Turkisk Energy Billionaire host Gbenga Olawepo Hashim

Turkisk Energy Billionaire, Mr. Ali Yaglı over the weekend hosted Nigeria's Global business man and former presidential candidate, Mr Gbenga Olawepo Hashim at his factory, Aydem in Denizli, Turkey.

Both energy players discussed the global energy situation, especially as it affects their respective countries, Turkey and Nigeria.

Sharing details of their meeting on his social media platform, Olawepo Hashim, who is the Chairman of Transnational Energy Limited said that, patriots are not just politicians and military men but engineers, entrepreneurs and innovators who bring solutions to their communities.

According to him, "My host this weekend in Denizli, Turkey, Mr. Ali Yaglı is part of the story of building one of the most successful privately owned Electricity firm in Turkey, Aydem".

Giving insight into the activities of his host company, Mr Hashim stated that, Ayden has 2300 MW of generation capacity and 25000 MW distribution capacity and Mr. Ali is one of the major shareholders of Aydem.

"He has substantial interest in a cable manufacturing company that controls 40% of the market of its copper product in Turkey as well as 80% of its Aluminium product" he said .

Additionally, Mr Hashim also explained that, his host company has one of the biggest Solar panel manufacturing companies in Turkey and the owner took him round the factories in the company of Professor Mehmet, an Energy Lawyer.

"A very modest man, Mr. Ali never carries himself like a billionaire in USD. He derives joy in designing projects and seeing them through. From the humble start of designing projects as little as 1.6mw hydro projects for the community! Aydem has a track record of 97% revenue collection". He added.

Mr Olawepo, who is also chair of board of directors of Oilworld Ltd, Operator of OPL241 in the continental shelf of Nigeria is also Chair of Bresson Energy, pioneer independent energy firm.

The company owns Magboro 90MW power project in Ogun State, Lagos corridor, Nigeria.

Remi Tinubu meets Nigeria's youngest lawmaker, Rukayat Shittu

_As Renewed Hope Initiative award 43 scholarships_

Nigeria's first lady, Sen Oluremi Tinubu CON met with youngest female lawmaker and member, representing Owode Onire state constituency in Kwara State House of Assembly, Hon Rukayat Shittu over the weekend.

The meeting took place on Saturday, at the presidential villa banquet hall in Abuja, during a scholarship award presentation for female tertiary institution students hosted by the office of the First Lady and Renewed Hope Initiative.

Hon Rukayat, represented Her Excellency, First Lady of Kwara State, Amb. Olufolake AbdulRazaq at the presentation of educational scholarship grants to 43 young Nigerians from across the 36 States of the Federation, including FCT.

A brilliant Kwaran, Ayodele Khadijat Damilola of the University of Ilorin, Kwara State, was a proud recipient of the scholarship.

The Kwara recipient of the scholarship is a nominee from the Ajike Peoples Support Centre of the Kwara State First Lady, Ambassador Mrs Olufolake AbdulRazaq.

The award came under the National Scholarship Programme on Tertiary Education (NAPS), a program of the Renewed Hope Initiative of Sen. Oluremi Tinubu to support educational upliftment in the country.

Other beneficiaries were also picked from women's stakeholder groups in Nigeria.

Mrs Tinubu, who was obviously happy to meet the sensational politician said that she's meeting Rukayat for the first time, even though they have been speaking on phone.

Nigeria's first lady also requested for a special picture with the journalist turned politician.

Mrs Tinubu also advised Hon Rukayat, who is a former senate president of Congress of NOUN Students (CONS) to remain focus and deligent in legislative responsibility, noting that she must remain on course at all times .

End

*PeacePro calls for sanctions against embassies and businesses transacting in foreign currency in Nigeria*

A peacebuilding think tank, Foundation for Peace Professionals also known as PeacePro has called for clamp down on embassies, foreign entities and businesses demanding dollars for transactions in Nigeria.

PeacePro also said that the Central Bank of Nigeria should introduce policy to make it mandatory for banks to only give foreign currency equivalent in naira.

An Executive Director of PeacePro, Mr Abdulrazaq Hamzat while reacting to the increasing price of dollars said that, the indescriminate use of dollars by regular entities in Nigeria has made it impossible to stability currency exchange.

Hamzat states that, transactions in foreign currency has become a regular thing in Nigeria, not only for business purposes, but also in social circle.

"Several embassies including AU countries, European countries aswell as UK, foreign entities and businesses had made it mandatory for people to transact with them only in foreign currency, thereby making need for foreign currency high and putting pressure on the naira "

"We have also seen foreign currency being used in social events across Nigeria and this is only going to aggravate the situation"

Proposing a way out of the situation, Hamzat explained that, the current situation calls for drastic measures, particularly in the banking system, through which foreign currency get to the hand of people.

According to him, Central Bank of Nigeria should make it a priority to stop banks from giving people foreign currency in cash.

"The law doesn't allow transactions in foreign currency in Nigeria and banks should only be allowed to give equivalent of foreign currency in naira ".

"If we follow the law, there's nothing anyone would do with foreign cash in Nigeria other than hoarding it and it is only reasonable to give them naira equivalent or the money should remain in their account for electronics transactions".

He concluded that, this proposal may seems harsh, but it is needed to arrest the current situation before things go out of hand.

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Niger Republic on Global Chess Board
By Abdulrazaq Hamzat

The wave of military coups in West Africa that had previously swept over Mali and Burkina Faso finally reached Niger Republic about 2 weeks ago, when soldiers in the presidential guard removed the democratically elected president, Mohamed Bazoum to take over leadership of the country.

Unlike in the past, when Economic Community of West States (ECOWAS) simply issue statements and institute few ineffective sanctions, the regional body under the leadership of Nigeria's new leader, President Ahmed Bola Tinubu threatened to restore constitutional order through whatever means possible, including force and it went ahead to give the military junta 7 days ultimatum to restore constitutional order.

The ultimatum expired last week and ECOWAS standby force are on alert, awaiting ECOWAS order of enforcement.

While some of us have continually argued against any kind of military intervention in Niger Republic, those who think military enforcement is the best option are not without any reason, but their point of view is more from economic perspective, rather than security or regional stability.

Russia-Ukraine dimension

When Russia and Ukraine war broke out, many things changed in the economic structure of the world.

Russia is the highest supplier of gas to Europe, but the war in Ukraine has caused what seems like an irreversible breakage, leading to cutting down dependence on Russia for energy supply.

Nigeria, being one of the countries with enormous gas reserve, should naturally seek to take over Russia's space in Europe by becoming a major supplier of gas, but the country didn't have the infrastructure to move gas to Europe.

For many decades, Nigeria has aspired to this opportunity, but there was no sufficient will and resources to actualize the mission.

So, despite the huge opportunity the Russia-Ukraine war provided to Nigeria to catch a huge market for its gas, the couldn't utilize the opportunity.

Europe therefore had no option than continue to tactically deal with Russia, while they work with others to develop an alternative.

Although, the procrastination that characterised Nigeria's attitude towards the Trans-Saharan project is inextricably linked to the price of gas.

Until 2019, the price of a cubic metre of gas was "barely $4" on the spot markets, which made it an "uninteresting" and "unprofitable" business.

The war in Ukraine has changed all that. With the countries of Europe looking for gas suppliers outside of Russia, the TSGP has started to look attractive and "profitable".

The project is highly profitable, not least because demand is high. Gas is tomorrow's energy, the energy of the transition, with a ready market driven by geopolitical change and it is projected that the price of gas will not go below $20 in the nearest future.

Nigeria's ambitious move

As a result of the new development in Europe, Nigeria saw the need to invest in this project and in June 2022, it went into an agreement with Algeria to fast track the trans Sahara gas pipeline to connect to existing global gas network.

The project was first initiated 40 years ago, but in 2002, an agreement was signed to initiate the project, but it couldn't take off. In 2009, a further discussion was held but the commitment wasn't coming still, until 2022, when Nigeria saw the need to make it a top priority.

The pipeline will start in the Warri region in Nigeria and run north through Niger to Hassi R'Mel in Algeria.

In Hassi, Algeria, the pipeline will connect to the existing Trans-Mediterranean, Maghreb–Europe, Medgaz and Galsi pipelines.

The pipeline is to be built and operated by the partnership between the NNPC and Sonatrach. The company would include also the Republic of Niger.

Initially, NNPC and Sonatrach would hold a total 90% of shares, while Niger would hold 10%.

Russian gas company Gazprom has negotiated with Nigeria about its possible participation in the project.

Also, Indian company GAIL, France's Total S.A, Italy's Eni SpA and Royal Dutch Shell have expressed interest in participating in the project.

However, according to the Algerian energy minister, Chakib Khelil "only partners that can bring something to the project, not just money, should be there."

Energy ministers of Algeria and Nigeria have said that "if things go well, there will be no need to bring international oil companies into the project" and "if the need for partnership in the project arises, not every partner will be welcome on board on the project.

This is a diplomatic way of excusing many interested parties. Nigeria and Algeria wants to take full ownership of this $13billion worth of project, which would cut Russia's main source of revenue in Europe.

Russia saw this as a major issue for its business and it may not be unconnected to the situation in Niger Republic.

This was further compounded with the bombing of Russia's owned Nord stream 1 and 2 pipelines allegedly bombed by United States in September 2022, shortly after Nigeria made financial commitment to the trans Sahara pipeline.

Nigeria also understood this issue and so is US, European Union, including France.

The coup in Niger, which had Russia's influence, naturally put Nigeria at the mercy of Russia on this project and many others.

If the coup plotters are not removed in Niger Republic, Russia will not only slow down the project, they may outrightly kill the project, or force themselves into the deal, all of which doesn't favor Nigeria.

This is why the issue in Niger Republic is not just about democracy, it is more of an economic warfare for all the parties, except Niger Republic itself. Even Nigeria and ECOWAS are only pawn in the chess board of global players.

Niger Republic has a total GDP of just $16billion and the value of this pipeline alone is $13billion and once the pipeline is completed, it could transport up to 30 billion cubic meters (1 trillion cubic feet) of gas annually to Europe.

Nigeria has a proven gas reserve of about 206.53 trillion cubic feet, worth over $803.4 trillion.

In 2019, former US president, Donald Trump had said that the Nord Stream 2 pipeline will turn Europe into Russia's hostage and after the war in Ukraine broke out, the sabotage of Nord Stream pipeline was to allegedly force Europe out of Russia's dependence. Ofcourse, this was difficult for Europe, because immediately the news of the sabotage broke out, energy prices grew by 12%, but it was believed that the action was a necessary evil to free Europe from Russia's grip.

The ECOWAS connection

Apart from the trans Sahara gas pipeline with Algeria, Nigeria is also constructing another pipeline to Morocco worth between $25billion-$30billion.

The pipeline would be an extension of the existing West African Gas Pipeline, which runs from Lagos, Nigeria, connecting to Cotonou, Benin; Lomé, Togo; and Tema and Takoradi, Ghana.

The Nigeria-Morocco Gas Pipeline would additionally connect to Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire; Monrovia, Liberia; Freetown, Sierra Leone; Conakry, Guinea; Bissau, Guinea-Bissau; Banjul, Gambia; Dakar, Senegal; Nouakchott, Mauritania and Tangiers, Morocco with possible extension to Europe through Cádiz, Spain and it is expected to deliver about four billion cubic feet of gas daily when fully operational.

Some analysts believed that, Russia influenced military coups in West Africa is a strategic way to slow down the ambitious move of Nigeria and disrupt Europe's ability to find alternative energy source.

In 2021, Russia was the largest exporter of oil and natural gas to the European Union, (90%) and 40% of gas consumed in the EU came from Russia.

In terms of revenue, gas and oil sales accounted for 45% of the Russian federal budget. High hydrocarbon prices generated a trade balance surplus of $122 billion in 2021, and $227 billion in 2022.

$227 billion annual revenue from Europe in 2022 is about 45% of Nigeria's GDP and the new development gives Nigeria an opportunity to attract huge revenue from gas at the detriment of Russia. And this revenue doesn't just go to Nigeria, it benefits many other countries within the subregion.

This further explains why the numerous coups in West Africa has been suspicious, but the one in Niger Republic seems to have broken the shell.

While some have argued that Nigeria leading invasion of Niger Republic through ECOWAS amounts to acting as a puppet to the west.

Others have equally argued that Russia's inspired coups are acting as puppet to the east, neither of which could be said to be in Africa's interest.

However, there's a significant concensus in ECOWAS that both western and eastern neo colonialism should not be tolerated on the continent.

This argument is premised on the fact that, there's no difference between military coup and colonialism.

It is argued that, while military coup is forceful take over of a country's leadership by military men with gun, colonialism on the other hand is the forceful take over of a country's leadership by military men with gun also.

The only difference is that, coup plotters are local invaders, while colonialist are foreign Invaders and the invasion of any country, either by local or foreign interest, without the will of the people must be forcefully ejected.

I am therefore of the view that, Africa should not be fighting itself as pawn in the chess board of global players, it should sit on a roundtable to discuss as brothers and take maximum advantage of the situation to its collective interest.

Abdulrazaq Hamzat is an Executive Director at the Foundation for Peace Professionals also known as PeacePro. He can be reached at discus4now@gmail.com

It's just a mindset.

US is far more insecure than Nigeria

wittywriter:



Though I've traveled to 3 different countries in the past but last year December I turned down an employment offer from a firm in Canada though I now work for them remotely as I prefer.


Wittywriter by choice.....Mentor too.

Wittyness

wittywriter:



Though I've traveled to 3 different countries in the past but last year December I turned down an employment offer from a firm in Canada though I now work for them remotely as I prefer.


Wittywriter by choice.....Mentor too.

Wittyness

That would be your best decision I guess

I am not rich, never lived outside, not even for study.

I have turned down fully funded study travel to UK private uni, Buckingham, even with allowance from my boss.

This was almost a decade ago and life is still worthy, despite all the challenges.

ojobek:
Yinmu,when Nigeria was in dare need of weapons to fight Boko haram,.Did USA and France sell weapons to us,now they want us to go to war cos of there selfish interes with there full backing.

This is a good point

?

*ANOTHER PERSPECTIVE ON MILITARY JUNTA'S IN WEST AFRICA AND FOREIGN INTEREST*

1. The coup in Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger Republic was led by mostly US trained military officers.

2. Russia, through its mercenary group, Wagner supports these military officers in their take over of their respective countries, despite being largely US trained officers.

3. Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger Republic are all France former colony and till date, France is allegedly exploiting them, both in term of mineral resources, colonial tax etc.

4. United States of America has been allegedly misguiding Europe on Russia Ukraine war, but most countries in Europe can't confront US on the direction it is leading them.

5. France is the only country strong enough to make alternative proposals for Europe against US dictated position, a development that undermines US leadership.

6. France has been engaging China in search of alternative for Europe, but other members of the European Union are not able to openly align with France, despite sharing in their sentiment.

7. The military coups in Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger Republic affect France's economic interest, but US trained the officers and Russia supports the coup.

8. While US trained the military officers involved in the coups, it said it is against the coups. The question is, how come US trained officers are all involved in at least, 11 military coups in West Africa since 2008?

9. Literally, Russia supports US trained military officers to stage military coup in their countries. The affected countries are largely Francophone countries, yet France has been critical of US hold on Europe, particularly over Ukraine - Russia war, leading to its engagement of China on possible alternative for Europe.

10. Both US, France, Canada, Britain and many other western countries have military presence in Niger Republic, Mali and Burkina Faso, but none of them were able to assert any influence to prevent the coups.

11. What is the possibility that US is not indirectly getting at France over their challenge to US dominance in Europe?

12. Africa is against neo-colonialism, particularly that of France and it is clear that the people will most likely supper any action that seems to threaten foreign interest, particularly that of France in the Francophone countries.

13. While US claims to be against the coups in those countries, including Niger Republic, hurting France interest serves US interest

14. All the coup serves Russia's interest and help it to consolidate its support base in Africa. This indirectly serves China's interest aswell, giving them greater access to business share in those countries.

15. The position of Nigeria's led ECOWAS to restore democracy in Niger Republic by force is therefore a complicated position, that needs to be properly looked at, as the situation is beyond what it seems.

16. The coups in many of the Francophone countries are carefully organized and planned, they are not isolated or exclusive. They are part of a grand plan, to key into the sentiment on the continent against neo-colonialism.

17. This is why all of the countries concerned are uniting against what they perceived as threat, because they are being teleguided from the same source, to make the situation look more like an African affairs.

18. Although, the coups are interest based and the coup plotters lack capacity to address the governance issues affecting their countries just like other military take over in time past, but they have phycological advantage of popular narrative in their favor, particularly the anti France sentiment.

19. The position of ECOWAS would therefore be seen in popular narrative in Africa as Pro-West and Pro-Imperialism, thereby undermining the organization even further and leaving the region more vulnerable to greater instability.

20. We are therefore calling for restraint and further dissection of the issues with the aim of looking at the situation from a more broader perspective before taking any action.

*Abdulrazaq Hamzat is an Executive Director at Foundation for Peace Professionals (PeacePro).

*PeacePro tackles USIP over call for military intervention in Niger Republic*

_Says foreign interest should not supercede local interest_

A peacebuilding think tank, Foundation for Peace Professionals also known as PeacePro has cautioned the United States Institute of Peace (USIP) over its advocacy, encouraging ECOWAS on a misguided mission of military intervention in Niger Republic.

PeacePro also noted that, USIP's advocacy for military intervention in Niger Republic betrays any known peacebuilding techniques that could foster cooperation and ensure conflict transformation.

In a statement by the Executive Director of PeacePro, Mr Abdulrazaq Hamzat, the think tank said that it read with dismay, the statement credited to USIP country manager, Chris Kwaja, urging ECOWAS to use force and bite hard in handling the situation in Niger Republic.

According to Hamzat, several foreign interest, including United State Institute of Peace (USIP) has been nudging ECOWAS to take military action against Niger Republic over the recent military coup, a development that could lead West Africa subregion into greater insecurity, human rights violation and instability.

Hamzat explained that, while it is very crucial to restore democracy in Niger Republic, doing so by force and with barrel of gun will have dare consequence for the region and no one with genuine interest of peace and tranquility will encourage such move.

"Democracy is the best form of government, but democracy instituted through force and barrel of gun cannot produce desired result" Hamzat said.

Hamzat also urges USIP to stay on its peacebuilding lane, rather than delving into politics, adding that foreign interest should not supercede local interest.

"As a peacebuilding institute, USIP should not be advocating for war, or any action that could lead to war in Africa" He said.

https://justeventonline.com/peacepro-tackles-usip-over-call-for-military-intervention-in-niger-republic/

*Niger Coup: PeacePro urges Russia to align with AU and ECOWAS against coup plotters*

_Says undermining Africa's position will erode Russia's goodwill on the continent_

A peacebuilding think tank, Foundation for Peace Professionals also known as PeacePro has called on the president of Russia's federation, Vlamadin Putin to align with the position of Africa Union and ECOWAS against military coup plotters in Niger Republic.

PeacePro also noted that, the wide support enjoyed by Russia in Africa may quickly become hostility, if President Putin and the Russia federation undermines the position of AU and ECOWAS that are determined to uphold rule of law and silence barrel of gun on the continent.

In a statement by the Executive Director of PeacePro, Mr Abdulrazaq Hamzat, the group stated that Russia is now facing a test of loyalty on the continent of Africa, whether it would align with Africa as a whole to uphold rule of law and ensure stability in the subregion or it would seek to exploit the situation by supporting subversion.

According to Hamzat, President Putin should understand that new leadership of ECOWAS under the leadership of Nigeria's President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu will assess Russia's commitment to the continental stability based on it decision on Niger Republic and it would be in Russia's long term interest to engage in positive diplomacy.

Hamzat is of the view that, Africa is the most friendly continent to Russia and this friendship was demonstrated over the Ukraine's situation, where half of the continent didn't throw Russia under the bus over security concerns in Moscow despite immense pressure and it is now time for Russia to demonstrate its loyalty to the continent for similar security reasons.

He concluded that the leadership of AU and ECOWAS should also engage Russia, as part of their diplomatic efforts to end military coup in the continent.

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*Military intervention in Niger Republic will amounts to digging Africa's grave-PeacePro*

_Says diplomacy is the ultimate tool in international relations_

A peacebuilding think tank, Foundation for Peace Professionals also known as PeacePro has called on the leadership of African Union (AU) and ECOWAS to never contemplate military intervention in Niger Republic.

PeacePro also maintained that, no foreign nation or organization has authority to intervene militarily in any sovereign nation over internal issues.

In a statement by the Executive Director of PeacePro, Mr Abdulrazaq Hamzat over the weekend, the group said that it supports the strong position of African Union and ECOWAS on the restoration of democratic order in Niger Republic and all other proposed measures, except military intervention.

According to Hamzat, military option should not be contemplated, military intervention will turn West Africa into a battle zone between foreign powers and armed dealers and no matter the good intention behind it, the outcome will be catastrophic for the continent.

Hamzat also explained that, no international law permits military intervention in any country, except for peace keeping operations and should AU and ECOWAS contemplate such intervention, foreign powers may also justify their numerous illegal operations and other future interventions through the same process.

"Military intervention in Niger Republic amounts to digging Africa's grave and nobody digs his or her own grave" Hamzat said.

*Military intervention in Niger Republic will amounts to digging Africa's grave-PeacePro*

_Says diplomacy is the ultimate tool in international relations_

A peacebuilding think tank, Foundation for Peace Professionals also known as PeacePro has called on the leadership of African Union (AU) and ECOWAS to never contemplate military intervention in Niger Republic.

PeacePro also maintained that, no foreign nation or organization has authority to intervene militarily in any sovereign nation over internal issues.

In a statement by the Executive Director of PeacePro, Mr Abdulrazaq Hamzat over the weekend, the group said that it supports the strong position of African Union and ECOWAS on the restoration of democratic order in Niger Republic and all other proposed measures, except military intervention.

According to Hamzat, military option should not be contemplated, military intervention will turn West Africa into a battle zone between foreign powers and armed dealers and no matter the good intention behind it, the outcome will be catastrophic for the continent.

Hamzat also explained that, no international law permits military intervention in any country, except for peace keeping operations and should AU and ECOWAS contemplate such intervention, foreign powers may also justify their numerous illegal operations and other future interventions through the same process.

"Military intervention in Niger Republic amounts to digging Africa's grave and nobody digs his or her own grave" Hamzat said.