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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
Troops receive 10 family members of insurgents in borno
By: Zagazola Makama
Troops of 25 Brigade Operation Hadin Kai under Operation Desert Sanity have received the surrender of 10 family members of insurgents in Damboa town, Borno State.
Sources told Zagazola Makama that the surrendered persons comprise five women and five children.
The individuals are currently in military custody undergoing profiling and other necessary administrative procedures.
The development, according to the military sources reflects the increasing pressure on terrorist enclaves as a result of sustained ground and air operations in the theatre.
Members of the public have been urged to remain vigilant and continue to provide credible and timely information to security agencies to enhance operational successes.
Troops receive 10 family members of insurgents in borno
Troops bust filling station in maiduguri loading fuel in jerrycans for insurgents
By: Zagazola Makama
In an infuriating development, Nigerian Army troops of Operation Hadin Kai have uncovered and disrupted a large scale fuel supply operation in Maiduguri, Borno State, intended for Boko Haram terrorists operating in the Gwoza axi0s and parts of Cameroon.
The troops busted Hadiza and Sadiq Filling Station while its operators were brazenly loading fuel into 500 jerrycans, in what authorities described as a deliberate and treacherous attempt to empower the enemies of Nigeria.
Intelligence sources confirmed to Zagazola Makama that the troops had been tracking the activities of several unpatriotic fuel merchants engaged in black market sales, often using modified tanks in vehicles such as Gulf cars to transport large quantities of fuel to unknown destinations. These products were later transferred into jerrycans and smuggled to terrorist-controlled areas.
But on this occasion, their luck ran out. Troops stormed the scene and arrested several suspects caught in the act. During preliminary interrogation, the suspects shamelessly confessed to taking the fuel toward Pulka and the Cameroon axis, an area which harbor several terrorists from the Ali Ngulde faction. They, however, claimed ignorance about the identities of the recipients, revealing that individuals from “various destinations” collect the products.
This disturbing revelation points to an organised and treasonous network of some collaborators aiding and abetting terrorism under the guise of commercial activities.
Security officials decried the alarming complicity of some licensed filling stations in fuelling terrorism, stating that such acts directly enable the destruction of lives, property, and public infrastructure.
“These are not businessmen, they are economic saboteurs and enemies of the Nigerian state. Their actions cost lives every day,” said a Military source.
The military has vowed to intensify surveillance on fuel distribution chains and bring all collaborators to face the full wrath of the law.
Troops bust filling station in maiduguri loading fuel in jerrycans for insurgents
Army troops foil ISWAP attack on FOB Izge, neutralize five terrorists
By: Zagazola Makama
Troops of 26 Task Force Brigade, under Operation Hadin Kai, have successfully repelled a coordinated attack by ISWAP terrorists on their Forward Operating Base (FOB) at Izge, Gwoza Local Government Area of Borno State.
In a follow-up clearance operation conducted in conjunction with Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF), troops discovered five corpses of neutralized insurgents, bringing the total terrorist casualties to five.
The troops also recovered one motorcycle, ten bicycles, a PKT machine gun, and an additional ammunition belt along the terrorists’ withdrawal route.
The attempted infiltration occurred on May 7, 2025, at about 0035hrs, but was swiftly foiled due to the vigilance and superior firepower of troops from E Company, 114 Battalion (Main).
Army troops foil ISWAP attack on FOB Izge, neutralize five terrorists
Troops receive 10 family members of insurgents in borno
Troops bust filling station in maiduguri loading fuel in jerrycans for insurgents
Army troops foil ISWAP attack on FOB Izge, neutralize five terrorists
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