West Africa - NEWS AGENCY OF NIGERIA

Philip Daniel Yatai
Feb, Sat, 2025

Senate committee seeks sustainable policies to tackle climate change

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By Naomi Sharang

The Senate Committee on the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has urged the implementation of proactive and sustainable policies to address climate change in West Africa.

Chairman of the Committee, Sen. Asuquo Ekpenyong, made the call when members of C7 West Africa Project Consortium paid him a visit in Abuja on Friday.

Ekpenyong noted that one of the most pressing challenges that must be addressed was the growing threat of climate change.

“To tackle it effectively, we need a comprehensive understanding of its impact on the Niger Delta.

“This will enable us to craft and implement policies that are not just reactive but proactive and sustainable”.

He lamented that decades of oil exploration had caused severe environmental damages to the region, with rising sea levels, flooding, and erratic weather patterns displacing communities and threatening livelihoods.

According to him, these challenges also contribute to the spread of diseases, further straining an already overstretched public health system.

“Moreover, the connection between environmental degradation and social unrest is undeniable.

“To achieve lasting peace, we must first address these root causes.

“However, our response must be guided by reliable data. Without it, our interventions risk being inadequate or misdirected,” he said.

In his remarks, the leader of the delegation, retired Air Commodore Darlington Abdullahi, said that the phenomenon of climate change was an existential reality and a threat to the global system.

He said this was evident in the growing crisis across the world, the Sahel region, Northern Nigeria through desertification and the South South of Nigeria as seasonal floods wreaked havoc in its trail.

“Climate change is therefore altering the security landscapes around the world.

“West Africa is experiencing climate change at rates faster than the global average, leading to violent conflicts and complex humanitarian emergencies.

“Nigeria is already having much more than its fair share of this global phenomenon due to its continued impact on natural resource availability, biodiversity and agricultural productivity among others”.

Abdullahi called for research, mitigation and adaptation efforts “we have had to embark on over the past three years to enhance resilience leading to our policy brief. (NAN)

Edited by Abdulfatai Beki and Kevin Okunzuwa

Philip Daniel Yatai
Jan, Thu, 2025

Health

West Africa steps up lassa fever vaccine efforts

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By Abujah Racheal

The West African Health Organisation (WAHO), in collaboration with the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) and national task forces from five countries met on Thursday to advance efforts in developing a Lassa fever vaccine.

The inaugural meeting and launch of the Lassa Fever Coalition Governing Entity (LFGE), hosted by the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare in Abuja, marked a significant step toward addressing the recurring threat of Lassa fever in the region.

The coalition’s goal is to develop, equitably distribute, and deploy an effective Lassa fever vaccine, while also addressing immediate needs such as public awareness campaigns, equipping health workers, and ensuring access to life-saving interventions for vulnerable populations.

Dr Melchior Aissi, Director General of WAHO, described Lassa fever as a zoonotic disease that had plagued West Africa for over 50 years, causing significant morbidity and mortality, particularly among health workers.

“In spite of therapeutic interventions, the absence of a preventive vaccine has made the disease a recurring challenge,” he said.

Aissi stressed the importance of fostering scientific collaboration, raising awareness among political leaders, and ensuring vaccine affordability and accessibility.

He also lauded the support of ECOWAS Heads of State and development partners in advancing WAHO’s agenda, which included strengthening health systems, enhancing epidemic preparedness, and promoting investment in research and innovation.

“Efforts are underway to mobilise resources, ensure fair allocation of health products, and build a resilient healthcare workforce capable of addressing both emerging and existing health challenges,” he added.

Dr Richard Hatchett, CEO of CEPI, highlighted significant progress since the Lassa fever vaccine programme began in 2018.

“Nigeria has always been central to these efforts as the epicentre of Lassa fever due to its high number of cases,” he said.

Hatchett revealed that Phase II field trials were now underway in Nigeria, Liberia, and Sierra Leone, with earlier trials conducted in Ghana.

He stressed the importance of understanding the epidemiology of Lassa fever across the region to target vaccine trials effectively.

Prof. Muhammad Pate, Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, emphasised the coalition’s focus on advancing vaccine development and strengthening public health measures.

He highlighted the need for equity, ensuring that vulnerable groups such as women, children, and health workers benefited from the coalition’s efforts.

“Sustained collaboration among national, regional, and global partners is essential to building inclusive and resilient health systems,” Pate said.

Dr Catherine Cooper, Chief Medical Officer in Liberia, revealed that enhanced surveillance had uncovered an expansion of Lassa fever cases across multiple regions in the country.

She stressed the importance of regional coordination in ensuring a comprehensive approach to vaccine development and survivor care.

In Sierra Leone, Dr Mohamed Vandi, Deputy Executive Director of the National Public Health Agency, discussed progress in enhancing laboratory capacity for quicker diagnosis of suspected cases.

However, he noted challenges in rural areas, including delays in sample transport and result dissemination.

“Community sensitisation programmes have been pivotal in educating the public about preventive measures, such as proper food storage and sanitation, to reduce exposure to infected rodents,” Vandi said.

Dr Jide Idris, Director-General of the NCDC, emphasised the importance of collaboration with institutions and researchers to stimulate interest and government support for scientific research.

He noted that public health activities were research-based, involving data collection and expert collaboration, which were crucial for finding solutions to health challenges.

He underscored the need for equitable sharing of benefits arising from global scientific efforts, ensuring that all regions, including Africa, have fair access to innovations, technologies, and products.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the coalition represents a united effort to combat Lassa fever in West Africa, combining scientific innovation with a commitment to equitable healthcare delivery.

While challenges remain, the collective efforts of national governments, regional organisations, and international partners offer hope for a healthier and more resilient future for the region.(NAN)

Edited by Abiemwense Moru

Philip Daniel Yatai
Nov, Fri, 2024

General News

Corruption: Stakeholders advocate sub-regional whistleblowing approach in West Africa

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By Daina Umueza/Angela Atab

Stakeholders in the anti-corruption sector have called for the adoption of a unified sub-regional whistleblowing approach to strengthen efforts in tackling corruption in West Africa.

The stakeholders at a two-day Sub-regional Conference on Whistle Blowing and Whistleblower Protection in West Africa, said the move was imperative as corruption continues to undermine governance and public trust in many countries.

The conference with the theme “Reducing Corruption in West Africa: The Importance of Whistleblowing and Whistleblower Protection Legislations”, was organised by the African Centre for Media and Information Literacy (AFRICMIL) with partners in Abuja.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reports that the experts argued that a coordinated, cross-border framework would provide stronger protections for whistleblowers, promote accountability, and create an environment where corruption is less likely to thrive.

Mr Cheikh Toure, United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) Representative to Nigeria, said the protection of whistle-blowers was repeatedly referred to as one of the most effective tools to prevent, detect and ultimately prosecute corruption cases.

Toure, who was represented by Ms Princess Chifiero, UNODC’s Project Coordinator for Anti-corruption, said that Article 33 of the United Nations Convention against Corruption required States parties to protect whistleblowers and urged States to implement it.

“Today’s sub regional conference is therefore very timely and is perfectly in line with the worldwide recognition of the importance of whistleblowers in the fight against corruption, and the need to protect them effectively.

“We therefore hope that this conference will be fruitful and enriching, and that it will also represent a first step for Nigeria and other West African countries, to adopt a law dedicated to the protection of the whistleblower,” the UNODC representative said.

Also, Mr Olanipekum Olukayode, Chairman of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), said that whistleblowing was a critical aspect of fighting corruption because 70 per cent of the anti-corruption work was based on intelligence.

Olukayode, represented by his Chief of Staff, Mr Michael Nzekwe, however said that unfortunately there was no legal framework and accurate data to strengthen the policy.

According to him, the Commission only works within its policies guiding whistleblowing.

He said that this was deterring Nigerians from blowing the whistle and encouraged them to be patriotic, shelve the selfish quest for incentives alone and embrace the policy while anticipating the law.

“If you see something, say something, and when you are saying something, say it very loud and make sure that what you are saying is very credible that we can work with.

“I hope that at the end of this particular conference, there will be a lot more changes in the lack of comprehensive legislation, the challenges faced by the whistleblower like victimaisation among others.

“One of the key takeaways from here would be to try to facilitate the legislators and do whatever it will take to see that this law comes to protect whistleblowers, tackle corruption and Nigeria and the West African region would benefit,” the commission’s chairman said.

In his remarks, Dr Kole Shettima, MacArthur Foundation’s Director in Nigeria, said that the body was supporting the anti-corruption fight to improve the accountability mechanism in Nigeria and promote behavioural change.

“Last year, the National Bureau of Statistics did a survey, a population survey about norms and values in Nigeria.

“Behavioural change is critically important in addressing corruption.

“We try to support faith leaders, we also work with our entertainment industry to promote good behaviour and of course, we also do a lot of work around the criminal justice system.

“Our work has been primarily in Nigeria, but AFRICMIL urged us to go beyond Nigeria because Nigeria is part of a wider ecosystem, so we are deciding to extend to the West African region and beyond.

In his remarks, Dr Chido Onumah, Coordinator of AFRICMIL, said that the Centre decided to go beyond Nigeria in terms of harnessing the capacity of organisations and institutions to enhance the whistleblowing advocacy working with the African Union (AU) and ECOWAS.

“If you have institutions and organisations that are tackling corruption nationally, sub-regionally, and continentally, it means therefore, that it is important that we raise the issue of whistleblowing, not just nationally, but sub-regionally and continentally.

“So, this is our first step in expanding the conversation around whistleblowing,” he said.

Onumah said that in the West African region, Ghana was the only country that had a whistleblowing law for protecting reporters of wrongdoing.

He said that the conference was aimed to draw attention of governments, not just in Nigeria, but other countries in the sub-region, that were yet to make laws to protect whistleblowers, that now was the time.(NAN)

Edited by Bayo Sekoni

Ismail Abdulaziz
Nov, Thu, 2024

Foreign

ECOWAS tasks subregional entrepreneurs on trade growth

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By Mark Longyen

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has called on West African entrepreneurs to strengthen subregional trade, saying it is collaborating with the private sector to boost subregional economic growth.

Dr Omar Touray, President of the Commission, made this known at the inaugural edition of the ECOWAS Small Business Coalition (ESBC) Exhibition and Conference in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, on Thursday.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the three-day fair brought together West African Micro, Small and Medium Entreprises (MSMEs) to showcase their products, and explore collaborative opportunities for growth.

Touray, represented by Dr Tony Elumelu, ECOWAS Director, Private Sector, described the event as a crucial step in preparing the subregion to actively participate in the recently unveiled African Continental Free Trade Authority (AfCFTA).

He reminded the entrepreneurs of the importance of regional integration in driving economic growth and development and called on them to leverage the opportunities provided by AfCFTA to achieve success.

“The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) presents a unique opportunity for our region to increase trade, investment, and economic cooperation.

“This fair is a crucial step in preparing our subregion to actively participate in the AfCFTA.

“The ECOWAS Commission has been working closely with critical stakeholders to facilitate the private sector.

“We have engaged with regional business associations, such as FEBWE, FEWACCI, MAN, and FOPAO, to support businesses and promote regional economic integration,” Touray said.

He said that ECOWAS had also developed an MSME Charter, which is a landmark document to promote the growth and development of MSMEs in West Africa.

According to him, the Charter focuses on a broad spectrum of intervention areas, including enterprise education, regional collaborations, regulatory enhancements, promotion of specialised development corridors, and crucial financial assistance for MSMEs.

He said that it also addresses issues relating to support for women in business, recognising the critical role that women play in driving economic growth and development in the region.

“To further support businesses, ECOWAS is developing a text on regional economic zones, with the support of the World Bank through its implementing agency, IFC.

“ECOWAS has also adopted a regulation on the ECOWAS Business Council with clear criteria for composition.

“I am confident that this fair will pave the way for increased cross-border trade, regional integration, and economic growth in our subregion,” Touray added.

Also speaking, Dr Abdulrashid Yerima, President, ESBC, said the event was organised to celebrate the “modest achievements” of MSMEs in the subregion and reaffirm their commitments to fostering a united, and thriving ECOWAS.

He disclosed that the group was about to create a comprehensive database of MSMEs across ECOWAS states that would serve as a foundation for understanding the needs, addressing the challenges, and fostering growth.

Yerima said the coalition was dedicated to overcoming barriers to cross-border trade, streamlining processes, providing access to finance and markets, and ensuring that MSMEs succeed in both regional and global markets.

“Today, we are reminded of the importance of regional integration in driving economic growth and development.

“The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) presents a unique opportunity for our region to increase trade, investment, and economic cooperation.

“This exhibition is more than just a gathering; it is a crucial step in preparing our subregion to actively participate in the AfCFTA,” he said.

The ESBC President noted that by fostering collaboration among SMEs, governments, and stakeholders, they would lay the groundwork for ECOWAS to become a leading contributor to Africa’s continental trade ambitions.

Dr Souleymane Diarrassoba, Ivory Coast’s Minister of Commerce and Industry, thanked ECOWAS for choosing the country to host the event, and pledged to collaborate towards the subregion’s integration and development.

Represented by Mr Silvere Konan, Director General, SMEs, he said SMEs were essential for national industrial development due to their immense potential value creation, lasting employment, and wealth development.

Diarrassoba noted that SMEs could play a much more important role in economic development, hence, the Ivorian government’s support for all initiatives of promoting, developing and strengthening them.

Mrs Fanta Cisse, ECOWAS Resident Representative to Ivory Coast, in a remark, explained that the event was designed to encourage regional integration through different measures and rules that exist in the context of regional integration.

She said it was a remarkable success because all ECOWAS’ 15 member countries, including the so-called Sahel’s Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger, attended.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Ismail Abdulaziz