₦airaland Forum

Forty-four African countries have signed an agreement establishing a free trade area seen as vital to the continent’s economic development, the head of the African Union said Wednesday.

The creation of a free trade area — billed as the world’s largest in terms of participating countries — comes after two years of negotiations and is one of the AU’s flagship projects for greater African integration.

“The agreement establishing the CFTA (African Continental Free Trade Area) was signed by 44 countries,” said Moussa Faki Mahamat, chairman of the AU commission.

However, the agreement will still have to be ratified at a national level and is only due to come into force in 180 days.

Nigeria is notably absent from the signatories after President Muhammadu Buhari pulled out of this week’s launch in Rwanda saying he needed more time for consultations at home.

One of Africa’s largest markets, Nigeria hesitated after objections from business leaders and unions — a sign that getting the deal through scores of national parliaments may face several hurdles.

“Some countries have reservations and have not finalised their national consultations. But we shall have another summit in Mauritania in July where we expect countries with reservations to also sign,” said Albert Muchanga, the AU Commissioner for Trade and Industry.

However other economic powerhouses South Africa, Kenya, Morocco, Egypt, Ethiopia and Algeria — known for strict protectionist policies restricting imports and exports — did sign the deal.

If all 55 African Union members eventually sign up, it will create a bloc with a cumulative GDP of $2.5 trillion (2 trillion euros) and cover a market of 1.2 billion people.

Currently, African countries only do about 16 percent of their business with each other, the smallest amount of intra-regional trade compared to Latin America, Asia, North America and Europe.

And with average tariffs of 6.1 percent, businesses currently pay higher tariffs when they export within Africa than when they export outside it, according to the AU.

“If we remove customs and duties by 2022, the level of intra-African trade will increase by 60 percent, which is very, very significant,” Muchanga told AFP in an interview before the summit.

‘No room for the weak’
Proponents of the deal argue that African economies on their own are too small to support economic diversification and industrialisation on their own and will benefit from having a unified platform to negotiate trade deals with wealthier nations.

The “CFTA will make Africa one of the largest economies in the world and enhance its capacity to interact on equal terms with other international economic blocs,” said Faki in a speech before the signing ceremony.

“The world is changing, and changing at a great speed. International competition is fierce. It leaves no room for the weak.”

However, critics highlight a dearth of roads and other infrastructure linking different African nations, as well as the fact that many countries do not manufacture goods their neighbours may want to import, as challenges to the deal.

Sola Afolabi, a Nigeria-based international trade consultant, told AFP the fact already-existing regional trade blocs were not working, should be a red flag.

“If there is no reward for compliance and there is no punishment for non-compliance, then it is going to be a very nice agreement without any teeth or any legs,” he said.

Breaking the trend
Faki acknowledged that Africans “have seen so many proclamations remain a dead letter, so many commitments without practical execution that they have come to doubt the strength of our commitment.”

He urged for a break in this trend, calling for a deal that “must confound those who, outside Africa, continue to think — with barely-concealed condescension — that our decisions will never materialise.”

The CFTA is a key part of the AU’s long-term development plan Agenda 2063, which calls for easing trade and travel across the continent.

At its most recent summit in Ethiopia in January, AU member states agreed to a common air transport market that could drive down airfares, as well as plans for visa-free travel for Africans across the continent.

Also on Wednesday, 27 countries signed the protocol agreeing to the free movement of persons across the continent.

https://www.channelstv.com/2018/03/21/nigeria-absent-as-44-african-nations-sign-free-trade-area-agreement/amp/

The News of the Release of the Abducted 110 Dapchi Girls come at no Surprise all Thanks to th APC le Federal Government Film-Show.

What however is very surprising was the returned students with their loads of Ghana-Must-Go and Bags.

the question then is:
1. Where did Boko Haram do the shopping for them
2. When was the shopping done.
3. Where are the millatary patrolling the town when they where returned.

Cc: Myd44, Madridguy, sarrki, buhariguy, seunmsg

CCC: lalasticlala, seun

tesppidd:
Don't be ridiculous.
band wagon effect is a myth which is in the mind of people who refuse to think for themselves.

bandwagon effect indeed, then why didn't the APC win the entire senate and house because of bandwagon effect.
Why didn't the voting pattern change in the country due to bandwagon effect?
The North votes for the APC because their brother is Buhari.
The south voted for pdp because their brother is Jonathan.

Oh you think the senators are doing this to deepen your democracy?

hehehehehehehe

How naive and foolish.
They don't give a hoot about you.

They are only trying to secure their own re-election.

Even when you see the obvious today.

Many in the senate and H0R today got there om the basis of Buhari election.

If it had been held seperately in 2015 many senators and HOR member's will noy be there.

stephleena:
lol..decampees enter voice mail.,which pesin in his right senses,go wan mingle with buhari?dem don play the governor 419..wehdone decampees

That's wise decision by the decampee.

Chop dem money clean mouth, sip kunu for house

Bosun:
Olodo ati awon emeware ti o jafafa lorokan. Awon gbe gele e sora yin oh.

Alaroye se iwo lo fe wijo

Ma so lo.

APC cannot eat their cake and have it again.

Never again.



The decampeee have seen the light.


PDP Mega Rally im Jigawa early in the week

https://www.nairaland.com/4394364/pdp-jigawa-state-mega-rally

Governor disappointed as ‘4000’ PDP decampees fail to appear



Governor Muhammad Badaru Abubakar of Jigawa state went home disappointed when 4000 Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) decampees failed to appear at a rally as earlier announced.


Mr. Badaru was in Birnin Kudu Local Government Area of the state on Sunday, the venue of the occasion to recieve the decampees and commission projects.

The event, organised by Magaji Da’u Aliyu, a member representing Birnin Kudu /Buji federal constituency, was also put together to donate vehicles to party faithful, flag off a feeder road as well as donate N20 million to students of higher institutions from his constituency.

Danmalam Unguwarya, the leader of the decampees did not turn up when called up to present his speech on behalf of the decampees neither did any of his representatives or decampees.



Obviously rattled by the turn of events and to forestall a commotion by political thugs, Mr. Badaru, when delivering a hurried speech, urged party members to take after him by playing politics without bitterness, insisting that “without unity their collective victory will be at a stake”.

Mr. Badaru then flagged off the Waurno to Dankoshe feeder road, presented a N20 million prototype cheque to the leaders of the student unions and gave out keys of six vehicles to party officials from his constituency.


Mr. Aliyu, who did not give details of the length and cost of the road, neither clarified whether the project is a federal government project or part of his constituency projects.

All efforts to speak with him proved abortive as he declined talking to reporters.

Bello Zaki, special adviser to Governor Badaru on media, said the governor was simply there to commission the projects and support the lawmaker. He said only the APC state chairman could explain why the decampees failed to show up.

https://www.premiumtimesng.com/regional/nwest/262236-governor-disappointed-as-4000-pdp-decampees-fail-to-appear.html

Bosun:
Professor Yemi Osinbajo is the Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. He remains same till the end of this tenure/administration whether you like it or not.

Talo ba e wijo n tie


O je koju siwaju

OP where is the clap back

Bosun:
Everybody is here. Who con dey Osinbajo weeding nah. o

Abeg who is osinbanjo

Gunmen invade secondary school in Ondo carted away N3m

Sources said that the gunmen on getting to the school headed straight to the office of the bursar and robbed him of the money belonging to the school.
He was said to have been traced from one of the new generation banks in the state capital, where he went easier to withdraw the said amount Reports had it that the incident caused a stir as teachers and students who noticed the strange faces fled in different directions.

The atmosphere became rowdy and it resulted into pandemonium in the school.

The state police Command was informed by some teachers who escaped from the scene. However, before the arrival of police detectives, the robbers had escaped with the money. Contacted, the state police image maker Femi Joseph confirmed the robbery incident. Joseph blamed the school bursar for going to the bank to withdraw such a huge amount of money without police escort. T

he police spokesperson pointed out that “the bursar has been arrested and helping the police with investigation. “The was no robbery on the school, the robbers only traced the bursar and disposed him of the money.

“What we learnt was that the hoodlums traced him to the school after he had gone to withdraw a large sum of money without police protection. The money should be close to N3 million. “He is with us, he is helping us with investigation.

We will quiz him to know whether he knows more than he claims.”. Uneasy calm, still pervade the school as parents of students in the boarding house rushed to have a glimpse of what happened at the school.

Some of the parents who spoken with called for adequate security in schools across the state.

Read more at: https://www.vanguardngr.com/2018/03/gunmen-invade-secondary-school-ondo-carted-away-n3m/

Amd wherebis dumelo, sarrki, madrid guy

samysamy:
President Buhari pictured with Governor Ortom in Benue state today.

Caption the photo



Source: http://usascholarshipfree..com.ng/2018/03/caption-this-photo-of-buhari-and.html?m=1

Ortom: PMB God's know that you're going back to dahura come 2019

PMb: Allah Kwaii. So speechless

sarrki:
Ortom says

Baba please don't mind those online imbroglios

BMC PRO


WHY NOT KUKUMA WRITE IT IN YORUBA

sarrki:
Sad and bad day for wailers

Kikiki welcome back from leave

BMC Chairman madridguy, myd44

The Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, has denied making any statement which suggests that he was calling for a military coup in the country.

Ekweremadu spoke at the weekend in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, when Governor Seriake Dickson hosted him and other parliamentarians from African countries to a dinner.

In less than 50 years of nationhood, Nigeria had risen and fallen from three republics due to military incursions in governance. The fourth which started in 1999 is being jealously guided in spite of the observable pitfalls.

In this context, the deputy senate president’s mention of a possible military coup last week in the red chamber could not but create anxiety in all quarters, including the military which immediately denied such tendency among its men and officers.

Ekweremadu maintained that his comments on the floor of the Senate were misconstrued. The lawmaker said he would never make derogatory statements against the military which he described as one of the best fighting forces on the continent.
Read More

Senate warns of military coup over political violence
Military no longer has officers with political ambition, DHQ replies Ekweremadu

He stressed that statements made by lawmakers in the course of their duties should be situated within the proper context before any form of reaction.

The military, through a statement by the Director of Defence Information, Brig-Gen John Agim, had argued that Ekweremadu’s comment “in the true sense, has the capacity to denigrate the Nigerian military in every ramification, including its loyalty to the president, commander-in-chief of the armed forces and the confidence of the public to defend Nigeria’s democracy.”

But the senator maintained that parliamentarians have a duty to continue to defend democracy in the country, arguing that the difference between a democracy and a dictatorship is the parliament which should ordinarily provide a direction for the sustenance of democracy.

He added that his remarks on the floor of the Senate chambers were to caution his colleague politicians against making the mistakes of the past which led to the abrupt end of the First Republic.

“Let me just tell you one unfortunate incident that happened last week. We had one of our colleagues from Kogi who was hosting a constituency briefing and empowerment. He alleged that the government-sponsored thugs to come and chase away people and destroy the programme and equipment he bought for his people.

“We condemned such acts, especially where in a particular case, the property of a parliamentarian was destroyed. We condemned a case whereby parliamentarians were stopped from holding meetings and where a parliamentarian was stopped from coming to a state where he was governor for eight years.

“We warned that it was this kind of reckless abuse of power and impunity that scuttled our democracy earlier, especially in the First Republic. I cautioned that politicians should not take things for granted.”

Ekweremadu said some people took it out of context and alleged that he was calling for a military coup.

“I never called for a military coup. I never said the military was planning any coup. If you read some parts of the military statement, they admitted that my statement and contribution were only cautionary and that we were sincere, but they went as far as saying that the international community should ignore me,” he lamented.

According to him, the Nigerian military is currently passing through one of its toughest phases, fighting to keep the peace, which is the more reason they should be supported, rather than denigrated.

“I am not asking for an apology, I am only asking for understanding. I hold the Nigerian army and the armed forces in high regard. They are some of the best in Africa. They have defended our democracy, our people and have acquitted themselves in every assignment.

“ I have no reason why l should degrade our military. If they need anything now, it is encouragement because this is not the best of times for them. So, I call on all Nigerians to give them the necessary encouragement. But we do hope that when parliamentarians make statements, they (military) should be able to know exactly what they said before reacting.

“Sometimes, you react unfavourably and unfairly to the person who made the statement. Our statement is circulating on the internet unedited and I never said the army was planning a coup and I never invited them to plan any coup,” the PDP senator said.

Read More: Keep off politics, PDP warns military

Meanwhile, the All Progressives Congress (APC) government led by President Muhammadu Buhari has come under attacks for mismanaging the nation’s economy.

The Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Uche Secondus, lamented that the APC allegedly borrowed N11trillion in just three years. He said that throughout the 16 years the PDP governed the country, it borrowed only N6 trillion.

Secondus spoke at a grand reception organised by the Delta State PDP in honour of former Governor James Ibori at Ovwor-Olomu, Ughelli South, Delta State at the weekend.

“A senator in APC, Dino Melaye told the whole world that in three years, APC borrowed N11 trillion. PDP ruled for 16 years and borrowed only N6 trillion. Where are all the promises they made? No roads, no electricity, rather, across the states of Nigeria, there are killings everywhere; there is national security crisis. The only party that can rescue Nigeria is PDP,” he said.

Similarly, the Social Democratic Party (SDP) said the political immaturity in APC had brought untold hardship, increased sectarian violence and polarised the country into ethnic and religious camps.

The Spokesman of the SDP, Adakole Ijogi, made the declaration in a statement issued in Abuja after the maiden national communications strategy meeting of the party at the weekend. The party is planning to hold its non-elective national convention in April.

‘The APC’s three years administration is one with tales of disillusionment, despair and disenchantment,” SDP said.

The opposition political force promised to fashion out a new governance model for Nigeria that would uphold the welfare and the rights of citizens as well as uphold the rule of law.

https://guardian.ng/politics/ike-ekweremadu-denies-calling-for-military-coup/?F

video:

https://s3-eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/com.ventramediagroup.transcode.outbox/4IaS-ivxtWYmp4_1520842509-360pMP4.mp4

Please permit me to copy the following notable NGOs/Associations viz;

1. Team Buhari welcome Crowd(TBWC);

2. Association of No Northerner can defeat Buhari(ANNB)

3. National union of See Crowd that received Buhari(NUSCB)

4. National Union of PDP is Dead(NUPD)

5. Team Nairalan BMC Crew: madridguy, Sarrki, Buhariguy, et. al and there Nairaland Coordinator Myd44

See OUR IGP SA Response to His OGA at teh TOP (PMB)

“There May be a misunderstanding of the difference between Makurdi and Benue. IGP Idris did not spend more than 24hrs in Makurdi but spent more time at the flash points of Goma,Logo and Rijiin,all of which are in Benue. (SALEH SHEHU, S.A. TO IGP)

IGP is too slow to Move to action in Benue - BUHARI


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qev_zdryU5c

President Muhammadu Buhari says he is not aware that the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Ibrahim Idris, left Benue State for Nasarawa State after he was ordered to relocate to the state.

President Buhari said this on Monday during a meeting with some stakeholders at the Government House in Makurdi, the Benue State capital.

On January 9, the President had ordered the Inspector General of Police to immediately move to Benue State to restore law and order and prevent further loss of lives and properties, due to attacks by herdsmen in the state.

Although the IGP visited Benue after the President’s directive, the state government accused him of spending only one day in the state and then proceeding to Nasarawa State and spending several days there.

President Buhari who was visiting the state for the first time since suspected herdsmen struck the state on New Year’s Day, killing 73 and reigniting the debate over the herdsmen-farmers clashes, said he was just learning of the alleged noncompliance by the IGP.

“What I did was to call him and give him (a) directive. And I didn’t know he moved here (Benue State) and didn’t spend (time) and then move to Nasarawa. It’s only now that I am knowing that. But I know I dispatched him here,” the President said.

He added that as a loyal leader, he would engage the IGP for inquires upon his return to Abuja.

“At every level, you have to be loyal to people below you. Whether that person is loyal to you or not is totally a different thing,” President Buhari said.

“The easiest thing for me was to go on air and accuse the IGP of being too slow and not using the intelligence and resources available to him to foresee the action of the cattle rearers and so on. People would believe me, but I will be disloyal if I do that.”

The President also assured the people of Benue that he cannot overlook the killings in Benue or any other part of Nigeria. He said he is genuinely worried about the attacks in Benue and doing everything to end them.

Beyond accusing the IGP of disobeying the President’s order, Governor Samuel Ortom accused him of being biased in the implementation of law and order and called on him to resign.

This generated a war of words between the governor and the IGP which got the attention of the Senate, especially after the Force Public Relations Officer, Mr Moshood Jimoh, described the governor as a drowning man.

https://www.channelstv.com/2018/03/12/i-never-knew-igp-moved-to-nasarawa-after-i-sent-him-to-benue-buhari/


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qev_zdryU5c

Live video

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=1693311987381328&id=100001076298863

Uche secondus the POSITIVE CHANGE PARTY (PDP) Chairman live in dutse jigaea state

PDP Chairman consultative visits to Dutse jigawa state

PDP: President's Visit To Benue, Billboard of APC’s Insensitivity, 


…Says Jigawa Rally Opens a New Vista for PDP


The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has described President Muhammadu Buhari’s afterthought visit to Benue, several months after the massacre of Nigerians, as needless and serves only as a large billboard of his administration’s gross insensitivity to the plight of Nigerians.


The party however said its mega rally, which held in Dutse, Jigawa State, today, has opened a new vista for the party as the true hope for Nigerians.


The PDP said President Buhari’s visits to troubled states, particularly Benue, serve no sincere purpose since they did not come from the heart but evidently orchestrated for political reasons.


The PDP, in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, on Monday said it is appalling and highly disheartening that a President can only visit his distressed citizens after a widespread outcry over his aloofness and not out of any genuine concern for their wellbeing. 


What is the purpose of condolence visit when it does not come from the heart but orchestrated to deceive and beguile the people ahead of the 2019 general elections?


Indeed, we agree no less with Nigerians that this cosmetic and politically motivated visit is nothing but a direct mockery of the dead and a heavy slap on the faces of the bereaved.


This is the same president, who at the wake of the massacre, summoned the leaders and the bereaved to Abuja, rather than complying with the age-long tradition of Africans by immediately visiting the bereaved. 


Months after their tears have dried and they are painfully gathering their broken pieces, the Presidency is now trying to use them for a political posturing by staging a cosmetic condolence visit just to score a political point. 


More off-putting is the fact that following the public criticisms that trailed the President’s glaring aloofness and failure to visit the direct victims during his whistle stops in Taraba and Plateau states, his handlers has now arranged a put-on visit to some Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps in Benue, which is nothing but a posturing stunt to further deceive the people.


If the Buhari administration is genuinely concerned about the wellbeing of the people of Benue and other trouble states, what decisive step has been taken to apprehend those behind the carnage and bring them to book?

What steps have been taken to ensure adequate protection for the people and to end the daily bloodletting in the land?

Instead the government has engaged in making reproachful comments and dishing out false information to the people. 


The PDP therefore charges the Presidency to end the unnecessary roadshow and take decisive steps to ensure the security of the people. Furthermore, those organizing the road shows must understand that Nigerians can no longer be deceived by cosmetic and pretentious posturing from this grossly insensitive and incompetent administration, which has brought them so much pain.

Signed:

Kola Ologbondiyan
National Publicity Secretary.

madridguy:
News like this is part of the reason the useless umbrella party want to return back to Aso Rock at all cost.

Thank you Sai Baba

How much is
1. Bag of rice 2015 vs 2018
2. PMS per litre 2015 vs 2018
3. Dollar 2015 vs 2018
4. PHCN per watts 2015 vs 2018

The Nigeria Customs Service said it had given the importer of the military wares which allegedly belong to the government of Kogi State, a 30-day ultimatum, to produce the End-User Certificate from the Office of the National Security Adviser.

The Public Relations Officer of the NCS, Mr. Joseph Attah, confirmed this during a telephone interview with one of our correspondents on Saturday.

The Service had confiscated the items at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja.

The imported items include 100 pieces of military camouflage, 26 pieces of military camouflage jungle boots, 20 pieces of plastic knives, 24 pieces of black bullet proof vests, and 28 black boxing gloves.

Others are 26 pieces of arctic hunter bags, 40 pieces of training mats, 20 pieces of black batons, 100 pieces of black T-shirts, 31 pieces of protective glasses, 25 pieces of black sunglasses and 29 pieces of black uniform belts

Attah told one of our correspondents that the agent, who imported the items, had been identified.


He said when contacted, the agent claimed that he was in possession of the End-User certificate, which is usually issued by the National Security Adviser.

Attah said based on the claim of the agent, he had yet to be arrested as the service was still conducting investigations.

He explained that the agent had been asked to produce the End-User Certificate within 30 days and that if he fails to do so, after the ultimatum, the items would be forfeited to the Federal Government.

He said, “We have identified the agent who imported the items and he claimed that he had the End-User Certificate.

“We have asked him to produce it. He has 30 days to do that. If after the expiration of the 30 days period, then the imported items would be forfeited to the Federal Government.”

Senator Dino Melaye had, on Thursday, raised the alarm that the Kogi State government was behind the military items illegally imported into the country.


A source within the Kogi State Government, however, described the entire incident as ‘bad politics’.

The source, who wished to remain anonymous because he wasn’t authorised to speak on the matter, admitted that some military items and security gadgets were imported for Kogi State Government’s use.

He, however, denied reports that military uniforms were brought in.

The source said, “We planned to buy vehicles and lace them with security gadgets, GSM security jamming system, bulletproof etc. So, we engaged a security firm, which helped us to procure the gadgets for the Kogi State Government and they required an end-user certificate to bring them in.

“The governor wrote to the National Security Adviser over three weeks ago for the end-user certificate and we have evidence. The NSA is working on it even though it hasn’t been issued.

“However, the consignment came in before the end-user certificate was ready. So, when the gadgets came in, the Customs challenged us and asked the owner of the equipment to come forward and the governor has sent his officials to the airport to claim the goods.
“We didn’t import any uniform. We have the letter of the contract award.”

Meanwhile, the Peoples Democratic Party has described the linking of the alleged illegal importation of military items to the All Progressive Congress interests, particularly in Kogi State, as revealing.

The PDP said Nigerians had been wondering how weapons and other military equipment got into the hands of marauders, who had been ravaging the nation, adding that the discovery could be an unfolding development, into which an open investigation must be conducted.

It also expressed fears that the development could be part of the alleged plot by the All Progressives Congress to compromise the nation’s security system and set the stage for the intimidation of Nigerians during the 2019 general election.

The PDP, in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Kola Ologbondiyan in Abuja on Saturday, also asked the Presidency and military high command to immediately come out with explanations to Nigerians on how Governor Yayaha Bello of Kogi State allegedly secured the permission to import military items, a function exclusively under the purview of the Presidency and the military.

He said, “From the reports so far, it appears that we are now having a clue into how weapons and other military equipment being used by marauders and criminals to ravage and murder our citizens are illegally sneaked into the country and by which interest.”

https://www.punchng.com/kogi-military-items-customs-issue-ultimatum-to-importer/amp/

SOFTENGR:
Lala why

U don add 's'

FarahAideed:
Na true oo

So the name is now An Official Coded name

I was so surprised this evening at the comment of a Nairalander that [b]dullard in ho [/b]without the space now turn to President Buhari.


So decide to try ot out, low and behold its Real.


1. Does it mean that The Presidency has finally accepted that's an official name.

stephleena:
hehehe,Dino,is Bello's night mare,soonest,the blind governor on black shades,would be led back he..same with President Buhari in aso rock..for whatsoever is agreed by Nigerians is also agreed on heaven

so nairaland has automatically changed"dullard in ho to president buhari?
thanks for accepting he's a dullard

President Buhari