Security May Hamper WEF Summit Attendance In Nigeria

 

The state of security in Nigeria may cast a looming shadow on the attendance of the coming World Economic Forum (WEF) in the nation’s capital, Abuja as some business experts scheduled to attend the forum have expressed in attending the forum.

One of them is Brand South Africa who in a letter signed by its CEO Miller Matola said the “Brand SA team will not be travelling to Abuja due to the inability to secure additional security services for our delegation."

Although Matola says "South Africans travelling to Nigeria can expect to be reasonably safe although they should exercise due caution and vigilance," he pointed out that Brand South Africa’s own delegation "was also not allocated accommodation in any of the WEF-accredited hotels and will therefore not be able to use official WEF transportation."

Another high-level delegate, Fernando de Sousa, the GM of Microsoft Africa Initiatives, cancelled his trip "for security reasons following the bombings in Abuja", Business Day reported.

Nigeria has been under series of violent attacks from Islamic militant group, Boko Haram in the past few weeks following the mass abduction of over 200 school girls in Borno state and two-separate car bombings at the Nyanya Parkm in Abuja which left hundreds of people dead and injured.

This has heightened security concerns even as the United State Department on its website warned that radical Islamists plan to attack one of two Sheraton hotels near Lagos, Nigeria's commercial hub.

However, Nigeria’s President Goodluck Jonathan has assured guests and residents of their safety with thousands of police and army personnel on the streets of the capital, Abuja.

Schools and government offices in the capital will also be closed for security purposes while restrictions are already in place at airports in Abuja and the financial capital, Lagos.

The event, also known as "Africa's Davos" is scheduled to hold between Wednesday to Friday after being a virtual fixture in Cape Town.

With the theme "Forging Inclusive Growth, Creating Jobs", Nigeria's government hopes to demonstrate its potential to overseas investors as a place to do business especially with its new-found status as Africa's biggest economy and leading oil producer, whose sustained rates of high economic growth have caught international attention.

The forum hopes that greater co-operation between countries in terms of trade, innovation, investment and strengthened institutions can unlock the continent's potential.

The WEF is expected to have more than a thousand people in attendance including African presidents, top business people, Africa experts as well as Chinese Premier Li Keqiang as part of his first tour of Africa since taking office last year.

10 Things You Need To Know About China’s Trade Relations With Africa Today

With the growing presence of Chinese firms in infrastructure projects in Africa, ranging from reservoirs to football stadiums, here are 10 important things you need to note about China and Africa’s five-year intense bilateral trade relations today:

·         Africa is of prime strategic importance for China's economy.

·         An estimated of 1million Chinese are now resident in Africa, up from a few thousand a decade ago.

·         Chinese are the fourth-most-numerous visitors to South Africa.

·         China’s growing presence in Africa has often been referred to as "Chinese neo-colonialism in Africa" (a new form of colonialism)  - but the suspicion is changing.

·         Almost 80 percent of Chinese imports from Africa are mineral products.

·         China is Africa’s top business partner, with trade exceeding $166 billion.

·         Chinese President Xi Jinping first time visit to Africa will see him sign more than 60 agreements in different fields, with special emphasis on new structures in Africa such as roads, railways and electricity or air transport facilities.

·         More than 2,500 Chinese companies are part of projects in the continent with direct investments that at the end of 2013 stood at $25,000 million.

·         China has been Africa's largest trading partner in the last five years, with a turnover that reached $210,000 million last year.

·         China often turns a blind eye to human-rights abuses in Africa (most especially in labour-related issues), but it has not undermined democratic institutions or conventions.

#CHOICE4LIFE Advocates: In Readiness For The Return Of Our Girls (#BringBackOurGirls)

Since Monday, April 14, 2014, more than 200 girls, mostly teenagers, were reportedly abducted by heavily armed men from their school in Chibok, Borno State, North East Nigeria.

The news of this event sent ripples across the nation, and many are yet to recover from the shock of such a catastrophe. While some of the abducted girls have escaped and returned home, the exact whereabouts of the others remain unknown.

Reports regarding this event, are increasingly dominating the media, especially the new media with the launch of the #BringBackOurGirls campaign. Also, Nigerians, especially women and some parents of the abducted girls have taken to the streets in different states and countries around the world. They all show solidarity through protests pressurising government to swiftly and continuously take necessary actions to ensure the girls are returned home alive.

Apparently, incessant kidnappings have recently being on the increase in Nigeria. Victims suffer untold traumatic physical, psychological and emotional consequences. In this particular case, it is imperative to note that these girls are at high risk of sexual violence. While we earnestly anticipate their quick return in order to stop the continuous abuse they may be going through, it is imperative that we consider our readiness, especially our legal and health systems, to ensure that the victims immediately commence the process of full recovery upon their return.

We recognize the challenges of handling insurgencies such as this, as we unreservedly acknowledge and appreciate the efforts of our military, para-military and other security personnel towards ensuring that peace, order, and security of mlives and properties is restored in Nigeria.

We commend all the efforts of well-meaning Nigerians who have toiled over the last couple of weeks, to raise awareness about the kidnapped girls, and who have worked to pressure the government to go the extra mile towards bringing our girls home.

We commiserate with the families and relatives of all the kidnapped girls, assuring them that Nigerians stand as one with them through these trying times.

To this end, we, the#Choice4Life Advocates, a group of young Nigerians from diverse ethno-religious and social background across Nigeria, who use social media to advocate for non-violence and promulgation of relevant policies needed to protect sexual and reproductive health and rights of women; therefore demands that;

The Federal Government and the Borno State Government, through relevant security agencies, intensify and strengthen all current efforts being made towards the quick release of the girls.

Given the fact that our current laws on violence against persons, especially women, is insufficient in ensuring justice for the abducted girls upon their much-anticipated return, we request the National Assembly pass the Violence Against Persons Prohibition Bill (#VAPPbill) without further delay so as to guarantee a robust legal framework needed to seek justice for the girls. The swift passage of the VAPP Bill will also, among others, boost the confidence of the citizens in the polity as well as serve as a legal protection of citizens against all forms of violence regardless of sex, age, culture, tribe or religion.

A policy on the right of every Nigerian to education should be formulated and included in our National Constitution and/or relevant documents so as to protect and guarantee the right of citizens to education regardless of cultural and religious beliefs. This is expected to take preeminence over any local, cultural, and/or religious policies, which are against right of citizens to education.

The education and empowerment of women should be given the adequate priority and urgent attention it requires.

All necessary structures and actions should be put in place immediately to forestall a repeat of this and similar incident in any part of Nigeria.

We do look forward to the earnest return of all the girls unharmed. It is time to

#BringbackOurGirls Alive!

Signed: Dr LazUde Eze, Mr Francis Anyaegbu, Mrs.Bukky Shonibare, Dr Chijioke Kaduru, Mr. Alkasim Abdulkadir, Pharm. Tolu Ogunlesi, Dr Sylva Nze Ifedigbo, Ms Busolami Tunwase, Mr. AkachukwuOkafor, Mr Kolo Kenneth Kadiri, Ms Oluwabusayo Sotunde, Mr Uche Briggs, Barr. Gabriel Okoro, Mr. Moses Nwokedi (Big Mo), Dr Ugochi Nnaji,

Mr. ‘Fisayo Soyombo, Dr Isa Jiddah Mohammed, Ms Joy Odiete (J’odie), Mr. Ayodele Fanida, Mr. Stephen Oguntoyinbo, Dr Chioma Enyi, Engr. Stanley Azuakola, Mr. Kamil Alebiosu, Mr. Franklin C. Uzor, Dr Patrick Ezie, Mr. David Nnaji, Mr. Jeremiah Agenyi, Mr. Stanley Achonu, Ms Tosin Ajibade, Dr Hamid Adediran, Mazi Moses Idika and Mr. Uche Njoku.

                                            

Note: This Press Statement is issued by #CHOICE4LIFE ADVOCATES, on the missing chibok school girls. 

#Choice4life: The fight To Make Better Reproductive Choices for Women And The Girl Child

There is increased incidence of violence against women in recent times.

A quick scan at daily news reports will reveal the case of the abducted school girls in #Chibok, Borno state, a young girl who is forced to go through a traumatised pregnancy which is a result of rape/ incest or a woman who is maltreated by her husband but is forced to stay in the marriage because of her children. These are all reflections of the abuse faced by women in today’s society.  

The aforementioned issues highlighted above are not far-fetched from what I read on a friend’s blog yesterday. It was about a lifeless newborn baby found in the gutter by one of the street cleaners in Fadeyi area, Lagos state.

While this is not the first time such incidents have occurred, it is worrisome and disheartening that in this 21st century, reports of new-born baby left for dead in front of motherless baby home, the church or even in the dumpster is still customary in a civilised society like Nigeria.

These incidents sometime happen because some victims of unwanted pregnancy are forced by family members to carry the baby to term. They (the victim) will later resort to dumping their baby or “deliberating” killing it after birth to avoid being stigmatized as an “after-one” or because they do not want to be tied down with a child at the expense of fulfilling their dreams.

Others go as far as getting rid of the baby through whatever means available because they do not want people to judge them as a result of their predicaments. They avoid going to the hospital to get professional medical help, and then resort to having unsafe abortion which may kill them or damage their reproductive organs.

More of this incidence has been blamed on the country’s restrictive abortion law and the lack of supporting system(s) - both from the family, the law-enforcement agents and the society at large.

Nigeria’s reproductive laws have not been fully supportive of women reproductive rights as the country’s abortion laws are pre-colonial (1861), out dated, and insensitive to maternal health issues of today.

The only legal indication for abortion in Nigeria (Penal & Criminal codes) is to save the woman’s life and to be done by any person. Women, who do not fall under the indication like rape & incest victims, are left to their own devices.

Unsafe abortion is thus a silent & persistent pandemic affecting mostly the economically weak.

Since the current law is not only subjective but restrictive, there is an urgent need for a review of the country’s restrictive abortion laws to help protect women and their sexual reproductive rights.

The Violence Against Persons Prohibition Bill (#VAPPBill) has been created to correct this injustice.

The Bill seeks to punish perpetrators of gender-based violence in Nigeria, especially against women as well as in homes and public places. The Bill will also help to eradicate violence in the public and private spheres by providing compensation to victims and the protection of their rights.

Presently, the Bill is awaiting the approval of the senate for it to be passed into law.

Government should become more conscious of the citizen’s welfare by passing the bill into law.

When this is done, maternal mortality rate will reduce to the barest minimal and women (and young girls) will have a secure future, especially in regards to their sexual and reproductive issues.