Wednesday, 21 March 2012
NINE ISLAMIC VANDALS MEET THEIR END
By Elisha Bala-Gbogb
Nine gunmen suspected of belonging to Nigeria’s Boko Haram Islamist group were shot dead by troops in the northern state of Kano after they attacked a police station and a bank, the military said.
“They used improvised explosive devices to bomb these places,” Brigadier General Iliyasu Abba, military commander in Kano city, told reporters today. “We quickly mobilized our men to the scene and that was how we successfully got them.” Two more gunmen were arrested, he said.
Authorities in Africa’s top oil producer blame Boko Haram, which draws inspiration from Afghanistan’s Taliban movement, for a surge of violence in the mainly Muslim north and in Abuja, the capital, in which more than 1,000 people have died since 2009. The group claimed responsibility for multiple blasts and attacks in the city of Kano on Jan. 20 that killed at least 256 people, according to the Civil Rights Congress.
Boko Haram, whose name means “Western education is a sin,” recently made contact with the government for peace talks through an Islamic leader, Abul Qaqa, a spokesman said yesterday. The initiative was called off after the group decided the government wasn’t sincere, he said.
Nigeria, Africa’s most populous country with more than 160 million people, is roughly split between a mainly Muslim north and a predominantly Christian south. Boko Haram poses a more serious threat to the country than the 1967-1970 Biafra civil war, President Goodluck Jonathan said on Jan. 8.
Nine gunmen suspected of belonging to Nigeria’s Boko Haram Islamist group were shot dead by troops in the northern state of Kano after they attacked a police station and a bank, the military said.
“They used improvised explosive devices to bomb these places,” Brigadier General Iliyasu Abba, military commander in Kano city, told reporters today. “We quickly mobilized our men to the scene and that was how we successfully got them.” Two more gunmen were arrested, he said.
Authorities in Africa’s top oil producer blame Boko Haram, which draws inspiration from Afghanistan’s Taliban movement, for a surge of violence in the mainly Muslim north and in Abuja, the capital, in which more than 1,000 people have died since 2009. The group claimed responsibility for multiple blasts and attacks in the city of Kano on Jan. 20 that killed at least 256 people, according to the Civil Rights Congress.
Boko Haram, whose name means “Western education is a sin,” recently made contact with the government for peace talks through an Islamic leader, Abul Qaqa, a spokesman said yesterday. The initiative was called off after the group decided the government wasn’t sincere, he said.
Nigeria, Africa’s most populous country with more than 160 million people, is roughly split between a mainly Muslim north and a predominantly Christian south. Boko Haram poses a more serious threat to the country than the 1967-1970 Biafra civil war, President Goodluck Jonathan said on Jan. 8.
Nigeria Insists on Good Treatment of Deportees
By Oghogho Obayuwana,
ALTHOUGH all nations have the sovereign right to send away unwanted nationals of other countries, such deporting states must, however, abide by known diplomatic conventions which stipulate dignified treatment for those affected.
The Federal Government again reiterated this position yesterday just as it appealed to the international community especially its strategic partners to give greater support to Nigeria’s efforts at combating the scourge of terrorism.
At the second formal meeting with ambassadors, high commissioners, and heads of international agencies accredited to Nigeria which is coming on the heels of the maiden interactive session in July last year, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Olugbenga Ashiru said the Federal Government would not brook the maltreatment of Nigerians even when such citizens deserve to be sent home.
He said: “A critical issue I must comment upon concerns the deportation of Nigerians from various parts of the world. Let me state here that the government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria is not opposed to the deportation of Nigerians who no longer have the rights to remain in countries from where they are being deported; especially after they might have exhausted all local remedies. We, however, insist that this deportation should be done within the appropriate institutional and legal framework and with dignity and decency. We have signed MoUs with some countries of the world and are ready to take similar actions with interested countries.”
According to the minister, while urging Nigerians all over the world to continue to be law abiding and not abuse the hospitality of their hosts, the Federal Government will not tolerate maltreatment of Nigerians for no just cause. “I must emphasize that it is a cardinal principle of Nigeria’s foreign policy to promote and protect the welfare of Nigerians all over the world. We will not abdicate this responsibility to our citizens all over the world and in all circumstances”.
No fewer than 56 Nigerians were deported recently from the United Kingdom. There are also a few isolated cases over which documentation is currently being compiled.
While thanking friendly countries for their support and understanding in meeting the challenge posed by terrorists’ activities in Nigeria, the minister said in tackling this particular challenge “the support of the international community and our strategic partners is vital.
This support in the form of training, capacity building, equipment and exchange of intelligence and joint actions, especially with Nigeria’s immediate neighbours is deeply appreciated. It is our wish and desire to intensify this cooperation in the days to come... government has begun programmes of social and economic empowerment, job creation and poverty reduction which we believe will ensure that the challenges of the recent phenomenon are sooner than later put behind us.”
He expressed delight that many countries have responded to Nigeria’s trade and investment initiatives. Calling for more partnerships and engagement in these areas, he said “many have sent trade delegations to Nigeria or have received Nigeria’s trade delegations in their respective countries. I urge you to continue in this spirit so as to strengthen relations between our countries, to the mutual benefit of our people. we believe that trade is central to Nigeria’s prosperity. We therefore need to devise creative ways of increasing and diversifying trade and investments between our countries and in all sectors of the Nigerian economy especially the power sector, agricultural and manufacturing value addition so as to assist us in job and wealth creation.”
Ambassador Ashiru, however, expressed regrets that despite his intervention last July, Nigerian visa applicants are still being poorly treated by some diplomatic missions while other missions still bypass the official channel of communication between them and Nigerian ministries, agencies, departments and institutions in breach of established diplomatic practice.
He said in this regard among others: “I am happy to say that I have noticed marked improvements in this direction. The rate of rejection of visa applicants seems to have fallen in some missions... but there is still room for improvement. Missions that have not erected special reception halls for visa applicants should please do so in order that Nigerian visa applicants will not have to queue in the rain and hot sun when they apply for visas at embassies. We shall continue to demand at all times, dignified service to Nigerians.”
Before they went into a closed session yesterday, the dean of the diplomatic corps and Tanzania’s High Commissioner to Nigeria Msuya Waldi Mangachi pledged sensible action on the points raised especially with regards to getting Nigerian ministries, agencies, departments and institutions to be sensitive to the standard norm in dealing with foreign missions. Approaches, the High Commissioner insisted yesterday, usually originate from the Nigerian side.
ALTHOUGH all nations have the sovereign right to send away unwanted nationals of other countries, such deporting states must, however, abide by known diplomatic conventions which stipulate dignified treatment for those affected.
The Federal Government again reiterated this position yesterday just as it appealed to the international community especially its strategic partners to give greater support to Nigeria’s efforts at combating the scourge of terrorism.
At the second formal meeting with ambassadors, high commissioners, and heads of international agencies accredited to Nigeria which is coming on the heels of the maiden interactive session in July last year, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Olugbenga Ashiru said the Federal Government would not brook the maltreatment of Nigerians even when such citizens deserve to be sent home.
He said: “A critical issue I must comment upon concerns the deportation of Nigerians from various parts of the world. Let me state here that the government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria is not opposed to the deportation of Nigerians who no longer have the rights to remain in countries from where they are being deported; especially after they might have exhausted all local remedies. We, however, insist that this deportation should be done within the appropriate institutional and legal framework and with dignity and decency. We have signed MoUs with some countries of the world and are ready to take similar actions with interested countries.”
According to the minister, while urging Nigerians all over the world to continue to be law abiding and not abuse the hospitality of their hosts, the Federal Government will not tolerate maltreatment of Nigerians for no just cause. “I must emphasize that it is a cardinal principle of Nigeria’s foreign policy to promote and protect the welfare of Nigerians all over the world. We will not abdicate this responsibility to our citizens all over the world and in all circumstances”.
No fewer than 56 Nigerians were deported recently from the United Kingdom. There are also a few isolated cases over which documentation is currently being compiled.
While thanking friendly countries for their support and understanding in meeting the challenge posed by terrorists’ activities in Nigeria, the minister said in tackling this particular challenge “the support of the international community and our strategic partners is vital.
This support in the form of training, capacity building, equipment and exchange of intelligence and joint actions, especially with Nigeria’s immediate neighbours is deeply appreciated. It is our wish and desire to intensify this cooperation in the days to come... government has begun programmes of social and economic empowerment, job creation and poverty reduction which we believe will ensure that the challenges of the recent phenomenon are sooner than later put behind us.”
He expressed delight that many countries have responded to Nigeria’s trade and investment initiatives. Calling for more partnerships and engagement in these areas, he said “many have sent trade delegations to Nigeria or have received Nigeria’s trade delegations in their respective countries. I urge you to continue in this spirit so as to strengthen relations between our countries, to the mutual benefit of our people. we believe that trade is central to Nigeria’s prosperity. We therefore need to devise creative ways of increasing and diversifying trade and investments between our countries and in all sectors of the Nigerian economy especially the power sector, agricultural and manufacturing value addition so as to assist us in job and wealth creation.”
Ambassador Ashiru, however, expressed regrets that despite his intervention last July, Nigerian visa applicants are still being poorly treated by some diplomatic missions while other missions still bypass the official channel of communication between them and Nigerian ministries, agencies, departments and institutions in breach of established diplomatic practice.
He said in this regard among others: “I am happy to say that I have noticed marked improvements in this direction. The rate of rejection of visa applicants seems to have fallen in some missions... but there is still room for improvement. Missions that have not erected special reception halls for visa applicants should please do so in order that Nigerian visa applicants will not have to queue in the rain and hot sun when they apply for visas at embassies. We shall continue to demand at all times, dignified service to Nigerians.”
Before they went into a closed session yesterday, the dean of the diplomatic corps and Tanzania’s High Commissioner to Nigeria Msuya Waldi Mangachi pledged sensible action on the points raised especially with regards to getting Nigerian ministries, agencies, departments and institutions to be sensitive to the standard norm in dealing with foreign missions. Approaches, the High Commissioner insisted yesterday, usually originate from the Nigerian side.
Nigeria May hold World Bank Presidency
By Sandrine Rastello
Some African nations are planning to nominate Nigeria’s Finance Minister Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala to become president of the World Bank, an official on the lender’s board of directors said.
Okonjo-Iweala, who was a managing director at the Washington-based World Bank until August, would be proposed by South Africa, according to the official, who spoke on condition of not being named because the talks are not public. South Africa also represents Nigeria and Angola on the 25-seat World Bank board.
South African Treasury spokesman Jabulani Sikhakhane said “we’re not commenting on the issue,” when contacted on his mobile phone today. Mac Maharaj, a spokesman for South African President Jacob Zuma, did not respond to a message left on his mobile phone.
“It’s great there’s a conversation about merit,” said Kevin Gallagher, associate professor of international relations at Boston University. “She knows a heck of a lot about development. I’m not so sure what her thoughts and record is with respect to environmental protection,” he said in reference to a topic of increasing interest at the World Bank.
While the bank promised a “merit-based and transparent” selection process, the position has always been held by a U.S. citizen proposed by the U.S. president. Two days before a March 23 deadline, President Barack Obama’s administration has not announced its candidate to replace Robert Zoellick, who has said he will step down when his term ends June 30.
‘Quite Surprising’
“The minister hasn’t put herself forward for the position and she’s not actively seeking it,” Nigerian finance ministry spokesman Paul Nwabuikwu said. “That’s why it’s quite surprising the amount of support that the idea is getting from Africa and other parts of the world.”
The World Bank’s board has said will decide on a shortlist of as many as three candidates, whom it will interview, and that it wants to make a decision by April 20.
The plan to nominate Okonjo-Iweala was reported earlier by Reuters, which also said Brazil will nominate former Colombian Finance Minister Jose Antonio Ocampo. Ocampo didn’t return a call to his office at Columbia University in New York.
Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa “and other active developing countries in the World Bank are discussing the issue,” Carlos Cozendey, secretary for International Affairs at the Brazilian Finance Ministry, said in a statement while declining to confirm Ocampo’s candidacy. “The president of the World Bank should be chosen by his merit and we think it is very positive to have an open competitive process,” according to the statement.
U.S. Nomination
Okonjo-Iweala’s possible candidacy may not be enough to derail a nomination by the U.S., the bank’s largest shareholder, said Uri Dadush, director of international economics at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace in Washington. The U.S. last year also backed Europe’s pick for the International Monetary Fund against Mexico’s candidate.
“The only scenario I can imagine where it would make it difficult is if the U.S. doesn’t come up with a strong candidate themselves,” Dadush said. “But if they do and they are convinced they have a good candidate, I don’t think the African countries can stop this.”
Another declared candidate is Columbia University economist Jeffrey Sachs, who is backed by developing nations including East Timor, which said it nominated him.
-- With assistance by Arnaldo Galvao in Brasilia, Maram Mazen in Abuja and Franz Wild in Johannesburg. Editors: Kevin Costelloe, Gail DeGeorge
To contact the reporters on this story: Sandrine Rastello in Washington at srastello@bloomberg.net;
To contact the editor responsible for this story: Christopher Wellisz in Washington at cwellisz@bloomberg.net;
Some African nations are planning to nominate Nigeria’s Finance Minister Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala to become president of the World Bank, an official on the lender’s board of directors said.
Okonjo-Iweala, who was a managing director at the Washington-based World Bank until August, would be proposed by South Africa, according to the official, who spoke on condition of not being named because the talks are not public. South Africa also represents Nigeria and Angola on the 25-seat World Bank board.
South African Treasury spokesman Jabulani Sikhakhane said “we’re not commenting on the issue,” when contacted on his mobile phone today. Mac Maharaj, a spokesman for South African President Jacob Zuma, did not respond to a message left on his mobile phone.
“It’s great there’s a conversation about merit,” said Kevin Gallagher, associate professor of international relations at Boston University. “She knows a heck of a lot about development. I’m not so sure what her thoughts and record is with respect to environmental protection,” he said in reference to a topic of increasing interest at the World Bank.
While the bank promised a “merit-based and transparent” selection process, the position has always been held by a U.S. citizen proposed by the U.S. president. Two days before a March 23 deadline, President Barack Obama’s administration has not announced its candidate to replace Robert Zoellick, who has said he will step down when his term ends June 30.
‘Quite Surprising’
“The minister hasn’t put herself forward for the position and she’s not actively seeking it,” Nigerian finance ministry spokesman Paul Nwabuikwu said. “That’s why it’s quite surprising the amount of support that the idea is getting from Africa and other parts of the world.”
The World Bank’s board has said will decide on a shortlist of as many as three candidates, whom it will interview, and that it wants to make a decision by April 20.
The plan to nominate Okonjo-Iweala was reported earlier by Reuters, which also said Brazil will nominate former Colombian Finance Minister Jose Antonio Ocampo. Ocampo didn’t return a call to his office at Columbia University in New York.
Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa “and other active developing countries in the World Bank are discussing the issue,” Carlos Cozendey, secretary for International Affairs at the Brazilian Finance Ministry, said in a statement while declining to confirm Ocampo’s candidacy. “The president of the World Bank should be chosen by his merit and we think it is very positive to have an open competitive process,” according to the statement.
U.S. Nomination
Okonjo-Iweala’s possible candidacy may not be enough to derail a nomination by the U.S., the bank’s largest shareholder, said Uri Dadush, director of international economics at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace in Washington. The U.S. last year also backed Europe’s pick for the International Monetary Fund against Mexico’s candidate.
“The only scenario I can imagine where it would make it difficult is if the U.S. doesn’t come up with a strong candidate themselves,” Dadush said. “But if they do and they are convinced they have a good candidate, I don’t think the African countries can stop this.”
Another declared candidate is Columbia University economist Jeffrey Sachs, who is backed by developing nations including East Timor, which said it nominated him.
-- With assistance by Arnaldo Galvao in Brasilia, Maram Mazen in Abuja and Franz Wild in Johannesburg. Editors: Kevin Costelloe, Gail DeGeorge
To contact the reporters on this story: Sandrine Rastello in Washington at srastello@bloomberg.net;
To contact the editor responsible for this story: Christopher Wellisz in Washington at cwellisz@bloomberg.net;
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