An onslaught of tariffs by the United States will send “shock waves” through African economies, the president of the African Development Bank said on Friday, warning of reduced trade and higher debt-servicing costs.

The comments come as US President Donald Trump has upended global markets by pushing — and then retracting — a slew of tariffs in recent days.

A baseline 10-percent levy remains in place for all countries, along with higher tariffs on Chinese imports to the United States — scrambling decades of global trade policy.

Those new levies — with 47 African countries at risk of even higher tariffs — will cause local currencies to weaken on the back of reduced foreign exchange earnings, AfDB President Akinwumi Adesina said in the nation’s capital, Abuja.

“Inflation will increase as costs of imported goods rise and currencies devalue against the US dollar,” Adesina said in a speech at the National Open University of Nigeria, according to prepared remarks which also touched on migration and decreased foreign aid.

“The cost of servicing debt as a share of government revenue will rise, as expected revenues decline.”

As some observers watch for countries around the world to turn to other trade partners — including China — Adesina warned that Europe and Asia “will buy less goods from Africa” amid the global shocks.

The Trump administration’s current trade posturing also makes it nearly certain that the US African Growth and Opportunity Act, a major duty-free agreement for 35 African countries that expires this year, will not be renewed, Adesina said.

“Chances of renewal and extension are now extremely low,” he said, predicting serious blows for Lesotho and Madagascar, which are major clothing, diamond and vanilla exporters.

Old models ‘no longer work’
Adesina is set to step down as head of the bank — a major lender to economic development projects on the continent — at the end of his second term later this year.

But much of his speech focused on the future of the continent, from critical mineral deals to reduced foreign aid to emigration.

He said the global financial system has failed to deliver for Africa “especially on matters of debt, climate change and access to greater financing”, while “restrictive immigration policies” in rich countries pose challenges for labour mobility.

The dismantling of USAID, America’s main foreign development arm, along with cuts by European countries, “means that the old development models that Africa has always relied on will no longer work.”

At the same time, however, Adesina argued that “aid is not the way to develop”, and that “Africa cannot blame others for not taking in its rising migrant population”.

“It must create the right environment for its own youth to thrive, right here on the continent,” he said.

Whether and how that happens though, is contingent on both African and foreign powers — including the United States as it pursues a deal on critical minerals with the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Though Adesina didn’t reference the deal directly, he warned that “Africa must also carefully negotiate its engagement in the global geopolitical rush for critical minerals and rare earth elements”.

Much of Africa’s vast mineral wealth is mined locally but processed abroad, leaving many countries at the bottom of the supply chain.

The continent “must move away from exporting raw minerals and move into processing and value addition to benefit from the high returns at the top of global value chains”, Adesina said.

By Amos Tauna, Kaduna

The Middle Belt Forum, Kaduna state chapter, has called on the federal Ministry of education, Kaduna state government, and the presidency to reverse the planned decision of relocating  Kaduna Polytechnic’s Television campus.

The forum stated that it publicly declared it’s solidarity with the Eagle’s Brain Human Rights Organization and the host communities of Kaduna Polytechnic’s Television Campus in opposing its planned relocation.

Yusuf Solomon Danbaki, Public Relations Officer (PRO), Kaduna State Middle Belt Chapter, in a statement on Saturday said that the relocation of the Kaduna Polytechnic’s Television campus threatens to undermine education, economic stability, and social equity in Chikun Local Government Area.

According to him, “The Television Campus sustains thousands of livelihoods through businesses such as food vendors, transporters, rental services, and SMEs. Relocation would cripple these enterprises, plunging families into poverty and destabilizing the local economy.

He noted that the campus has been a beacon of hope for low-income students, rural youth, women, and first-generation learners, stressing that moving it to a distant location would exclude vulnerable groups from affordable education, exacerbating inequality.

“As the only federal institution in Chikun LGA, the campus symbolizes inclusion and development. Its removal would further marginalize the Middle Belt region and violate the rights of host communities,” the forum explained.

The spokesman explained that the relocation disregards the campus’s foundational purpose, destabilizing the socio-economic and cultural fabric of neighborhoods like Unguwan Yelwa, Gbagyi-Villa, and Sabon Tasha.

Danbaki stated, “This relocation is not just an administrative decision, it is an assault on the aspirations of our people. The Television Campus is a lifeline for education and economic dignity. We stand with Eagle’s Brain Human Rights Organization and the affected communities to resist this injustice. Should the authorities fail to act, we will mobilize all lawful means, including litigation and peaceful mass action, to defend our collective future.”

He urged Governor Uba Sani of Kaduna State to urgently do something to halt the relocation and engage stakeholders in transparent dialogue and also called on the Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman to uphold the campus’s federal mandate and ensure equitable access to education.

The spokesman appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to intervene to protect the interests of Chikun LGA’s marginalized communities.

BY ANKELI EMMANUEL, Sokoto

The Nigeria Bar Association, (NBA) Sokoto State branch also known as Caliphate Bar, Saturday began Information Communication Technology (ICT) training for Judges of High Court Justice and Khadis of the Shariah Court of Appeal.

Addressing participating Judges and Khadis in her opening remarks, the Sokoto State NBA chairman, Barrister Rashidat Muhammad said the NBA will continue to partner Sokoto judiciary to ensure that it get peoples commendation and appreciation.

On why the knowledge and application of ICT has become very imperative in the 21st century, Barrister Rashidat said adoption of ICT in the dispensation of legal proceedings will safe cost, reduce insecurity, waste of time, and other precious resources.

“”Judges and Khadis in Sokoto State are computer literate, but there is the need to improve on what was known before. And the NBA under my leadership will give the necessary support to the judiciary to ensure that they sustain  their successes””, the NBA chairman reiterated.

Giving his support to the ICT compliance  stand for Judges and Khadis, a law Professor from Usman Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, Ibrahim Abdullahi who is also the state chairman Continues Legal Education Committee, commended the foresight of NBA Sokoto chapter saying the training was very apt considering the security, social, political and economic problems facing the nation.

Professor Ibrahim also noted that the application of ICT in proceedings will further help to improve job performance, protect  data and share knowledge.

On his part, another Professor of Commercial Law and ICT, from  Ibrahim Shehu Bakori who is the sponsor of the  training said they have to move wit the pace of time to remain relevant in the ever changing world.

Before declaring the ICT training for Judges and Khadis open, Sokoto State Chief Judge, Hon. Justice Muhammad Saidu Sifawa represented by
Justice Abubakar Adamu said, the ICT training ought to be for all judges and Khadis not only the newly appointed ones.

“”ICT has become necessary for every Judges and Khadis to embrace as it help fasten legal proceedings. This was why in 2020 the State Chief Judge  ordered a state practice direction allowing judges and Khadis to conduct proceedings virtually  and no any other order has been given to the contrary hence it still stands.

“”We have now moved from the analogue era hence the need to either embrace the ICT or in no distance time you become obsolete, adding the only way to distinguish yourself from the 15th century judges to the 21st century one is to constantly upgrade yourselves”””.

PICTURE CAPTION: Cross section of Judges and Khadis in Sokoto at the one day ICT compliance training organized by the NBA, Sokoto State branch.

PHOTO BY ANKELI EMMANUEL, Sokoto