NARC Senior Research Fellows and Subject Expert Make Presentations

NARC Senior Research Fellows and Subject Expert Make Presentations

Today’s edition of the Nigerian Army Resource Centre (NARC) Weekly Subject Experts’ Presentation was held at Hall C, TY Buratai Block, Abuja. There were five presentations made by the Subject Experts covering Indian Subcontinent, Nigeria, West Africa and Gulf of Guinea and Western Europe including UK

The first present was made by Brig Gen OD Donibo subject experts for the Indian sub-continent. His presentation focused on the recent India’s economy that pick up speed amid global slowdown. The Indians economy growth rate accelerated to 6.1% in the first quarter of 2023, the growth was boosted by government and private capital spending even as private consumption remains sluggish. India as an emerging economy has the strongest prospect among emerging market economies.

In his analysis and lessons for Nigerian, Gen Donibo noted that Nigeria has the biggest market in Africa due to population with the services sector being the largest sector of the economy that account for 50% of the total GDP. One of the fastest growing segment in services are information and communication which also account for about 10% of total sector output. Agriculture, which is the past largest sector now account for 23% crude petroleum and natural gas constitutes just 11% of total GDP, Industry and Construction accounts for the remaining 16% of GDP. Nigeria GDP grow slow down to 2.31% compare to year ago. The government is expected to tackle energy crisis, security among others challenging issues. He recommended that the president to speedy the formation of his cabinet.

The second presentation by Brig Gen OF Ohunyeye subject expert for West Africa and Gulf of Guinea. His presentation discussed the biggest Refinery in Africa that was lunched by Dangote, the biggest oil refinery was commission by former president Muhamadu Buhari with hopes it will help Nigeria achieve self-sufficient and become an exporter of refine petroleum products. Some analyst has call it a game changer for Nigeria’s oil and natural gas sector, which has been struggling for many years as most of Nigeria’s state-run refineries are poorly maintained and operating far below capacity. Nigeria had thus been importing refined petroleum products for its local consumption, despite being African’s biggest oil producer. He highlighted the reasons for the failures of Nigeria’s refineries, benefit of functional indigenous refineries.

The third presentation by Maj Gen AB Adamu subject experts on Central America Region. His presentation discussed the Nicaragua’s parliament that closed the Red Cross. The National Assembly of Nicaragua has voted to break up the local branch of the Red Cross, a nonprofit humanitarian organization, as part of continues climb down on groups seen as a threat to the government of Daniel Ortega. The law makers call for a new Nicaragua Red Cross that will function and decentralized autonomous body under the government ministry of health.

The assault comes from what the Nicaragua government called partialities for helping people that was hurt during protest. Gen Adamu noted that in Nigeria over 30 NGOs where operating illegally in the North East Region some did not want the insurgency to end in Nigeria by booking accommodation hotel for 10 years. The role of NGOs in Nigeria like Nicaragua is a topic of debate, scrutiny and questioning their activities and their impact on National Security.

To address this issues it is important to consider diverse contributions and challenges posed by NGOs so as to arrive at an informed decision about their existence. He recommended that the federal government of Nigeria, NGOs and relevant government agencies including security forces, the need to strengthen coordination and collaboration so as to eliminate duplication of efforts and enhance the effectiveness of conflicts resolution and security operation.

The fourth presentation by Brig Gen MF Babayo subject experts on Nigeria. His presentation was on the border closure boosts that boost agriculture and created jobs. The closure of the country’s land borders with her neighbors was fully consolidated with further restrictions on import and exports of goods and services.

Gen Babayo noted that land border closure policy has positive and negative implications, the positive implications are increase in revenue to federal government through taxation, increase in income to farmers and increase in investment of local productions, the negative implications includes inflationary pleasure, unemployment due to lay-offs by manufacturing companies of Nigeria untold hardship to traders due to closure of some companies.

He recommended that the federal government to ensure that there is inter agency cooperation and synergy among the security and law enforcement agencies in enforcing the total compliance of countries border policies.

The last presentation by Maj Gen GB Audu subject expert for Western Europe including UK. Among other highlights, his presentation dwelled on Vinicius Junior Racial Abuse incident in Real Madrid verses Valencia La Liga. the Real Madrid on Monday condemned racism against their Brazilian star forward involving Vinicius Junior during a La Liga match over the weekend in Europe racism is based on a complex conglomerate of nationality, origin, accent, visual, features, religion and (ascribed) foreignness.

People of Africa descent are facing widespread and entrenched prejudices and exclusion across the European union. He noted that the ministry of foreign affairs could solicit the support of all football governing bodies to raise public awareness against racism in football by organizing or supporting relevant companies and activities which could include events such as the Africa week organised yearly in Brussels.