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News_Naija

Franco-Nigerian Relations And The Burden Of History

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s state visit to France from November 27-29, 2024, was intended to strengthen diplomatic ties and enhance cooperation between the two nations. However, in Nigeria, despite its successful outcomes, the trip has raised a lot of dust, with critics questioning the frequency of Tinubu’s visits to Paris and his close relationship with the French leadership—widely known for its exploitative colonial and neo-colonial policies that have stifled Africa’s economic integration and development. Detractors warn that such high-level engagements risk entrenching Nigeria in a cycle of unequal agreements and imbalanced Memoranda of Understanding, keeping the country locked in its traditional role as a primary exporter of raw materials while remaining dependent on imported manufactured goods—further exacerbating its economic struggles. France’s enduring and exploitative influence over its former African colonies—a key factor in their continued economic dependency and poverty—raises concerns amid its renewed engagement with Nigeria, a nation twice its size in landmass. Some of France’s former colonies are Nigeria’s immediate neighbours, making their political and economic developments directly relevant to Nigeria’s peace and security. The term Françafrique, coined to describe the deep ties between France and Francophone African countries, refers to a network of personal relationships between successive French leaders and their African counterparts—connections maintained primarily for political and personal gain rather than to foster genuine economic progress. Two defining features of the disempowering Françafrique policy are the defence military cooperation pacts and the economic cooperation pacts with France’s former colonies. Until recently, the defence military cooperation deals guaranteed the ubiquitous presence of French military bases in 23 African countries, serving as instruments to safeguard France’s strategic economic and political interests on the continent. These military bases emboldened political leaders to extend their rule unconstitutionally and perpetuate themselves in power against the will of their people, as seen in Niger and Mali even before the recent wave of military coups.  As a result, efforts to promote democracy and good governance on the continent were severely undermined. The abrogation of the pacts and expulsion of French forces by junta leaders in Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger have weakened this coercive mechanism of French power in Africa. In an unexpected turn, Cote d’Ivoire, Chad and Senegal have also demanded the withdrawal of French military bases from their territories. Similarly, the economic cooperation agreements guaranteed the monopoly on the export of French industrial products to these former colonies in exchange for importing commodities from France, including strategic minerals, such as uranium and gold, with prices set by France. Additionally, three monetary cooperation deals with Francophone African countries in three different sub-regions require members to deposit their foreign reserves with the French treasury. This arrangement aims to ensure stability in the convertibility of the franc, which is backed by France, but at the expense of country-specific monetary and exchange rate policies. The bitter Algerian war for independence from France resulted in the deaths of 1.5 million Algerians and widespread human rights abuses. Additionally, Haiti was coerced to pay 100 million francs (approximately USD 21 billion) to France as a condition for France recognising this former colony’s independence in 1825. These events are dark chapters in the history of French colonialism and its aftermath. Nigeria will not forget in a hurry France’s retaliatory decision to work against Nigeria’s sovereignty and territorial integrity by recognising and supporting the secessionist Biafra during the civil war. This followed Nigeria’s declaration of the French Ambassador to Nigeria persona non grata, breaking diplomatic relations with France, in protest of France dropping atomic bombs in the Algerian Sahara contrary to the wishes of the majority of African countries. L’Hexagone in conjunction with Luxembourg also opposed Nigeria’s 1966 trade agreement with the European Economic Community, which was needed to boost its exports following Britain’s accession to the trade bloc. France’s invidious colonial and neo-colonial policies in Africa as well as its past actions against Nigeria’s sovereignty and leadership in ECOWAS, have thus cast a dark cloud of mistrust and rivalry over Franco-Nigerian relations for many years. Nonetheless, history need not be a destiny. Both countries must learn the appropriate lessons from the past and move forward with enlightened interest—one in which engagement is genuinely mutually beneficial for both countries. President Emmanuel Macron, first elected in 2017, appeared as a new-generation French leader willing to boldly confront his country’s ugly past. Notwithstanding the ill-advised attempt to truncate ECOWAS’s drive towards the adoption of a single currency, his early steps signalled the desire to change the old pattern of relations.  He fulfilled his pledge to “return African heritage to Africa” by returning 26 artefacts looted by the French colonial army to the Benin Republic in 2021. That decision triggered similar efforts to return stolen African artworks harboured in Europe and North America to their original countries, including Nigeria. The French President’s visit to Nigeria in July 2018 further underscored his desire to open a new chapter in bilateral relations and economic cooperation with Nigeria. According to the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs, in 2021, Nigeria accounted for 20 per cent of France’s trade with Sub-Saharan Africa, ranking fourth-largest behind Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia.  Africa’s largest economy is also a host to more than 100 active French companies led by TotalEnergies, the oil and gas giant, and recipient of its foreign direct investment in Sub-Saharan Africa. A major outcome of the 2018 visit was the launch of a French-Nigerian investment club aimed at fostering business cooperation. The club’s membership consisted of private sector leaders from both countries. Today, Nigeria’s banking sector is a major beneficiary of that cooperation with some of the country’s leading banks, such as Access Bank, United Bank for Africa and Zenith Bank, registering their presence in Paris for the first time in 2024 during President Tinubu’s state visit. The Nigerian National Bureau of Statistics data show that the trade volume between France and Nigeria continued its upward trajectory in the first half of 2024 with Nigeria’s exports to France reaching over N3.9tn (about $2.4bn), consolidating the latter as Nigeria’s top export destination ahead of Spain and Netherlands. President Ahmed Tinubu’s recent visit provided the opportunity to further expand trade and economic cooperation in key areas of interest to Nigeria, including agriculture, energy, solid minerals and blue economy. This was exemplified in the agreements signed by the two countries. For instance, the MOU on solid minerals provides for partnerships that will focus on the development of critical minerals, such as lithium, cobalt, and nickel, which are pivotal to advancing clean energy technologies. The two countries will also collaborate on research, training, and student exchange programmes to promote knowledge and technology transfer. The other major components of the agreement include the commitment to sustainable mining activities aimed at reducing the environmental impact of mining, joint extractive projects and remediation of over 2,000 abandoned mining pits across Nigeria thus leveraging France’s expertise in sustainable mining. In addition, commitments were made to invest over 300 million Euros in financial and technical programmes in Nigeria, including long-term support for agriculture and food security. Amid ongoing economic reforms in Nigeria—bringing both challenges and hardships against a backdrop of widespread poverty and insecurity—the country must prioritise economic growth, infrastructure development, and job creation to alleviate poverty and improve living standards for its citizens. Strengthening partnerships with other nations serves as a complementary step in this effort. While Nigeria should remain aware of the evolving relationship between the three former colonies and their former colonial master, France, and not be insensitive to those unfolding relations, its own ties with France—and indeed its broader foreign policy—should not be swayed by the actions of the unelected junta leaders in Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger. These leaders have shifted their countries toward Russia, which pursues its own strategic interests both in these nations and across the continent. Nigeria’s foreign policy should, therefore, remain firmly rooted in its core security, economic, and political interests in Africa and the wider world. Nigeria should, therefore, continue to support and advance the African Union’s peace efforts and trade initiatives, such as the African Continental Free Trade Area. However, Nigeria also needs to look beyond the African region to fast-track its economic growth and development through diversification in trade and investments.    

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News_Naija

Driving Sustainability And Technology For Economic Growth

In a rapidly evolving world where sustainability and technology shape economies, many businesses are being exposed daily to new ways of doing things to achieve maximum results. Companies and organisations organise elaborate seminars and conferences to expose people to new ideas. Over the years, many of these events have failed to meet the needs of participants, which indicates that there must be a missing link. The question to ask is, is there the right mix of resource persons and participants in such occasions? Truth is, there is the need to understand that meaningful and visible change must happen when those who “know the road” take the charge. To make the needed impact leveraging technology, and for sustainability to happen, they must be driven by experts. The S.O.F.T Conference, billed to hold in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, in July, stands to be different in many ways. It is a premier gathering of visionary youths, business executives, and policymakers committed to driving transformational change. S.O.F.T., which stands for Sustainability, Opportunities, and Future Technology, embodies the mission of shaping the future together—not through empty rhetoric, but through strategic action, innovation, and leadership. The event will open an opportunity for public-private partnerships that drive change, collaborate with governments and major industry players to accelerate the transition to a sustainable economy. The conference offers an opportunity for start-ups to showcase and investor-pitching as it would enable businesses to present their innovation to global investors ready to fund scalable, market-ready solutions. It is also expected to open doors for tailored programmes for rapid growth. Strategic matchmaking, investor meetings, and funding opportunities to help people scale their impact faster. This is where industry leaders, investors, corporate buyers, and governments come together to turn ideas into action. Whether you’re an innovator, startup or corporation, S.O.F.T. Conference ensures you meet the right partners, secure funding, and gain market access- all in one place. The high-impact conference is not for job seekers or casual attendees, it is a platform for decision-makers, industry leaders, and forward-thinking youths who are committed to economic development, sustainable innovation, and governance participation. The conference was carefully designed to bridge the gap between youth leadership, business innovation, and government policy. As global economies shift towards sustainability-driven models, young leaders must be equipped with the right networks, knowledge, and opportunities to take charge of their communities and industries. S.O.F.T. is where sustainability meets economic transformation, encouraging businesses and governments to adopt environmentally responsible solutions. Opportunities are created, empowering young entrepreneurs, policymakers, and business executives to collaborate and drive impact. Future technology is explored, ensuring Africa’s youth are at the forefront of digital transformation, fintech, smart cities, and AI-driven economies. The gathering is for individuals who are ready to lead and shape the future. It is not for passive attendees—it is for young business executives, entrepreneurs, and innovators driving economic change; government officials and policymakers focused on sustainability and youth empowerment; corporate leaders and investors seeking ground-breaking solutions and partnerships, and visionary youths who understand that leadership is about contribution, not entitlement. As the world navigates climate change, digital transformation, and economic shifts, the need for bold, action-oriented leadership has never been greater. The S.O.F.T. Conference is more than a gathering, it is a launchpad for those ready to shape Africa’s economic future through sustainability, innovation, and technology. For those who are serious about leading, innovating, and transforming their communities, S.O.F.T. is the place to be. It’s time to shape our future together. • Tony Onwuka, a technologist, writes from Abuja

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Worldnews

Popes Condition Improves, Prognosis No Longer Guarded: Vatican

Holy See reports ‘improvements’ in recent days, indicating pontiff may soon be able to leave hospital. Pope Francis is responding well to hospital treatment for double pneumonia and his doctors no longer fear for his life, the Vatican says. The Vatican added on Monday that the 88-year-old pontiff’s condition was “stable” with doctors lifting their earlier prognosis of “guarded”, indicating he is now out of danger and could soon leave hospital. Francis has been in Rome’s Gemelli University Hospital for more than three weeks. He was admitted on February 14 with a severe respiratory infection that has required evolving treatment. The pope’s doctors said they had recorded “improvements” in previous days, which had been “consolidated” by “blood tests and clinical assessments, as well as a good response to his drug treatments”, the Vatican said. It added that doctors expected Francis “to continue medical drug treatment in a hospital setting for further days”. An exact timeframe for the pope’s discharge was not provided. Francis had been under the “guarded” prognosis, meaning he was not out of imminent danger, for most of his hospital stay. The pope has been described as being in a stable or improving condition for the past week after two crises of “acute respiratory insufficiency” on March 3. The Vatican said earlier on Monday that Francis was continuing with his treatment and was undergoing respiratory physiotherapy to help with his breathing. The pontiff, who has used a wheelchair in recent years due to knee and back pain, also continued with some physical therapy to help with his mobility, it said. Francis is receiving oxygen in hospital, using a small oxygen hose under his nose during the day and noninvasive mechanical ventilation at night while he sleeps. The pope has experienced several bouts of ill health over the past two years and is prone to lung infections because he had pleurisy as a young adult and had part of one lung removed. Double pneumonia is a serious infection in both lungs that can inflame and scar them, making it difficult to breathe. The leader of the world’s nearly 1.4 billion Catholics has been working on and off in hospital and following the news when possible, including deadly floods that have hit his homeland of Argentina. Follow Al Jazeera English:...