NIGERIA AND ITS FOREIGN POLICY

Since Nigeria’s Independence in 1960 from the British Government, its Foreign Policy has been characterized by a focus on Africa, especially its unity and independence, as well as the peaceful settlement of disputes. It has also ensured non-interference in the internal affairs of other nations, and striven to promote regional economic cooperation and development.

In pursuing the goal of regional economic cooperation and development, Nigeria was central to the creation of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) in 1975 which seeks to harmonize trade and investment practices for its fifteen member nations.

It would be recalled that a Former Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon led a delegation of Nigeria and Togo to tour West African Countries towards persuading them and build a regional body that would promote socio-economic and political emancipation of the region.

To this end, since the return of democracy in the past decade, Nigeria has continued its tradition by playing a pivotal role in the support of peace in Africa. It is on record that Nigeria has provided the bulk of troops for the United Nations Peace-Keeping Missions in Sierra Leone and Liberia, as well as the African Union Mission in Sudan while Nigeria’s role during South African Apartheid regime still fresh in our memories.

Suffice to say that Nigeria has demonstrated commitment to the strengthening and renewal of its ties with the International Community. The regimes of Chief Olusegun Obasanjo and Alhaji Umaru Musa Yar’Adua visited several countries of the world in an effort to renew Nigeria’s ties with some other countries of the world.

In June, 2007, late President Umaru Yar’Adua attended the Annual G-8 Summit in Helligendamn, Germany, after an invitation by German Chancellor, Angela Merkel, where he met many world leaders. Among issues discussed with the leaders were the fixing of the crisis-ridden energy sector, economic exchange, as well as questions relating to the African Union and the West African regional organization.

President Goodluck Jonathan has also since his emergence in May, 2011 visited a number of countries which include the United States, United Kingdom, Australia and several other African Nations in the name of strengthening the nation’s diplomatic relations with other countries of the world. The question is to what extent were those overseas trips in the name of strengthening bilateral or multilateral ties or wooing investors have impacted on the lives of ordinary Nigerians?

It must be noted that several regimes have employed many foreign policy thrusts ranging from Concentric, Citizens Diplomacy to Economic Diplomacy with a view to promoting Nigeria’s national interest and attracting Foreign Direct Investment into the country.

Emphasizing the new shift of using Nigeria’s diplomatic platform to drive growth and national development, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Olugbenga Ashiru stressed that henceforth, Nigerians missions abroad would form the new vanguard and foot-soldiers of the country’s economic diplomacy.

At the opening of the 3-day seminar to review the nation’s foreign policy, Ambassador Ashiru maintained that the new thinking in government is the use of the nation’s foreign policy initiatives to induce economic growth and overall national development at home, pointing out that Nigeria’s foreign policy thrust must translate into putting food on the table of ordinary Nigerians at home.

In essence, all diplomatic gestures of the Federal Government must be tailored towards improving the living standard of the people, while Nigeria should make effort at making meaningful presence at sub-regional, regional and international community rather than unproductive and unfruitful diplomatic assistance like "Old Father Christmas" to some countries under the guise of being the giant of Africa.

Nigerian leaders should therefore halt the growing spate of insecurity, corruption and non-adherence to the rule of law as key instruments towards attracting Foreign Direct Investment into the country. This is because, domestic events would tell much on the success or otherwise of any foreign policy objective.

Hence, there is the need for a strong domestic policy in order to build a vibrant foreign policy abroad by adequately funding the Nigeria missions abroad to enable them perform diligently and promote the image of Nigeria, her people and goods in their various places with a view to wooing more foreign investors into the country.

NATIONAL BROADCASTING COMMISSION @ 20

On August, twenty-four, nineteen-ninety-two, a remarkable history was made in Nigerian broadcast industry with the establishment of the regulatory body for the nation’s electronic sub sector of the media industry, that is, the National Broadcasting Corporation (NBC).

The Ibrahim Babangida administration promulgated Decree thirty-eight of nineteen ninety-two, now an Act of the National Assembly which created the National Broadcasting Commission and simultaneously ended the over fifty years of government sole ownership of broadcasting in Nigeria.

It is not with doubt that the action broke government monopoly of the broadcasting sector and opened the playing field for private investors to join the information revolution that was gradually engulfing the world through the integration of digital technology.

Apart from advising the Federal Government Generally on the implementation of the National Mass Communication Policy with particular reference to broadcasting, the functions of the commission include; receiving, processing and considering applications of the establishment, ownership or operation of Radio and Television Stations, including cable television services, direct Satellite broadcast and any other medium of broadcasting.

Other important functions of the National Broadcasting Commission are to recommend applications through to President, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces for the grant of radio and television licenses and issuance, renewal and renovation of licenses of broadcast Industry as well as setting standards through the National Broadcasting Code on acceptable content and quality of programming and non-programme materials broadcast.

Interestingly, the Commission which started operation in nineteen ninety-two from its office at Tafawa Balewa squares in Lagos has gone nationwide with ten zonal offices and seventeen offices spread out in such a way that every broadcasting station in the country is within on-air monitoring reach.

Today, Nigeria can boast of one hundred and twenty-three private radio and television stations as well as two hundred and thirty-three broadcasting stations owned by the Federal and state governments compared to twenty-four stations at the Commissions take off stage in nineteen ninety-two.

Addressing newsmen in Abuja on the twentieth anniversary of the NBC, the Director-General of the Commission, Engineer Yomi Bolarinwa explained that the most important achievement of the Commission was the laying of a strong institutional foundation that would effectively continue to pilot the affairs of the broadcast industry in the manner anticipated by the fundamental objectives and Directives of state policy in nineteen ninety-nine constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Engineer Bolarinwa added that the Commission had internalized defined vision and mission to enable the emergence of a sustainable broadcast industry, which satisfied the social, political and economic need of the people of Nigeria.

In spite some of the achievements of the Commission in the last twenty years, there are still some obvious challenges confronting the regulatory agency ranging from the inability of the commission to solely grant licences without recourse to the President to the issue good quality programming.

On the issue of digitization of broadcast industry, it is not an understatement to say that Nigeria is already lagging behind meeting the deadline for the conversion from analogue to digital in line with International standard.

Hence, the time has come to empower the NBC like the Nigerian Communication Commission (NCC) in licensing and regulating the operations of broadcast stations in Nigeria with a view to raising the bar for swifter response to ethical and regulatory infractions.

The NBC Act should also be amended to take care of emerging challenges in broadcasting industry to make the regulating body relevant in the sector while the campaign for community radio should be intensified as well as promoting quality broadcasting among broadcast stations in Nigeria.

GLOBAL PEACE AND SECURITY: ANY HOPE?

The issue of global insecurity has become a recurring decimal; resurfacing almost everyday, everywhere, attracting different reactions from various categories of the people in all parts of the world.

Bomb blast, missile or bomb testing, assassination, armed robbery, ethno-religious riots, kidnapping, coup de tat among others are typical news heard around the globe today, showing the level of threat and insecurity in the world, thereby making the world an endangered place.

In September two thousand, the General Assembly of the United Nations adopted an eight point declaration referred to as United Nations Millennium Declaration. It encompasses peace, security and disarmament, development and poverty eradication, protecting the environment, human rights, democracy and good governance.

Under the Peace, Security and Disarmament Declaration, the United Nations disclosed that effort would not be spared to free people from the scourge of war, whether within or between states, which has claimed more than five million lives in the past decade.

Today, it is so difficult to identify a nation that is free from insecurity or conflict, most especially in the African and Asian Continents.

The lingering Niger Delta crisis is a big challenge to the Nigerian government to address, Darfur crisis in Sudan, America’s invasion of Iraq, the Taliban and Al Qaeda issue in Afghanistan and Pakistan, Israel-Palestine dispute, Russia’s attack on Georgia, political crisis in Kenya, Niger Republic, Zimbabwe, Guinea Bissau and Xenophobic attack in South Africa are just a few to mention, showing the level of violence and unrest across the world.

Speaking at a Symposium organized by the National Assessment Synthesis Team for the United States Global Research Programme, Professor Anderson George of Cambridge University debunked the notion that the United States is succeeding in addressing the problem of global insecurity.

The Professor explained that the futility of US-Mission in different countries now could be inferred from the alarming rate of emergence of new terrorism.
Therefore it there is any disturbing fear about terrorism it is that rarely do military forces defeat or obliterate it.

To strengthen campaign on the need for peace from local to international level, the United Nations dedicates every twenty-first of September as International Day of Peace or the World Peace Day. The day which was first celebrated in nineteen eighty-one, is meant to be a day of non-violence and cease-fire.

Hence, the day will remain fruitless unless the world body, United Nations, regional bodies like African Union (AU), ECOWAS, North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), Arab League and European Union as well as other international organizations like the Red Cross truly work towards promoting peace and security, by stressing the need for all countries of the world and international organizations to foster friendship, peace, justice among nations as well as fighting poverty at all levels.

Former United Nations Secretary-General, Mr. Kofi Annan, once said “if war is failure of diplomacy, then diplomacy both bilateral and multilateral, is our first line of difference. The world today spends billions preparing for war, shouldn’t we spend a billion or two preparing for peace?”.

No doubt, without peace, there would not be friendly relationship and without friendly relationship, there would not be development and without development, the whole world would not be conducive for all to live in.

It is very imperative for the United Nations to be truly effective without fair or favour in maintaining peace and security by providing resources and tools for conflict re-building and reconstruction to ensure peaceful co-existence of the whole world.

Community leaders, traditional rulers and government at all levels should strive towards ensuring peaceful co-existence in their respective societies.

IMBIBLE THE LESSONS OF RAMADHAN

“O you who believe! Fasting is prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those before you that you may become pious. Fasting for a fixed number of days, but if any of you is ill or on a journey, the same number should be made up from other days. And as for those who can fast with difficulty, they have choice to either fast or to feed a poor person everyday. But whoever does good of his record, it is better for him.

And that you fast, is better for you only if you know.

The above quotation as contained in chapter two verses one hundred and eighty-three to one hundred and eighty-four of the holy Qur’an is the commandment of Allah, the Exalted, on all Muslim faithful but with few exception.

For about a month, Muslim faithful across the globe have being fasting in line with Allah’s commandment to reap Allah’s maximum reward through their total submission to the will of the Almighty.

Indeed, apart from spiritual benefit, it has been established that other benefits derivable from fasting include, medical or health benefit, social and psychological benefits.

During this period of spiritual rejuvenation, Muslims move closer to Allah by reading from the glorious Qur’an day and night, cultivate good manners, eating and drinking with members of the family and share other things among friends, relatives and other members of the society, thereby promoting peace, love and enhance unity within and beyond each family.

It is also important to note that fasting is a period of learning self-restraint and patience. And with patience, Muslims are able to strengthen their resolve to worship Allah alone, with sincerity and also to cope with other world activities without much ado.

Apart from abstaining from eating and drinking during this period, Muslims also restrain their souls from greed and stinginess, telling lies, adultery, fornication, backbiting, impatience and hypocrisy, and instead seeking Allah’s blessings, forgiveness, mercies, reading Qur’an and making supplications day and night in order to seek Allah’s maximum reward.

However, if all the virtues and lessons accrued during this month are imbibed, no doubt, there would be peace of mind, love, unity, harmony and cohesion needed in the society.

If Ramadan lessons are properly imbibed, it would go a long was in helping the nation to achieve the desired development as every individual would be providing selfless but purposeful services to the nation.

We must therefore resolve to sustain the present good deeds like recitation from the Glorious Qur’an, prayers day and night as well as restraining from don’ts of the Almighty Allah, the Most High.

All wealth individuals should sustain giving alms to the poor and needy to better their lots as poor do not live during Ramadan alone while everyone must work towards promoting love, unity and peace within our various families and the society at large.

Above all, let the fear of God continue.

TACKLING THE MENACE OF CHOLERA IN NIGERIA

For a very long time, Nigeria has been bedeviled with series of communicable and non communicable diseases which have claimed several lives.

It is on record that on many occasions, diseases like polio, yellow fever, dengue fever, river blindness among others do erupt across the country, taking away great potential leaders.

In fact, it is hardly difficult for two months or so to pass in Nigeria without the outbreak of any disease across the length and breadth of the country.

Presently, there is outbreak of Cholera in about eleven states, which had claimed over five hundred lives. The disease is caused by a bacteria called Vibro Cholera which can be acquired by food or water contaminated by fecal material.

Today, Cholera is ravaging States like Osun, Borno, Kaduna, Katsina, Gombe, Taraba, Jigawa, Adamawa, Yobe and the Federal Capital Territory, making other States susceptible to the dreadful disease.

Confirming the ugly development, the Chief Epidemiologist in the Federal Ministry of Health, Doctor Henry Akpan said about six thousand suspected cases had been reported, while there were other reports in the media which said the victims are more than that.

Available records show that Bauchi State had two thousand, four hundred and seventeen cases and about one hundred deaths, while one hundred and twenty and sixty five deaths had been recorded in Borno and Katsina States respectively.

Medical Experts have however attributed the outbreak to lack of access to safe water and good sanitary environment, which, in fact, makes all States of the Federation susceptible to the outbreak of the disease.

The fact that the case has not been reported in some parts of the country doesn’t insulate such states from the disease.

Hence, government at all levels must therefore ensure proper supply of potable water and proper maintenance of public utilities, particularly toilets and boreholes with a view to guaranteeing sound environment and hygienic for all and sundries.

Attitudinal change also needs to be advocated among Nigerians on making their environment tidy at all times as well as ensuring that water, fruits and foods are safe before taking them.

Epidemiologists and sanitary inspectors must be employed and supported in all the seven hundred and seventy- four local government areas of the country, to increase surveillance, treatment and enlightenment campaign across the country.

Conclusively, it is necessary for the president to be proactive and develop long term mechanism that will put an end to this scourge of epidemic while comprehensive probe should also be made into how the money budgeted and released by governments and development partners like UNICEF,WHO,MDGS and the World bank on water supply are expended in the last ten years.

2011 GENERAL ELECTIONS AND TASK BEFORE THE NIGERIAN POLICE

Nigeria, since her independence in 1960 has conducted several elections which were believed to be marred with irregularities. These include ballot snatching, election rigging, riots and other forms of violence.

Elections in Nigeria have become synonymous with violence due to the attendant ugly incidents that have permeated and characterized the conduct of elections in the country.

Reports from both local and international media during and after the elections better explained the pathetic state of Nigeria during elections. It is so difficult to recall any election in Nigeria without shedding blood, making the country loosing several men and women of great potentials.

Though, violence and other forms of irregularities erupt in elections across the globe, the persistent irregularities in elections in the country call for concern and drastic measures needed to be taken to safe the situation.

Therefore, the Nigerian Police, established and empowered by section two-one-five of the nineteen ninety-nine Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is to among other things protect the lives and properties of all inhabitants of this country.

Equally, the Electoral act defines in clear terms, specific functions of the Nigerian Police at ensuring free, fair and credible elections. It is against this background that the role of the Nigerian police in electioneering campaigns, votings, counting or compilation of election results and other engagements in electoral process cannot be over-emphasized.
For a very long time however, the Nigerian police have been joined in many election petitions for allegedly aiding or abetting electoral malpractices across the country.

To ensure acceptable and violent free elections therefore, the Nigerian police must start training and equipping its rank and file now.

Signing the new Electoral Act into law, President Goodluck Jonathan promised that next year’s general elections would be conducted peacefully, as it is often witnessed in other parts of the world.

President Jonathan noted that signing the bill into law would serve as a clear signal to the doubting thomases of the administration’s commitment to free, fair and beyond reproach elections, come twenty-eleven.

Even with the recently released whooping some of money, seventy billion naira to the Force, it may not conduct free and fair elections if officers and men of the Police are not adequately trained ahead of the all important national assignment.

Though, the Assistant Inspector-General of Police in charge of Lagos and Ogun States, Mr. Azubuko Udah at the Lagos NUJ Press Week revealed that the Police had started training its officers and men on how to deal with the twenty-eleven elections, much emphasis must be placed on their duties on the election days, in line with international best practices.

It is also important for the policemen to desist from being used as machineries by unscrupulous politicians to achieve their selfish interests if truly, there will be credible elections in twenty eleven and beyond. Other selected security agents must also be well trained alongside the Police, on how to handle restive mobs.

The Nigerian Police must observe the rule of law in all their dealings, by giving every Nigerian equal protection in exercising their civic responsibilities, with a view to making the elections acceptable to all Nigerians and the international community.

POLITICAL CRISIS IN AFRICA

Undoubtedly, Africa has had some difficult moments through transition
from colonialism to independence. For about fifty years many countries
within the continent had witnessed various crises, which had hitherto led
to instability in political and socio-economic spheres of the affected
nations.
In the period between nineteen sixty and nineteen seventy, the entire
continent was almost turned into a battlefield as a result of coups and
counter coups.
It may not be out of place to recall the incidence that ousted Sir Tafawa
Balewa and Doctor Nnamdi Azikwe as the Prime Minister and President of
Nigeria respectively.
During the same period, General Akrah overthrew the government of
President Kwame Nkrumah in Ghana, while Colonel Boumedienne in Algeria
also overthrew President Ben Bella.
Between nineteen eighty and now, changes of government through coup
d’etats had also occurred in Ghana, Burkina Faso, Nigeria, Equitorial
Guinea and Niger Republic, to mention a few.
No doubt, the coup d’etats had made the military regimes to become the
most prevalent political phenomena in Africa more than civilian regimes.
In Nigeria for example, out of about fifty years of existence as a
sovereign nation, the military had ruled for twenty-nine years, leaving the
remaining twenty years for the civilian governments.
However, their incursion into existing democratic practice was always
attributed to the failure of democratically elected leaders to respect
the social contracts between them and the electorate.
Internal political problems, corruption, maladministration, favouritism
and nepotism, as well as tribal or ethnic factors were usually listed as
part of reasons for their intervention or taking over from civilian
governments.
It is therefore pertinent to note that their intervention have been
directly or indirectly linked with personal ambitions and the craving for
power by some specific key players, as it could be seen in the case of
Dahomey in nineteen sixty-five, Uganda in nineteen seventy-one and Togo
in nineteen sixty-three.
Up till today, the coups have not improved African economic conditions
rather, they have been source of political tension because the coups had
driven the continent into further suffering.
Hence, the recent bloodless coup d’etat in the West African country of
Niger Republic has also brought to fore, the phenomena of military
incursion in Africa. The coup had however generated wide criticism among
the international community.
It is a known fact that the former President of the country, Mamadou
Tandja altered the country’s constitution to remain in power beyond the
end of his second term in office. In addition, his government became
unpopular, and was criticized and condemned by the international
community to the extent that some countries and international bodies
severe their ties with the country.
To this end, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), the
Africa Union (AU) and other relevant international organizations should
as a matter of urgency work towards ensuring democratic governance in the
country within the agreed six months as promised by the Junta.
The international bodies should also strive to create a practicable
institutional framework that would compel democratically elected
government in Africa to respect constitutions of their respective
countries and avoid clinching to power for selfish interest.
Electoral malpractices, bad leadership, corruption, nepotism and other
hurdles to democratization process in Africa should be checked to ensure
that the continent is safe for all to live in.