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Democracy Day: Let’s build on gains of Self-rule, deepen Governance- Princess Akobundu
Joel Ajayi
As the Country marks 22 years of democratic governance, there is a need for strong collaboration between Government and citizens on how to build on positive developments in governance for greater development, says Princess Gloria Akobundu, National Coordinator/ Chief Executive Officer, African Union Development Agency-New Partnership for Africa’s Development/ African Peer Review Mechanism (AUDA-NEPAD/APRM) Nigeria.
Akobundu in the statement issued by the Media Assistant to NC/CEO AUDA-NEPAD/APRM NigeriaAbolade Ogundimu on Monday made the call in a message to mark this edition of Nigeria’s Democracy Day, connoting uninterrupted democratic rule in the Country since 1999 when the military handed over to democratic government.
According to Akobundu, there is strong linkage between nation’s development and commitment of citizens.
“When Government programmes and activities are fully embraced by the citizens, development is bound to be rapid in the land.
” Our Nation is not immune from global challenges ranging from terrorism, banditry, unemployment and the recent Corona Virus Disease (COVID-19) ravaging the world but our collective commitment to combat them makes the difference.” she said.
She said the current government had achieved in the areas of electoral process; fight against corruption; infrastructural development and Social Investment Funds had greatly improved the nation, saying it was in line with African Union Agenda-2063 and United Nations Sustainable Development Goals-2030.
“African Continent is resolved to become Continent of global standard by ensuring access to standard shelter,education, healthcare and healthy nutrition by 2063, the year of ‘Africa We Want’.
“To make elections more transparent and credible in Nigeria, Z-Pad technology has now been introduced for electronic transmission of election outcomes from each polling unit to the collation Centre.
” Despite huge devastation by COVID-19 pandemic in many nations around the world, Nigerian government has proven it’s high sense of responsibility by containing the pandemic and recording minimal fatality in a populated nation like ours.
“in the area of infrastructure, Despite emergence of rail transportation in Nigeria since 1912 but until 2016, standard rail gauge had been a mirage.
“This modern transportation system will contribute in no Small means to mass movement of persons, goods and products across the country.
“These and many more will hasten the Country’s efforts towards realizing ‘Nigeria We Want’ leading to ‘Africa We Want by 2063’, President Buhari does not only deserve commendation of Nigerians but their massive support for government developmental programmes” she said.
The Agency’s Boss commended President Muhammadu Buhari for building on efforts of his predecessors by proving his commitment to good governance and development.
The Second Peer Review of Nigeria and Initiative to Strengthen Smallholder Farmers Capability are flagship programmes of AUDA-NEPAD/APRM Nigeria, led by Akobundu in synergy with relevant stakeholders including Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to deepen good governance and development in the Country.
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Alake Inaugurates Nigeria-US Solid Minerals Committee, Dismisses $700bn Claim, Says No Assets Sold
Joel Ajayi
The Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Dele Alake, on Tuesday inaugurated the Nigeria-United States Committee on Strategic Cooperation in the Solid Minerals Sector in Abuja, dismissing reports that Nigeria sold $700 billion worth of solid minerals to the US.
The inauguration followed the strategic cooperation framework established between Nigeria and the United States during the 81st United Nations General Assembly in New York.
In a statement issued on Wednesday by the Head PRESS and Public Relations Department Mrs. Kania Maliki Andeyaba stated that, Alake in the Memorandum of Understanding, MoU, signed with the US is a government-to-government platform to facilitate business-to-business engagements between American investors and Nigerian local operators, not a sale of assets.
Harping on the importance of the solid minerals sector to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s economic diversification agenda, he noted that the administration was committed to reducing dependence on a mono-product economy through the sustainable development of Nigeria’s vast mineral resources.
According to him, the Nigeria–US partnership as a strategic initiative to attract investment, promote technology transfer, strengthen local mineral processing and create employment opportunities.
“There is no sale of any Nigerian asset. There’s nothing exchanging hands,” Alake declared.
“We created a platform to facilitate mingling of US investment ventures with Nigeria’s local operators. It is in the public domain. We signed it in public and published it in four or five national newspapers.”
The Minister said reports claiming the US was coming to take over Nigeria’s minerals and security architecture were untrue at best and products of riotous imagination at worst.
Explaining the policy thrust, Alake said Africa has historically held the short end of the stick in global economic transactions, and Nigeria is determined to change that model.
“We have the resources, the critical elements the world needs to transit to clean energy. So we are creating a new paradigm — you bring your capital, expertise and technology, to match with our natural resources and create a win-win situation . The investor gains, Nigeria gains.’’he said.
Nigeria, he stressed, had operated a mono-cultural economy dependent on oil, while solid minerals were exploited informally — with ores taken “from pit to port” without value addition.
Alake said government has now made local processing mandatory, refusing to grant mineral titles to investors without a clear pathway to processing in Nigeria.
He said the policy led to the springing up of processing factories, including the largest lithium processing plant in West Africa commissioned recently in Nasarawa by the Vice President, and informed the formation of the African Minerals Strategy Group.
Alake noted that investor confidence has returned due to macro-economic reforms by President Bola Tinubu that guarantee security of tenure and repatriation of profits.
He charged the committee to discharge its assignment responsibly, saying its work is strategic to achieving the President’s $1 trillion economy target.
To this end, he told the Committee to ensure effective coordination, identify investment opportunities and translate the framework into measurable outcomes capable of positioning Nigeria as a competitive player in the global solid minerals industry.
In his welcome address, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Engr. Faruk Yusuf Yabo, said the inauguration translates growing bilateral engagements into a structured framework for practical cooperation and investment mobilization
Economic Officer at the US Embassy, Jonathan Baas, said President Donald Trump has prioritized three areas for US embassies — energy, artificial intelligence/super intelligence, and critical minerals.
Baas said Washington’s direction is to work with partners to secure critical supply chains while ensuring partners capture value.
“We just signed a contract today on looking into building AI data centres in Nigeria at the Nigerian Economic Summit. That’s the direction Washington wants us to go,” he said.
In his vote of thanks, CEO/Managing Director of Nigeria Solid Minerals Company, NSMC said that the committee
is expected to coordinate implementation, facilitate investment and monitor progress towards achieving the objectives of the Nigeria–US cooperation framework.
The inauguration reinforces the Federal Government’s commitment to repositioning the solid minerals sector as a key driver of economic diversification, industrial development and national prosperity under President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
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