Business
That Bilateral Air Services Agreement With Israel
In spite of the rising volume of trade between Nigeria and Israel and the large number of Nigerians performing the yearly Christian pilgrimage to Israel, there is no direct air link between the two countries.
As a result of this, “spiritual visits’ to the Holy Land and business trips have been tortuous and rigorous due to the absence of direct flights between Nigeria and Israel.
This is because anyone travelling to Israel from Nigeria has to make a compulsory stopover in countries like Turkey, France, Germany, Cyprus and Ethiopia before proceeding on the journey
Statistics from Israel’s Ministry of Tourism, however, indicate that Nigeria has the highest number of pilgrims coming to Israel after the U.S.
Observers, therefore, believe that the signing of Bilateral Air Services Agreement (BASA) with Israel in Jerusalem on October 28, 2013 would redress the trend.
The Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs, Prof. Viola Onwuliri, who signed the agreement on behalf of Nigeria, said that the agreement would deepen bilateral ties between the two countries and boost their economies.
“The agreement will augur well for movement of persons, pilgrims, businessmen, academics, the civil society and students. Many of our people also come here to benefit from the technology of Israel,’’ she said.
Onwuliri said that the agreement would also make a tremendous impact on trade and investment, agriculture, construction, tourism, security and capacity building.
Mr Zeev Elkin, who signed on behalf of the State of Israel, noted that the visit of President Goodluck Jonathan, who was in Israel when the agreement was signed, provided a great opportunity for the signing of the agreement.
The Minister of Aviation, Ms Stella Oduah, said that the BASA agreement would be exploited to enhance the performance of the aviation sector. She said that the aviation sector was already targeting the operation of daily flights to Israel.
On his part, Mr John Kennedy Okpara, the Executive Secretary, Nigerian Christian Pilgrims Commission, said that the agreement could reduce the number of hours which pilgrims spent on flights, as well as cut costs.
Mr Ike Willie-Nwobu, the Executive Director, Nigeria-Israel Chamber of Commerce (NICC), said that the BASA agreement with Israel would remove some barriers hindering trade between the two countries.
He stressed that Nigerian entrepreneurs had not been able to fully utilise the investment opportunities in Israel because of the rigours of travelling through connect flights.
“Anyone travelling to Israel from Nigeria has compulsory stopovers in countries like Turkey, France, Germany and Ethiopia before proceeding on the journey.
“This has been a major disincentive to Nigerian entrepreneurs seeking business ties with their Israeli counterparts,” he said.
Willie-Nwobu said that the agreement would open new frontiers for investment opportunities in various sectors of the economy.
“There will be opportunities for airlines that are interested in flying through major air routes in Nigeria and Israel.
“It will also create a crash in the price of flight tickets which is currently between N400,000 and N450, 000. It will shorten business transactions and reduce restrictions on export of goods,” he said.
Mr Jude Arinze, Executive Secretary of NICC, said that the BASA agreement would definitely boost trade between the two countries.
He said that the value of Nigeria’s exports to Israel had increased from N2.7 billion in 2012 to N4.5 billion in 2013.
While Israel’s import from Nigeria, however, declined from N14.6 billion in 2012 to N9.3 billion in 2013 and the current trade deficit between the two countries was N12.5 billion.
Apart from economic interests and pilgrimage binding Nigeria and Israel together, the two countries share common stance in global peace and fight against terrorism.
Israel’s President Shimon Peres, who met Jonathan during the 2013 pilgrimage to Israel when the BASA deal was signed, said that both countries were facing the menace of terrorism.
Peres said that Nigeria and Israel had been steadfast partners in efforts to combat radical religious terror groups such as al-Qaida, Hezbollah and Boko Haram.
“With Nigeria at our side on the front against terror, we remain determined as ever to combat the spread of darkness. The future can be saved by making peace; it is in Israel’s interest to live in peace with our neighbours. Peace, in itself, may be the greatest benefit to the two of us — Israel and Palestine.
“Terrorists all over the world are united in their attempt to destroy hope and unity; those of us who seek peace and freedom must be united in order to defend our common front,’’ Peres said.
On his part, Jonathan acknowledged the unrelenting efforts of the Israeli president to bring about a peaceful solution to the protracted Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
He said that Nigeria welcomed the commitment to peace talks by both sides and the recent release of a number of Palestinian prisoners by Israel. We urge that the momentum for negotiations and eventual resolution of the crisis be sustained,’’ he said.
Jonathan noted that with the burgeoning peace between Israel and her neighbouring countries, more Nigerians would be encouraged to visit the State of Israel.
He said that the number of Nigerians visiting Israel annually was ever increasing, stressing that not less than 30,000 Nigerians visited Israel in 2012.
Jonathan also said that about 50 Israeli companies were actively operating in Nigeria, either directly or through joint ventures.
He listed the areas of Israeli involvement in Nigeria as agriculture, construction, communications, infrastructure, water management and resources, education and health.
Stakeholders urge the Federal Government to improve Nigeria’s economic relations with the State of Israel, while aiding the fulfilment of the BASA agreement with the Middle East country.
Okoronkwo for News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).
Chijioke Okoronkwo
The Nigerian Communications Satellite Limited (NIGCOMSAT), the country’s satellite operator, has called for immediate promolgation of policy action that will enable the country to harness the potentials of Artificial Intelligence (AI).
NIGCOMSAT, also warned that Nigeria risks missing out on Africa’s projected $1.2trillion share of the global AI economy by 2030.
Managing Director of NIGCOMSAT, Nkechi Egerton-Idehen, disclosed this in a statement issued at the weekend following her participation in the Meeting of the National Council for Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy.
“Artificial intelligence is reshaping industries, economies, and societies worldwide, with projections that it will contribute up to $15.7trillion to the global economy by 2030. Africa stands to gain $1.2trillion of this if the right policies and innovations are in place”, Idehen said, citing a PricewaterhouseCoopers report.
The NIGCOMSAT MD underscored the transformative potential of AI in agriculture, highlighting its applicability in Benue State, widely regarded as Nigeria’s “food basket.”
According to her, machine learning tools could revolutionize agricultural practices by improving pest detection and optimizing planting schedules using satellite imagery.
“AI offers us the chance to not only flourish economically but also to achieve food security. However, we must ask ourselves if we are prepared to manage this technology responsibly”, she added.
Idehen also noted that internet access remains a significant barrier to AI adoption in Nigeria.
“For AI tools to be effective, basic digital infrastructure is essential. Addressing this gap must be a priority.
“AI is happening. We have the opportunity to manage this technology revolution responsibly, both in Africa and globally, through innovation and governance”, she said.
In August 2024, the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy released a draft National Artificial Intelligence Strategy, aiming to position Nigeria as a global leader in AI.
Corlins Walter
The Chairman of Emohua Local Government Council, Chief David Omereji, has said the council has so far spent over N1 billion for the electrification of communities in the area.
Omereji said this while addressing staff of the council at the council headquarters recently.
He said the move was part of his administration’s resolve to ensure peace and development of the LGA.
According to him, the Council spent about N29 million on monthly basis for the maintenance of the Emohua Local Vigilante group known as OSPAC, with each member being paid a stipend of N100, 000 monthly.
He diaclosed that 11 out of the 14 wards are currently enjoying electricity, while efforts are on to light-up the remaining ones.
“I also want to use this opportunity to inform the political class for purposes of records and for the understanding of the people that the Council under my watch have done more than enough”, he said .
The Emolga boss explained that all that have been achieved were through the personal effort of the Council, without support from anybody as rumoured in some quarters.
Omereji further reaveled that a number of other projects, including roads, fencing of schools, hospitals, courts premises, and reconstruction of some abandoned buildings at the Council Headquarters are being undertaken by his administration.
He enjoined the people of the area to support his administration’s drive to bring purposeful development to the LGA.
The Emohua Council boss, who reiterated his hatred for noise making, stated that his works would speak for him, and solicited the support of staff of the council and the entire people of the area.
He noted the fact that some people may not be happy with his achievements, saying that he would remain focused, while advising critics of his government to do so constructively with facts and figures.
King Onunwor
The Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP) has raised some ethical questions over a Financial and Technical Services Agreement (FTSA) between Sahara Energy and West African Gas Limited (WAGL), an affiliate of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC).
MOSOP said the agreement was not done in good faith, not in the interest of the Nigerian people, and did not follow due process.
Foremost Ogoni born activist and MOSOP leader, Fegalo Nsuke, who made this known in Abuja, weekend, described the Sahara-WAGL deal as fraudulent, deceptive and an insult on the intelligence and integrity of the Nigerian nation.
Nsuke called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to cancel that FTSA between Sahara Energy and WAGL, noting that the agreement is fraught with irregularities and deceptive.
“What Sahara and the NNPC did in the FTSA between Sahara and WAGL is shameful and depicts high level corruption in public service of our country.
“WAGL is an affiliate of Sahara and the NNPC. How then can Sahara go into an agreement with its own affiliate? It’s as good as going into an agreement with itself. This is deceptive and fraudulent”, Nsuke said.
He continued that “Sahara Energy is certainly not a company the Ogoni people want on their soil and we are calling on Mr. President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to terminate any deal between the NNPC and Sahara Energy over OML 11, and to allow for an inclusive arrangement that considers a fair treatment of the Ogoni people in the distribution of revenues from natural resource extraction on Ogoni soil.
“The last Ogoni Congress has been unequivocal on the Ogoni demand for justice and has given a clear path to resolve the three decade old conflict between all critical parties.
“It will be good to explore this path to peace and development for Ogoni and for our country”.
Nsuke accused Sahara Energy and the NNPC of frustrating the progress made by MOSOP to achieve a permanent solution to the Ogoni problem.
He urged a presidential intervention with deep consideration for a fair treatment of the Ogoni people in order to permanently address the problem.
He noted that Sahara Energy should give up on the Ogoni area to allow for an engagement in the interest of the country and the people.
Recall that MOSOP and Sagara Energy have recently been engaged in a row in what MOSOP describes as an unholy relationship between Sahara Energy and the NNPC over OML 11.
MOSOP expressly rejected Sahara Energy and called for a fair treatment of the Ogoni people in natural resource extraction in Ogoni.
It noted that Ogoni people, led by MOSOP, paid the sacrifice to take the oil from Shell, hence “the position of MOSOP must be taken into consideration in decisions relating to resumption of oil production in Ogoni”.