It took about two and a half hours from the heart of Lagos, Ikeja to Seme Border, plying an almost non-motorable and grid-locked road on the so-called ECOWAS high-way; but that is a story for another day.

The trip in a 30-seater coaster bus was on Day One of the recent United Nations Office on Drugs (UNODC) Sensitisation of Seme Border Communities on Smuggling of Migrants (SOM) in Promoting better management of migration in Nigeria by combating and reducing irregular migration that occurs, inter alia, through Trafficking in Persons (TIP) & Smuggling of Migrants.

The team’s first point of call was to pay advocacy on the Comptroller Seme Command of NIS, Ibrahim Liman. His warm welcome eased off the tension from the tortuous trip and then, the entourage proceeded to sight see the coastal line and border between Nigeria and Benin Republic while they awaited an interface with officers of the security formations at Seme Border.

It was both intriguing and frightening standing at the edge of the Atlantic, staring into the unknown, endless distance of the ocean. The cascading, rolling and roaring waves smacked of beauty and terror. Beauty in the form of nature’s wonder and terror in the form of the oceans ruthless claim of lives usually smuggled to other shores.

The ocean, just like the desert has claimed many Nigerian lives who are unfortunately misinformed and make the perilous journey to Europe in search of greener pastures. Such gave rise to the fight against smuggling of migrants in Nigeria which is championed by the UNODC through EU funding in conjunction with over 100 state and non-state actors.

The project aptly titled: “Promoting Better Management of Migration in Nigeria by Combating and Reducing Irregular Migration” which occurs, inter Alia, through Trafficking in Persons (TIP) and Smuggling of Migrants (SOM) is targeted amongst other things to encourage Nigeria to maximise the potential of migration, considering that the country is opportune to have a vibrant population with 70 percent within the range of 40 years.

As elucidated by UNODC National Project Officer, Sylvester Atere, at all meetings, they desire to see people have informed knowledge to make informed decisions and choices that will deter irregular migration and rather encourage regular migration in the Country.

The entourage went into a closed door meeting with the top brass of the NIS, Nigeria Customs and other federal establishments/agencies at Seme border with the same enlightenment message on SOM. The meeting which held at the Officers’ Mess of the Nigeria Customs and under the Chairmanship of the Nigeria Customs, Seme Area Command Comptroller, Abdullahi Mohammed brought the the fore the tapestry that connects smuggling of migrants with all aspects of smuggling.

Accordingly, representatives of all the formations where in unison over the germaneness of fighting against SOM in respect to its ever growing menace. According to them, they have been working together to address the issue in view of the fact that it is all encompassing and constitute security, economic, health and developmental challenges amongst others.

An excursion to a section of the colonial pillar at the imaginary border line between Nigeria and Benin Republic by officers of the formations gave the participants a clearer view of the seemingly fluid flow of traffic from one end to another. However, this flow could very well be misused by some unscrupulous elements to engage in any form of smuggling.

The next point of call to the Oba Akran of Badagry Kingdom, HRM, De Wheno Aholu Menu Toyi 1 in his palace heralded a rich culture of a people within the mix of trans-border activities. The entourage on arrival at the palace encountered a folklore singer with his band, heartily singing praises of the Oba and giving a rendition of the proud history of the Ogu (Egun) people who inhabit Badagry.

The warm reception made colourful by a full palace of high Chiefs and other subjects was made even more worthwhile with the pledge by the Oba to enlighten his people on SOM with the view to stemming its practice.

Day Two of the programme saw the UNODC and NIS team engaging  traditional leaders, religious leaders, transport union members, market men and women, artisans, community leaders, youth groups, business community, agencies and NGOs/CBOs in an interactive session over SOM. A video display of the  ills of SOM was shown to the crowd. At the end of the session, the stakeholders had a better understanding of SOM as enthused by a participant,  John Okun who stated that he is happy with the sensitisation which has informed him more on the dangers of smuggling of migrants adding that it is a useless endeavour that bears no good.

Day Three which was the wrap-up constituted of an interface with officers and men of various Federal Agencies involved in border management at Seme Border, including those from Benin Republic and then, an advocacy visit to Lords New Generation Schools. The target of the officers was apt on the premise of the rationale that they are managers along the border.

In all these sessions, after proper sensitisation on SOM, distribution of the campaign paraphernalia such as T-shirts, Fez cap, pen and flyers, a mock display of handing over red card to SOM was carried out by the crowd.

It is worthy of note that the SOM business is the 3rd most profitable and criminal business around the world and majority of those swallowed up by the desert are Nigerians. To this end, the call for synergy, purpose and union amongst security agencies at border communities is now or never. As earlier stated, the purpose is not to discourage people from traveling but to be be well informed and not do it irregularly. So to say, the security formations at the border need to be at peace with border communities and work closely with the communities, so they can have their ears to the ground and curb the menace of SOM as well avert chaos.

It is worrisome that since 2012 when the UNODC programme to  “Promoting Better Management of Migration in Nigeria by Combating and Reducing Irregular Migration,” statistics by NIS show that from January-December, 2012, January-December, 2013, January-December, 2014 and January-December, 2015; 800, 2,900, 8,700, 23,000 respectively have been registered as irregular migrants. From January-September, 2016 and January-May, 2017, the same NIS records that 22,500 and 10,000 irregular migrants case have been recorded respectively.

Meanwhile, another statistics by the Ministry of Interior, Italy indicates that, by 2016, irregular migration in Nigeria stood at 36,000 while that of Ghana stands at a distant 5,636. Accordingly, 316 convictions have been recorded by National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIB).

It is hoped that, by the end of this year, when the SOM project by UNODC would come to a close, the rate at which Nigerians engage in irregular migration would have reduced considerably, due to the acquired knowledge  and informed decisions that no nation’s economy is totally exceptional and anyone can actually make it right here in Nigeria, once they are hardworking. Most importantly, seeing the sustainability of this programme will go a long way in ensuring that its ideals do not die off, but are sustained by the government as well as both state and non-state actors or stakeholders as it were.

By Damian Daga, Seme

New Report “Dam Violence: The Plan That Killed Berta Cáceres” launched at COP23 denounces Honduran state agents and DESA dam executives as intellectual authors of assassination

Over a year after the assassination of the Honduran environment defender Berta Cáceres, the Justice for Berta Campaign brought the gruesome incidence to the fore at the UN climate change summit (COP23) in Bonn, Germany. Berta Cáceres, one of the most internationally-recognised environmentalists, was gunned down in her home for defending the land, water and human rights of the Lenca People and has since become the epitome of the violence such activists suffer.

At COP23, the Justice for Berta Campaign and the It Takes Roots delegation officially delivered the report entitled “Dam Violence: The Plan That Killed Berta Cáceres” to the Honduran government, which has yet to meet with the family and organisation of the murdered leader since the report’s release. The head of the Honduran delegation, Mr. José A. Galdames, Secretary of State for the Ministry of Energy, Natural Resources, Environment and Mining, received the report and invited the Campaign for Justice for Berta and the report’s authors to present it and testify in Honduran court.

The report is the result of a year-long independent investigation by the International Advisory Group of Experts (GAIPE) made up of specialists in international human rights law, international criminal law and comparative criminal law. The GAIPE report explicitly names the authors of the assassination and uncovers a plot against Berta Cáceres that was months in the making and included senior executives of DESA, the Honduran company holding the dam concession.

Over 180 international human rights organisations are supporting COPINH in demanding the arrest, trial and conviction of those who ordered and planned the murder of Berta Cáceres and the persecution of COPINH and her family. The case of Berta Cáceres exemplifies the urgency of strengthening protections for land and water defenders as a central question within the international climate negotiations.

In another achievement for the Campaign for Justice for Berta, the daughter of the beloved leader, Bertha Zúniga Cáceres, joined a press conference by video of international land defenders at COP23 to denounce the state and corporate intellectual architects of the assassination of her mother, Berta Cáceres.

Bertha Zúniga, General Coordinator of COPINH and daughter of Berta Cáceres, said: “As COPINH, as the family of Berta, and as the international community, we are joining to demand that justice prevail, not just for Berta Caceres but for all the men and women who defend land and territory. Not just the Lenca People, but Indigenous People who are on the frontline of territorial defense  As COPINH, as the family of Berta, and as the international community, we are joining to demand that justice prevail, not just for Berta Caceres but for all the men and women who defend land and territory.”

Alberto Saldamando, Indigenous Environmental Network: “The recent 2nd Global Witness report on the persecution and murder of environmental activists found that almost one half of the victims are Indigenous. The case of the assassination of Bertha Caceres, the impunity of the perpetrators recently was found to be at the highest level of the Honduran government and industry. They should be prosecuted.”

Heather Milton-Lightening, Indigenous Climate Action: “We stand with and fully support Berta’s family, community and social movement comrades in the  call for justice at the highest level. Understanding that Indigenous Peoples, particularly women and those in the broader gender spectrum are the greatest at risk of violence in Honduras. We know that death threats and intimidation are normalised through state and military oppression including private contractors. We call upon the states of globe to uphold human and Indigenous rights, to keep our frontline defenders safe.”

Jaron Browne, Grassroots Global Justice Alliance: “There is a bill before the US Congress right now, HR1299, the Berta Cáceres Human Rights in Honduras Act, calling for a suspension of U.S. security aid to Honduras until human rights violations committed by the Honduran security forces cease. This new report from GAIPE only underscores the urgency of immediately halting US military aide.  As social movements inside the Unites States, Grassroots Global Justice Alliance is actively campaigning in support of this bill, and the international call for the arrest, trial and conviction of those who ordered and planned the murder of Berta Cáceres.”

Ramon Cruz, Sierra Club International: “The Sierra Club stands in solidarity with all of the courageous environmental justice groups that are speaking out against impunity. Violence against those who defend nature is not only human rights violation, but a violation to nature itself. We call on international institutions and civil society groups the world over to keep these repressive governments accountable and demand that they bring all those implicated in Berta Caceres’ murder and the murders of hundreds of other environmentalists around the world to justice.”

UN Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, on Monday, November 20, 2017 said reports of African migrants being sold as slaves in Libya were “appalling’’.

Guterres said he was “horrified’’ by video footage appearing to show a slave auction where migrants were sold for 400 dollars apiece, made public by a CNN investigation.

“I abhor these appalling acts and call upon all competent authorities to investigate these activities without delay and to bring the perpetrators to justice.

“Slavery has no place in our world and these actions are among the most egregious abuses of human rights and may amount to crimes against humanity,’’ Guterres told newsmen in New York.

The UN chief said he had asked the relevant UN actors to actively pursue the matter.

Guterres added that the “scourge’’ of human trafficking should also remind the international community of the need to address issues surrounding migration.

He called for development cooperation to address the root causes of current migration flows, a meaningful increase in legal migration opportunities and enhanced international cooperation to crack smugglers and traffickers.

A new report released on Friday, November 17, 2017 by the African Development Bank (AfDB) has called for the industrialisation of the continent with a focus on smart industrial policy, structural transformations and a move towards processing the continent’s raw materials into value added products.

The report, entitled “Industrialise Africa: Strategies, Policies, Institutions and Financing”, was published to coincide with Africa Industrialisation Day on Monday, November 20. With contributions from 16 authors, including Nobel Laureate Joseph Stiglitz, and famous economists such as Justin Yifu Lin, Haroon Bhorat, Ravi Kanbur, John Page, AfDB Vice-President and Chief Economist Célestin Monga, and AfDB researchers Abebe Shimeles and Amadou Boly.

In his introductory remarks, Stiglitz discusses why industrialisation remains relevant as Africa enters the 21st century. The report provides practical policy advice to African countries on various aspects of industrial policies; looks at the structural transformation needed to pursue labour-intensive manufacturing akin to East and Southeast Asia; reviews criteria for success in building clusters and Special Economic Zones and industrial parks in developing countries; and draws lessons learnt from Ethiopia’s industrial policies, as well as the cases of China and South Korea.

In the report’s foreword, the President of the African Development Bank Group, Akinwumi Adesina, noted: “Africa must quit being at the bottom of the global value chains and move to rapidly industrialise, with value addition to everything that it produces. Africa must work for itself, its people, not exporting wealth to others.”

Rather than follow the economic growth seen in Asia and elsewhere, over the past 30 years, Africa has suffered from stagnation and de-industrialisation. The African Development Bank has put industrialising the continent at the top of its agenda. “Industrialise Africa” is one of the Bank’s “High 5” development priorities, which includes also “Light up and power Africa”, “Feed Africa”, “Integrate Africa” and “Improve the quality of life for the people of Africa”.

Stiglitz described the kind of structural transformation needed for Africa as one that is “moving towards a green economy, a learning society, and an innovation economy”. He added that “Innovation across the globe is largely focused on saving labour, which goes in exactly the wrong direction. We need to encourage innovation, which is focused on saving the planet and protecting the environment and less involved in saving labour.”

The UN General Assembly, in 1989, proclaimed November 20 “Africa Industrialisation Day”. The day is intended to mobilise the commitment of the international community to the industrialisation of the continent.