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Resist new scramble for Africa, Tinubu tells AU forum
President Bola Tinubu on Sunday, in Kenya, said the forces that plundered Africa in the past and still seek to impede its progress today will not find easy inroads into the continent.
Tinubu said Africa was now strong and its leaders would no longer remain passive as they worked to harness their vast resources to better their respective countries.
“But here and now, let it be said to whomever the new scramblers might be, that our continent may be old, but our spirit is new. And it is strong. The bad that took place in the past must stay there. It shall never be repeated,” Tinubu told his counterparts at the Fifth Mid-Year Coordination Meeting of the African Union in Nairobi, the Kenyan capital.
The forum also featured deliberations amongst the various regional economic communities, the regional mechanisms and the African Union Member-States.
The President’s Special Adviser on Special Duties, Communications and Strategy, Dele Alake, revealed this in a statement he signed on Sunday titled: ‘In maiden speech at AU, President Tinubu affirms Africa’s unity and strength, rejects notion of a new scramble for continent.’
In his address titled: ‘Address on Status of Regional Integration in ECOWAS,’ Tinubu emphasised the need for Africa to overcome its challenges and work towards a prosperous future, focusing on inclusive growth, good governance and leveraging the opportunities provided by the African Continental Free Trade Area.
However, the President vehemently rejected the notion of a new scramble for Africa, noting that “some observers assert a new scramble for Africa is afoot and it is much like the old scramble that plundered our continent.”
The Nigerian leader called for good governance to ensure a prosperous future for Africa, free from the exploitations of the past.
“As Africans, we forge ahead, no matter the barriers thrust before us. The world we inhabit is often unkind and uncertain. History and current global difficulties argue against our future success.
“Lessons of the past few years teach us that the world economy can be disrupted in ways that halt progress and invite downturn. Our nations can suddenly find themselves in dire situations if we choose to be passive observers of our fate.
“Such passivity does not commend itself to me. I will not listen to it. Neither should any African. The challenges we face mean that governance will be difficult,” Tinubu said.
Harping on his message to uphold democracy in West Africa, the Nigerian leader, as ECOWAS Chairman, announced plans to strengthen the bloc’s Standby Force to deter coups and combat terrorism in the sub-region.
He argued that while leaders sat to discuss vital economic matters, it would be impossible to implement the outcomes of the discussions unless due consideration was given to the instability and conflict ravaging many African states.
Credit to: punchng.com
HAPPY NEW WEEK
Here’s to a week filled with laughter, productivity, and memorable moments. Embrace each day with open arms, and let the positive vibes guide you to new heights.
Happy New Week! Make it extraordinary! ✨
Gambia to face Ivory Coast in World Cup qualifier
The Gambia senior national team has been draw against Ivory Coast, Gabon, Kenya, Burundi and Seychelles in Group F for the 2026 World Cup qualifiers.
The balloting for the global biggest football showpiece qualifiers was held yesterday, Thursday, 13th July 2023.
Coach Tom Saintfiet and his charges who have recently been doing well in African football will be hoping to replicate such feet and secure their first-ever World Cup appearance.
The Gambia will strive to win their qualifier matches to fancy their dreams of qualifying for their first-ever World Cup.
The Scorpions were eliminated in the preliminary round of the 2022 World Cup qualifiers after slipping to Angola 3-1 on aggregate.
Credit to: thepoint.gm
Why Tinubu declared state of emergency on food security — Uche Nwosu
By Fortune Eromosele, ABUJA
Former Chief of Staff to the Imo State Governor and President Ugwumba Leadership Center for Africa, Uche Nwosu, has said President Bola Ahmed Tinubu used the declaration of state of emergency on food security as a platform to cushion the impact of the fuel subsidy removal.
Nwosu in a statement, also lauded Tinubu for his decision, saying that it was the right call.
The statement read in part: “The recent declaration of a state of emergency on food security, pricing and sustainability by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, is no doubt a welcome development.
“The President by this action has demonstrated his understanding, and appreciation of the impact of the removal of subsidy on Petrol Motor Spirit (PMS), on Nigerians, especially the economy of households.
“The current food inflation in the country has been a cause of concern to stakeholders, as hope have in most recent times heightened that the administration would quickly find immediate, long lasting, and innovative solutions to the hardship experienced by citizens as a result of this.
“But by prioritizing urgent intervention through the declaration of a state of emergency in this area, Mr President has left no one in doubt that he is a hands-on-leader who follows developments across the country everyday.
“He has further shown that he is not unmindful of the rising cost of food and how it affects the citizens.
“I therefore agree with the following thematic areas of focus contained in the President’s speech, which underscored that ‘As a direct and immediate response to this crisis, a number of initiatives will be deployed in the coming weeks to reverse this inflationary trend and guarantee future uninterrupted supplies of affordable foods to ordinary Nigerians. As with most emergencies, there are immediate, medium- and long-term interventions and solutions’.
Nwosu further commended the administration’s intention to deploy some savings from the fuel subsidy removal into the Agricultural sector focusing on revamping the agricultural sector, as well as to immediately release fertilizers and grains to farmers and households to mitigate the effects of the subsidy removal.
He said, “I join President Tinubu to urge for synergy between the Ministry of Agriculture and the Ministry of Water Resources to ensure adequate irrigation of farmlands and to guarantee that food is produced all-year round.
“Nigeria must, as a matter of necessity, have a National Commodity Board that will review and continuously assess food prices as well as maintain a strategic food reserve that will be used as a price stabilization mechanism for critical grains and other food items.
“Through this board, the government will moderate spikes and dips in food prices.”
credit to: vanguardngr.com
US EXPLAINS REASONS FOR EXPELLING 4 GAMBIAN DIPLOMATS
The US Department of State has explained the decision behind the expulsion of four Gambian diplomats at the embassy in Washington.
The diplomats Abdu Cham, Pa Sako Darboe, Mustapha Sosseh and Alhagie Babou Joof were given until 17 July to leave the United States. The US State Department explains each diplomat’s situation as follows:
Abdu Cham
According to the Department of State, Abdu Cham, a counsellor at the Gambian Embassy in Washington, DC, is found wanting by the Montgomery County Police Department (MCPD) of striking his daughter, with a mop.
“The mop left markings on the daughter’s arms. The MCPD further reported that based on the victims’ injuries and evidence at the scene, had it not been for his diplomatic immunity, Mr Cham would have been arrested under state law and charged with second degree child abuse,” the State Department said.
Mr Cham’s case was referred to Child Protective Services (CPS) who provides recommendations and access to resources to assist families.
“The Department expects that the embassy help ensure the safety and wellbeing of its members and their dependents, including all the children who are residing in a principal’s household. The Department reminds the embassy that members of a foreign mission are expected to respect the laws of the United States. The Department takes this matter very seriously and considers such alleged behavior unacceptable for a member of a foreign mission,” the statement added.
The Department said it will continue to monitor the situation and will be in contact with the embassy as new information becomes available.
Pa Sako Darboe
On the case of Pa Sako Darboe, a first secretary, the Department of State said he is found wanting of taking into custody transfer documents for a thirteen-year-old girl, and a fourteen-year-old boy.
“A subsequent investigation by the Diplomatic Security Service (DSS) determined that the custody transfer documents were fraudulent, and that Mr Darboe used these fraudulent documents to enroll the two children in school in Montgomery County, Maryland,” it added.
Alhagie Babou Joof
The DSS also found that, separately, Mr Alhagie Babou Joof, a finance attaché, had participated in visa fraud.
Mustapha Sosseh
“Finally, DSS found that Mustapha Sosseh, the Deputy Chief of Mission at the embassy, had been associated with visa applications with fraudulent indicators and that the illicit schemes described above took place under his leadership.
Accordingly, pursuant to Article 9 of the Vienna Convention on
Diplomatic Relations, the above-named individuals and their dependents are required to depart the United States no later than July 17, 2023, at which point they will cease to enjoy any privileges and immunities,” the statement said.
The DSS also requested the Gambian Embassy to return all Department-issued documents for the above-named individuals, including their driver’s licenses, tax exemption cards, and identification cards, to the Department’s Office of Foreign Missions immediately.
“Further, the Department informs the embassy that the above-named individuals are unacceptable for future accreditation as members of The Gambia’s Mission to the United States,” it added.
The State Department documents were obtained from The Fatu Network.
Indigent students to access education loans as Tinubu signs law
President Bola Tinubu has signed the Students Loan Bill into law, in fulfilment of one of his promises to liberalise funding of education in the country.
This was disclosed to newsmen, yesterday evening, by the President’s media team, led by Dele Alake, who is also a member of the Presidential Strategic Team.
Alake, who was accompanied by other members of the team, including Tunde Rahman and Abdulaziz Abdulaziz, and the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, David Adejoh, explained that the new law is a fulfilment of Tinubu’s electoral promise.
He dismissed concerns that the law will encourage inflation in school fees, saying both situations are unrelated.
He said the idea behind the law is to help indigent students access education in the country without challenge.
He said: “We are very happy to announce to you that today, just a few minutes ago, the President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, signed into law, the Students Loan Bill. You all know what it entails, what it connotes.
“This is the promise made during the presidential campaign by the then candidate, that he will bring back the student loan issue to the front burner and today, that promise has been kept.
“He has just signed that bill into law, which, henceforth, will allow or enable our indigent students to access Federal Government loans to fund their educational pursuit or career. This is how it’s done in developed climes all over the world.”
Meanwhile, the Immediate Past President of National Association of Nigeria Students (NANS), Sunday Asefon, described the development as a blessing that would give opportunities to orphans and indigents students.
He said the bill provides these set of people opportunity to secure loans and pursue their education dream.
Asefon said development shows Nigeria is aiming to maintain parity with other countries that have introduced the initiative.
“We saw it in his manifesto. But we didn’t expect it was going to be this quick. The President has not spent a month in office, and he has put a smile on the faces of Nigerian students. The students, their parents and student leaderships are appreciative of the action. This bill will go a long way,” he said.
Also, President, Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics, Anderson Ezeibe, said the union would need to study the bill before it can comment.
“It is going to be premature to talk about it, until our team reviews it. When we do that, we would be able to issue a statement with respect to it.”
AFRINITY PRODUCTION WISHES YOU HAPPY NEW MONTH
May this fresh chapter of the year bring you joy, success, and new opportunities. May your days be filled with laughter, love, and beautiful moments. Embrace the possibilities ahead and make this month extraordinary. Wishing you a month filled with happiness and blessings. Happy New Month!
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