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How Nigeria is disenfranchised in staffing positions in ECOWAS, Tinubu Must Take His Rightful Position as Chairman, Says Sotayo

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The Economic Community Of West African States (ECOWAS) is an institution established to promote member states’ trade, security, welfare, etc. Such benefits involve member states sharing responsibilities in funding, staffing, and management. However, it was discovered that Nigeria, as a major financier, has never tapped into all the benefits accruable to its participation and membership as a nation.

Findings reveals the scheming against Nigeria is not only with Francophone countries. It’s common with all the other countries and other anglophones.

Firstly, Nigeria as a nation has not been maximally benefiting from staffing at ECOWAS. From our discoveries, opportunities for recruitment are usually offered to other smaller countries, which in their capacities have never measured up to Nigeria’s support that ECOWAS has been enjoying. Most often, staffing privileges are denied Nigerians who have headed units, departments, or even acted in the capacity of positions to be recruited for, and are suddenly eliminated after interviews for those respective positions, while smaller nations with meager financial contributions are offered the jobs. Information at our investigative disposal further shows that Nigerians with intellectual capacities are always disenfranchised when it comes to positioning and staffing at ECOWAS.

While Nigerian leaders who have been playing a “Big Brother” role to the West African community should not look away from these anomalies, it should be noted that accruable benefits should be harnessed in line with Nigeria’s status in the community of member states. It is also crucial for Nigeria to redefine her membership with management and positioning as a major stakeholder in the West African body.

Findings also show that scheming against Nigerian states is common with Francophone, Anglophone and other countries when it comes to staffing. Institutions under the body like the ECOWAS Commission, Parliament, Court of Justice, and other Nigerian citizens are usually disenfranchised for promotion opportunities. Discoveries show instances of foreigners who, despite scoring far lower than intellectually qualified Nigerians during interviews, are given jobs for which they lack relevant knowledge or experience.

When any victim approaches the permanent secretary, they are denied a hearing unless they hold a director position within the commission, leading one to wonder if only a director’s voice can be heard. It was also discovered among staffing victims that they are treated as orphans in an institution where their country is a major stakeholder.

Statutory officers who are political appointees presented by their member States, Out of the Present 7 Statutory positions, Nigeria has a commissioner in charge of Internal Services, He sits in meetings but does not have voting rights during staff interviews,Nigeria is at a disservice here. Nigerian should have more voices to harness and reap from their huge investments in ECOWAS.

Hence all Statutory positions are always decided on by the council of ministers and are mandatorily made open to member States.
The Secretary general of ECOWAS parliament position is open now. Nigeria is urged to ensure that one of her citizens is scheduled for this office.

It is disheartening to see some Anglophone countries joining Francophone countries to disenfranchise Nigeria and monopolize top offices within the commission.

The attention of Mr. President is drawn to these issues for onward directives and actions from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to ensure that the noted anomalies in staffing and the standing status of Nigeria as an outstanding stakeholder in the community of states at ECOWAS are constructively addressed. Moving forward, Nigeria should begin to take her rightful position in ECOWAS as a nation that has heavily invested in the West African community states. Disenfranchised by other ECOWAS member countries.
Staffing privileges denied to Nigerians who have acted in positions advertised for several years are often disenfranchised when it comes to positioning and staffing at ECOWAS
among other member states when it comes to staffing.
The trend of disenfranchising Nigerians in promotion and recruitment opportunities obtains in all ECOWAS institutions, such as the Commission, Parliament and the Court of Justice
⁠Most times the Nigerian mission (foreign affairs) barely understands or take their time to understand. Often the foreign affairs desk will insist on only staff members from position of director can see the minister
⁠statutory officers (political appointees) include only one Nigerian commissioner who has no voting rights (not career officers)
The position of Secretary General of ECOWAS Parliament is currently open. It is highly advisable for Nigeria to ask for this position with voting rights to compensate for the non voting-right commissioner it currently has
⁠It is disheartening joining other countries .
Nigeria could ask for the process to be halted and see how it can be returned back to its former or original statutory status
It should indicate interest in the position to back up the non-voting rights commissioner of internal services.

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Symbolic gestures to tangible cooperation, Air Peace clearance, Oil giant Petrobras return is key gain of Tinubu’s Brazil visit, Says Onanuga

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……Air Peace clearance for Lagos-Sao Paulo direct flights excites President

The return of Brazil’s oil giant, Petrobras, to Nigeria’s upstream is a major breakthrough recorded by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s two-day state visit to the largest economy in South America, Minister of Information and National Orientation Mohammed Idris said yesterday.

Besides, Nigeria’s largest airline, Air Peace, was given the right to commence Lagos-Sao Paulo flights to underscore the renewed economic and cultural ties between the two countries.

Sao Paulo is Brazil’s economic powerhouse and largest city.

Air Peace Chief Executive Officer, Allen Onyema, said the airline would deploy a Boeing 777 from its fleet to service the route.

A symbolic flight was planned for last night.

These agreements are part of the Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) signed by the two countries during the President’s third visit to Brazil in less than one year.

His two earlier visits were on invitations extended to Nigeria by G-20 and BRICS.

“Air Peace is now cleared to run flights between Lagos and Sao Paulo”, Brazilian President, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, declared to the excitement of President Tinubu at a joint news conference at the Palácio do Planalto in Brasília to round off the visit.

According to Presidential spokesman, Bayo Onanuga, President Tinubu said the resumption of Petrobras’ operations five years after it halted joint ventures in Nigeria, would reignite economic cooperation in the energy sector.

“We have the largest gas repository. So, I don’t see why Petrobras doesn’t join as a partner in Nigeria as soon as possible. I appreciate President Lula’s promise that this will be done as soon as possible,” Tinubu said.

The President praised his Brazilian counterpart for committing to revitalising the partnership between the two nations.

“Nigeria’s economic space remains a virgin land, full of opportunities for Brazilian companies,” Tinubu said, while acknowledging Embraer’s role in boosting local airline operations through plans for a service centre in Nigeria to support maintenance and repairs.

Reflecting on his past engagements in Brazil, Tinubu urged a shift from symbolic gestures to tangible cooperation.

“Honourable Ministers of both countries, members of the Brazil Business Group, I have listened carefully to my friend, President Lula. We had a lengthy discussion. We talked about history and about African and Brazilian heritage.

“We tried to see why we are not at the level we wanted. We have allowed some problems and activities in the past to deter us from making progress and fulfilling our promises. But today, we say that is the end of that,” he said.

Tinubu stressed Nigeria’s readiness to partner Brazil in technology transfer, food security, renewable energy, and manufacturing.

“Today, we are fighting and working hard to bring our sovereignty to the level of expectation that we, as a nation, the most populous, the most dynamic country, share with Brazil. We need to share—technology transfer, energy, economy — so Brazil can continue to widen opportunities for us to embrace Africa. Africa is the new frontier,” he said.

The President also called for knowledge sharing in pharmaceuticals, saying “we have elevated this promise to the path of reality, as you have seen in various MOUs. I don’t know why the manufacturing of generic drugs, which Brazil has done deeply and far, cannot be in Nigeria.

“I don’t see why the technological superiority of Brazil is not shared with Africa. We assured each other that only we can develop our economies to help our sovereignty”, President Tinubu said.

Highlighting the reforms at home, Tinubu assured Brazilian investors of a new era in Nigeria’s economy.

“The reforms I’ve embarked upon since I took over in Nigeria have been very impactful. It was initially painful, but today the result is blossoming. It’s getting clearer to the people. We have more money for the economy, and there will be no more corruption.

“We have the governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria here. You don’t have to know him before getting the foreign exchange you need. The speculators are out. In our currency market, the door is open for businesses,” he said.

President Lula described the renewed Brazil–Nigeria engagement as timely in an era of rising protectionism.

“At a time when protectionism and unilateralism have returned, Nigeria and Brazil reaffirm their bet on free trade and productive integration. We continue to be dedicated to building a world of peace, free from hegemonic impositions.

“There are many possibilities for synergy between the world’s two largest countries with black populations. Agriculture and livestock, oil and gas, fertilisers, aircraft, and machinery, among others, represent wide avenues for cooperation.

“Increasing direct connections between Nigeria and Brazil is another essential step to strengthen the ties between our societies. We have approved the launch of a direct flight, to be operated by Nigeria’s largest airline company, Air Peace, between Lagos and São Paulo,” he said.

The following MoUs were signed between the two countries:

*Bilateral Air Services Agreement by Nigeria’s Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, and Brazil’s Minister of Ports and Airports, Silvio Costa Filhos.

*Diplomatic Training Cooperation and MoU on political consultations were signed by Minister of State for Foreign Affairs of Nigeria, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, and her Brazilian counterpart, Ambassador Mauro Vieira.

Nnaji, and Brazil’s Luciana Santos.

*The Managing Director of Nigeria’s Bank of Agriculture, Ayo Sotinrin, and Brazil’s Minister for National Bank for Economic and Social Development (BNDES), Aluísio Mercadante, signed an MOU for cooperation on trade and investment promotion, harmonising efforts to expand agricultural financing, investment, and joint projects.

Nigeria is currently Brazil’s 49th largest export destination, with trade between both countries reaching $2.1 billion in 2024.

Following the agreements, President Tinubu attended a state luncheon, hosted at the Itamaraty Palace.

Mohammed Idris: BASA to deepen ties

Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, described the Bilateral Air Services Agreement (BASA) signed between Nigeria and Brazil as a significant breakthrough that will reconnect the two countries economically, socially, and culturally.

He described BASA as representing more than aviation.

“The 350 years of slavery between Africa and Brazil is being looked at again by the two leaders. And one way of looking at it is to ensure there is now a reconnection – economic, financial, social, cultural, whichever sphere. I think this is the best way to really go past what has happened during the period of slavery,” the minister said.

He noted that President Tinubu’s fourth meeting with President Lula in just over a year underscored the growing partnership between the two nations, which he said would also benefit Africa.

The minister said immediate “quick wins” from the agreement were already being realised, with a symbolic flight planned from Brazil to Abuja at midnight on Tuesday.

He noted that the direct link would reduce travel time between the two countries from more than 24 hours through European routes to about seven hours.

“Once this becomes commercially viable, it will not just enhance trade between the two countries, it will also improve the cultural and social cooperation that already exists,” he added.

Onyema, who described the BASA agreement as “a milestone,” said: “We cannot start daily flights for now, but we want to start with three weekly flights. As we go on, we develop the route and we’re going to increase the frequency. We told the Brazilians that we want to do Lagos, Rio, São Paulo and back to Lagos”.

The Air Peace chief emphasised that aviation would serve as a catalyst for unlocking the economic potential of both nations.

“The Brazilian economy is the largest in Latin America. The Nigerian economy is one of the largest in Africa. They need to tap into this. But without aviation, it’s very, very difficult for some of these things to be actualised,” Onyema said.

Boeing 777 for route

Speaking in an interview, Onyema said: “Nigerian aviation is grateful to President Tinubu for all he has been doing for the industry.

Air Peace has had long relation with Brazil as the biggest customer to Brazillian airplane maker, Embraer.

Air Peace signed a firm order for 13 Embraer E195-E2 jets in 2019, with the delivery of the first aircraft in early 2021. This was part of a larger agreement that included purchase rights for 17 additional aircraft of the same type, bringing the total potential order to 30 jets. The airline is the first African carrier to operate this new generation of Embraer aircraft.

Besides buying aeroplanes, Air Peace is fine-tuning strategies for the setting up of an aircraft maintenance facility in Nigeria.

Embraer, a few years ago, unveiled plans to establish an MRO (Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul) facility in Nigeria, in partnership with Air Peace. This initiative is part of a broader maintenance deal with the Nigerian airline to provide local maintenance support for its growing fleet of Embraer aircraft, aiming to conserve foreign exchange for airlines and create jobs in Nigeria.

As one of Nigeria’s biggest flag carriers , Air Peace is designated on Lagos/ London, Dubai, Johannesburg, Tel Aviv, China, Mumbai, Antigua and Barbuda,

Air Peace serves 20 major cities in Nigeria and many regional destinations throughout West Africa (Accra, Dakar, Douala Freetown, Banjul, and Monrovia.

Petróleo Brasileiro S.A., better known by and trading as the portmanteau Petrobras, is a Brazilian majority state-owned multinational corporation in the petroleum industry headquartered in Rio de Janeiro. The company’s name translates to Brazilian Petroleum Corporation — Petrobras.

Petrobras began operations in Nigeria in 1998 in the deep waters off the Niger Delta. It sold its stakes more than 10 years ago to raise cash for domestic projects. Since then, Nigeria has been working to address some of the problems that have limited oil and gas output.

Petrobras stopped business in Nigeria five years ago.

The company was ranked #71 in the 2023 Fortune Global 500 list. In the 2023 Forbes Global 2000, Petrobras was ranked as the 58th-largest public company in the world.

Petrobras was created in 1953 under the government of Brazilian president Getúlio Vargas with the slogan “The Oil is Ours”. It was given a legal monopoly in Brazil.

In 2000, Petrobras set a world record for oil exploration in deep waters, reaching a depth of 1,877 metres (6,158 ft) below sea level. In 2002, Petrobras acquired the Argentine company Perez Companc Energía (PECOM Energía S.A.) from the Perez Companc Family Group and its family foundation for $1.18 billion.

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JUST IN : $4.2m COVID-19 fraud : Apetu of Ipetumodu, Oba Olugbenga Oloyede.jailed four years in US

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The Apetu of Ipetumodu in Osun State, Oba Joseph Oloyede, has been sentenced to more than four years in prison in the United States.

Oloyede, 62, who holds dual U.S. and Nigerian citizenship and resides in Medina, Ohio, was on August 26 handed 56 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Christopher A. Boyko.

According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Ohio in a statement on Tuesday, the monarch, was also ordered to “serve three years of supervised release after imprisonment and pay $4,408,543.38 in restitution.

“He also forfeited his Medina home on Foote Road, which he had acquired with proceeds of the scheme, and an additional $96,006.89 in fraud proceeds investigators had seized,” the statement read.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office said Oloyede led a conspiracy to exploit COVID-19 emergency loan programmes created for struggling businesses.

“From about April 2020 to February 2022, Oloyede and his co-conspirator, Edward Oluwasanmi, conspired to submit fraudulent applications for loans that were made available through the U.S. Small Business Association (SBA) under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act,” the statement read.

In April, the duo pleaded guilty to wire fraud and tax fraud charges linked to a pandemic relief scam that siphoned over $4.2m in federal stimulus funds.

The court was told that Oloyede, who also worked as a tax preparer, “operated five businesses and one nonprofit, while Oluwasanmi owned an additional three business entities.

“Both defendants used their businesses to submit loan applications using false information.

“They obtained approximately $1.2 million in SBA funds for Oluwasanmi’s entities and $1.7 million for Oloyede’s entities,” the statement added.

According to investigators, “Oloyede submitted fraudulent PPP and EIDL applications in the names of some of his clients and their businesses.

“In exchange, Oloyede would receive 15-20% of their loans as the fee, or kickback, for obtaining the loans for them, without reporting this income to the IRS on his own tax returns.”

The funds were then used for personal gain, prosecutors said.

“Investigators learned that the defendant used funds obtained from these loans to acquire land and build a home and purchase a luxury vehicle,” the U.S. Attorney’s Office disclosed.

In all, Oloyede “caused the SBA to approve 38 fraudulent applications, amounting to $4,213,378 in disbursed loans and advances.”

His co-conspirator, Oluwasanmi, 62, of Willoughby, was earlier sentenced in July to 27 months in prison.

He was also ordered to pay more than $1.2 million in restitution, forfeit a commercial property purchased with fraud proceeds, and surrender more than $600,000 held in financial accounts.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office emphasized the significance of the conviction, noting that the case was jointly investigated by the Department of Transportation Office of the Inspector General, the FBI Cleveland Division, and IRS-Criminal Investigations as part of the Pandemic Response Accountability Committee Fraud Task Force.

“This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Edward D. Brydle and James L. Morford for the Northern District of Ohio,” the release concluded.

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BREAKING : Air Peace is set to launch direct flights from Lagos to Brazil, following an agreement reached during President Tinubu’s visit to Brazil

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Air Peace, is set to begin direct flights from Lagos, Nigeria  to São Paulo, Brazil following an agreement reached during President Bola Tinubu’s state visit to Brazil

Details later

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