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Governmental Expert Meeting for The Validation Of The Study Report and Guide on Civilian Possession and Licensing of Arms In ECOWAS Region

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In the framework of the reduction of illicit trafficking and the fight against the proliferation of Small arms and Light Weapons (SALW), the ECOWAS Commission organized a Governmental Expert Meeting in Lagos, Nigeria from 25th to 27th July 2023.

The main objective was to review and validate the draft study report and guidelines on civilian possession and licensing of arms based on the obligations imposed by article 14 of the ECOWAS Convention on SALW, Their Ammunition and Other Related Materials. A study was commissioned to examine national practices in relation to authorizations, permits and licensing of civilians bearing arms currently in place in each member states. The study generated pertinent evidenced – based data that needed to be verified, reviewed and validated by governmental experts.

This meeting attracted relevant government experts with requisite experiences in law, law enforcement and arms control and it was preceded by independent experts meeting that took place in April 2023 in Abuja. Thus, this meeting was to further expose the documents to additional scrutiny as well as to secure the national ownership of the entire process.

It was in this regard, that the consultants, FABA Consulting, provided presentations of the outcomes of the study as well as the proposed guidelines for civilian possession licensing template. Participants included representatives from the National Commissions of SALW (NATCOMs), security experts from various Police Forces across the region and technical partners

At the opening ceremony, four statements were delivered by representatives of Nigeria Police Force (NPF), European Union Delegation to Nigeria and ECOWAS, ECOWAS Commission, as well as the National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons (NCCSALW). In his opening remarks, Commissioner of Police, Salman Dogo the representative of the NPF extended a warm welcome to all the delegates, expressing his sincere wishes for a successful and fruitful deliberation.

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The EU Delegation to Nigeria and ECOWAS, represented by Ms Celine Lhoste reaffirmed the commitment of EU to continually support ECOWAS in its efforts to prevent and manage security threats in the region. The EU acknowledged that the region has been facing conflicts that challenge the legitimacy of its Member States, impeding sustainable development. Concerns were raised about activities of criminal groups, conflicts and other social deprivations arising from misuse of arms in communities. To address these challenges, the EU underscored the OCWAR-T project as portent tool in support of ECOWAS and region at large and hence, the outcome of the study report on civilian possession of arms which aims to operationalize article 14 of the ECOWAS Convention.

In his submission, Ambassador Abdel-Fatau Musah, ECOWAS Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security represented by Mr. Ahoba Piex Joseph, welcomed delegates to the meeting and stressed the importance of validating the guideline to enhance systematic monitoring of civilians possessing weapons. He pointed out that the draft regional guidelines symbolize the region’s collective commitment to combat organized crime and trafficking, fostering peace and security. He urged all delegates to approach the discussions with an open mind, cooperation, and determination to find practical and effective solutions.

Before declaring the meeting opened, the representative of NCCSALW, Commissioner of Police, A.N. Thomas, highlighted on the widespread challenges of SALW proliferation in the region, emphasizing its connections to trans-national organized crime. He noted that the meeting serves as a valuable platform to collaboratively develop frameworks, statutory regulations, and policy directives to combat the issue of SALW effectively. He acknowledged and commended ECOWAS for patronizing indigenous home – grown African resources with the selection of FABA Consulting firm for this very important study

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Speaking during the opening ceremony, the Resident Representative of the ECOWAS in the Gambia, Her Excellency Mrs. Miatta Lily French, who was represented by Mr. Claude Kondor, stated that ECOWAS has been at the forefront in the search of sustainable peace and security within its Member States. “Without peace and security, development and economic integration of the entire region will be very difficult to achieve”, he stated.

Mr. Kondor revealed that various protocols have been articulated and adopted to address the numerous security challenges that transformed the ECOWAS region into an epicenter of warlords and conflict entrepreneurs – including the 1999 Mechanism for Conflict Prevention, Management, Resolution, Peacekeeping and Security; the Supplementary Protocol on Democracy and Good Governance of 2001; the 2008 ECOWAS Conflict Prevention Framework and other key documents.

He highlighted that the objectives and expected outcomes of the In-Mission training are appropriate in equipping staff officers to carry out the correct operational procedures relevant to their roles and to ensure that Operating Procedures of both ECOWAS Headquarters and the ECOWAS Standby Force (ESF) Mission Headquarters are harmonized, standardized, and documented to simplify information flow and provide sufficient access for staff officers.

The meeting concluded with closing statements, expressing appreciation to all participants for the quality of their inputs and for adopting the study report and the guidelines/templates.

This training was organized by the ECOWAS Commission through the OCWAR-T project, which is co- funded by the European Union (EU) and the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ).

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Peter Obi condemns Plateau attacks, urges FG to end killings in Nigeria

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The Presidential Candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the 2023 general elections, Mr Peter Obi, has condemned the recent attacks on some communities in Plateau.

Obi made the condemnation when he paid a condolence visit to Gov. Caleb Mutfwang, on Sunday in Jos.

The former LP presidential candidate, who described the killings as reckless, stressed that there was no need for such cruelty on innocent civilians, particularly that the country was not at war.

“I am here to condole with you on the recent killings in Bokkos and other communities in the state. Let me reiterate that we have no reason as a country to be going through this.

“There is no reason for people to be chased out of their communities to an IDP camps; we are not at war and so people must live in their communities, go to their farms and live a life that is protected by the government.

“This is the primary essence of governance, they must be able to protect life and property,” he said.

While commending the governor for the visible developmental strides in the state, Obi stated that Nigerians shared in his grief and would continue to support his government.

“I want to thank you in particular for what the Plateau Government is doing under your leadership; I know that Nigerians are with you, we are praying with you.

“I have particularly followed up on what you are doing in the state and I must say they are quiet commendable.

“I have always condemned what is happening all over Nigeria, where people are killed, chased out of their communities for no reason.

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“Therefore, we must all work together to stop this menace; this is why I’m here today.

“I pray that the Almighty God will continue to be with you and the good people of Plateau and that all of these will come to an end soon.

“May God grant eternal rest to those who lost their lives and grant their families the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss” he said.

Responding, Mutfwang lauded Obi’s compassion and selfless love for the downtrodden, noting that the former LP’s presidential candidate had always stood with the poor and the less privileged ones in the society.

Mutfwang who called on the elites to look at the situation in the state with a view towards finding a lasting solution, maintained that the attacks were an orchestrated genocide, that needed all hands to be on deck.

“I want to thank you for how you have always stood with the downtrodden; it has become the hallmark of your life that you identified with the downtrodden across the country.

“We have a situation on our hands that calls for compassion and action, we want to thank you sincerely for taking out time to visit and commiserate with us.

“What happened in Bokkos over the last two weeks was nothing short of a genocide; what we are facing is not a clash, but a deliberate, orchestrated and planned attacks to evacuate people from their homelands.

“Yesterday, we visited some of the communities that were attacked two years ago, the people had to flee from their lands; their houses have been taken over by the criminals,”he said.

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The governor, who commended the efforts of the Federal Government in the fight against insecurity in the state, called for more actions to tackle the menace.

“We have been playing with this matter as a nation for over two decades, but the time has come for a consensus to end it.

“If we don’t wake up to stop it now, we may wake up and find that we have no country to call our own; but may God forbid that,” he prayed. (NAN)

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U.S. tariffs may be a blessing in disguise Africa – Alake

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The Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr Dele Alake, has said that the prevailing barrage of tariffs imposed by the United States (U.S) may be a blessing in disguise for African countries.

Alake stated this during the Fireside Chat session on Foreign Direct Investment, titled ‘The Alchemy of Foreign Direct Investment: Turning Policies into Prosperity for Emerging Global Markets in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.

In a statement by his Special Assistant on Media, Segun Tomori, on Sunday in Abuja, the minister’s remarks were part of his contribution to the discourse on the impact of the tariffs on Africa’s economic climate.

Tomori said the event was part of the the 14th edition of the Annual Investment Meeting (AIM) Congress.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reports that US President Donald Trump recently announced new tariffs on nearly all U.S. trading partners.

“The barrage of tariffs imposed carries wide-ranging implications for the global economy, U.S. trade relationships, and developing nations, including those in Africa,” he said.

The media aide also noted that Alake called on African countries to adopt an introspective approach by looking inward and adjusting their domestic policies to focus more on intra-African trade, with less dependence on external forces.

Tomori noted that the minister stressed the need need for African countries to organise economic imperatives to ensure a balance of trade and strengthen intra African trade among countries.

The minister highlighted the persistent challenge faced by African countries, where rare mineral resources were exported without any value addition.

According to him, the old ‘pit-to-port’ model, where resources are extracted and sent out of the continent can no longer be allowed to continue.

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“Interested investors, who wish to come into Africa are welcome to set up their factories in the continent, add value to our mineral resources and create jobs here, rather than just shipping our wealth out of our shores”, he stated.

The minister said that his stance on protecting Africa’s mineral wealth has been adopted by many African countries, particularly mineral-producing nations, where he served as the pioneering chairman of the African Minerals Strategic Group (AMSG).

He reaffirmed that Nigeria’s policy on mineral sector development remained strictly focused on value addition and boosting the local economy through job creation.

NAN reports that the Annual AIM, was aimed at promoting international investment, support sustainable economic growth, encourage innovation, and foster partnerships between investors, governments, and businesses.

The AIM also serves as a platform for discussing investment trends in sectors such as digital economy, future finance, and sustainable development.

The 14th edition held from April 7 to 9 is with the theme ‘Mapping the Future of Global Investment: The New Wave of a Globalised Investment Landscape – Towards a New Balanced World Structure’.(NAN)

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Adesina advocates Africa-led ‘Marshall Plan’ to rebuild conflict-hit regions

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President of the African Development Bank (AfDB), Dr Akinwumi Adesina, has called for the creation of an Africa-led “Marshall Plan” to rebuild regions devastated by insecurity and conflict across the continent.

Adesina, in a statement made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Abuja said, this was part of ongoing efforts to address insecurity, climate change, and economic recovery in Africa.

According to him, while Africa has made some progress in reducing inter-state wars through initiatives like the African Union’s “Silencing the Guns,” widespread insecurity persists in several regions.

“Conflicts in Sudan, Eastern Congo, terrorism in the Sahel, and insurgencies in northern Nigeria continue to pose significant challenges to peace and stability,” he said.

He identified poverty, unemployment, and environmental degradation in what he termed the “Disaster Triangle” as the key drivers of insecurity on the continent.

“These factors are creating fertile ground for conflict, especially in rural areas.

“Nigeria, like other parts of Africa, has been hit hard with devastating consequences on lives and infrastructure,” Adesina said.

According to him, the growing cost of security in many African countries is now displacing spending on essential services like education and healthcare.

“In contrast to post-WWII Europe, which had the Marshall Plan, Africa has no external blueprint for reconstruction. We must develop our own solutions.

“The AfDB, in collaboration with the African Union, is introducing Security-Indexed Investment Bonds to raise long-term, low-interest financing from global capital markets.

“The proceeds will be directed towards rebuilding physical and social infrastructure destroyed by conflicts,” he said.

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On climate finance, Adesina expressed concern over the limited global support for Africa, in spite of the continent contributing only three per cent of cumulative global emissions.

“Africa is the most vulnerable to climate change, with nine of the ten most affected countries located on the continent.

” Yet, Africa receives just three per cent of global climate finance,” he said

He announced the AfDB’s African Adaptation Acceleration Programme, a 25 billion dollars initiative launched in partnership with the Global Centre on Adaptation.

The AfDB president described the programme as the largest climate adaptation programme in the world.

He said the bank was scaling up its Africa Disaster Risk Insurance Facility to one billion dollars , aimed at helping countries insure against climate shocks and extreme weather events.

“Climate change is not ideological for Africa. it is a daily reality.

“That is why we are also mobilising 10 billion dollars through the Alliance for Green Infrastructure in Africa.

“To build resilient and green infrastructure, including green hydrogen, sustainable transport, and water systems,” he said.

Adesina reiterated that the continent must remain focused on building resilience, securing its populations, and climate-proofing its economies.(NAN)

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