Category: Diplomatic Channel

Positive reports on Nigerian diplomacy and international relations!

Nigeria Assumes Chairmanship of AU-PSC [July 2017]

Nigeria has emerged the chair of the AU Peace and Security Council (AU-PSC) for the month of July 2017.

The council is the standing organ of the AU for the prevention, management and resolution of conflicts.

It is a key element of the African Peace and Security Architecture (APSA), which is the umbrella term for the main AU mechanisms for promoting peace, security and stability in Africa

It was established to be a collective security and “early warning” arrangement with the ability to facilitate timely and efficient responses to conflict and crisis situations.

The PSC’s core functions are to conduct early warning and preventive diplomacy, facilitate peace-making, establish peace-support operations and, in certain circumstances, recommend intervention in Member States to promote peace, security and stability.

The AU-PSC also works in support of peace-building and post-conflict reconstruction as well as humanitarian action and disaster management.

Onitsha and Indianapolis Agree on Economic Partnership [2017]

Onitsha and Indianapolis represented respectively by the Obi of Onitsha Igwe Nnaemeka Alfred Achebe and Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett have signed a formal Sister Cities International agreement on economic and business opportunities at the Indianapolis Museum of Art.

Onitsha is considered the crossroads of Nigeria being a port city on a key crossing point of the Niger River as well as one of Africa’s largest cities – an opportunity Indianapolis aims to benefit from as it seeks to expand its global footprint and fuel business opportunities.

According to Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett:

“We have no presence whatsoever in the entire continent. This is the first step into an area for the city of Indianapolis to explore economic opportunity on a continent that is not only heavily populated but that has enormous potential.” 

In the words of the Obi of Onitsha Igwe Nnaemeka Alfred Achebe:

“Onitsha and Indianapolis can have a beneficial relationship. The imminent needs and challenges (of Onitsha) are in the area of energy, small scale energy based on solar and wind energy for empowering small communities or even small towns.”

Despite its oil-rich economy, a lack of infrastructure and inadequate power supplies hobble the nation of more than 186 million people, according to the CIA’s World Factbook.

Achebe said Onitsha is a center for trade and manufacturing and is the largest center for wholesale distribution of pharmaceuticals in Nigeria. He said leaders there are interested in attracting businesses and exposing their cultural traditions to Indiana residents.

Nigeria and Mexico Trade Volume Hits $600 Million [2016]

According to the Mexican Embassy, Deputy Head of Mission, Rodrigo Tenorio, the trade volume between Nigeria and Mexico has grown by 360% from 166.5 million dollars in 2012 to 600 million dollars in 2016.

Nigeria and Mexico

Rodrigo Tenorio spoke on the sideline of a round-table for working business discussion on trade mission to Mexico organised by the Nigerian-Mexican Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Mexican Embassy.

In his words:

“Though the figure may be small but in reality it is a huge transaction that we have in the last 15 years, which was then 45 million dollars.

What that means is that it has grown more than 500 times in 15 years and our aim and goal is to ensure it grows more.

There are some similarity between Nigeria and Mexico, we are predominantly [the] largest and young population and we can be referred to as the power house of our region just as Nigeria in Africa.”

According to him, Mexico sees Nigeria as a natural spring board to stand for the entire Africa and main goal is to make sure that Nigeria is known as number one economy in Africa.

On the major challenge in the relationship between the two countries; he stated:

“We do not know each other, Mexico is known for drugs while Nigeria is known for Boko Haram and other social vices.

“But there is much more than that, what is most important in building the relationship is to know each other better.

“Once we know that Mexico is more than drug cartel and baron, Nigeria is much more than a small group in the north causing trouble.”

According to him, if we know ourselves better the business people could sit down and start discussing potential businesses for the future.