₦airaland Forum

A new case for a Commonwealth based on trade

By Muhammadu Buhari

The United Kingdom’s exit of the European Union is now all but certain. Only the passage of time will reveal what their new relationship shall be. But with this new arrangement, I – like many other Commonwealth leaders – also seek a new settlement: not only of closer relations between the UK and my own nation, but of unleashing trade within the club in which we together shall remain.

Relations between Nigeria and the UK are close and longstanding, most recently reiterated in our 2018 bi-lateral security pact and our collaboration in anti-trafficking. But in recent years, our relationship – particularly economically – has become increasingly defined by Britain’s membership of the European Union.

A new free trade agreement would reconfigure this, presenting new opportunities for both. As the largest economy in Africa, my country of nearly 200 million people has a great deal to offer: Nigeria’s vast natural energy and mineral resources, unbarred through the ending of customs barriers, could help supply growth for companies in all corners of the UK. Greater access would also be forthcoming to one of the world’s fastest expanding groups of consumers – the Nigerian middle classes.

For my country, greater UK engagement in its economy would bring jobs to under-tapped sectors, such as agriculture and manufacturing. Millions of highly skilled, English-speaking but underemployed young people, are eager to work but without the opportunities that foreign investment can bring to create jobs and build businesses.

Yet there is also a case to be made that our two Commonwealth countries should try, with other members, to deliver more – collectively. In 2015, I became the first head of a new Commonwealth Enterprise and Investment Council tasked with boosting trade and investment within the wider organisation. Now with the United Kingdom – the Commonwealth’s largest economy – no longer obliged to ringfence its economy with tariffs, this mission will be given a jolt of vitality.

However, we must be realistic: the commonwealth will not suddenly become a multilateral-free trade zone. Today many members reside within regional free trade and customs zones of their own. Yet without any of us needing to relinquish these ties, we can work together to minimise – consistent with respective memberships – as far as possible many of the tariffs and barriers on commodities, products and services. Because member countries’ national laws are built on the principles of English jurisprudence, we might work together from this common platform to better align regulations on investment, certification and trade.

A renewed sense of Commonwealth solidarity would also be of enormous benefit to the large and vital diasporas – particularly from Africa and the Indian subcontinent – that live in Western Commonwealth countries such as Britain, Canada and Australia. These communities still maintain the strongest of cultural and family links with the countries from which they and their forebears emigrated.

Yet visa restrictions and customs barriers must be reduced to fulfill the potential these connections could bring to the nations where they today reside. As an African leader I have an obligation to speak of the fact that while many in the African Diaspora enjoy considerable benefits from life in the West, they do not always feel at the heart of the community. A renewed sense that there are ties that bind us through the Commonwealth, and a concerted effort to grow those links through trade, could act as a spur to encourage togetherness and the certainty of belonging.

This year provides two critical summits in which this new determination could take seed. In January, London shall play host to the UK-Africa Investment Summit. (The continent is the Commonwealth’s largest constituent, providing over a third of its membership.) And then back to Africa, where Rwanda will welcome countries to the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting. It is at this biennial summit that many of the organisation’s milestones have been achieved – particularly in democracy and human rights. The 2020 summit could be the wrench that begins to tighten our economic structures, drawing strength from our shared bonds of history, friendship and language.

Time will tell if Britain’s new ability to strike free trade deals directly with other countries once it departs the EU can be built into more than bilateral economic cooperation. But there is no reason why, collectively, we should not try.

Nor should we dismiss the potential for making the Commonwealth of Nations more than a voluntary organization of equals based on a shared history that it is today. Instead it is in all our people’s interests to labour, dispassionately, to increase our focus on lowering barriers to achieving what truly brings freedom, friendship and equality: prosperity through trade.

Muhammadu Buhari is President, Federal Republic of Nigeria

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/a-new-case-for-a-commonwealth-based-on-trade-vbfdxwm97

Mynd44, Lalasticlala

Staro:
How old are you set?
You sound like a child - inexperienced and immature.
No point arguing with you

.

Hahahaha a child who is well versed in world news and educating you while you a so called adult is busy throwing childish tantrums

Who really is the child here?

Democracy is in Danger oooo!!!

ICPC, MSNBC, FBI, BBC, INTERPOL, MI6, CIA, USA, UK, EU, ECOWAS AU,

Staro:
Lol, do you think UK officials are as dumb as he is?

They know he is lying.
They know Boko Haram is far from over.
They know Boko Haram are soft with Muslims but brutal with Christians
They know Nigeria's economy is sloppy, inflation is rising and poverty is increasing.
They know that Buhari's anti-corruption fight is lopsided - fighting political enemies but shielding allies.

They know, they know everything but you see, he is their guest. You won't embarrass your guest.

.

Do you think everyone is as dumb as you are?

One of the major reasons Buhari went to UK is because UK wants to focus more on investing in Africa now and no longer in giving aid.

Nigeria is the best country to invest in right now so I am sure Buhari went to emphasize on this.

Nigerian economy now is the best in Africa and among the best 15 growing economies in the world.

Our economy is the biggest in Africa and the best brand in Africa after overtaking south Africa.

You need to watch BBC and Aljazeera instead of Africa magic. The news was on there just this morning.

This is 2020 you better level up mentally or remain at the bottom where your mind is

Staro:
It's sad but we have a shameless liar
president

I guess UK denied his claims right? If they did not , how is he then a liar?

AFONJACOW:
Somebody should tell this Ediot that book haram has captured 50 Nigeria Army

Somebody should tell you that your education was a sham. Read your english

MallamAhmed:
The lie lie master. The Almighty liar. The greatest con man alive. I slaute you general Buhari.

The greatest con man alive was the one who said he had no shoes yet his wife and all around him were made multi billionaires in 6 years

Myhusband:
gain kill you there


your government seems to be the most boring government in the history of Nigeria



useless man

Being blind seems to be genetic with you

DONSMITH123:
https://punchng.com/breaking-pdp-abuja-protest-ends-abruptly-as-members-escape-death/

Mbaka warned you not to try and fight God.

Warning has been duly served

Very soon.

Miss interplanet beauty pageant
Miss rivers of the world beauty pageant
Miss Intercity beauty pageant
Miss Presidential beauty pageant
Miss intertribal beauty pageant
Miss immigrant beauty pageant
Miss rich vs poor beauty pageant

Mad and jobless people who do not have anything reasonable to celebrate in this world.

They do not see academic pursuits and scientific exploits to celebrate.

Nonsense

Emir01:
The argument was that, were cars damage or not, and the answer is YES. What now damage it if it was not their violent way of tow?

The argument was "did the tow hitch method used damage vehicles" and not your version

A tow hitch cannot damage your windscreen Mr. Get over it

Emir01:
Am not arguing anything with you because it has no benefit to d damage, just trying to share what transpired for people to know. The car wasn't tow in my present. We were arrested and put inside black maria van and drove to Oshodi, when I bailed myself I went back to check the car at Sura finding out that d windscreen was broken and we were told after d bail to come back to collect fine ticket today.

Then I am letting you know that it was not the tow hitch that broke your windscreen in that manner.

You made your initial post with the presentation as if it was the tow hitch that broke it

Emir01:
I hope your phone is bright enough

Are you ubtuse?

I just told you that no bottom tow hitch can damage your windscreen.

What you have there is either something or someone hit your screen and it is not a bottom tow hitch which is rigid.

Was your car towed from the top? Can you not see that what is on your windscreen is an indented smash which is typical of a stick or rock?

NaijaMutant:
With the dangerous precedence set by the supreme Court ruling on Imo state, oppositions should not even bother to show up at the Supreme Court. It now belongs to APC's Justice Tanko




Justice for sale to the highest bidder

There was no "dangerous" precedence set in imo. Simply say your brain is too small to understand anything judicial

Emir01:
Kindly check the pictures in d news my car is that blue Corolla. Compare the plate number LSD 416FT

I am not disputing this. Your allegation that it was the tow hitch that broke your windscreen is what I am saying is false

EgunMogaji2:
I was suspicious before but have now confirmed it.

Here’s where I get off the bus

This guy claims his vehicle was towed with same hitch. Can you show me his bumper or front damage?

Emir01:
Check

You don't get it do you?

No bottom tow hit can smash your windscreen. Was the tow hitched at the top?

Something else or someone hit that screen and it was no fault of the tow hitch

EgunMogaji2:
I was suspicious before but have now confirmed it.

Here’s where I get off the bus

Please do because you have been badly incoherent trying to declare something you cannot even vaguely defend

EgunMogaji2:
Sorry but I’m not here to cater to your whims and especially don’t take instructions from you

Means you have none. Prove me wrong if indeed the pics show damage to the vehicles

EgunMogaji2:
I believe you still have access to the pics?

Show me the damage from the pics

author=EgunMogaji2 post=85948002]

Not only that Sir, if you’re car was lifted with their mechanism then your front bumper inner support will be crushed.

False because the pressure is in the lift from the bottom and not in the front which is a pull and not a push

Also the wheels are never lifted high enough and will make contact at some point.

Again false because there is always at least a 1 to 2 feet clearance from the ground.

The damaged won’t be visible quickly and may manifest in the near future

Wrong. Any damage done to a rigid frame will be detectable immediately.

Emir01:
My car windscreen was broken. People were beaten and put in a black maria.

Broken by a bottom tow hitch? Tell that lie to the marines

EgunMogaji2:
Interestingly enough, my quote wasn’t to justify damage

Oh really? Yet you just had to say

For you maybe.

For me, I can decipher rush jobs based on the storyline in the press.

“ owners of the vehicles who attempted to drive away some of the vehicles while being towed”

EgunMogaji2:
Again, your reality. Stick to it.

The other poster and I will stick to ours.

Did any of the pictures in the OP show damage?

EgunMogaji2:
For you maybe.

For me, I can decipher rush jobs based on the storyline in the press.

“ owners of the vehicles who attempted to drive away some of the vehicles while being towed”

Do realize that I have no interest in convincing you of anything. Zero interest.

If a vehicle is already on the Hitch and lifted and an owner attempts to drive it away then it is not the hitch that damaged the vehicle but the owner who attempted driving it away while already hitched. Even you should know this.

EgunMogaji2:
We’re specifically discussing the pictures posted on this thread and the narrative of the story.

That and based on my own personal experience convinced me that vehicles are being damaged.

Pictures cannot show you if damage is being done based on the OP. Only a video can do that. Do any of the pictures in the OP specifically show damage?

EgunMogaji2:
What blue paper? Is it something that’s supposed to impress me or change my reality?

The pictures shown of the rushed tow jobs will have vehicle damage.

So still images can tell you if the tow jobs were rushed or not? I thought videos are the ones capable of showing action and confirming rush or not.

EgunMogaji2:
So why quote me and try to shove your reality down my throat?

I’m not the only person that realizes vehicles are being damaged yet it’s my username that you latch onto.

You made it sound like it is a general expectation that all cars towed this way do get damaged and I said no and that it depends on who is hitching the tow. A tout or a pro

EgunMogaji2:
I’m unashamed that I have experiences. Maybe you should get out more?

I love Nigeria and have respect for a lot of things Nigerian.

There’s no way there won’t be damage but I understand why you won’t see damage because you’re probably used to subpar work. I’m not.

Only subpar work is what you allegedly experienced and caused your damage.

Likei said, professionals handled mine in this same Nigeria with same tow hitch as seen in the OP and it was damage free with none attempted.

And FYI just like you, I hold a blue paper so I also speak as someone who goes out a lot

EgunMogaji2:
I don’t deceive myself, that’s counter intuitive. I’m not even sure why a grown man will type that out.

I stand with my own reality.

Good thing it's your alleged reality. Mine was very pleasant with no damage done or attempted

EgunMogaji2:
Forget abroad. Vehicles are being damaged.

I’ve had Primera and X5 towed, all had damage. I inspected the two rig and the system and there’s no way vehicles won’t be damaged by them.

I’m partnering with someone to construct a flat bad here. It’s the only way for Nigerian roads.

You always have an alleged experience to back up your detest for anything Nigerian.

I have also had tow experience with zero damage. Perhaps touts and not professionals did your towing

EgunMogaji2:
Forget abroad. Vehicles are being damaged.

Vehicles are not being damaged. You can keep trying to deceive yourself with that thought