Nigerians protest against the operations of Amnesty International in the country

On Tuesday 11, February 2020, a group of protesters stormed the Abuja office of Amnesty International (AI), a human rights group demanding they retire from Nigeria.

The protesters who arrived at the office in large numbers accused the human rights group of aiding insecurity in Nigeria which destabilized the country. In their rage, the demonstrators barricaded the road leading to the entrance preventing movement around the premises.

Some of the placards carried by the protesters include: “Amnesty International is backing terrorism in Nigeria,” “Amnesty International you are the wheel behind Boko Haram, IMN, IPOB, and ISWAP”, and “Amnesty International bury your head in shame,” amongst others.

Although Amnesty International is yet to officially react to the situation, they took to Twitter sharing photos and videos of the protest.

On going protest at our office, #Abuja; pic.twitter.com/QEwZm7ry5B

— Amnesty Int. Nigeria (@AmnestyNigeria) February 11, 2020

Following the protest, pro-amnesty International supporters gave the protesters 48 hours to apologize to Nigerians for their actions. Referring to AI as “the truth” Kunle Ajayi leader of the supporter’s group said, “We hereby give the sponsors of those protesters who are not real protesters but hoodlums 48 hours to apologize to Nigerians for saying that the truth should leave Nigeria.”

Ajayi claimed that Amnesty International has been a voice and advocate of many Nigerians for years and that the protesters “are completely wrong because they are being sponsored by those who hate justice, hate the truth and want Nigeria to be barbaric.” He added that if the protesters are asking AI to leave Nigeria, it is equivalent to saying “Justice and the truth” should leave the country. 

This is however not the first time protesters are demanding that Amnesty International pulls out from Nigeria. The most recent in August 2019 had the protesters accuse AI of being critical to Buhari’s administration and forcefully urging them to exit the country. 

Reacting to the protest, Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) in a tweet said that they “strongly condemn the apparently sponsored protest” against Amnesty Nigeria and that the “Nigerian authorities must ensure that AI and other NGOs can operate freely and without any harassment.”

We strongly condemn the apparently sponsored protest today targeting @AmnestyNigeria and putting the security and safety of their staff members and others at risk.

The Nigerian authorities must ensure that AI and other NGOs can operate freely and without any harassment.

— SERAP (@SERAPNigeria) February 11, 2020

In a 2018 report by CNN, the Nigerian government accused Amnesty International of “damaging the morale” of its soldiers fighting terrorism in the Northeast. President Muhammadu Buhari, therefore, urged the UK-based rights group to re-examine its operations in the country, especially as they relate to the war against terrorism. “The Nigerian Army has no option than to call for the closure of Amnesty International offices in Nigeria if such recklessness continues,” Army spokesman, Gen. Sani Usman said.

As the world’s largest human rights organization, Amnesty International moved to Nigeria with the aim of protecting and promoting all human rights enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. They have reported extensively on the Boko Haram terrorists and carried out several projects to aid the Nigerian government in eliminating the jihadist group. Although there is no evidence surrounding the reason why Nigerians are calling for their departure, the Nigerian government needs to address recent developments.

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CBN restricts forex for milk imports despite concern over local production capacity

Nigeria’s central bank has officially tightened the noose on milk importation with a restriction on access to foreign currency that covers all but six importers of the dairy.

This comes on the back of an earlier notice by the bank in July, when it disclosed intentions to add milk imports to its restricted list for dollar sales, in order to spur production in the local industry. Later in the year, the bank removed milk from the list of imports eligible under payment terms known as “bills for collection,” which allowed importers to buy on credit.

Initial speculations had suggested that the CBN would impose a total ban on access to foreign currency for the imports. But six companies were exempted because they had keyed into a backward integration program meant to enhance their capacity and improve local milk production, the apex bank said Tuesday. They include FrieslandCampina WAMCO Nigeria; Chi Limited; TG Arla Dairy Products Limited; Promasidor Nigeria Limited; Nestle Nigeria PLC (MSK only), and Integrated Dairies Limited.

According to the circular issued by CBN, the new policy takes immediate effect, as all Forms ‘M’ for the importation of milk and its derivatives by authorized dealers will only be allowed for the stated companies.

The short-term goal is to increase milk production in the country from the current figure of 500,000 metric tonnes to about 550,000 metric tonnes within the next 12 months, Isaac Okorafor, CBN’s spokesperson, said. In the long run, however, the plan is to reduce substantially the $1.2 billion to $1.5 billion spent on milk imports annually.

Diversifying the economy away from oil and reducing imports of products that can be produced locally to conserve dollar reserves have been key policy objectives of the current administration. In 2015, the central bank restricted access to forex for 41 items which it said can be produced in Nigeria.

Industry groups had been lobbying the government against the bank’s planned, and now effected, dollar curb, due to the incapacity of domestic milk production to meet local demand. Nigeria relies heavily on imports for most of what its nearly 200 million population consumes. While the annual local demand for milk stands at an average of 1.7 million tonnes, the country produces less than 600,000 tonnes locally and imports a balance of over 1.1 million tonnes.

But there is undeniable potential in Nigeria’s local milk industry that could be harnessed with deliberate and properly implemented policies, and the adoption of an intensive system of animal husbandry. In addition to the six companies that plan to invest in local production, the central bank has hinted at extending low-interest loans to local milk producers to improve production while discouraging imports.

Meanwhile, there are now 44 items on the list of restricted commodities from accessing forex at the official rate. The CBN added textile and other clothing materials to the list of 42 items last year, together with the new restriction on the importation of milk and its derivatives.

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Putting an end to gender based violence in Sierra Leone will take more than an emergency declaration

Every year, thousands of women, girls and even babies are victims of sexual and gender-based violence in Sierra Leone. In response to this growing challenge, President Julius Maada Bio declared a national emergency over the state in 2019. The declaration followed a series of relentless campaigns by grassroots groups after the rape of a five-year-old girl, who was left paralyzed from the waist down.

Prior to this development, statistics revealed that the reported cases of sexual and gender-based violence nearly doubled in the country in 2018. According to police statistics, the reported cases were over 8,500, a third of which involved minors. Activists, including First Lady Fatima Bio, said the actual figures are much higher as most cases are never reported.

Fatima Bio led a demonstration in the capital to raise awareness on the issue in December 2018. Since then she has launched a”Hands Off Our Girls” campaign across West Africa which she uses as a platform to speak against sexual violence.

This enabled the government to enact drastic measures without parliamentary approval, including the introduction of maximum life sentences for those found guilty of sexually abusing a minor.

Activists welcomed what they saw as willingness from top officials to put sexual and gender-based violence on the national agenda and tackle a taboo that has long plagued the West African country. Gender-based violence is traditionally seen as a taboo topic in Sierra Leone. Only 12 years ago, its parliament passed the first gender equality laws in 46 years of independence, following efforts by women’s rights groups.

How effective was the declaration?

It’s been one year since Bio’s announcement, as well as the quiet revoke of the state of emergency in June. There have also been different opinions regarding the effectiveness of the government’s action in creating long-term change.

“There has been a difference in the response to the issue because people are better informed. There is the political will and so the reporting of cases has increased,”  said Alison French, advocacy and communications director for the Rainbo Initiative.

On the contrary, emergency measures lasted only until the June revocation, and no money was allocated to implementing promises made during the period; including free hospital care for rape survivors and a hotline for reporting abuse. Analysts have also questioned the necessity of the proclamation, saying that many of the changes could have been made through regular legal channels.

Following the end of the state of emergency, parliament passed The Sexual Offenses Amendment Act, 2019, which increased the maximum penalty for rape and sexual penetration of a child from 15 years to life imprisonment and criminalized the so-called “compromise,” in which the offence is settled by family members or village heads, without police involvement.

While some hope the amendment will act as a deterrent to attackers, others say tough sentences could discourage survivors from reporting abuse as assaults often occur in tight-knit communities and survivors may face social pressure not to come forward.

Even when armed with the tough new legislation, Sierra Leone’s legal system faces several hurdles in prosecuting sexual abuse cases. Understaffing and a lack of resources and equipment are common, while police, lawyers and judges are overworked and underpaid, Schneider said. Heavy caseloads, meanwhile, mean litigants often wait years until their cases are heard.

There is still a lot to be done to improve countrywide access to legal and health services while ensuring that everyone is treated equally before the law. Establishing forensic labs and making rape kits available would also help to strengthen the legal response to incidents of sexual and gender-based violence.

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Guinness Night Football Pan African, Lagos

International football icon, Rio Ferdinand graced the Guinness Night Football Pan African extravaganza, on the 31st of January 2019 at the luxury, Legend hotel Ikeja. The football tournament united Africans from Nigeria, Uganda, Cameroon, and Kenya to experience unconventional football in a dark, glowing and colourful ambience.

African celebrities and football lovers from across the continent displayed their football skills in an exciting 5-A-Side soccer match between Team Bold and Team Harp. The vibrant teams featured international music star, Davido alongside Sauti Sol of Kenya, BebeCool of Uganda, and Salasi of Cameroun, while Rio Ferdinand served as the game referee.

Davido, Sauti Sol, BebeCool ,Salasi and Rio Ferdinand

Rio Ferdinand

Alongside the football action, there were a lot more activities lined up for fun seekers and sports lovers to explore. Some of which include enjoying the fan-favourite beer infused with different flavours served in a wide range of assorted cocktails and exotic cuisines.

The finale also featured fashionable Guinness branded apparels, all of which were custom made by urban designer– Drik.

The crowd enjoyed an intriguing movie showing at the venue, courtesy of Film house. The audience also got a chance to express themselves in artistic body painting and henna.

A showcase of friendly rivalry on the pitch as guests also had a wide range of football-themed games like foosball; a goal four-post and PlayStation video games.

The GNF campaign happened across Africa, from Uganda, Kenya, Cameroon, and Nigeria, with 3 incredible legs in Nigeria. It started with Enugu on the 21st of January 2019, then Lagos on the 28th of January 2019 and moved to Abuja on the 18th of January 2020.  The tour showcased Africa’s passion for the sport and Guinness’s commitment to African football.

The unconventional experience also featured amazing musical performances by African Voices star, Davido, Peruzzi, Sauti Sol, BebeCool, and Salasi.

Peruzzi

Bebe cool

Sauti sol

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Follow #GuinnessNightFootball #JoinTheVibe #ForTheLoveOfFootball.

18+ … Drink Responsibly.

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ECOWAS set to investigate Nigeria’s land border closure

Following the outcry of west African countries over the indefinite closure of land borders in Nigeria since 2019, the Economic Community of West Africa States-ECOWAS on February 9th, 2020, inaugurated a committee  “to study and make a full report on Nigeria’s land border closure with its neighbour.

The committee will also investigate the impact of closed land port of entries for goods and commodities across the country.

The Nigerian foreign minister, Geoffrey Onyeama, said the report will be ready “as soon as possible,” however there is no official deadline. 

Nigeria stopped the movement of products and commodities within its borders mainly due to smuggling activities that affect the trading and security of the country.

Its neighbouring countries: Benin, Cameroon, and Niger have complained about the serious decline in trade activities due to the border closure, as they depend largely on the African giant’s economy, population, and commodities.

However, the Nigerian government cited noncompliance from neighbouring countries to the ‘’established protocol for transiting of goods” in the ECOWAS Trade Liberalisation Scheme (ETLS) as one of the reasons for the closure. The government believes their(neighbours) feeble enforcement of trade policies and laws permits smuggling of drugs, weapons and other contrabands into its territory.

‘’We must compel our neighbours to agree to sign the documents that will enable us to execute the exact letter of the protocol on the transit of goods’’ said Hameed Ali, the Comptroller-General of Nigeria Customs Service.

Nigeria remains rigid about the issues surrounding the infinite closure of land border as the country expects it’s West African brothers to address all complaints before welcoming land trade again. Hammed Ali cited an example using Niger republic –  he said ‘’Niger has agreed that no more exportation of rice in any form to Nigeria, this is the type of thing we are looking forward to. unless we get to that level, the borders will remain closed’’.

In the nearest future, Nigeria has the potential to trade significantly with the 53 African countries due to the African continental free trade agreement in 2019. To prepare ahead for this big market, the current strict approach to mitigate smuggling activities may largely favour Nigeria, as it sets the boundaries on what is acceptable to its neighbours in terms of goods and commodities. 

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Mali opts for talks with terrorist Jihadist groups

On Monday, Mali’s President, Ibrahim Boubacar Keita announced that the government was prepared to talk with jihadist groups. The aim is to end the violent activities of the Islamist militants. This decision seems to have been propelled by escalating killings in the country’s central and northern regions.

According to a news report, Keita said that “the number of dead in the Sahel is becoming exponential,” adding that it was time for “certain avenues to be explored.” 

Going by further comments made, the Malian government seems to have a knowledge of those that are directly involved in the activities of these jihadists. In the report, the President’s statement read, “why not try to contact those who we know are pulling the strings.”

Although Keita did not say what was being done to talk to Islamist groups, he hinted that the former president and high representative to central Mali, Dioncounda Traore, “has the task of listening to everyone.”

Mali is one of the five countries in the G-5 Sahel initiative backed by the French military troop since 1st August 2014, when France began an anti-insurgent mission in the region called “Operation Barkhane”. Other countries in the G-5 Sahel include Niger, Mauritania, Chad and Burkina Faso. The purpose of G-5 Sahel is to strengthen the bond between economic development and security and together battle the threat of jihadist insurgency operating in the region. The United Nations also has a 14,000-strong peacekeeping mission in the region.

However, in December last year, there was growing anti-French sentiment in the region which insinuated that the escalations of bloodshed were due to the presence of the French military troops in the region. This made France demand that the leader of the G-5 Sahel dismissed growing anti-French sentiment across the region if they wanted its military to continue its mission against Islamist militants. President Emmanuel Macron made the demands after the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) summit in London.  

This new move by the government to negotiate with the terrorist group will be directly working against all that the French mission stands for. It would also register their position in the anti-French sentiments. If the country goes along with the decision, it may further legitimize the groups and their ideologies in the country, leaving the government at their mercy.  

Last year, the International Crisis Group said that seeking dialogue with jihadists may encounter some opposition within Mali and abroad from those who fear it could legitimize the groups and their ideas.

France has recently said it would send 600 more soldiers to add to the 4,500 it already has, to tackle armed groups. But last week, a UN top humanitarian official in Mali, Ute Kollias, said that extra troops would not solve the crisis and urged political engagement.

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Ivorian security forces confiscate $40 million worth of cocaine

Security forces in Ivory Coast have confiscated $40 million of cocaine in the country’s coastlines. This seizure, which occurred on Tuesday, 4th of February 2020, is the biggest the country has ever recorded.

Communication Advisor, Yves Zogbo Jr, stated that “security forces launched a maritime operation to seize 411 kilograms of cocaine on the high seas.” The cargo is believed to have arrived as a single consignment from Brazil before being transferred onto three smaller boats, he said.

The geographic makeup of the Ivory Coast has made it vulnerable to various forms of illicit trafficking. It occupies a central position in the West African region and has porous borders. This puts the country in a vicious position as a country of origin, transit, and destination for illegal trafficking. With a population of about 20 million people, a large percentage of its youth are actively involved in drug abuse as the government battles to curb illicit drug production and consumption.

In a bid to accurately address the threat of transnational organized crimes, including drug trafficking, UNODC, DPA/UNOWAS, DPKO, and INTERPOL, in 2009, launched the West African Coast Initiative (WACI), to support the implementation of the ECOWAS “Action Plan to Address the Growing Problem of Illicit Drug Trafficking, Organized Crime and Drug Abuse” in the sub-region. WACI led to the creation of Transnational Crime Units (TCU), meant to enhance national and international coordination, as well as to enable intelligence-based investigations. 

TCUs are elite inter-agency units, trained and equipped to fight transnational organized crime and to coordinate their activities in an international framework. As of 2016, TCUs were fully operational in Liberia, Sierra Leone, and Guinea Bissau, and in the start-up phase in Côte d’Ivoire. Over time, the Ivorian government has enhanced its unit, which helps collect and share information about drug trafficking and other forms of illicit smuggling. 

Also, in October 2018, the British government delivered a device that could help in the detection of illicit substances during anti-smuggling operations to the country. The device was donated to aid efficient investigation of all types of smuggling and trafficking.

A 2013 survey shows that enforcement agencies have seized several types of drugs and narcotics such as heroin, cannabis, ephedrine, cocaine, benzodiazepines, hashish and a large number of prohibited products in recent times. Before now, all these products were seized on large scales and frequently but the country has experienced a net decrease recently due to tightened security measures by the government.

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Lagos state government introduces ferries as a relief after Okada, Keke ban

The Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu has inaugurated ferries as a means to relieve Lagosians following the recent ban on tricycles and motorcycles.

Since the enforcement of the governor’s directive on the ban, commuters have been seen struggling to get transportation to their respective destinations while gridlock continues to persist within the state. Therefore, in an effort to make up for the ban on the operations of commercial motorcycles and tricycles in the state, the government launched 14 new ferry boats to strengthen its public transportation system.

Sanwo-Olu said the decision of the ban was due to security and safety reasons while the launch of the ferry system is expected to cover up for the effect of the Okada and Keke ban in areas of the state that can be reached through the waterways.

Speaking at the Badore Ferry Terminal where he inaugurated the Lagos State Ferry Service (LAGFERRY) and a mobile app, the governor said no responsible government would support insecurity whatsoever.

“Let me tell you about the ban which we just enforced. We will sustain the ban on motorcycles and tricycles, mainly because of security and safety reasons. Security and safety of citizens are paramount to any government. As a responsible government, we will not fold our arms and allow security breach in the state.”

“We will continue to ensure the safety of our people on all fronts. There have been reports of serious security breaches and safety concerns in areas where these operators ply. We had to respond to these concerns because life and safety matter to this government,” the governor added.

The state has a target of lifting at least 480,000 passengers on the waterways. But the newly launched ferries can only take up to 40 to 60 passengers at a go and will commute to Ikorodu, Ebute Ero, CMS, Badore and Ikoyi areas of the state.

While the government recently inaugurated the alternative transportation system (LAGFERRY) to address the gridlock affecting the state, it must also ensure that safety measures are put in place to guarantee safe and hitch-free transition. It includes Bailers, Bilge pumps, Distress flares, Electronic position indicating radio beacons among others.

In this regard, many developed nations regulate their waterways system and introduce standard measures so as to protect its users while on the journey. 

The government of India constituted an Autonomous Body, Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI). The body set up rules and guidelines protecting its passengers. It also creates awareness and training of boat operators, local panchayat level officers and district administration.

Diversification of the intermodal transportation system is paramount as the state moves to develop strategies for reducing congestion of roads, which accounted for over 90 percent of commuting in the state. Meanwhile, Sanwo-Olu re-affirmed that the ban on the motorcycle and tricycle riders in some parts of Lagos was irreversible.

By Ahmed Iyanda

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Tanzania’s church stampede shows how bad religious fanaticism is in Africa

The Tanzanian government announced on Sunday, January 2, 2020, that at least twenty people were killed and about a dozen others injured in a mass stampede during a church meeting in the northern Tanzanian city of Moshi. 

The incident happened on Saturday night while hundreds of worshippers were attending a prayer ceremony led by Boniface Mwamposa, a popular preacher who leads the Arise and Shine Ministry Tanzania.

According to witnesses and officials, the stampede occurred when Mwamposa poured “blessed oil” on the ground and a huge portion of the crowd rushed towards the oil with the hope to be cured of their ailments and likewise help them acquire a financial fortune.  

Kippi Warioba, Moshi district commissioner affirming the cause of the stampede told Reuters by telephone that it “occurred when the worshippers were rushing to get anointed with blessed oil.” He added that a total of “twenty people died and 16 others were injured in the incident.” with five children amongst the dead.

A 2010 survey by the US-based Pew Research Center revealed that religion has deep roots in the African community. The survey stated that “the vast majority of people in many Africa’s nations are deeply committed to the practices and major tenets of Christianity and Islam.” The survey reports that 87 percent of Nigerians claimed that religion is very important in their lives.

However, these religions tend to engage in inhumane practices that put their followers most especially the gullible ones at risk. Some of these inhumane practices include when a South African preacher made his congregants eat grass “to be closer to God” before stamping on them in September 2014. 

Similarly, a preacher in Kenya persuaded his female members to come for Sunday service without any underwear “to be closer to God”. In Nigeria, a 53-year-old pastor was arrested for impregnating more than 20 members of his congregation, including married women and young girls. 

Across Africa, there has been a rise in the number of pastors who claim they have special powers and can perform “miracles.” As such, most of these preachers take advantage of people dealing with various challenges ranging from critical illnesses and childlessness to poverty as a result of ignorance.

Across Africa, there have been cases of a mass stampede in countries like Nigeria, Zimbabwe, Zambia, and South Africa resulting from outrageous religious activities in churches. In 2019, three people were killed in a stampede at a South African church during a service led by Shepherd Bushiri, Africa’s wealthiest preacher. 

With cases of such tragedies on the rise, the Tanzanian government should consider regulating faith-based organizations across the country. Strict measures and requirements like appropriate infrastructure, safety, hygiene, and theological degrees from preachers should be a necessity before one can operate a religious or faith-based organization in Tanzania. Similarly, religious leaders who engage in barbaric and inhumane activities need to be prosecuted. 

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Israel and Sudan attempt to restore diplomatic relations

On Monday the 3rd of February, Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu and head of Sudan’s sovereign council Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, met in Uganda to strategize on normalizing diplomatic relations between the two countries. The meeting was arranged by the United Arab Emirates and consisted of a small circle of top officials in Sudan, including Saudi Arabia and Egypt.

This can be seen as a  step towards building a relationship between the two countries, which were once sworn enemies and still technically at war. Sudan which is a Muslim-Arab country in northeastern Africa is believed to have recently moved away from Iran’s influence over the latter’s involvement in Yemen, and ousted al-Bashir a year ago.

However, Palestine is opposed to the peace talks between Israel and Sudan and considered it “a stab in the back for the Palestine people.”  According to a statement made by Saeb Erekat, secretary-general of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), this was also a “stark departure from the Arab peace initiative at a time when the administration of [US] President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu are trying to liquidate the Palestinian cause.”

The Palestinian Islamic Jihad called on the “Sudanese people, their civil movements and their free revolutionaries to oppose any attempt to damage Sudan’s respected position”.

The war between Israel and Sudan dates back to as far as 1967 when Sudan hosted the Arab League summit, in which it established the “three no’s” which signifies No to peace with Israel, No to the recognition of Israel, and No to negotiations with Israel.

In 2009 under al-Bashir reign, Sudan was believed to have served as an avenue in supplying weapons for Iran to Palestinian terrorists in the Gaza Strip. Also, Israel was believed to have been behind airstrikes in Sudan that destroyed a convoy in 2009 and a weapons factory in 2012, resulting in conflict between the two regions.

If the diplomatic relations between both countries are restored, this could help quicken the process of removing Sudan from the US terror list. Sudan is desperate to lift sanctions as it is listed by the US as a state sponsor of terror. It could also be seen as a vital step towards ending its isolation from foreign aid and investment while contributing to the restoration of its failing economy.

For Israel, this could be a major diplomatic breakthrough between Arab and African countries, two days after the Arab League rejected a US peace initiative seen as heavily favouring the Jewish state.  The Israeli prime minister made expanding ties in Africa a central part of his foreign policy. He started in 2019 by forging ties with Chad and is in the process of doing the same with Uganda.

Netanyahu also met with the Ugandan government, saying Israel is “returning to Africa in a big way.” In a news conference, Netanyahu said Israel would open an embassy in Kampala, the Ugandan capital if Museveni established one in Jerusalem. The Ugandan leader responded by saying his government was “studying” the matter.

By Faith Ikade.

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World Bank delays $500 million educational loan to Tanzania

The World Bank has delayed its decision to grant the government of Tanzania a $500 million educational loan, following pressure from human activists who opposed the country’s current ban of education for pregnant schoolgirls and adolescent mothers.

According to CNN, the executive board of the bank fixed a meeting for January 28, 2020, to finalize the loan, however, the meeting was rescheduled after the financial institution had an impromptu meeting with Tanzanian activist and international human rights organizations.

Although there is no reason stated for the cancellation of the grant appointment, It is believed the outcome of the meeting amongst the 3 parties led to the delay in processing the loan.

The proposed loan makes provisions for alternative education for pregnant girls and young mothers as opposed to regular education, but human rights activists are demanding that the draconian law against the young girls be cancelled.   

Read more at Ventures Africa

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Facebook launches its special feature for missing children in South Africa

The world’s largest social media company, Facebook, recently launched its popular Amber Alert program in South Africa, making it the first African nation to possess the feature. The launch follows a partnership between Facebook and the South African Police Service (SAPS) to use the former’s online community space in the search of missing children in the country.

The Amber Alert program will enable the SA police to seek assistance from the public when it suspects that a child has been abducted. Through Facebook’s newsfeed, the feature allows SAPS to instantly share important information about a missing child and suspected abductor, such as a photo, age, hair color and clothing with people within the designated search area. 

Commenting on the launch, Emily Vacher, Facebook’s security, trust, and safety manager stated that Africa is an important and growing market that is why the company is investing in communities across the continent. “We are excited to partner with the South African Police Service to make Amber Alerts available in an African country for the first time,” Vacher said. 

Calling it the world’s largest neighborhood watch, Vacher added that the partnership is “a signal of our commitment to bringing the latest Facebook features to Africa, building communities, and giving people access to digital tools that improve their lives.” The Amber Alerts is currently available in more than 20 countries worldwide.

In the United States, the federal bureau for investigation (FBI) recorded almost 467,000 missing children in 2014, which is close to one reported every minute. However, as of September 2019, about 967 children were rescued specially because of Amber Alerts. 

In an article by News24 released by Missing Children South Africa (MSCA), a child goes missing every five hours in the country, and 1.2 million children are trafficked every year. In partnership with law enforcement in SA, Facebook aims to help find and reunite missing children with their families as soon as possible.

However not all child missing cases will be registered on Amber Alerts. Once the law enforcement has been notified about an abducted child, they must first determine if the case meets their Amber Alert criteria. These include: the abduction is of a child age 18 or younger; a reasonable belief that the child has been abducted; the South African Police Service believes the child is in imminent danger of serious bodily harm; there is enough descriptive information about the victim and suspected abduction for law enforcement to issue an Amber Alert to assist in recovering the missing child. 

If properly organized and monitored, Facebook’s Amber Alert initiative to help find missing children will record significant success in South Africa based on the widespread usage of the social media site, ultimately leading to a rise in the recovery rate of missing children across the country.

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After Brexit comes the rocky negotiations over a free trade deal

Britain finally withdrew from the European Union on Friday, January 31, a historic moment that was marked by both celebrations and anti-Brexit protests according to reports. This comes after 47 years of membership in the European bloc and over three years after Britons voted to leave in a referendum.

The United Kingdom is now in a transition period until the end of December 2020, when Brexit will happen in full. During the 11-month period, Britain must agree to a new trade deal with the EU or risk subjecting British companies to new barriers that could prove costly for them as well as consumers.

Within four days of the UK’s exit, there are already signs that negotiations on a new relationship between both parties, due to start in March, will be far from harmonious. This is down to several key issues – standards on the environment and safety, the role of the European Court of Justice in settling disputes concerning Britain as well as continual access for EU fishing operations in UK waters. Moreover, post-Brexit rhetoric between officials on both sides has already heated up concerning future trade relations.

“Will [Britain] continue to adhere to Europe’s societal and regulatory model in the future, or will it seek to diverge? The UK answer to this question will be fundamental to the level of ambition of our future relationship and the UK must know this,” the EU’s chief Brexit negotiator, Michel Barnier, was quoted as saying to reporters in Brussels this week. According to him, the UK can only avoid tariffs and quotas by agreeing to maintain open and fair competition with the bloc.

Barnier also said the EU was ready to be “ambitious” in offering a zero-tariff and zero-quotas trade deal but that would only happen if Britain agrees to follow most of its regulations and standards. The bloc argues that granting the UK unrestricted access to its market while adopting different regulations would threaten the integrity of its single market. Furthermore, leaders of the 27-nation bloc have said the farther Britain moves away from their rules, the less access it will have to the EU market – its largest export market.

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson, however, has made it clear he does not intend to follow the bloc’s rules. “There is no need for a free trade agreement to involve accepting EU rules on competition policy, subsidies, social protection, the environment, or anything similar any more than the EU should be obliged to accept UK rules,” Johnson said during a speech in London.

Instead, the PM is seeking a Canadian or Australian-style comprehensive free trade deal with the EU, with zero or minimal tariffs and quotas in line with basic World Trade Organization rules. And Britain must be allowed to sign trade agreements with other countries such as the United States.

“We are ready for the great multi-dimensional game of chess in which we engage in more than one negotiation at once and we are limbering up to use nerves and muscles and instincts that this country has not had to use for half a century,” Johnson said, as reported by CNN.

On that note, analysts have warned that Britain must be realistic about what it can achieve over the short transition period. As a matter of fact, UK-based Economist lists the “extreme shortage of time” as one of the two factors that will make negotiations “more difficult.” Typically, comprehensive trade agreements take many years, not months, to negotiate, meaning the transition period of just 11 months is not enough for the goals set out by the UK government.

Experts say a more realistic target for this year is a deal with Europe that prevents tariffs but leads to new administrative and regulatory barriers to exports of goods and services. While the EU has suggested that Britain should use its right to extend the transition period by one or two years, an idea PM Johnson is against, saying severally he will not under any circumstance seek to prolong transition beyond December 31.

The divergent positions outlined by the UK and EU ahead of formal talks on a new trade deal point to another worrisome year for businesses, most of which have already endured over three years of uncertainty leading up to the official exit. Negotiations will need to be done speedily if a deal is to be secured before the transition period expires but that seems very unlikely to happen. And should both parties fail to agree on a deal, the result would be a no-deal or “hard” Brexit, the possibility of which is a huge threat to the business community.

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Rwanda sets up early childhood development centers to combat child stunting

Imbuto Foundation and Local Administrative Entities Development Agency (LODA), announced their partnership on Thursday, January 30, 2020, to set up 5000 new home-based Early Childhood Development (ECD) centres in 300 sectors across Rwanda. 

The new home-based ECDs will provide holistic care; education, nutrition and healthcare to children between the ages of two and five. “One of the objectives of the program is to address challenges in early development which includes stunting.” Sandrine Umutoni, the Director-General of Imbuto Foundation said. Umutoni also disclosed that the foundation “will be working with local leaders and partners to reduce cases of stunting.”

According to the World Health Organization, the brain develops most rapidly in the first few years of a child’s life but can be disrupted through stunting from poor nutrition, repeated infection, and inadequate psycho-social stimulation. Stunted children with deficiencies of iodine and iron may suffer irreversible brain damage, impeding them from reaching their complete developmental potential. 

In Rwanda, malnutrition and stunting have been and are still prevailing issues with recent reports showing that 38 percent of children below the age of five are stunted. However, the Rwandan government established the National Early Childhood Development Programme (NECDP) with the mandate to fast-track the fight against early childhood development. Together with the joint initiative by LODA and Imbuto Foundation, there will be a significant reduction in the stunting rate of children in the East African country.

Commenting on the partnership, Nyinawagaga Claudine, Director-General of LODA, said that the agency “sought to learn from the seven-year experience of Imbuto Foundation in this field,” of early child development. Claudine added that “being one of the forefront implementers of social protection programs in Rwanda, LODA wished to give its contribution to the national commitment of investing in early childhood development for a prosperous nation.”

The proposed ECD centres under the management of LODA and Imbuto Foundation will provide modules for training caregivers and supervisors, monitor their progress and ensure programs like water and sanitation (hand-washing), nutrition, and other early childhood topics are properly taught. 

Tackling child stunting especially through adequate nutrition requires a multisectoral effort by the government, private sector institutions, and individuals. Through programs that support socioeconomic and social development goals in Rwanda, child stunting will likely decrease. This is because the programs do not only increase early stimulation and learning but also extends the cognitive and socioemotional development in children beyond their first two years of life. 

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Capacity Building in Infrastructure Financing: A Key Requirement for Entrepreneurs seeking in Large Scale Project Finance

The African Development Bank currently seeks investments from global pensions and commercial financiers to help fund the continent’s infrastructure gap of as much as $170 billion. This infrastructure need presents an investment opportunity, especially for Infrapreneurs. Infrapreneurs, as used in the context of this article, refers to Entrepreneurs or business owners who are typically in corporate businesses but desirous of developing Large-Scale projects such as Toll Roads, Power Plants, Renewable Energy, Gas Plants, Airports, Large Scale Real Estate Projects, and so on.

While the government should provide an enabling environment for infrastructure to happen, the Private Sector should equally play a leading role in major infrastructural developments. For Infrapreneurs to overcome the obstacles often associated with project delivery process, it is necessary to develop a string of “Infrastructure Finance” capabilities, in order to attract capital from investors. Our survey at Brickstone reveals that 80% of entrepreneurs who show interest in the development of Infrastructure do not currently have the knowledge and capacity to develop and execute these projects. Our research further reveals that though most Entrepreneurs have the inabilities to demonstrate in-depth knowledge of their Large-Scale projects to Institutional Investors, they often find it difficult to secure (in the bag) the right equity funding needed to attract the necessary fund required for the project.

The inability to demonstrate the much-needed knowledge, as well as the seemly gap in the quality of the knowledge of Large-Scale Projects by most entrepreneurs, has been the obstacle standing in the face of such Entrepreneurs securing the required funding for projects from (African) investors. Our research equally shows that most Infrapreneurs have challenges making progress with their projects because of the limitation imposed by the paucity in knowledge and capacity building in financing projects centering on Infrastructure development. Consequently, the African Infrastructure private sector has also not been able to take its rightful place in project development and delivery.

Understanding the need for knowledge exchange in Infrastructure Finance, Brickstone Africa has set up the Brickstone Dealcamp Series – a training series designed for African Infrapreneurs developing projects but lacking the knowledge of project and corporate finance principles in making deals happen. Under the training series, the team provides intense 2 or 3 Days Programmes, using best practice masterclass finance training tools specifically for Entrepreneurs involved in Large Scale projects in Energy, Infrastructure and Real Estate Sectors. The Project Finance Fundamentals for Infrastructure is one of the courses at the Brickstone Dealcamp Series. The trainings will hold in major African cities, including Abuja, Lagos, Port Harcourt and Accra. The training focusses on the infrastructure financing process over Three (3) Days.

It is important for entrepreneurs to know that Infrastructure financing is a lengthy process that could take up to 1 or 5 years to active the financing close (i.e. raising the required capital which sometimes could be up to over $2 billion on a single project. This is an enormous undertaking by the Infrapreneur as it requires the infraprenuer to drive the project along Four (4) major phases of the project development cycle.  a. Early Stage Development, b. Pre-Financing Stage, c. Financing Stage and d. Post Financing Stage.

These Four (4) phases are extensively covered in the Brickstone Project Finance Fundamental teaches Infrapreneurs developing Large-Scale projects.

During the Early Development Stage, there are issues discussed which includes the Origination process of an Infrastructure project. We define an Infrastructure Project as a capital-intensive facility that requires securing a conditional right from a ceding authority pursuant to a tendering process or an unsolicited proposal to build an infrastructure facility under a contracted revenue (either on price or quantity or both). Brickstone stresses that during the early development stage, Infrapreneurs must develop of Realistic Estimate of the Large-Scale project and ensure the revenues are sufficient to cover Capital and Operating expenses and repay project debt with an acceptable margin of safety.  The Early development Stage ends where the Infrapreneurs and Ceding Authority agree to proceed on Developing the Project. There are activities that may involve negotiating and formalizing on proceeding on the project development on an exclusive basis with the Infrapreneurs on an agreed Implementation Plan.

The Pre-Financing Stage is lengthiest of the stages and could occur for about 1 to 5 years. This is where most African Projects get stalled and not able to move forward. This stage includes detailing out transaction plan of the project with supporting transaction documentation needed such as Project Agreements, Information Memorandum and a Detailed Financial Model. It is worthy of note that before a lender decides to lend on a project, such a lender must ensure the concerned project is financially and technically feasible by analyzing all the associated factors including the Financial Model and Project Agreements. The experience of the lender also come to bear at the point, as this determines how long the infrastructure financing process would take.

In order for the Financing Stage to happen, the Infrapreneur needs to acquire equity or loan from a financial services organization whose goals are aligned to that of the project. During this step, the borrower and lender negotiate the loan amount and come to a unanimous decision regarding the same.

As the project commences during the Post-Financing Stage, it is imperative to keep track of the cash flow from its operations as these funds will be, then utilised to repay the loan taken to finance the project.

Finally, it is important for Infrapreneurs to note that Project Development is a journey towards achieving bankability. It is usually a long and expensive expedition, which could cost as much as 5% to 10% of the total project cost, while a less knowledgeable entrepreneur would spend a lot more. This important knowledge of how to achieve bankability is what is lacking amongst Africa business executives and Infrapreneurs developing Large projects to fill Africa’s Infrastructure gap. It is this very gap that Brickstone Africa has set out to fill through the Brickstone Dealcamp Series.

More information on the Brickstone Dealcamp Series can be found from www.brickstone.africa  email: dealcamp@brickstone.africa Call: 0814 990 6488

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Internet shutdowns cost Africa billions of dollars – Report

Earlier this month, Top10VPN.com released a report tagged The Global Cost of Internet Shutdowns in 2019 which estimated that Africa and the Middle East lost $5.295 billion as a result of the global internet shutdown.

According to the report, there were 122 major incidents recorded with a total of 18,000 hours of global internet shutdowns last year. This cost global economies $8.05 billion, representing a 235 percent increase from the $2.4 billion impacts in 2015/2016.

Cases of Internet shutdowns by governments mainly occur as a response to protests or civil unrest, restricting the flow of information and maintaining their grip on power. This authoritarian decision does not only curtail citizens’ freedom of expression and press freedom but also disrupts the affairs of the economy.

Thus the birth of the #KeepItOn campaign, founded by 120 organizations and advocacy groups that track internet shutdowns around the world, and also put pressure on governments and policymakers to end to the disastrous ordeal. 

Internet shutdowns affect economies in multiple ways such as upsetting productivity, a downturn in foreign investment and generating monetary losses in time-sensitive transactions. As of January 2019, Zimbabwe reportedly lost $ 5.7 million each of the six days the internet was unavailable. 

Similarly, Sudan bore the brunt of Internet shutdowns in Africa following protests that led to the ouster of former president Omar al-Bashir and resulted in a fallout between the military and civilians. In a month-long shutdown in June 2019, the Sudanese government cost the country over $1 billion, or nearly one percent of the country’s GDP, with a total of 864 hours of Internet blackouts. 

Other countries that experienced internet shutdowns in Africa last year include Algeria, Chad, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Zimbabwe, Mauritania, Egypt, Benin, Gabon, Eritrea, and Liberia.

Notwithstanding the impact on the entire economy, businesses that are heavily dependent on electronic transactions like ICT companies, service providers, streaming sites, online stores, and small digitized companies amongst others are particularly exposed to the consequences of an internet shutdown.

Internet shutdowns affect the entire economy and also have a significant negative effect on internet-dependent businesses. These businesses suffer consequential losses which dampen their reach for foreign investment and access to potential customers. Under the human rights law, the UN recognizes the right to internet access and condemns countries that deliberately disrupt the internet access of their citizens. These countries should bear in mind that both their economy, citizens and businesses suffer from the oppressive decision

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Kenyan Scientists seek the use of drones to combat locust invasion

Kenyan scientists have urged the government to seek help for the use of advanced drone technology to contain the migratory desert locust ravaging the country’s farms and grazing fields. This call is coming as a result of the inefficiency of Kenya’s strategy to curb the menace.

In a statement to Daily Nation, the chairman of the Entomological Society of Kenya, Dr Muo Kasina stated that “the government needs to get help from countries with advanced drone technology like the United States, Israel, and Denmark to deal with the locust menace before it gets out of hand.” 

Currently, Kenya’s Agriculture Ministry makes use of aircraft to do aerial spraying of pesticides on farms and grazing fields. However, the overwhelming swarm of locusts has proven to be winning the war.

Kasina further recommended the adoption of drones due to the limitations in the use of aircraft that has seen the locust increase in numbers. He went on to explain that deep valleys and mountain contours, where the raving locust may be passing may not be easily accessed by aircraft as much as drones would. 

The UN’s growing concern.

The United Nations (UN) recently solicited for more aid from the wider international community, an indication of growing concern, with a view to curbing the looming threat of food insecurity in the East Africa region. Even though the UN released $10 million from its Central Emergency Response Fund to counter the outbreak, it still seeks urgent support from the international community to help tackle the situation. 

The outbreak is the worst that countries in the region have encountered in decades. The swarms have affected parts of Ethiopia, Eritrea, Djibouti, Somalia, Sudan, and  Kenya. Other countries in the region – Uganda and South Sudan- have received a warning alert from the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) that they could be next.

In November 2019, the UN urged Ethiopia to curb the locust infestation that ravaged 4 of its states before it would spread to other neighbouring nations. But a devastating mass protest which claimed the lives of many in the Horn of Africa country slowed the activities of pest control workers. The torrential rain that lasted till January 2020 further aided the breeding of the pest. 

The current invasion of desert locusts in Ethiopia and in most of the other East African nations has become a huge threat to food security in the region. If the governments of this region would respond to this call by scientists and consider the use of advanced drone technologies, much progress could be recorded.

What you should know about Desert Locusts

The desert locust is a species of short-horned grasshoppers (Acridoidea) that are known to change their behaviour and form swarms of adults or bands of hoppers. 

An adult desert locust can consume roughly its own weight in fresh food, which is about 2 grams per day, while small swarm can consume the equivalent of food for 35,000 people in one day.

A single locust can travel 150 kilometres and during plagues, a swarm can spread over an area as large as 29 million square kilometres. That is, it can extend over or into parts of 60 countries during a plague period. This is about 20 percent of the total land surface of the world. 

There can be at least 40 million and sometimes as many as 80 million locust adults in each square kilometre of a swarm and they have the capacity to damage the livelihood of a tenth of the world’s population.

It is important to note that locusts do not attack people or animals and there is no evidence that suggests that they carry diseases that could harm humans. However, if the governments of the East African region do not intensify its effort to contain these raving pests, the region may then have to battle hard to save its people from starvation. 

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ECOWAS members dispute over two-term limit for heads of state

In an opening session of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) earlier this week, Hon. speaker Moustapha Cissé-Lo during his speech at the Banjul venue of the session advocated that ECOWAS should not impose a two-term limit on heads of state in its member-countries. 

According to Cissé-Lo, every country has a sovereign right to choose how it wants its government to run and so there should be no interference from the ECOWAS Commission. “States have their sovereignty to determine how they want to run their governments as long as everybody in that country accepts it that way,” Cissé-Lo said. 

Elaborating on his stance, the speaker said “let’s leave these countries to alter their constitutions based on their times. All constitutions can be reviewed and adapted to soothe the realities of their times; that is why I say ECOWAS cannot make any pronouncement to limit mandates to not more than two terms.”

However, the parliament in disagreement with Cissé-Lo booed him after his speech. Clarence Massaquoi, a parliament member from Liberia, who spoke with newsmen on the sidelines of the event, pointed out that the parliamentarians were particularly displeased with the Speaker’s submission. This is because as they view that the ECOWAS Commission should as a matter of necessity pressure member- countries to limit the terms of their heads of State to two.

Massaquoi maintained that no true democracy allows for the perpetuity of heads of state. Nevertheless, sub-Saharan Africa is known to be the home of many of the world’s longest-ruling heads of state with some postcolonial leaders in the 1960s and 1970s sought to become “president for life.” 

In an effort to improve the political leadership in West Africa, ECOWAS issued a proposal aiming to limit presidential mandates to two terms at its 47th summit in Ghana. However, due to the opposition of both the Togolese and Gambian presidents who have been in power for more than two terms, the proposed term limit was not adopted. 

For two years, thousands of Togolese citizens took to the streets to call for government reforms. One of their central demands was the establishment of presidential term limits that would force President Faure Gnassingbé out of the office at the end of his current term in 2020. Although formally adopted on October 14, 1992, Togo’s constitution established a two-term limit for the presidency. But in 2002, the parliament revised and amended the constitution to enable Gnassingbé to run for an unlimited number of terms.

Over the years, Africans have led dramatic protests and national upheavals to force presidents out of office. In 2014, Burkina Faso’s President, Blaise Compaore was removed after trying to change the constitution so he could run for a third term. ECOWAS with the goal of enforcing a democratic centred region is in the fight against the perpetuity of heads of state across the West African coast. 

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Ethiopians demand answers from the government over missing university students: #Bringbackourstudents

Ethiopians are demanding transparency from the government on the kidnap of over 26 university students. The victims, who are mostly females, have been missing for over two months.

The people have expressed their resentment and frustration on this abduction with campaigns on twitter, social media platforms using the hashtag- #Bringbackourstudents#. In a series of tweets, people are questioning the Ethiopian Prime minister-Abiy Ahmed Ali, on the location of the students. A twitter account said ‘’He’ll (president) be meeting with his “brothers” to discuss a wide range of issues. One thing that he’ll not discuss, address, though, is the disappearance of the abducted university students. His administration’s lies, deceptions, misinformation of it is alarming’’

Previously, the government gave the masses false hope on the situation, after the press secretary of the Ethiopian prime minister, Nigussu Tilahun made a bogus announcement on the matter on January 11, 2020. Nigussu said that 21 students from Dembi Dollo University have been released while six remained at large

Contrary to the secretary’s statement,  the associated press reports that a parent of the victim, Yeneneh Adugna said the last time she heard from her daughter was a month ago. “I don’t know what happened to her since we are living in anguish every day. We are crying every day. We want to know whether they are alive or dead. No one is giving us any information.”

Up until now, the kidnappers remain anonymous as the government is yet to identify or even track them. Regional officials in Oromia have accused the Oromo Liberation Army, which is clashing with government troops in the Western Oromia region, of kidnapping the students. But the group has denied the accusation saying the government should be blamed for the abduction.

The complacent nature of the government towards this issue has already opened questions towards its commitment to the safety of the people especially as women constitute most of the kidnapped victims. The captives are at risk of being raped or killed amongst other things by the kidnappers.

Abby Ahmed should also consider that if the government fails to rescue these girls, the respect he earned with a 50 percent female cabinet, will become questionable.

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WHO declares coronavirus a global emergency as countries limit travel to China

From East African airlines suspending flights to China to Nigeria implementing quarantine procedures at its airports, African countries are bracing themselves against the devastating Coronavirus outbreak that has now been declared a global health emergency by the World Health Organization.

The virus was declared a global emergency early on Friday as the outbreak continues to spread outside China, leading to a concern that it could reach countries with weaker health systems. “The main reason for this declaration is not what is happening in China but what is happening in other countries,” said WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

Declaring a global emergency allows the WHO to support lower and middle-income countries, strengthen their disease surveillance and prepare them for cases, James Gallagher writes on the BBC. Many countries that fall into these categories lack the capacity to spot or control the virus, meaning it could spread uncontrollably and may go unnoticed for some time.

“The 2014 Ebola outbreak in West Africa – the largest in human history – showed how easily poorer countries can be overwhelmed by such outbreaks,” he said. “And if novel coronavirus gets a significant foothold in such places, then it would be incredibly difficult to contain.”

Presently, the epidemic has reached every region in mainland China with over 200 people dead and almost 10,000 cases nationally. Outside China, there have been 98 cases in 18 other countries, but no deaths.

While praising the “extraordinary measures” Chinese authorities had taken to address the outbreak, Ghebreyesus said there was no reason to limit trade or travel to China. “Let me be clear, this declaration is not a vote of no confidence in China.”

But many countries across Asia, Europe, America, and even Africa have taken steps to either close borders or cancel flights. The U.S. State Department has issued a travel warning to Americans traveling to China and even companies like Google, Ikea, Starbucks, and Tesla have closed their shops or stopped operations.

Kenya Airways was the latest to suspend flights to Guangzhou in China over the Coronavirus after initially saying it was monitoring the situation. The airline joins RwandaAir and Tanzania’s national carrier Air Tanzania, which postponed its maiden flight scheduled for February over the viral outbreak.

“Further to our prior communication, we have temporarily suspended flights to and from Guangzhou effective January 31 until further notice. We, however, clarify that our service to Bangkok, Thailand remains operational,” the airline said in a statement, after consultations with the government, through the Ministry of Health and Foreign Affairs.

Kenya Airways operates the Nairobi-Guangzhou route thrice a week through Bangkok. On Tuesday, one of its passengers from China was quarantined over the suspected deadly virus outbreak. Similarly, several international airlines such as Virgin Atlantic, Germany’s Lufthansa, Air France, and KLM SA have all stopped flying to China.

Africa’s biggest carrier – Ethiopian Airlines – meanwhile said it would continue flying to China. It serves five destinations – Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Chengdu, and Hong Kong. But the airline added that it was working together with relevant Chinese and Ethiopian Authorities to protect passengers from the coronavirus disease.

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