NAIJAFEED

Friday, June 22, 2012

India becomes Nigeria's major trading partner

India has overtaken the United States of America (USA) to become Nigeria's major export trading partner, according to the First Quarter 2012 Trade Statistics released by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS).

It came as the Indian government yesterday expressed interest in higher volumes of term contracts of crude oil supplies with the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).

The NBS report, which put the total value of the nation's exports in Q1 2012 at about N4.9 trillion, showed that total value of exports to India reached N688.5 billion compared to N607.7 billion credited to the US in the period under review.

The US was trailed by the Netherlands with N482.1 billion followed by Spain with N390.4 billion and Brazil which recorded N328.9 billion.

The relegation of the US to the second position is seen as a major development for Nigeria and India trade relations given that the US had remained the former's biggest trading partner since 1964.

However, the N4.9 trillion total export mark for the country in Q1 represented a decrease of about N2.1 trillion or 30.3 per cent over the figure in the preceding quarter.

The report blamed the decline in value of exports on decrease in the value of Non-crude oil exports (especially Products of the Chemical and Allied industries; Plastic, Rubber and Articles, wood and textile among others.

Reacting to the new trend in bilateral trade, Indian High Commissioner to Nigeria, Mr. Mahesh Sachdev, told THISDAY in an exclusive interview Thursday that India was determined to hold on to its new position for as long as it could.

He said: "India's arrival as the largest market for Nigerian exports does not come as a surprise as India has been Nigeria's second largest market for many years. Given steady increase in our demand for Nigerian exports, India is likely to maintain this pole position in the foreseeable future."

But in terms of balance of trade between India and Nigeria, the report indicated a trade deficit of N575 billion against the former within the period. This means that India was buying a lot more than Nigeria currently does from India.

According to him: "This figure of over 3.5 billion is obviously too high to be sustainable."

He argued that to maintain the current momentum of growth, both countries must ensure that more Indian products were imported into Nigeria.

The Indian High Commissioner said the surge in Nigerian exports to India had been aided by the openness and transparency of the Indian market to Nigerian products urged the Nigerian side to also ensure that Indian goods and services received similar embrace in the country.

This, according to him, could only be achieved by ensuring level playing ground, transparency, proper customs treatment as well as steps to curb faking and counterfeiting of Indian products.

He said:"During the Q1/2012, Indian exports increased by nearly 4 per cent over previous quarter. In recent weeks, India has permitted global unrestricted exports of agricultural products such as Wheat, rice, sugar, milk powder, etc-which are needed by Nigeria. We hope that Nigerian stakeholders would take steps to source these items from India as this would promote a more balanced bilateral trade."

Meanwhile, Sachdev maintained that expanding the volumes of term contract of supplies with NNPC would reduce India's current huge reliance on spot market purchases of various Nigerian crude adding that "If this is done, it would help engender greater stability to Nigerian crude exports to India, already their largest buyer."

The report further noted that: "Classification of the value of total Exports by region revealed that Europe lead in regional contribution to total exports with N1,816.8 billion or 36.6%,

by the Americas with N1,385.0 billion or 27.9%, and Asia with N1,113.9billion or 22.4%. Exports to African countries amounted to N535.0 billion or 10.8% of total exports with ECOWAS Countries contributing N246.7 billion or 46.1% of this amount."

This Day

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Video - Violence in Nigeria spiraling out of control

The latest wave of violence in Nigeria started after three churches were bombed on Sunday in Kaduna, a city which lies on the border between the Muslim north and the mostly Christian south. Boko Haram, the armed group that is opposed to Western ideology and which wants to establish an Islamic state in Nigeria, claimed responsibility for Sunday's suicide attacks.

Although the group says it is trying to wipe out Western influence in the country, the attacks have a distinctly sectarian hue. Just how much of a threat is the Boko Haram to Nigeria? Guests: William Okoye, Alhaji Garba Sani, Buba Misawa.

Al jazeera

Related stories: Video - Who are Nigeria's Boko Haram?

Another bloody Sunday - Suicide bombers attack 3 churches as youths launch reprisal

Thursday, June 21, 2012

U.S. identifies Boko Haram leaders as global terrorists

The Department of State designated Abubakar Shekau, Abubakar Adam Kambar, and Khalid al-Barnawi as Specially Designated Global Terrorists under section 1(b) of Executive Order 13224.

Shekau is the most visible leader of the Nigeria-based militant group Jama'atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda'awati Wal-Jihad, commonly referred to as Boko Haram. Khalid al-Barnawi and Abubakar Adam Kambar have ties to Boko Haram and have close links to al-Qa'ida in the Islamic Maghreb, a designated Foreign Terrorist Organization.

Under Shekau's leadership, Boko Haram has claimed responsibility for numerous attacks in northern Nigeria, its primary area of operation. In the last 18 months, Boko Haram or associated militants have killed more than 1,000 people.

Boko Haram is credited with the August 26, 2011 attack on the United Nations building Abuja that killed at least 23 people and wounded scores more. Boko Haram also claimed responsibility for the December 25, 2011 attack on the Saint Theresa Catholic Church in Madalla, Nigeria, that killed at least 35 and wounded dozens more. Boko Haram's deadliest violence occurred on January 20, 2012 in Kano, Nigeria, with a series of attacks that killed more than 180 people. Boko Haram's victims have been overwhelmingly civilian.

The designation under E.O. 13224 blocks all of Shekau's, Kambar's and al-Barnawi's property interests subject to U.S. jurisdiction and prohibits U.S. persons from engaging in transactions with or for the benefit of these individuals.

These designations demonstrate the United States' resolve in diminishing the capacity of Boko Haram to execute violent attacks. The Department of State took these actions in consultation with the Departments of Justice and Treasury.

All Africa

Boko Haram release video celebrating bombing of media houses and warning of more attacks

Suicide bomber - We're doing God's work

A suicide bomber who was blown off with an explosive device he was carrying on Tuesday said on his deathbed that the group was doing “God’s work” and would not stop.

The suspected suicide bomber however died in the hospital on Wednesday, police in Bauchi said.

The police said the suspected suicide bomber died at the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa Teaching Hospital, Bauchi, where he was receiving treatment after the bomb he was carrying exploded.

They said the suspect was taken to the hospital by the Police, following injuries he sustained from the blast.

A statement by the Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Mr Idris Abubakar, said the suicide bomber died in the hospital, where he was receiving treatment.

He said, “On June 19, at about 5.05pm, an anonymous caller informed the Divisional Police Officer, Township, Bauchi, that there was an explosion opposite ANPP Secretariat along Gombe road, Bauchi.

“The police went to the scene and on arrival, a young man was found at the scene seriously injured.

“Upon search by the police bomb experts, it was discovered that the unidentified man was hit by an improvised explosive device he was carrying.

“We recovered one revolver pistol and five rounds of life ammunition on him.’’

The statement added, “The bomber was rushed to the ATBUTH but died in the course of treatment.

“Before his death, the suicide bomber confirmed that he was member of Boko Haram Islamic sect.’’

On Tuesday, the suicide bomber had travelled by public transport for more than 393 km with the device from Yola, Adamawa State.

He was said to have concealed the bomb in his backpack.

The bomber was unfortunate when he carelessly dropped the bag on the floor to urinate in a corner.

The device subsequently detonated, dismembering his lower limb and fingers.

Shortly after the incident, while conscious and in pains, the bomber told onlookers – including police officers who had come to arrest him – that he was part of a larger cell of the terrorist Boko Haram sect who are infiltrating the city to carry out an assignment in “God’s name.”

He said his colleagues were on their way to the city from other towns.

When thoroughly searched, a gun was found on him, which the police reportedly took away.

PUNCH

Suicide bomber attacks church in Jos, Nigeria

President Goodluck Jonathan defends trip to Brazil amidst insecurity

President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday took up critics of his trip to Brazil to attend the United Nation's Earth Summit Rio+20 despite the troubling security situation in Kaduna and Yobe States, which both came under terrorist attacks a few days to his departure.

Jonathan, in a statement by his Special Adviser, Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, from Rio de Janeiro, dispelled criticism that his trip amounted to abdicating his responsibility to Nigerians.

He also cautioned the opposition against cashing in on every crisis in the country to score political points.

His trip also got the backing of the Federal Executive Council (FEC), which after its weekly meeting yesterday in Abuja, said through the Minister of Information, Mr. Labaran Maku, that the president could discharge his responsibility from anywhere in the world, given the technological advancements in telecommunications.

The president has come under fire since he left for the summit on Monday, a day after Boko Haram, in coordinated attacks, bombed three churches in Kaduna and Zaria.

The attacks, carried out by suicide bombers, triggered reprisals that forced the Kaduna State government to impose a 24-hour curfew on the state.

However, since his departure, the House of Representatives, Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) and the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), among others, have strongly condemned the trip, contending that it was unnecessary given the security situation in the country.

They had insisted that the president could have delegated any other government official to represent him at the UN Earth Summit.

But the president faulted the position of the opposition, saying that before his departure for Brazil on Monday, he had met with security chiefs and was satisfied with their plans to control the security situation in Kaduna and Yobe, where Boko Haram had launched attacks on troops deployed in the state, shortly before the president's departure.

"The crisis in Kaduna and Yobe occurred almost on the eve of the president's departure for this event and commitments had been made," the presidential statement said, adding: "The conference, Rio+20, is very important and nobody can doubt that.

"The issues that will be discussed at this conference are also issues that are relevant to Nigeria's interest. It is also an opportunity for Nigeria to promote its interest in terms of its place in global community.

"In any event, it is not as if government has abandoned the situation at home. Security agencies are there, they are on top of the situation. Before the president left, he met with security chiefs. The business of leadership cannot just stop because there is a crisis there.

"I think what we can do is to appeal to the opposition not to always play politics with everything; that is the major challenge we face, people always want to play politics with everything.

"If the president had refused to come to Rio, the same persons will turn around and say that there was an important conference attended by world leaders and the Nigerian president stayed away from it.

"It is as if there is nothing you can do to please our people. It is not that Nigeria is going to lose anything by Mr. President's presence here; rather, the country is going to gain a lot from his presence here.

"He is here serving the interest of Nigerians, it is not as if he has abandoned his responsibility," the statement said.

Jonathan, who met with the Nigerian community in Brazil soon after his arrival, assured them that Nigeria would make faster progress in its quest for development if all Nigerians back his administration's efforts to transform the country.

Also Wednesday, Maku told State House correspondents at the end of the FEC meeting that there was nothing wrong with the president's trip to Brazil in the face of the security situation in the country as his absence had created no vacuum in governance.

Maku flayed critics of the Brazilian trip, saying Vice-President Namadi Sambo has the constitutional backing to take over whenever the president is absent.

"The president can take decisions from anywhere in the world. His absence will not hamper his power to act. The vice-president effectively takes charge of affairs once the president is out of Nigeria and he is in touch with the president on an hourly basis.

"There is no vacuum, the most important thing is that the president and the vice-president work harmoniously and are in constant touch.

"If the president panics, what will the people do? We must stop making politics out of the unfortunate incidents going on in Northern Nigeria. The world is now a virtual society; that the president is out of the country, doesn't mean he cannot make decision on a matter," Maku said.

He said that the president has provided leadership on this matter, adding, "Let people make meaningful contributions on how to end this and not play cheap politics and engage in political blackmail. For those turning this to politics, they should re-examine their level of patriotism to this country."

Maku accused the president's critics of ignoring the terrorists and haranguing the president, adding that the debate had not shown solidarity with the president.

"What is required at this time is cooperation with the president. He is on a working visit to Brazil and not on a holiday," he added.

On whether the government would continue to subsidise petrol, Maku said if the government continues to do that, the endemic corruption in the sector would not abate.

This Day

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