Day: May 1, 2023

Rep Tolulope Akande-Sadipe has said that she was committed to legislative actions that would protect workers’ rights and guarantee appropriate reward for their labour.

Akande-Sadipe said this on Monday in Abuja in her goodwill message to Nigerian workers as they joined their colleagues worldwide to mark Workers Day.

“We remember the sacrifices made by Nigerian workers and advocate their welfare, we must recognise the importance of creating a conducive working environment that promotes productivity, job security, and fair compensation.

“We can build a more prosperous and equitable society for all… as we mark this day, it is essential to reflect on the challenges faced by the Nigerian workers.

“Despite their significant contributions to the country, workers often work under harsh and unfavorable conditions, with little or no job security, and inadequate compensation,” she said.

She said it was unfortunate that many Nigerian workers had lost their jobs due to the harsh economic realities.

“Some have lost their lives, some their mobility due to various job related disabilities and poor working conditions, resulting in increased hardship and suffering for families across the nation,” Akande-Sadipe said.

She said it was important for the incoming Sen. Bola Tinubu administration to partner the 10th National Assembly to provide the right atmosphere for Nigerian workers whom she described as being resilient.

“We celebrate the strength, resilience, and contributions of the Nigerian workers who have tirelessly, against all odds, had to develop the economy of Nigeria.

“This day is a time to appreciate the efforts of workers who have made countless unimaginable sacrifices through trials and toils to ensure that our society functions.

“With the incoming government of President-elect Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the leadership of the 10th Assembly, the welfare of the Nigerian workers will be a priority.

“Laws to encourage improved and adequate compensation, job security and better working conditions will be priority, ” the legislator said.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

With air strikes in Khartoum, Darfur, and other cities of Sudan resuming just hours after the ceasefire, one would only wonder what next to expect in the conflict-torn country.

The current conflict in Sudan which started on April 15 is the result of the lingering rivalry between two Generals, Sudanese President, Gen. Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, and his Deputy, Gen. Mohammed Hamdan Dagalo.

The quarrel dates back to 2021 after al-Burhan overthrew the joint military-civilian government which ousted Sudanese long-serving President, Omar al-Bashir in 2019.

Since then, al-Burhan head of the Sudanese Armed Forces and former Chairman, Sudan Transition Sovereignty Council and Dagalo, popularly called ‘Hemedti’, head of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have been are locked in a deadly fight over who will control of the country.

Prof. Bola Akinterinwa, Former Director-General of the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA) described the conflict as an unfortunate product of selfish leadership.

“What is happening in Sudan is that we have two Generals fighting and the African Union expects that under normal circumstances, there must be peaceful approach to it; using war to take over power is illegal.

“Why the war is most unfortunate is because those who are fighting were together in the same camp as at 2019.

“In this case, what brought them together initially, what is now separating them is because of selfishness and this is why I think it is most unfortunate.

“Many lives have been lost, many people have been displaced and rather than focusing their attention on the economic situation in Sudan they are fighting over who will be in charge of the country,” Akinterinwa told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

Akinterinwa blamed the degeneration of the political situation of Sudan on the failure of all parties to adhere to agreements before the ousting of former President al-Bashir in 2019.

When two elephants fight, the grass suffers. The conflict in Sudan has forced many grasses, including Nigerians in Sudan and other foreigners to suffer unimaginable losses.

There are growing concerns over the safety of Nigerians in Sudan as the Federal Government makes frantic efforts to evacuate them through neigbouring Egypt.

Also a source of worry is the impact of such an arms conflict in Sub-Saharan Africa which is also a theatre of terrorist activities fuelled by illegal arms deals by dubious elements from conflict-ravaged countries such as Libya.

The impact of the conflict in Sudan, experts say, could resonate in heightened insecurity, humanitarian crises, and economic difficulties, for Sub-Saharan African countries, particularly Nigeria which has had to contend with terrorist groups such Boko Haram and ISWAP.

Dr Kabiru Adamu, a security expert and Managing Director, Beacon Consulting Limited, told NAN that given the number of Nigerians in Sudan there is the likelihood of some criminal elements infiltrating the group as evacuation goes on.

“In a recent interview, the Sudanese Ambassador to Nigeria claimed that there were about five million Sudanese of Nigerian descent currently living in different parts of Sudan.

“Some of them are fourth generation, fifth generation or even longer than that; there is a strong business link, especially the north Eastern part of Nigeria.

“Given these huge numbers it is only normal that there would be concerns. Another area of concern is the possibility of a prolonged conflict reinforcing or institutionalising the spread of weapons.

“Already, Nigeria has that challenge. There are so many weapons within the region including Nigeria, small arms and light weapons”, he said.

He said the security implication for Nigeria is worsened by the age-long gun running channels that goes through Sudan which could expose Nigeria to the activities of gun runner due to its potential large market for illegal arms.

“ The entire Sahel region is almost being dominated by Jihadists, Burkina Faso is an example, Mali, Niger to an extent, and Sudan and Chad used to be the only countries that presented some sort of hope.

“So, if there is a degeneration of the security situation in Sudan you could see the infiltration of these jihadists into other regions including Nigeria,” Adamu said.

The international community said it would do everything possible to end the Sudan conflict.

The United Nations Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, said the UN would use all its instruments, institutions and structures to ensure that all the parties in the conflict appreciated the need to sheath their swords and embrace peace.

“The United Nations is not leaving Sudan. Our commitment is to the Sudanese people in support of their wishes for a peaceful and secured future. We stand with them at this terrible time.

“I call on all council members to exert maximum leverage with the parties to end the violence, restore order and return to the best of democratic transition.

“We must do everything within our power to pursue them from the edge of the abyss,” Guterres told a recent Security Council meeting on maintaining international peace.

Experts say the intervention of world leaders, especially African leaders is critical to resolving the conflict in Sudan.

The brawling Generals must accept that no country thrives under war and conflicts. Peace cannot be kept by force; it is always a product of compromise.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has inaugurated Hallala Kella Resort, which is part of the national ‘Dine for Nation’ project.

Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has inaugurated Hallala Kella Resort, part of the ‘Dine for Nation’ of the Koysha projec.

PM Abiy, accompanied byTagesse Chafo, Speaker of the House of People’s Representatives (HPR), regional chief administrators and top government officials, has inaugurated the resort.

The construction of resort, completed in less than tow years, has exhibited both indigenous and modern architecture designs, it was learned.

The resort contains presidential and modern bedrooms, where the Gibe III Hydropower’s manmade lake, lying in front of it, will be of captivating sight.

The resort is expected to play significant role in creating jobs to the community in the area.

Source: Ethiopian News Agency

The United Nations Special Envoy for Horn of Africa appreciated Ethiopia for opening up its routes to evacuate international staff and foreign citizens from Sudan and called for international support.

Briefing the diplomatic community and representatives of international organizations recently, State Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mesganu Arga said that Ethiopia has been processing the massive evacuations of nationals of 50 countries from Sudan based on their request.

According to him, the ongoing evacuation efforts require supports from the international community and relevant UN agencies.

In an exclusive interview with ENA, The UN Secretary-General Special Envoy for the Horn of Africa, Hanna Serwaa Tetteh noted that a lot of international organizations, embassies, and citizens from other countries are trying to leave Sudan because of the conflict.

“Ethiopia being a neighboring country is one of the countries which is being used by some international actors to try to evacuate their staff from Sudan. And I am very appreciative of the fact that the honorable minister said that Ethiopia is ready to make available Bahir Dar Airport and Gondar Airport for the evacuation of civilians from the conflict in Sudan,” Tetteh noted.

The special envoy also took note of the call the state minister has made for logistics support, for in the future the influx of refugees would increase.

“Even though your country (Ethiopia) has been very generous in opening itself up to be a route for evacuation, if this conflict continues…you will not just see people who are internationals, you will see Sudanese who will be running away from the fighting and who will try to cross the border here in order to be able to seek refuge from being attacked.”

Acknowledging that the evacuation activity puts a tremendous amount of pressure on the finance and logistics of the receiving state, the special envoy appreciated Ethiopia which has always been a welcoming state to refugees.

The situation in Sudan and the massive evacuation process is going to put a lot of pressure on Ethiopia, whose resources are already strained and stretched.

She noted that Ethiopia has resource limitations relating the rebuilding and reconstruction efforts in the northern part of the country.

“Of course, we don’t underestimate what that costs of your country in terms of resources. So we would very much like to encourage the international community to be as much supportive possible to Ethiopia’s efforts to facilitate the evacuation of persons and to also facilitate the reception of refugees,” she stated.

Despite all challenges, the special envoy commended the Ethiopian government for acting as a facilitator by making the airports available for use for evacuation and also the security and logistics arrangements put in place.

She also pledged that the UN will redeploy some of its resources to support Ethiopia’s effort and it will be working with the Ethiopian government as requested to support this effort.

The special envoy also called on the Sudanese forces to back the political process because fighting is not going to resolve anything but it is only going to compound the misery and suffering of the people.

Source: Ethiopian News Agency

Delegations from Zambia, Niger, Tanzania and Cote d’Ivoire visited wheat cluster farming activities in East Shewa Zone in Oromia region.

The visit was accompanied by Chief Administrator of Oromia Regional state, Shimelis Abdisa and other regional state officials.

The tour is organized to exchange best practices and experiences of Ethiopia in transforming agriculture, particularly cluster farming and development in wheat, avocado, and coffee in Ethiopia.

During its four day tour in Ethioipia, the delegation is also expected to visit various development activities in the region.

Cluster farming is considered as one of the ways by which the country will enhance structural productivity of the agricultural sector, promoting small scale farmers adjacent to one another to work together and produce similar crops in large quantities.

Cluster farming also facilitates, among others, the supply of specific fertilizer conducive for agroecology and enhanced technical support including vital machineries to harvest crops.

Source: Ethiopian News Agency

Sri Lanka is very much interested to expand bilateral relations with Ethiopia in various areas, Ambassador Theshantha Kumarasiri said.

In an exclusive interview with the Ethiopian News Agency, Sri Lanka Ambassador to Ethiopia Theshantha Kumarasiri said Sri Lanka has very strong relations with Ethiopia and looks forward to expanding this ties.

He noted that Ethiopia and Sri Lanka are ancient friends, having relations since ancient times.

He pointed out that even before we established our embassy in 2016, we have had strong political, diplomatic and economic relations.

“We are thinking of expanding our bilateral cooperation, people to people relations. And we are also thinking of expanding our relations in connectivity; we have signed agreement with the Ethiopian Airlines. We are proposing to have direct flight between Colombo and Addis Ababa,” he said.

According to the ambassador, some Sri Lankan companies have established business in Ethiopia especially in Hawassa Industrial Park.

Sri Lankan companies are engaged in the apparel industry and are in contact with the Ethiopian government and the business sector, he said, adding that they are looking forward to expanding the garment sector as well.

“A lot of investors are coming, Sri Lankan businessmen are very interested in expanding the trade relation with Ethiopia, I believe when we expand our ties, there will be an opportunity for them to expand that area of trade with garment industry and also in other areas,” he added.

Sri Lanka is desirous to strengthen ties in many fields and exploit investment opportunities for mutual benefits in garment, trade and other areas, the ambassador pointed out.

“So many Sri Lankan companies want to invest particularly in the agriculture field and there are many inquiries that we received. This is the time even ( Sri Lankan) president, foreign minister and prime minister; they are looking forward to enhance our relation in Africa particularly in green energy and blue economy, among others. ”

“So, it will be a new beginning and we are looking forward to expand to the entire Africa through our engagement with Ethiopia,” he said.

He also said that they are thinking of having high ranking Sri Lankan government visits very soon, most probably the president or the foreign minister, to bolster bilateral relations with Ethiopia.

They are very much interested in engaging directly with the African leaders including Ethiopian leaders, President Sahle-Work Zewde, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Demeke Mekonnen for strong bilateral engagement.

The ambassador who served in Paris, South Korea and Brazil, before designated to Ethiopia said, the embassy of Sri Lanka in Addis Ababa is also looking forward to facilitate bilateral cooperation and engagement with business partners.

Source: Ethiopian News Agency