther Effiong Edet, Mandu Asuquo Sampson and Eli Adolphus were arrested.
Sources said discreet investigation was ongoing to track down other members of the syndicate and recover previously trafficked children.
Security forces bust child trafficking syndicate in akwa ibom, arrest five
Army launches operation to rescue abducted farmers in Edo
By: Zagazola Makama
Troops of the Nigerian Army have launched a joint operation with local vigilantes to rescue two persons abducted on a farm in Amedokhian community, Esan West Local Government Area of Edo State.
Sources told Zagazola Makama that the victims, identified as Mr. Clifford Isolate and an unidentified woman, were kidnapped on the morning of Aug. 29 while working on a farm in Ukoni Amedokhian.
He said the army immediately mobilised troops to the area in coordination with local vigilantes and the Anti-Kidnapping Unit of Esan youths to secure the release of the victims.
“Our troops were deployed promptly to track and apprehend the abductors while ensuring the safety of the victims.
The sources said the operation is ongoing, and all necessary measures are being taken to ensure a successful rescue.
Army launches operation to rescue abducted farmers in Edo
Police arrest six officers over killing of okada rider in Lagos
Security forces bust child trafficking syndicate in akwa ibom, arrest five
Army launches operation to rescue abducted farmers in Edo
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