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Building on its
agenda to advance and deepen regional integration and strengthen its
institutional capacities, the Economic Community of West African States
(ECOWAS) Commission has granted about €1.2 million (about
N227.4million) to 17 regional non-state actor (NSA) member-states.

The 17 recipients,
which include: five of the 62 private sector organisations that
responded to a previous call for proposals from the NSAs issued by the
two ECOWAS and UEMOA Commissions in 2008, are drawn from Liberia,
Senegal, Ghana, Nigeria, Burkina Faso, Sierra Leone, Togo and Niger
Republic.

ECOWAS was created
with the primary objective of promoting cooperation and integration in
the region, leading to the establishment of an economic union to raise
the living standards of its people; maintain and enhance economic
stability; foster relations among member-states, and contribute to the
progress and development of the African continent.

Integration policy

The grants, which
will be presented to the benefitting states on Wednesday in Abuja,
would help the beneficiaries play their roles, particularly to enhance
their capacity to participate in the formulation of policies,
strategies and plans related to the integration process.

Besides, the
support would help in popularizing regional integration issues as well
as rights issues among the West African population as well as
facilitate the creation of a network of NSAs working on regional issues
pertaining to the people concerned.

Director,
Gender/Child Development, Youth/Sports Civil society, Employment and
Drugs Control, Siritiki Tarfa Ugbe, said at the orientation workshop
and contract award for successful grants applicants that direct support
to NSAs with regional agenda at the grassroots, national or regional
levels remains largely limited despite the enormous potential of NSAs
in assisting the people embrace regional integration.

The lack of
support, she said, is responsible for the inability of the NSAs to
mobilize and coordinate their constituencies; establish a vibrant
regional network to voice their opinions and to constructive engage
with regional organizations, as well as access information that would
enable them be relevant in the integration process.

To broaden the
support and participation of NSAs, it was gathered that the European
Union Commission (EUC) and ECOWAS Commission launched a the Regional
Integration Programme (RIP) two years ago to facilitate the creation of
linkages on issues concerning women/child rights protection, free
movement of people and investment promotion as well as cultural respect.

Advancing development

Under the
programme, about 67 NSAs were identified following the evaluation of
the proposals and validation of their eligibility in line with
stipulated guidelines, while 17 applicants were recommended for the
grants.

The Regional NSAs
are non-governmental organisations from the 15 ECOWAS member States who
are advancing development, promoting change and helping in building
sustainable development in the region. As members of the civil society,
they focus on the defence of the interest of social groups To ensure
that the grants are properly put to use to promote the objectives, Mrs
Ugbe said a monitoring and evaluation mechanism has been put in place
to facilitate the implementation of specific actions in line with
approved work plans for the benefits of the communities.

“The success of
this pilot scheme would strengthen further proposals by the ECOWAS
Commission as a strong commitment to strengthen the engagement of civil
society organizations in the regional integration process in line with
the ECOWAS vision 2020,” she said.

Biofuel demand is
driving a new “land grab” in Africa, with at least 5 million hectares
(19,300 sq miles) acquired by foreign firms to grow crops in 11
countries, a study by an environmental group said on Monday.

The contracts by
European and Asian companies for land to grow sugar cane, jatropha and
palm oil to be turned into fuel will involve clearing forests and
vegetation, taking land that could be used for food and creating
conflicts with local communities, Friends of the Earth said in the
study.

Proponents of
biofuels argue they are renewable and can help fight climate change
because the growing plants ingest as much carbon dioxide from the air
as the fuels made from them emit when burned.

Critics say there
is a risk of the crops infringing on land that could be used for
growing food and that destruction of rainforests to make way for palm
oil and sugar outweighs any carbon benefits gained from the use of such
fuels.

Creating conflicts

“The expansion of
biofuels … is transforming forests and natural vegetation into fuel
crops, taking away food-growing farmland from communities, and creating
conflicts with local people over land ownership,” Mariann Bassey, a
Friends of the Earth Nigeria activist, said in a statement.

The report said
Kenya and Angola each had received proposals for the use of 500,000
hectares for biofuels and there was a similar plan to use 400,000
hectares in Benin for palm oil.

Rice farmers had been forced off their land for a sugar cane project in Tanzania, it added.

“The competition
for land and the competition for staple food crops such as cassava and
sweet sorghum for agrofuels is likely to push up food and land prices,”
the study said.

Other studies have suggested biofuel expansion would not be harmful and could even be beneficial for African agriculture.

Last month,
researchers from Britain’s Imperial College, carbon trader CAMCO, and
the Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA) said biofuels
would boost investment in land and infrastructure.

They said this could have a positive effect on food production, and
if properly managed would not mean destroying natural forests.

The most
provocative man in American politics is inviting hundreds of thousands
of people to a rally in Washington tomorrow (Saturday), taking another
big step in one of the strangest careers in U.S. pop culture and public
life.

“The more we get into it, the more historic it feels,” said Glenn Beck.

Beck is a former
drug-addicted rock-n-roll radio host who’s put entertainment industry
expertise and antics into the service of populist politics and religion.

On his top-rated TV
and radio shows, he talks, lectures, carries-on and cries. He waves his
arms, turns silly or solemn, passionate or professorial.

It’s making him a
rich man. His broadcasts, best-selling books, public appearances,
internet subscriptions and commercial endorsements helped his company
bring-in an estimated $32 million last year.

At every
opportunity he says that the U.S. has been hijacked by corrupt
politicians and leftists who oppress law-abiding citizens.

He made headlines
by accusing President Barack Obama of having “a deep-seated hatred of
white people or the white culture.” Race is an issue for Saturday’s
rally as well, planned for the very spot and day of the calendar that
Martin Luther King chose back in 1963 for his most widely remembered
rally.

Beck says he didn’t
realize he would be speaking on the anniversary of the “I have a dream”
speech but he considers it “divine providence.” At the very least, it
could add to his remarkable and growing influence on national politics.

Beck has never run
for office, but he’s considered one of the fathers of the surging Tea
Party movement that is pressing the Republican Party further to the
right.

Tea Party activists
are helping organize Saturday’s event and encouraging people nationwide
to attend. Former Alaska governor Sarah Palin, a Tea Party favourite,
is among the featured speakers.

Last year, Palin mused about running for president with Beck as her vice-presidential running mate.

“Glenn Beck – I have great respect for,” she said.

“He’s a hoot. He
gets his message across in such a clever way.” Beck says he’s not
interested in being a candidate. What is he interested in doing?

As they say in TV, stay tuned.

Mr. Mann wrote this article before last Saturday’s rally at the Lincoln memorial in Washington.

President Goodluck Jonathan will today constitute a board for the Asset Management Commission of Nigeria (AMCON).

He disclosed this at the weekend while receiving a report of the World Bank research on the state of the Nigerian economy.

An elated Mr.
Jonathan while receiving the report assured the Bank and other key
players in the financial sector that the board of the Asset Management
Commission of Nigeria (AMCON) will be constituted as provided for by
the Act which he has signed.

The president
recently signed the AMCON bill which he said is meant to stimulate the
recovery of Nigeria’s financial system from recent crisis by boosting
the liquidity of troubled banks through buying their non-performing
loans, helping in the recapitalization of banks in which the Central
Bank of Nigeria (CBN) was forced to intervene and increasing access to
restructuring/refinancing opportunities for borrowers.

According to the
President, the initial delay was caused by the need to conduct due
diligence on some of the nominees in view of the importance of AMCON in
the resolution of the challenges facing the financial sector.

In the World Bank
report, which was presented at a presidential meeting with stake
holders, the global apex financial institution certified Nigeria as a
non credit crunch economy.

Isma’il Rodwan of
the World Bank Nigeria Country Mission, told Mr Jonathan that the
research conducted by the bank on the Nigerian financial sector showed
that “contrary to perception in certain quarters, there is no evidence
of credit crunch in the Nigerian economy”.

Mr Jonathan said
even though some of the outcomes of the reforms are painful, “we have a
better opportunity to put the economy, real sector, financial and
capital markets on a structurally sounder footing through a well
coordinated reforms”.

Also present at the
meeting were the Ministers of Finance, National Planning, Shamsudeen
Usman, Petroleum Resources, Deziani Allison-Madueke and Governor of the
CBN, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi represented by Kingsley Moghalu.

Others were the
Director General of the Securities and Exchange Commission and
representatives of other players in the financial sector as well as
selected members of the Organized Private Sector (OPS) and captains of
industries.

In his
contribution, the Managing Director of First Bank of Nigeria, Bisi
Onasanya, commended the CBN for its reforms saying they were necessary
and have the effect of repositioning the banking system.

The repositioning,
according to him, has serve as an effective intermediary to the real
sector, adding that the banks had learnt their lessons.

He added that
“agric business must be made profitable in order for banks to lend to
them and that the businesses need to be de-risked”.

The CBN
intervention funds for the Nigerian Small and Medium Enterprises
(SMEs), Power/Aviation; Agric etc were commended by the World Bank and
other participants at the dialogue.

However, the World
Bank said the 80 per cent risk guarantee given by the CBN for the
funding of SMEs was “too generous” and recommended a 50-50 split of
risk sharing between the CBN and commercial banks.

The President of
the National Association of Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (NASME),
Godwin Abugu, in his presentation to the President commended the CBN
credit guarantee scheme to the SMEs.

Ugandan President
Yoweri Museveni will contest next year’s presidential poll, trying to
extend a presidency that started in 1986, a statement from his office
said on Sunday.

He will also seek
election as chairman of his National Resistance Movement (NRM) party at
its national conference in mid-September, the statement added.

It quoted Museveni
as asking a crowd in western Uganda to support him in both races,
confirming widespread expectations in the east African country, which
discovered commercial oil deposits in 2006, that he would stand.

“People with
disabilities are embracing my candidature for chairman and Presidential
flag bearer for NRM, I put in my nomination forms, so I can now ask for
your support,” he said.

One of the
longest-serving presidents in Africa, Museveni rose to the top of
Ugandan politics when his then National Resistance Army (NRA)
insurgents seized power from a short-lived military junta.

The early years of
his presidency drew wide praise from the west and effusive support from
Ugandans for its respect for the civilian population, prudent and
liberal economic management and commitment to the rule of law.

In the past decade,
support among the people has begun to ebb and relations with the west
have frayed on mounting accusations by the opposition and human rights
observers that his leadership has turned despotic and corrupt.

Run-off

Political analysts
say Museveni — expected to win the party leadership contest easily —
will probably face off against Kizza Besigye, who is expected to be
picked by a coalition of opposition parties, the Inter-Party
Cooperation (IPC).

Besigye, who fought
and lost elections against Museveni in 2001 and 2006, is the leader of
the biggest opposition party, the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC).

Museveni’s victories in both polls were marred by accusations of widespread rigging and violence.

A unified
opposition, analysts say, will give Museveni the most formidable
challenge yet and is likely to send the poll into a run-off.

“Going by the trend
of Museveni’s electoral fortunes, he got 76 percent in 1996, 69 percent
in 2001 and 57 percent in 2006, there’s a real big chance that he will
get anywhere between 45 and 50 percent in 2011,” said political analyst
Bernard Tabaire.

“That’s not enough
because to win outright, the constitution requires you to have above 50
percent.” Museveni defended his years in power, denounced by critics as
evidence of a life-presidency ambition, saying it was necessary to keep
Uganda’s development on track.

“Some elements of
the historical team need to be kept in leadership so as to provide the
much needed expertise and experience to propel the country ahead,” he
said in the statement.

Nigeria and Britain
are set to strengthen their partnership on migration, the Permanent
Secretary in the Foreign Affairs Ministry, Martin Uhomoibhi, said on
Sunday in Abuja.

He told the News
Agency of Nigeria that officials of both countries would meet in London
in September to discuss migration issues “as part of constant dialogue
to strengthen the partnership.”

Mr Uhomoibhi
described the bilateral relations as vibrant, saying that Britain had
the largest concentration of Nigerians in Europe. He said the
partnership was aimed at resolving migration and consular issues, which
could threaten the cordial relations between both nations.

“Dialogue is needed
to improve migration partnership. Our bi-national agreements are strong
and prosperous, and we must do nothing to endanger these relations.

“It is not only in
Nigeria’s interest but also in Britain’s interest that we must remain
constantly engaged to address these little irritants that can pose a
threat to our relations,” the permanent secretary said.

Uhomoibhi said the issue of Nigerians serving jail terms in Britain would be addressed, among other migration issues.

Nigeria and Switzerland in July also concluded plans to strengthen
their policy on migration, with a view to addressing immigration and
other consular challenges.

Following the
warning from the ministry of health on a cholera outbreak across our
nation, the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) has blamed the epidemic on
the failure of governance at all levels to ensure the provision of
portable drinking water.

The party blamed
the outbreak on the lack of potable water, which it claimed “is the
major cause of the disease”. It noted that, had the various governments
lived up to their responsibility by ensuring that people have access to
potable water and good health care, many of those who have died from
the disease so far this year would have been alive.

Recent figures from
the Ministry of Health stated that 352 deaths and 6,437 cases have been
recorded. While the cases have so far been limited to 11 states in the
north, the ministry said the entire country is at risk.

“It is a shame that
cholera is killing our people like chickens in the 21st century,
despite the fact that it is cheap to treat, using oral rehydration
solution, a gauged mixture of sugar and salts to be mixed with water
and taken in large amounts. It is even more shameful that this is
happening in a resource-rich country like Nigeria,” the ACN said in a
statement on Sunday.

It further
condemned the government’s insensitivity on the epidemic, stating that
“the federal executive council is busy churning out – on a weekly basis
– billions of naira in contracts that barely touch on the lives of the
people, while the so-called representatives of the people are busy
sharing the spoils of office.”

Failed governance

The ACN also noted
that the failure of our nation to attain any of the eight Millennium
Development Goals (MDG) in the target year of 2015 is the biggest
indication yet that no governance is going on in most parts of our
country. “That is why we said the cholera epidemic points to failure of
governance,” the party said.

It further added
that measles has also killed 83 people this year and infected 5,073
others, also pointing out the needless deaths from malaria and other
diseases. “One begins to wonder whether we remain a part of humanity.

“The palliative
measures being embarked upon by our clueless state and federal
governments is nothing but a mere tokenism. Only a development-oriented
approach can rid our country of these diseases,” it said.

The ACN said the need to prevent such cheap deaths and ensure better
life for Nigerians should prod people to register en masse, vote
massively and defend their votes stridently during the 2011 general
elections, so that leaders who have the interest of the people at heart
can be voted into the various offices.

The state of
insecurity in Bauchi State manifested yesterday with an attempt made on
the lives of security aides to the state’s governor.

Unidentified gunmen
shot Sule Giwa, a police sergeant who serves as orderly to the state’s
governor, Isa Yuguda, within the metropolis on Saturday in what seems
like an assassination attempt on the state’s helm’s man.

The state Police
Commissioner, Danlami Yar’Adua, confirmed the report to the News Agency
on Sunday. Mr Yar’Adua, described the incident as part of the “routine
crime” in the state and dismissed insinuations that the attack was an
assassination attempt. He, however, gave assurance that his command was
doing everything possible to curb criminal activities in the state.

This incident is
coming barely one week after the son of the governor’s special adviser
on pilgrims’ matters, Mahmud Dahiru, was abducted by unknown persons.
Master Dahiru, 10, is yet to be released by his abductors.

It will also be
recalled that the Vice Chairman of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP)
Caretaker Committee in the state, Bala Hadis, was recently shot and
wounded in his house in the state. Mr Hadis is currently reported to be
recuperating in an Indian hospital.

Also, a
gubernatorial aspirant of the CPC, Sarki Muktar, popularly known as
‘Dan China’ narrowly escaped an attack when a group of unknown
assailants recently raided his house at Narabi Village in Toro local
government area of the state. One of Dan China’s security guards was,
however, killed while another was injured during the attack.

Reacting to the
latest incident, the Senior Special Assistant to the state’s governor
on media, Sanusi Mohammed, described the new wave of criminal
activities in the state as “unfortunate” stating that the government
was taking every step to secure the lives and property.

“The government is collaborating with relevant security agencies to
introduce new security measures with a view to stopping the ugly trend
in the state” he said.

Lagos State
governor, Babatunde Fashola, has appealed to the Federal Government to
re-visit the revenue allocation formula which according to him
“currently favours the centre.”

Mr. Fashola made
the appeal at the Annual Ramadan Lecture organised by the Arabic and
Islamic Institute, `Markaz’, Agege, in Lagos on Sunday.

He said that
necessary constitutional amendments should be made to correct what he
described as the present straight jacketed lumping of all local
governments in one category.

The governor
justified his submission by explaining that the 774 local governments
in the country had different priorities to address to make life
meaningful to their people. “While some local governments are endowed
with mineral resources and deposits, some are riverine while those in
the north are preoccupied with cattle rearing and milk production.

“It is ironic that each one gets the same allocation, irrespective of its different features,’’ he explained.

Also at the event,
the governor said that the Lagos State Government was committed to
equipping public schools with laboratories and Information Technology
equipment to enable the schools compete favourably with products of
private schools.

He explained that
teachers in public schools would also enjoy continuous training to
enable them to impact adequate knowledge on pupils and students. He
implored Nigerians to participate actively in politics and to always
collaborate with their elected leaders through proffering constructive
suggestions and advice.

Also speaking, the
Director of the institute, Habeebullah Al-Ilori, commended the Lagos
Government for its achievements in the provision of infrastructure.
“An average resident of the state is happy to pay his or her taxes
now, because he or she feels the impact of the government more than
ever before,’’ he said.

The management of
the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), Ogbomoso, Oyo
State, has directed all students to resume for academic activities
today.

The directive was
contained in a statement by the institution’s spokesperson, Yomi
Akintunde, which stated that lectures and other academic activities
will commence.

The resumption,
which comes after a short break earlier announced by the university’s
management, may create another logjam for the institution owing to the
ongoing crisis between the owner states, Osun and Oyo.

The two states have
been in dispute over the effort of the Oyo State governor, Adebayo
Alao-Akala, to unilaterally convert the institution to the state’s
ownership

At the heat of the
crisis, the governor directed all Oyo indigenes who are medical and
paramedical staff of the university’s teaching hospital at Osogbo, Osun
State, to resume at Ogbomoso, Oyo state.

Former President
Olusegun Obasanjo had waded into the crisis, just as the National
University Commission (NUC) threatened to withdraw the license of the
institution if it was not resolved.

Despite these and
recent meetings between the governors of the two states over the issue,
no significant progress has been made in arriving at a resolution.