General News
Exportation of Raw Minerals Accountable for Terrorism, Banditry and Corruption in Nigeria, Africa–Okonjo Iweala
–Tasks Nigeria to produce electric vehicle batteries
By Isa Abdul, Abuja
Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Director–General of the World Trade Organisation, and former Nigeria minister of finance and coordinating minister of the economy, strongly advised Nigeria and other African countries to process critical minerals before their export.
She gave the advise while speaking at the Fireplace Dialogue on Building Africa’s Resilience in a Changing Global Economic Order, at the 7th Africa Emerging Markets Forum, in Abuja, on Wednesday.
Dr. Okonjo-Iweala insisted that the country should take advantage of the critical minerals in the country to produce Electric Vehicle batteries and similar goods to be a major player in the current global green energy revolution.
She blamed the extraction and exportation of critical minerals in their raw forms for much of the terrorism, banditry and corruption in the country and other parts of Africa.
In her words: “One high potential sector is critical minerals where the green transition is driving demand for lithium, bauxite, cobalt, and other elements necessary to manufacture EV batteries and other low carbon goods.
“Africa holds an estimated 30 percent of the world’s non-mineral reserves, and estimates for Latin America are similar.
“For Africa, in particular, instead of the extract and export model that has been the source of so much volatility, economic underperformance, and let me be blunt-corruption, conflict, and banditry, the goal should be higher value, higher productivity growth, driven by the development of sub-regional value chains and integration into potential supply networks.
“Quite frankly, the time to seize this opportunity is now, as geopolitics exerts some demand pressure for critical mineral supply chain diversification, if we miss this opportunity, I’m afraid we would have missed a lot.
“Fortunately, Africa’s leaders seem to be moving in the right direction, with Morocco using its phosphate resources to produce electric vehicle components for international markets, particularly Chinese automakers in Zambia, DRC, Mozambique, and Angola, and here also in Nigeria, moves are put to see how to add value to critical minerals.
“But these efforts need more systematization and harmonization, including a look at sub-regional approaches, so that countries are not picked up one by one in suboptimal bilateral agreements. The continent can seize green comparative advantages by harnessing abundant renewable energy potential to power minerals processing.
She highlighted diversification of global trading partners, as opposed to the current situation where exports and imports are tilted to a few countries and narrowing opportunities. In her words:
“A second way to make the trading system more robust and resilient is by ensuring more countries and regions become substantial sources of global supply and demand.
“This is linked to the reglobalization I mentioned earlier, with more companies and countries looking to supply diversification, whether to reduce exposure to geopolitical or other risks.
“Places outside established production networks, especially places in Africa, Latin America, and Central Asia, have an opportunity to attract value chain investment.”
Leadership should be about the people and the leadership that would bring about a developed and economically robust Nigeria must be one that has the interest of the nation at heart, listens to the people and is accountable to the people, she added.
The former minister said, “Nigeria needs to continue the work on overall macroeconomic reforms with a careful approach to fiscal issues, contracting of debt, and debt management.
“Above all, Nigeria needs to focus on creating jobs and economic opportunities for a young and hungry population. Nigerians have to feel the dividends of reform in the real economy.
“ ladies and gentlemen, dear friends, instead of negative feedback loops of uncertainty, fragmentation, and slower growth, we have an opportunity to build positive feedback loops of reformed rules, greater certainty, and improved economic prospects for people and businesses everywhere.”
In his address, the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Mr. Olayemi Cardoso, called for the elimination of all trade barriers within the African region.
His words, “Understanding the rules-based international system is being stressed and tested. For Africa and other emerging markets, the question is no longer whether the global order is changing, but how we turn that change from a source of vulnerability into a source of growth and shared prosperity. And we heard some of the answers to that earlier today.
“Let me highlight, however, three major shifts that I expect will shape Africa’s opportunities in this changing global environment. First, trade is fragmenting. Geo-economic considerations are causing countries to look inward and to reorganize trade and critical supply chains around trusted partners and neighboring markets through nearshoring and friend-shoring.
“For Africa, this change is both a warning and an opportunity. With intra-African trade still accounting for only about 16 percent of our total trade, we must build stronger regional value chains, produce more of what we consume, and trade more with one another. The African continental free trade area provides the platform and opportunity to turn this global shift to an African advantage.
“But we must go beyond the agreements and remove the practical barriers to trade by improving transport networks, harmonizing customs standards, and making cross-border payments faster and more affordable. Second, capital has become selective and impatient. The era of abundant liquidity, chasing returns regardless of risk, is over.”
He continued, “Investors now have more choices and less tolerance for uncertainty. Capital increasingly flows to a fullness that offers credibility, transparency, quality, consistency, and strong institutions. For Africa, this means that our development ambitions cannot depend solely on attracting foreign capital.
“We must mobilize more of our own resources, including pension and insurance funds, domestic savings and diaspora capital, and channel them towards productive domestic investment. It also means that there is a premium on the quality of Africa’s institutions. Investors must be able to trust our policies, understand our rules, and plan beyond the next political or economic cycle.
“So credibility is not only a central bank concern, it is a national economic asset. Third, artificial intelligence is reshaping economic activity. It is changing how goods are produced, how services are delivered, and the skills required to compete.”
The governor said Africa must move beyond being consumers of technology, as according to him, “We must become creators, developing African solutions to African challenges, and building businesses capable of taking those solutions to the world.
“To achieve this, Africa must invest in the foundations of an AI-enabled economy, including reliable electricity, affordable connectivity, digital infrastructure, and above all, a generation of AI-savvy young Africans ready to build solutions for the continent and to compete globally. Nigeria’s recent experience demonstrates how an emerging market economy can respond to these shifts.
“Patient capital that creates productive capacity. We must mobilize Africa’s pensions, insurance assets, domestic savings, and diaspora wealth. We must also seek foreign investment that creates jobs, transfers technology, develops local supplies, and strengthens African businesses, not investment that simply extracts value and needs.
“We must prepare young Africans for an AI-enabled economy and unlock the full economic participation of women, because Africa cannot fly with one wing. Africa must be an Africa in which young entrepreneurs can build, scale, and compete without having to leave the continent to realize their potential elsewhere.”
General News
PERSPECTIVE: Tiv Leaders Must Hear This: While Akwa Ibom Asked For A Future, Tiv Leaders Fight Over A Man
By Edward Tion
I watched the presidential campaign in Akwa Ibom today with a bleeding heart.
Not because I envy Akwa Ibomites. I admire them so very much. I watched a people who understand what politics is for.
Akwa Ibom people came out unanimously. Governor, Senate President, elders, youths, market women, traditional rulers — one voice, one demand: “Give us Ibom Deep Sea Port.”
And the President heard them. On the spot, in Uyo, he approved it. Approved international status for their airport. Because they asked as one people.
That is what unity buys. That is what leadership looks like. That is what politics is supposed to deliver: a port that will open jobs, trade, industries, and a future for millions of unborn children.
Then I looked back home to my own people, the Tiv, and my heart broke.
What do we have to show for all our noise, all our education, all our numbers, all our pride?
Retrogression. Division. Character assassination.
Our educated youths, the very ones who should be building the future, are divided and deployed as foot soldiers in a war over one person’s interest. Not over a project. Not over a port. Not over security. Not over industries. Not over schools. Over one man.
We have reduced the great Tiv nation, a nation of farmers, scholars, warriors, and builders, to a battlefield of who hates who, who insults who, who controls the party structure, who gets the ticket.
What a shame!
Akwa Ibom asked for a Deep Sea Port. What are we asking for?
We are not asking for the revival of our industries. We are not asking for the return of our displaced people. We are not asking for roads that connect our farms to markets. We are not asking for water, for security, for the dualization of federal roads in the state, for anything that will outlive this election cycle.
We are asking: who is loyal to who?
This is not politics. This is psycophancy self-destruction.
Akwa Ibom has taught us a lesson today. Politics is negotiation. Unity is bargaining power. When you speak as one people, even a president listens.
Tiv people, when shall we learn?
When will our leaders sit down, drop their egos, and agree on one single demand for Benue? One project that will change our story for the next 50 years?
When will our youths refuse to be used for character assassinations and instead demand for development, vision, and results?
We cannot continue to fight ourselves while others are building for the future generations.
It is time for Tiv leadership to wake up. It is time for Tiv youths to wake up.
History will not remember who insulted who on Facebook or X. History will remember who built something.
Let us stop fighting over one person, and start fighting for one future.
Tiv Nation Deserves Better. Benue Deserves Better. Nigeria Deserves Better.
General News
Pursue Unity, Peace, Play Active Role in Nigerian Politics, Deputy Speaker, Kalu Urges Igbo Elites, Leaders
By Saint Mugaga
Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu has called on Igbo elders, leaders and stakeholders to close ranks and speak with one voice in politics, cautioning that disunity has continued to weaken the political strength and heritage of Ndi Igbo of the South East region.
He also urged them to pay more than passive attention to socio-economic issues and get deeply involved into the national politics of Nigeria.
Kalu made the call at the South East Stakeholders’ Convergence (SESC), also described as the South East Elders and Stakeholders Meeting, convened in Owerri, the Imo State capital on Friday to discuss unity, progress and peace in Igbo land.
Addressing the gathering chaired by the former Military Governor of Imo State and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Senator (Gen) Ike Nwachukwu (Rtd), the Deputy Speaker said unity remains the foundation for development, stressing that peace in Igbo communities would only come when leaders reason together in harmony.
He said: “Unity is strength. We will achieve more when we are united. The need for unity cannot be overemphasized. Peace leads to the development of communities”.
Kalu who represents Bende Federal Constituency of Abia State at the National Assembly commended the elders for setting aside their personal engagements to attend the meeting, describing their action as patriotism and genuine love for Igbo land.
“I salute you all, my elders and stakeholders for this thoughtfulness, this great idea to come together and discuss the unity, progress and peace of Igbo land. This is patriotism. You all have what you are doing but for you to leave it and come here to discuss the development of our place, it means you love Igbo land. It shall be well with you all,” he said.
The Deputy Speaker said the upcoming and the contemporary younger generation are encouraged by the elders’ example, likening leadership to a relay race in which one generation hands the baton to the next.
“Some of us who are coming up are encouraged by this unity and patriotism you display. We are glad to see our elders sit together to discuss the future of Igbo land. This is like a relay race, where you run and later hand over the baton to the next person and the next generation. We are coming behind you so that whenever you hand us the baton, we collect it from you and continue with the race of progress and development,” he said.
Kalu however said that without unity, Ndi Igbo risk losing their direction and heritage.
“But if we are not in unity, we will miss our bearing and lose our heritage. But when we reason together in unity and harmony, we achieve greatness,” he said.
Speaking about Nigeria’s political structure, the Deputy Speaker noted that Igbo as one of the major tribes in Nigeria is not standing strong in the national politics.
He further argued that the political numbers of Ndi Igbo are not fully reflected across the five South East states because the people are scattered across the country.
To encourage active political participation, the Deputy Speaker urged a change of mindset, saying the post-war decision by many Igbo people to focus only on personal development and stay away from national politics had not served the region well.
“And it will not be good we shake and be left out in the scheme of things. Please, let’s come together. Let’s unite. When we unite, we gain more respect as a people. But when we work in isolation and silos, we lose our heritage.
“The number of votes of Ndi Igbo is not what we are getting across the five states because we are scattered around the country. If we take a position now and say, Igbo this is our agenda, this is what we want to do, I can assure you, the whole of Nigeria will feel our impact.
“But if we work in silos, every man to himself, to your tent O Israel, it is not encouraging at all. It yields no positive result. It reduces our number.
“After the war, we had believed we will work it out on our own and develop our place. We say we are not interested in politics. It is not our business. We have tried to develop on our own. It is about time we changed that mindset. The politics and governance of Nigeria should be our concern. We should get involved and play an active role because if we are not in the room, we can’t be part of the decision. We need to be part of the decision making process,” he said.
Kalu therefore called for a common position to help Ndi Igbo to deliver with one mind.
“There is no wisdom in saying we are not interested in the politics of Nigeria. It should be our business. Let us say one thing and stick to it with one mind, then, we will see the result of our togetherness. God bless you,” he said.
The stakeholders meeting held in Imo State Government House attracted the presence of Governor Hope Uzodinma as the chief host, some traditional rulers, representatives of religous leaders, women and youth groups from the five eastern States, other prominent Igbo sons and daughters in politics and governance, business, academia amongst whom are former Senate President/Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator Anyim Pius Anyim; immediate past Vice Chancellor of Federal University of Technology, Owerri (FUTO); Prof. Nnenna Oti; former chairman, Police Service Commission, Chief Simeon Okeke; former President-General, Ohaneze Ndigbo, Nze Ozichukwu Chukwu; Chief Tony Chukwu; Amb. Greg Mbadiwe; Prof. Osita Ogbu; Mazi Sam Ohuabunwa and Amb. Okey Emuche.
General News
2027: Amupitan Seeks Royal Support, Partnership to Discharge Mandate Peacefully, Effectively
By Isa Abdul
The National Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Joash Amupitan, has said there is no way a successful election can be conducted without the support of traditional institutions, especially in an era bedeviled by voter apathy and thuggery.
Professor Amupitan disclosed this in Lokoja on Thursday while addressing members of the Kogi State Council of Chiefs as part of his activities to assess preparations for the 2027 elections in the North-Central geopolitical zone.
He promised that the commission would strive to organise and supervise a visible, verifiable, credible, free, and fair election in line with its mandate under Section 153 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).
Amupitan added that the commission has embarked on an assessment tour to evaluate logistics, infrastructure, and personnel across the six geopolitical zones.
to reduce administrative bottlenecks.
The working visit to Lokoja in the North-Central zone, which comprises Benue, Kogi, Kwara, Nasarawa, Niger, Plateau and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, has marked the end of the evaluation tour.
He also urged the youth not to be used as instruments of violence during the election:
“I send an unequivocal message to our youth that no political aspiration is worth shedding human blood.”
The INEC chairman, further called on the royal fathers to assist in mobilising the electorate to collect their PVCs, prevail on the youth to shun thuggery and any form of violence, and support efforts to reduce misinformation and disinformation before, during, and after the election.
“The general elections will hold as scheduled in 2027. I have come to seek your support and partnership for us to discharge our mandate peacefully and effectively. INEC has no candidate; the commission is out to discharge its constitutional mandate fully,” Professor Amupitan told the traditional chiefs.
He said the commission under his watch had successfully conducted elections in Anambra, Ekiti, and Osun states and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, including 16 by-elections within a year, stressing his resolve to re-enact that feat in the upcoming general election.
At the event, the Kogi State Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Dr. Shehu Wahab, said the gathering of traditional rulers and INEC was to foster a unity of purpose that would ensure a peaceful election in 2027.
He added that an interface with custodians of culture and tradition at this crucial period in the electioneering process is essential for a free and fair election.
The Ohinoyi of Ebiraland, HRM Tijani Mohammed Anaje, while speaking on behalf of the traditional rulers, commended the INEC boss for his efforts to ensure a credible, free, and fair election in 2027.
The Ohinoyi of Ebiraland, who is the Vice Chairman of the Kogi State Council of Chiefs, expressed their readiness to support Professor Amupitan in all aspects of the electoral process for a peaceful election.
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