Border closure: Nigeria gets tough with ECOWAS, bans repackaged imported goods

PUNCH Nigeria. Tuesday, November 5, 2019
By Adelani Adepegba, Abuja

The Federal Government has listed five conditions for reopening of the country's land borders for
goods importation from neighbouring countries.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama

As one of the conditions, the Federal Government said Nigeria would not accept imported goods that were repackaged by neigbouring countries and brought to Nigeria.

It said the conditions which would be presented to Benin and Niger Republic in two weeks, must be met before the Nigerian land borders would be re-opened.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama, disclosed this during the meeting of the Inter-Ministerial Committee on the Temporary Partial Closure of Land Borders in Abuja on Monday.

He insisted that neighbouring countries must respect the Economic Community of West African States' 'rules of origin' if they must bring goods into the country.

The preconditions for both goods and humans coming into the country, however, applied to all ECOWAS member states.

Onyeama said that goods imported for the Nigerian market must be escorted directly from the port of member states to the nation's land borders.

Also at the meeting, the Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs, Col. Hamid Ali (retd), said the January 31, 2020 date for re-opening of the borders was not sacrosanct.

Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, was also in attendance at the meeting which held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs headquarters, Abuja.

Explaining the conditions, the foreign affairs minister said Nigeria would no longer tolerate repackaging of goods coming into the country.

He said that any goods imported from ECOWAS member states must have the 30 per cent local input in line with the value addition percentage under the ECOWAS Trade Liberalisation Scheme.


These conditions, the minister said, would be presented to Benin and Niger Republic at a tripartite meeting scheduled for next two weeks in Nigeria.

He also said that the only travel document allowed for anybody coming into the country through the land borders is the passports, stressing that the country would not accept any other documents such as the identity card.

Onyeama said, "So we (Nigeria committee) met to look at the situation and we have agreed on a set of conditions. Now, these conditions are as follows:

FG disputes $25bn Diaspora Remittance figure

VANGUARD Nigeria. Tuesday, November 5, 2019
Written by Victoria Ojeme & Omeiza Ajayi

Remittances to other countries

The Federal Government has disputed the $25 billion figure said to be the annual remittances of Nigerians in diaspora, saying the figure is actually higher.

Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Geoffrey Enyeama disclosed this Tuesday in Abuja at the opening of a two-day Technical Workshop on Diaspora Remittances and Sustainable Development under the chairmanship of the Kingdom of Belgium and the French Republic.

Enyeama who said the figure often bandied about is actually not a true reflection of diaspora remittances to Nigeria, however, said the challenge with most countries is how to channel such remittances to development.

“As you know, in the past few years, it is said that Nigerians in diaspora remittances is $25 billion. The figure being bandied about is $25billion per year in remittances.

“Well, I read not too long ago that this figure is inaccurate. It is very far from being accurate because when you logically think about it, it is huge and as they say, it even dwarfs the budget. It is hard to fathom. So, I think there is some debate as to how accurate that really is. But of course, we will love it to be that. There are huge resources coming into the country from Nigerians in diaspora and the challenge, as with most countries, is how to channel those resources to development”, he said.

The minister, who stressed the importance of diaspora remittances to sustainable national development, especially if properly harnessed urged stakeholders to, however, consider the cost of remitting the funds home, saying there was the need to make it easier for those in the diaspora to remit funds.

“In the past few years, the Nigerian diaspora has remitted billions of dollars to their kith and kin back home at a very high premium. According to the National Bureau of Statistics, in 2018, diaspora remittances to Nigeria was about U525 billion. This represents 6.1 per cent of our GDP and 83 per cent of our national budget. It is also 11 times the foreign direct investment flows into the country within the same period.

“This should show us the importance and the value that could derive from these remittances if properly harnessed. On the flip side, we should also consider the cost of remitting these funds back home. We therefore need to make it easier for those in the diaspora to remit funds back home and find ways of harnessing these funds for national development,” he urged.

Year 2017 - 50 Years, Biafra Heroes Remembrance Day: Nnamdi Kanu weeps at Nkpor

Topics:

- Sit-at-home: Massive discontent, elite hypocrisy fuelling Biafra agitation
- My aim is civil disobedience until we get a referendum – Nnamdi Kanu
- Biafra Heroes Remembrance Day: IPOB observes sit-at-home May 30
- Nnamdi Kanu weeps at Nkpor
_________________________________________________

Sit-at-home: Massive discontent, elite hypocrisy fuelling Biafra agitation.
As written by Chioma Gabriel, Emeka Mamah, Clifford Ndujihe,Chidi Nkwopara, Anayo Okoli, Henry Umoru, Emman Ovuakporie, Dapo Akinrefon, Gbenga Oke, Ugochukwu Alaribe, Dennis Agbo, Chimaobi Nwaiwu, Chinonso Alozie & Peter Okutu
~Vanguard Nigeria. Thursday, June 1, 2017.


…Say Afenifere, Junaid Mohammed, as normalcy returns to S-East

…Igbo commend Nnamdi Kanu

…Total compliance has convinced me of Biafra’s restoration -Kanu

…We did not arrest any IPOB or MASSOB members - Imo CP

Tuesday's successful lockdown of the Southeast is indicative of a massive discontent with the Nigerian federation, Afenifere, the Yoruba socio-cultural group warned, yesterday.

While the group warned that the issues raised by the lockdown must be addressed in order not to foreclose a negotiated settlement of the Nigeria question, Second Republic lawmaker, Dr. Junaid Mohammed, traced the success of the lockdown to what he described as the hypocrisy of the Nigerian elite class and the tribal tendencies of President Muhammadu Buhari.

In addition, National President of the Arewa Youths Consultative Forum,Alhaji Yerima Shettima on his part said the action showed the need to address the national question, adding that the "elite have hijacked this country."

"There is nothing new about what they have done, they did not compel anybody to sit-at-home but people voluntarily sat at home. Their action is a form of sensitization that the national question must be addressed.

"If we, in the north, are tired of Nigeria, we might also decide to go because some people have held the country to ransom. If they want to go, they are free to go. We, in the north, will also decide to pull out of the country because some of us in the minority are being marginalized. The elites have hijacked this country."

Also reacting, the Southeast Senate caucus, members of the House of Representatives were among other groups that yesterday also opined that the lockdown had brought the issue of restructuring of the country to a point of no return.

Meanwhile, the Southeast opened to business, yesterday, after the 24-hour lockdown of the zone and neighbouring Igbo-speaking areas effected at the instance of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB.



Meanwhile, Igbo groups across the country, yesterday, praised IPOB leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, for the success of rallying the Igbo nation towards their plight with different groups pledging loyalty to him.

Kanu, on his part, said the success of the sit-at-home protest had convinced him of the good prospects of the restoration of Biafra.

FG blind to realities on ground-Afenifere

Reacting to the success of the sit-at-home directive, the pan-Yoruba socio-political organisation, Afenifere said it showed that the Federal Government was blind to the realities on ground.

Afenifere's National Publicity Secretary, Mr Yinka Odumakin, said: "It is interesting the total shut down happened the day the Attorney-General of the Federation, AGF, was bragging that restructuring would not happen, it is a clear sign that the government is blind to the realities in the land.”

Elite at fault - Junaid Mohammed

Kano based Second Republic lawmaker, Dr. Mohammed on his part said yesterday:

"What has happened should not surprise Nigerians who know the history of Biafra. What is happening has the support of the Igbo elite and this further confirms the irresponsibility of the Nigerian elite all together."

Nigeria begins trade negotiations with African countries

Written by Ifeanyi Onuba, Abuja
~Punch Nigeria. Tuesday, February 7, 2017



The Federal Government will this week begin another round of negotiations with all the countries in the African region under the Continental Free Trade Agreement.

The Strategic Communications Adviser to the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Constance Ikokwu, who confirmed the development, said the Nigerian negotiation team, consisting of eight members, would be led by the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Okechukwu Enelamah.

She said the team had the mandate to engage colleagues from 53 other African nations on the emerging draft substantive text of the CFTA being reviewed in the six technical working groups.

Ikokwu explained that the meetings to be held in Rwanda would last for 11 days, adding that the team was expected to report back the proceedings to the Federal Government.

She said in a statement that the Nigerian trade team would continue to argue for flexibility that would allow it to safeguard the economy from a flood of imports, even as it remained an open economy.

The statement quoted Enelamah to have said, "These negotiations are a geo-strategic imperative because of Nigeria's standing, position and leadership. Nigeria has a duty to provide leadership, inter alia, because the CFTA negotiations are based on a mandate from the Summit of Heads of State and Government of the African Union.

"Increasing intra-African trade is crucial in a global economy that is turning protectionist. The CFTA negotiations provide a huge opportunity for economic growth and increased welfare in Africa, in a global economy in rapid but uncertain transformation.

Land ownership in Nigeria

Written by Kaine Agary
~Punch Nigeria. Sunday, July 17, 2016

Kaine Agary

I am sure if a survey were taken, land matters would form the bulk of adjudicated cases under both customary and statutory judicial processes. Land matters have pitted families against each other for generations and drained the resources of litigants who can spend upwards of 20 years trying to get "justice" in a land matter. In our politics as well, the Land Use Act of 1978 is a subject that rears its head especially in debates about social justice and true federalism. Land and air are God's gift to us to ensure our survival; the air we breathe, and on land we live and produce the food that keeps us physically alive. So why is nobody fighting about air (well, not just yet for many individuals, but with all the talk about pollution and carbon emissions, that day is not too far away). Air is all around us, and is free. Land, however, is a scarce resource and therefore calls a price.

So, what is land? The Property and Conveyancing Law of the Western Region (1959) defines land as, "land of any tenure, buildings or parts of buildings (whether the division is horizontal, vertical or made in any other way) and other corporeal hereditaments, also a rent and other incorporeal hereditaments and an easement, right, privilege, or benefit in, over, or derived from land; but not an undivided share in land." This definition alone can make you dizzy and question why the law cannot be in simple English - the lawyers have to eat so they must keep us simple-minded people racking our brains once in a while.

Anyway, all that definition means to say is that, land is not just the tangible earth soil, or physical property such as houses, factories, shops, etc placed on the earth soil, but it also includes intangible rights in the land such as the right to walk across a neighbour's yard (an example of an easement); the creation of a charge on land to secure a debt (a mortgage); the right to control the use to which a neighbour may put his land (a restrictive covenant); or the right to take something from another's land, such as fish (example of an incorporeal hereditament). So the definition of land in our laws covers both the physical asset and the rights that we enjoy in and over it. There are some rights that attach to the land and are transferred from one owner to the next; these are said to be proprietary rights as opposed to personal rights in the land.

Beyond the Onitsha Shopping Mall

By Ifeanyi Afuba, writes from Nimo, Anambra State.
~The SUN, Nigeria. Tuesday, May 3, 2016.


If there was any lingering doubt whether the mall culture has caught on with Nigeria's urban society, the keen mood at the commissioning of the Onitsha shopping mall on April 14, 2016 said it all. The hundreds of shop spaces in this Anambra State Government, private sector venture had been taken up before the public opening. The excited traders and visitors could not even wait for Governor Willie Obiano to finish with the ceremonies before jostling to have a slice of the action.

In the mid-1980s, the residents of Onitsha beheld an unusual building construction at Nkpor, a suburb of the commercial city. By the standards of the city dictated by scarcity of land, the site of this construction was vast, leaving significant space in front of the emerging building. But what tasked the imagination of locals was that the unfolding big structure did not fit into any of the known building purposes. It was not a residential edifice; not blocks of offices and it was not a factory either. Was it a hotel? No. Curiosity mounted as the seeming lavish, one room apartment structure progressed. It turned out that the Joedone Complex was intended to be a mall. Mall? Okay, shopping mall, some sort of variety retail outlets when you do not want to go to the main market. Many pitied the entrepreneur for misapplying considerable resources in a scheme they saw as standing no chance in a competition with the markets. To be sure, the Joedone spaces were unutilised for many years after construction but as the owner had also explained, it was a business concept for the future.

That early proprietor deserves commendation. In his role, we find once more some of the attributes for achieving success. He had not just the foresight but more importantly, the patience and courage of his conviction to stay on in those difficult years when nobody believed in him. The mentality of shrinking away from new ventures because of their perceived risks is one sure way to make a society live on the margins. I recall that sometime in 1994, in the early days of the home movie, I was approached to write a script by a potential producer. I still recall vividly the alarm on the prospective investor's face when I said I would render the script in English. At the time Nigerian home movie videos were made almost entirely in vernacular. My friend found my proposal tantamount to a leap in the dark; a plan too risky for business. He could not be persuaded and we parted at that end of the road. A couple of months later, majority of the movie productions were being done in English.


With globalisation, assimilation of socio - cultural trends has proved easier. South Africa's deep historic and economic ties with the West naturally make the former an extension of western society in some important respects. To a large extent, it was through the depiction of South African middle class lifestyle on DSTV channels that many Nigerians were drawn to the mall 'magic.' Even Mr Peter Obi, whose regime initiated the recently commissioned Onitsha complex, had business relations with South African firms before assuming office as Governor.

Why Nnewi model can transform Nigeria

Written by Azuka Onwuka

Follow on Twitter @BrandAzuka

Any time Nigeria is compared to a smaller country like Ghana, some great logicians would retort that "Ghana is just as big as Lagos State," as if the more populated a country is, the more underdeveloped and disorganised it should be. When such "Aristotles" are reminded that, except for Pakistan, the other five countries that are more populated than Nigeria - including China and India that are individually almost 10 times larger than Nigeria - are ahead of Nigeria in all development indices, such people keep quiet or look for other feeble excuses. Therefore, it will not be surprising to see such people scoff at any comparison between Nigeria and Nnewi: "a mere town in Anambra State of Nigeria." But it is incontrovertible that attitude is far more critical to success than size.

Nigeria has perennially been "work-in-progress," with its democracy always "nascent." We are always changing our systems and policies, deceiving ourselves that they are the cause of our problem, like the typical poor workman that always blames his tools but never himself. Although Nnewi has some things in common with Nigeria, comparatively, it has evolved a system that works for it, a system which gives it peace, stability, growth and development: luxuries which have eluded Nigeria for over 50 years.

Just like Nigerians, Nnewi people are proud people; some would say "arrogant". There are some reasons for that. Like Nigeria, Nnewi is bigger and richer than all its neighbours. The town has produced many prominent figures. Among them is the first President of the Nigerian Stock Exchange, Sir Louis Odumegwu Ojukwu, described as the richest Nigerian of his time: a man who lent Nigeria his Rolls Royce and personal driver for the use of Queen Elizabeth II when she visited Nigeria in 1956. There is also his Oxford University-trained son, Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu, the first military governor of Eastern Nigeria, the leader of the defunct Republic of Biafra, and a folk hero among the Igbo. Then, there is Dr. Nwafor Orizu, Nigeria's third Senate President and three-month Acting President in the First Republic, as well as Dame Virgy Etiaba, Nigeria's first female governor of a state. There are also many business moguls and industrialists like Chief Augustine Ilodibe, founder of Ekene Dili Chukwu Transport, and Chief Innocent Chukwuma, Chairman of Innoson Motors, whose company manufactures motor vehicles in Nnewi. In all modesty, it is doubtful if there is another town in Nigeria that has more millionaires than Nnewi town.