Monrovia – The First Lady of the Federal Republic of Nigeria has called for more concerted action towards better recognition of women’s contributions in national development, saying power-sharing arrangement must reflect both within political parties and in Government.

She spoke while receiving the Vice President of the Republic of Liberia, Jewel Howard-Taylor, at the Presidential Villa in Abuja on Monday, 17, January 2022, according to a dispatch from Nigeria.

“From the Political Party level to Government, within the Executive and Legislature, the sharing arrangement is abysmal, and something must be done to change this narrative. We have to adopt better strategies to maximize elective positions and other opportunities for Nigerian women.” The First Lady asserted.

Mrs. Aisha Buhari expressed the belief that the record of Dr. Taylor as a former First Lady, a professional in politics, a parliamentarian, and her work on education, social projects, and health in Liberia affirms the fact that Nigerian women have gotten the right ally and partner for this critical task.

She further notes that her visit to Nigeria for this critical occasion underscores her importance to the development of women in general and African women in particular.

Earlier, the Vice President Jewel Howard-Taylor, said she was in Nigeria to attend the Progressive Women Conference of the All People’s Congress.

She stated that Nigeria sets the pace in the West African sub-region in terms of politics; therefore, she needs to share her experiences for the benefit of African women.

Dr. Howard-Taylor further called on women to pay more attention to legislative seats because that is where laws are made, and that is where budgets are approved for girl child education, HIV/AIDS and  for social networks.

 She then called on women to find their way to the decision-making table. 

The event was attended by the wife of the Vice President, of Nigeria Mrs. Dolapo Osinbajo, the chairperson of the Progressive Women Conference, Mrs. Stella Okotete, and Deputy Majority Leader of the House of Representatives, Hon. Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, Executive Chairman, Nidcom, Hon. Abike Dabiri- Erewa, Hajiya Aisha Aminu, and Mrs. Irene Irabor. 

While the visiting Vice President was accompanied by Deputy Ministers of Health and Labour, Mrs. Norwu Howard and Mrs. Yvette Freeman, respectively.

Abuja, Nigeria – The Head of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Observation Mission (EOM) to Nigeria and former Liberian President, Mrs. Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf on 6th February 2019 in Abuja, Nigeria, engaged various stakeholders of the upcoming general elections in a bid to ensure peaceful, free, fair and credible elections.

Madam Sirleaf while discussing with the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Mahmood Yakubu about the elections scheduled for 16th February 2019, urged INEC to do everything within its capacity to ensure a hitch-free electoral process.

She highlighted to the INEC Chairman that Nigeria’s democracy is important to the stability of the region and indeed Africa; hence the eyes of the world will be focused on its elections.

Also speaking with Nigeria’s Acting Inspector General of Police Mohammed Adamu at the Force headquarters in Abuja, Madam Sirleaf stressed the need for security agencies to maintain peace and order while providing a conducive atmosphere for citizens to cast their vote without intimidation or fear for their lives and properties.

Both the INEC Chairman and the Acting Inspector General of the Nigerian Police assured the head of the EOM of the readiness and professionalism of their agencies to ensure successful elections.

Madam Sirleaf also had discussions with members of both the ruling party, the All Progressive Congress (APC) and its main opposition the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).

In separate meetings with the Chairman of the APC, Adams Oshiomole and the PDP delegation which comprised of its Presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar, its Campaign Director, Senate President Bukola Saraki and the party’s chairman Uche Secondus, Madam Sirleaf stressed the need for both parties to accept the results of elections which are free and fair.

The head of the secretariat of the National Peace Committee, Atta Barkindo who represented the committee’s Chairman and former President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria Abdulsalami Abubakar, informed the head of the EOM that a peace accord had been signed amongst political parties and another is expected to be signed on 13th February 2019, which will stipulate that all parties will accept the results of free and fair results.

Abuja – The Federal Government has commended the government of Liberia for its immense recovery and the level of development and stability attained following the Ebola crisis in 2014 and the devastating civil war that ended 13 years ago.

Report by Senator Iroegbu in Abuja

This was stated on Friday by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Geoffery Onyeama, during the joint celebration of Liberia’s 169th Independence Anniversary and Flag Day by the Embassy in Abuja.

Onyeama said that the Independence Day is a time for accountability and noted that Liberian government has been able to overcome these challenges to ensure that it’s stable enough for sustainable investment and development.

The minister also noted that the bilateral and diplomatic relations between the two countries have been growing stronger and expanding.

He said: “The celebration of national day is like giving accountability of the journey so by the government to the people. The most important thing is that Liberia has stabilised now and there is peace.

“There could not have been development and economic growth without peace and like I said, Liberia has stabilised. We also enjoy and continue to enjoy great diplomatic relations with Liberia.”

In the same vein, the President of the Republic of Liberia, and Chairperson of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government, Mrs. Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, in a speech read by the Ambassador of Liberia to Nigeria, Al-Hassan Conteh, gave a historical perspective and challenges of the country in its 169 years of nationhood.

Sirleaf listed the major challenges that derailed the country’s development in the modern era to include the coup d’état of 1980, two civil wars between 1989 and 2003, and the Ebola crisis of 2014.

“The coup d’état and civil wars caused tens of millions of dollars destruction of property and infrastructure, over 200,000 deaths, and over a million refugees and Internally Displaced People. The Ebola crisis saw the demise of close to 5,000 Liberian citizens in 2014,” she said.

She said that despite these adversities, Liberia has been resilient under a dedicated leadership, vibrant community response, and support from the international community.

According to hern the dynamic leadership  since 2005, has led to more than US$4 billion in debt relief, and the lifting of UN trade sanctions that gave Liberia access to the international market.

The Liberian President said that her administration solidified relations with regional partners and the international community, attracting significant foreign direct investment in mining, agriculture, forestry, and off-shore oil exploration.

She added: “Unfortunately, the Ebola scourge of 2014 reversed the gains in the economy that affected production and the drop in the prices of primary commodities.

“Since the WHO declared Liberia free of  Ebola on May 9, 2015 and twice subsequently,  Liberia has embarked on a post-Ebola development strategy within the context of  the country’s development strategy known as the Agenda for Transformation (AfT).  The priorities of the AfT include rebuilding the health system, infrastructure development, and consolidating the progress towards the transformation of Liberia, in order to reverse the negative trend in falling economic growth.

“This will renew Liberia’s momentum of sustainable development that would enable the country to attain middle income status by 2030.  Liberia is now open for business and investment. “

Kano, Nigeria – Two children have been diagnosed with the polio virus in Nigeria, after two years without any cases. Confirmation of the wild poliovirus is a major setback for the country’s efforts to eradicate the disease that leaves children severely paralyzed.

The two cases were detected in Borno state, in the northeast corner of Nigeria which borders Chad, Niger, and Cameroon where the Islamic extremist group Boko Haram
is active. Authorities say the tenuous security situation has made it difficult to access many parts of the region with immunization services, denying as many as a half-million children.

Blood samples from the infected children were sent to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) where they were analyzed and confirmed. As an immediate priority, Nigerian health authorities say they are collaborating with the World Health Organization (WHO) and other partners of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative to respond urgently and prevent more children from being paralyzed.

These steps include conducting large-scale immunization campaigns and strengthening surveillance systems that help catch the virus early.

The mass vaccination campaign will target more than five million children in Borno and the neighboring countries of the Lake Chad basin, according to WHO.

The disappointment was palpable throughout Nigeria and among the array of NGOs working in the north to eradicate the virus when the news confirming the cases broke.

The country had made significant strides against the debilitating childhood disease. It had gone two years without a case of wild polio virus and was poised to be declared polio-free in 2017. 

Unlike Ebola which requires a 42-day period, for the WHO to declare a country free of polio it has to go three years without a new case. Nigeria was less than six months away from that historic milestone.  

Polio is a highly infectious viral disease that usually affects children and vaccinations are the only weapons against it. The virus is spread by poor sanitation and contaminated water. It mainly affects children under five years old.

Report by Wynfred Russell, wnrussell@hotmail.com

Abuja – The Ambassador of Liberia to Nigeria is recommending to the ECOWAS Commission the designing of a one-year action plan with key implementable projects that are achievable for the use of President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf as the current Chairperson of the Authority of Heads of State and Government.

Prof. Al-Hassan Conteh said the one-year action plan would be very helpful for the implementation of President Sirleaf’s priorities, as outlined in her acceptance speech on June 4, 2016 at the 49^th Ordinary Summit of the Authority of ECOWAS Heads of State and Government, in Dakar, Senegal, a dispatch from the Liberian Embassy in Abuja says.

Chairing a meeting of Permanent Representatives of ECOWAS and the President of the ECOWAS Commission and his management team on Thursday, July 22, Ambassador Conteh reminded the President of the Commission of President Sirleaf’s Four-Point Agenda.

Ambassador Conteh renamed the Chairperson’s Four-Point Agenda as consolidating the region’s peace and security architecture, concluding negotiations on ECOWAS Protocols, treaties and agreements, addressing ECOWAS Vision 2020 through priority agriculture and infrastructure projects, and enhancing the financial stability of ECOWAS. 

According to the dispatch, the meeting which will from now be held bi-monthly was called by President Marcel de Souza to, among other things, brief the Permanent Representatives on the main conclusions of the 49^th Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government, the Community Development Programme (CDP) Priority Projects and the Status of the ECOWAS Community Levy.

The Liberian Ambassador of Liberia who is also the Permanent Representative to ECOWAS expressed the confidence that the bi-monthly meetings will solidify the engagement between the Commission and all the Permanent Representatives in order to assist with the implementation Community Development Programs. 

He stated that the role of the Permanent Representatives is to support the implementation of ECOWAS Vision 2020 and the Community’s Strategic Plan, to make ECOWAS approachable and serviceable to all citizens of Member States. 

“In this connection we consider ourselves (Permanent Representatives) vital catalysts in the supply chain of ECOWAS activities for the ultimate aim of improving the welfare and standard of living of our peoples”, he added.

At the same time, Ambassador Conteh disclosed that the Chairperson has set up a National Steering Committee on ECOWAS Matters to provide synergy between ECOWAS and her office.

He said, “It includes the key Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Finance and Development Planning and Defense, the ECOWAS National Office and the Office of the Special Representative of the President of the ECOWAS Commission in Liberia.” 

The President of the ECOWAS Commission, Marcel de Souza in his welcome address said that the bi-monthly meetings will be holding to discuss progress reports of the Community’s projects and developments.

While briefing the Permanent Representatives on the priority projects of the Community Development Programmes, the ECOWAS President stressed on the construction of the Lagos–Abidjan Highway and promised to involve the private sector to actualize the project.

Abuja, Nigeria –  For the first time, Liberians resident throughout the Federal Republic of Nigeria will gather to unite under one umbrella organization when they converge on the Eastern Nigerian city of Onitsha.

According to a press release issued by a setup Publicity & Mobilization Committee, the Liberians in Diaspora Nigeria will use the observance of their country’s 169^th Independence Day in Nigeria’s Anambra State to adopt an already reviewed constitution.

The release adds that the Liberians will also elect their first code of officials to steer them under the new national umbrella association during a two-day event slated for the 29^th and 30^th of July, 2016 respectively.

According to the press release, the Onitsha event follows an earlier convention held in late February of the year when delegates from various state chapters of the Nigerian Federation gathered in the commercial city of Lagos.

The delegates at the time, among other things, constituted an Interim Management Team (IMT) which is eventually leading them to the adoption of a constitution and holding of the elections.

According to Mr. Daoda Kanneh, the Secretary of the IMT, the constitutional review process came to an end in June 2016, when representatives from the Northern, Western and Eastern Regions converged on the city of Minna, Niger State where they harmonized the regional versions into one document that is now awaiting adoption during the pending Onitsha Convention.

The Constitutional Review Committee is headed by Cllr. E. Boakai Harvey.

The Northern Region constitutes of the Abuja, Niger, Kaduna and Plateau State Chapters. The State Chapters of Lagos and Ogun constitute the Western Region while Anambra and other eastern states make up the Eastern Region.

Already, ahead of the Onitsha National Convention, an Archie Delaney Seven-Man Electoral Committee has released the notice of elections and timelines as well as electoral guidelines and procedures for the event.

The Electoral Committee hopes to have nine posts occupied during the Convention: National President, National Vice President for Administration, National Vice President for Gender and Social Welfare, National Secretary General, National Treasurer, National Financial Secretary, National Assistant Secretary, National Public Relations Officer, and National Religious Officer.

At the same time, to ensure a successful event, the IMT has sent up five other committees. They include the Central Planning, Publicity & Mobilization, Hospitality/Accommodation, Fundraising and Entertainment committees.

The Liberian Diaspora Community in Nigeria is one of the largest Liberian Diaspora groups outside the country. A fourteen-year civil war in Liberia spurred thousands of Liberians into other countries, including Nigeria. Thousands in this part of the world had since returned home following the end of the civil war in 2003, while hundreds more opted to integrate into the Nigerian society following the end of their refugee status.

Onitsha, located in Anambra State, is the biggest river port city in Nigeria. It is located on the western bank of the majestic Niger River and faces its sister town, Asaba, the capital of neighboring Delta State.

Onitsha is an economic hub strategically located on the eastern bank of the river across the Niger Bridge. It has a population of more than half a million people, according to a 2002 statistics. Igbo is the main indigenous Nigerian language.

West Africa tourism destinations remain largely untapped for the huge number of potential Russian tourists whose incomes have steadily grown over the past few years and have shown high interest in touring different parts of the world.

In terms of tourism, the region still remains relatively unknown, primarily due to inadequate information and lack of publicity. Some say the media portrayed the region negatively as Ebola virus infested and all kind of diseases are widespread while others point to frequent attacks by Islamic militant groups, such as Boko Haram in Nigeria.

Besides the above mentioned few factors, “West Africa has poor tourism infrastructure and the West African governments and Ministries of Tourism representatives don’t do any marketing to promote destinations or engage the media to change the negative perceptions that have already existed among Russians,” says Felly Mbabazi, Executive Director of Safari Tropical Tours.

Mbabazi told me in an emailed discussion that she didn’t know whether “preferred destinations” would be the best term to use when asked about preferred destinations in the region for Russians, noting further that Russians are great travellers who spend freely on vacations abroad.

Russian population of nearly 148 million is a travelling population, according to Mbabazi, who for nearly 15 years, has directed and organized several group tours to safari in East Africa. East African safari includes Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania. Her company also operates tours to South Africa and other southern African countries.

“There are lot things to be considered in the tourism business and none of the West African countries has these. For example: distance from Moscow, quality infrastructure, reasonable prices, attractions like wildlife, white sandy beaches, gastronomic experience, and most important, tourist safety,” according to Mbabazi.

Nearly fifty Russian tourism directors and experts (who specialized in African tourism) shared the same concerns about the West African region in an emailed survey polled after the South African Tourism Lunch (SATL) held on March 25, 2016. The SATL event was held to present South Africa to top Russian agencies in Moscow.

“In my opinion on a tour of southern region of Africa is the most popular destinations: South Africa (Cape Town, Sun City, National Parks). Almost always added the Victoria Falls from both Zambia and Zimbabwe, safaris in Botswana. As for West African countries such as Ghana, this trend is a little hyped in Russia and I think that with the current economic situation, would not be very popular as tourism destinations for Russians,” says Evgeniya Danishevskaya, Leo-Style Tourism Agency.

According to her observations, Russian tourists often visit Senegal in West Africa Senegal. It’s not hard to say why Russians prefer Senegal, primarily for good security, the happy smiles, the wide beaches and clean ocean. But these can be found in Kenya and in South Africa, but that’s what attracts tourists to holiday in Senegal, so it’s the variety: desert Lompoul, riot of green plants in the Delta at the Blue Saloon, exotic cruises on the lake Retba, Irina Rodina, Director of The “Kaleidoscope” Travel Agency explained.

The capital really – the Dakar. In addition, all the original culture, fresh prawns, beautiful African women, national parks, great friendliness of the inhabitants. In addition, the gorgeous beaches and the exotic nature. Senegal is known as a supplier of peanuts, also for fantastic fishing, delicious smells, surfing, diving.

For instance in Cape Verde – the European level of service for those who want to relax from civilization, have privacy and explore the underwater world of Islands, attracts windsurfers and those who enjoy great fishing! (Cape Verde is one of five (5) centers of windsurfing and one of the world centers for sport fishing). This is not mass tourism. And in Carbo Verde it is possible to go all year round.

In fact, the country Ghana has never been on the list of most visited countries in the world and for Russians this is no exception. Until recently, Ghana was known as the second in the world exports of cocoa, in the views of Rodina.

Rodina thinks the country is however promising, Ghana “friendship before business.” Despite the low level of hotels and their high cost, tourists like sincere smiling and friendly locals who care much to keep their traditions and strive for civilization. Ghana, Rodina thinks the motto “feel free” – feel free! It will be interesting to visit the modern cities of Ghana, in ancient castles, feel freely the atmosphere of the locals.

Of course, tours to Ghana are considered to be exclusive, but shortly Ghana will be known for medical tourism because the doctors in Ghana receive education abroad, tourists will be able to afford treatment clinics in Ghana with low price and high quality and care. Also cosmetic surgery is one of the first places on the request of tourists-customers. It can also bring massage and treatment on alcoholism and drug dependence.

Tourists may be attracted to Ghana where everything is near: sea, river, and jungle. Many places such as Kakum rain forest is described in the novel, “15-year-old captain” by Jules Verne is also interesting! Ghana is one of the world’s leading exporters of gold and diamonds.

Unfortunately, the West African region is not well advertised. Well to conduct seminars, webinars, promotional tours, conduct training online test, quiz like, for example, Profi.Travel and obtaining certificates, Irina Rodina, Director of The “Kaleidoscope” Travel Agency wrote in media survey.

On her part, Ekaterina Afanasyeva, Chief Executive Officer of Camelot & SC Tourism Agency, pointed out that West Africa for the majority of Russian tourists is not yet exotic as there are many factors that impede tourism business to the region.

She explained further that factors for the development of this trend included absence of a direct flights, frequent reports in the media about Ebola, low information component (the Russian tourists know little about the West African countries) and cumbersome procedures of obtaining visas to this region.

The most famous West African countries are: Mali, Nigeria, Senegal, Côte d’Voire, Ghana, Burkina Faso … but unfortunately, it is quite difficult to say how popular these countries are as tourism destinations especially for Russians.
There are possibilities to increase business business there, with proper media advertising; it could become really interesting for Russian tourists.

“To be honest, West Africa is not popular in our company and I think among Russians in general. People think that this part of Africa is dangerous: criminal and epidemic situation is not good and there are no adequate information about these countries at all: where to go, what to see, where to live. People would like to know why they should go to new country,” according to Zlata Borisenko, Sales Manager from SODIS Travel Company.

Tatyana Denisova, Head of the Section for Tropical African Studies of the Institute for African Studies, Russian Academy of Sciences, wrote in an email media query that “West Africa has not a well-developed tourist infrastructure (compared to, for example, with Eastern and southern, not to mention North): not enough hotels located near the beaches, the beaches are ill-equipped (at least those that I saw in Ghana and Nigeria), the problems with urban and tourist transport, a sufficient number of national parks, as far as I know, for various reasons, not organized Safari, much-loved by Russians in Kenya.”

That is the beach and the “natural” recreation are low, and historical and architectural objects that could be of interest to the Africanist and ordinary tourist, are not so many.

From the point of view of infrastructure with the exception, apparently, are Cape Verde and the Gambia. But in Cape Verde, there are no direct flights from Moscow, the flight takes almost a day, the tickets are very expensive, but those Russians who travel there, respond very well and the beaches and hotels, and about the service.

“In the Gambia, Russians rarely traveled, and with the advent of President Jammeh reduced the flow of European tourists there. In addition, Russian tour operators prefer to work with reliable counterparts abroad. These contacts had long been established and are developing between Russian and East African, North African and South African travel agencies, covers are, but as far as I know, not so often,” Denisova explained in her comments.

“Tour operators from these regions attend tourism fairs in Moscow, bring catalogs and brochures, and establish personal contacts. I don’t know, maybe because also come representatives of the companies, but I personally, having been on several forums, not a single West African has participated,” she said.

Of course, security issues play an important role, and the relative instability is observed in almost all the countries of the region. From historical and architectural point of view, the greatest interest might represent Nigeria, Ghana, and Mali. But in Ghana the situation is quite stable, and in principle, tourism in Ghana could start to develop faster than in other countries, but this should be addressed, Russian tourists, who used to travel in Turkey and the Canaries, were very capricious, Denisova explained further in her written comments.

In Nigeria, the most interesting areas of the North, exactly where intensified by the Islamists of Boko Haram. In Mali – Timbuktu, Gao and other cities, where I have, in all life dream to visit, but it will probably not happen because it is clear that these areas are permanently closed to tourists.

Denisova believes that Ebola has already ended, although in the minds of Russians these areas are associated with something that is not too comfortable with the medical point of view. The problem of language. After all Turkey and Egypt as well as Greece, Cyprus and other places not only attractive and cheap, but also the fact that none of the tourists, not knowing a single word of English, are visited by huge numbers of Russians. The staff of those hotels, where there is a lot of Russian tourists who usually speaks Russian.

With French-speaking countries are especially hard. If English language as the average Russian knows, the French is knows by only a few. Thus, if anything, Nigeria will always find English speaking Nigerian to help, but I’m not sure that this could happen, for example, in Senegal.

An official from the Russian Federal Tourism Agency suggested in an email response with one question: “Why can’t the West African governments or the Ministries of Tourism seek corporate partnership with Russian media to promote the region’s tourism potentials to the public here? That could be a huge revenue from tourism business to the national income and a major contribution to the region’s economy.”

West Africa is popularly referred to as the Ecowas region. The Economic Community of West African States is made up of fifteen member countries that are located in the region. These countries have both cultural and geopolitical ties and shared common economic interest.

It is located west of north-south axis lying close to 10° east longitude. The Atlantic Ocean forms the western as well as the southern borders of the region. The northern border is the Sahara desert, with the Ranishanu Bend generally considered the northernmost part of the region. The eastern border lies between the Benue Trough, and a line running from Mount Cameroon to Lake Chad.

About The Author:
Kester Kenn Klomegah is an independent research writer on Russia-African affairs and a member of the Regional Council for Development of Relations with Africa.