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The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has unveiled its digital certificates of origin, which is a digital system launched to boost commerce facilitation and examine fraudulent practices throughout the area.

Speaking on the official unveiling in Lagos, the Commissioner for Economic Affairs and Agriculture, Massandje Toure-Litse, who disclosed this on the official unveiling in Lagos extolled the initiative as a transformative milestone within the area’s quest for seamless cross-border commerce.

Welcoming dignitaries on behalf of ECOWAS President, Dr Omar Alieu Touray, Toure-Litse, underscored the importance of the brand new system in addressing longstanding challenges tied to commerce liberalization.

Represented by the Director of Customs Union and Taxation, Salifou Tiemtore, she stated: “This important ceremony is expected to have a significant and positive impact on the cross-border movement of goods in the ECOWAS region.”

She highlighted the worldwide proliferation of free commerce agreements noting that whereas such agreements unlock markets and enhance financial advantages, in addition they pose distinctive challenges for growing and least-developed international locations like these in West Africa.

“These countries have weak industrial capacity and depend highly on border taxes for economic development. The erosion of customs revenues and non-compliance with origin requirements further exacerbate their precarious economic situations,” Toure-Litse remarked.

The commissioner defined that below guide processes, certificates of origin, important for securing tariff preferences, have been liable to fraud and inefficiency.

“Unfortunately, as now we have skilled over time, the guide course of regarding the applying, supply, and approval of certificates of origin has grow to be cumbersome and fairly often topic to fraud.

“This has eroded confidence in the proof of origin, with falsified paper certificates being used to secure tariff preferences, thereby denying parties the benefits of trade liberalization,” she defined.

READ ALSO: ECOWAS Court dismisses SERAP’s suit on Abuja-Kaduna train attack

She famous that the e-CO initiative stems from over a decade of efforts to combine data and communication expertise into border procedures in West Africa.

According to Toure-Litse, ECOWAS has made vital strides in digitising commerce devices.

“In addition to automating the Community transit procedure through the Automated System for the Management of Transit Goods, ECOWAS has reformed the procedures under the ECOWAS Trade Liberalization Scheme and embarked on the ambitious project of dematerializing the certificate of origin,” she added.

She additional talked about that since 2019, ECOWAS has been growing a regional e-CO Hub to digitize the certificates of origin system.

The commissioner defined that this platform connects Customs administrations of exporting and importing international locations, guaranteeing safe communication and environment friendly commerce facilitation, embodying the slogan, “Borders divide, Customs connects.”.

“The newly launched system eliminates manual signatures, reduces fraud, enhances transparency, and streamlines cross-border movement of goods,” stated Toure-Litse.

She said that the e-CO Hub permits for the digital signing of certificates, that are digitally authorised by Customs authorities earlier than being securely transmitted to the importing nation’s Customs administration.

“The certificates will be transmitted through a secure and dedicated system, ensuring seamless and efficient trade facilitation,” she added.

The commissioner famous that this digital transformation would considerably cut back time spent verifying certificates and enhance confidence within the proof of origin course of. “Customs administrations will spend less time verifying authenticity, and the streamlined process will encourage increased trade within the ECOWAS region,” Toure-Litse defined.

“We must collectively embrace this initiative to realize the full potential of trade liberalization in our region,” she urged.

“The launch of the ECOWAS e-certificate of origin marks a pivotal step in fostering economic integration, improving trade efficiency, and curbing revenue losses due to fraud, setting a precedent for digital trade facilitation across Africa,”

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Introduction
The first African Military Games had been held in Nairobi, Kenya between April 7 and 17, 2002.
Organised below the auspices of Organisation of Military Sports in Africa (OSMA) and the International Military Sports Council (CISM), the primary version had 32 African nations in attendance. Why a second version didn’t maintain till now’s befuddling.

Abuja 2024 Games
Nigeria are the host of the second African Military Games, from November 18 to 30, 2024 in Abuja, the Federal Capital City.

The Grand Patron of the Games is Nigeria’s President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Chief Host is Nigeria’s Chief of Defense Staff, General Christopher Gwabin Musa, a former nationwide basketball and volleyball participant within the Nigerian military; and the co-host is the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, Nyesom Wike.

The Games are an meeting of athletes in Military institutions in all of the 54 African nations. For the 2024 version, though 44 nations indicated an curiosity to take part, with only some days to the beginning of the Games, 25 nations have confirmed and registered. More could seemingly nonetheless register and take part.

The Events
There are additionally 19 completely different sports activities occasions to be competed for. They embrace soccer, golf, basketball, volleyball, area hockey, monitor and area athletics, biking, taking pictures, archery, fencing, handball, boxing and so forth.

The Venues
The major venue is the primary bowl of one of the stunning, state-of-the artwork and trendy sports activities edifices in Africa, the MKO Abiola National Stadium. The remaining soccer match, the opening and shutting ceremonies and the athletics occasions will happen there.

Other sports activities will probably be held in varied sports activities amenities unfold all around the metropolis of Abuja, together with inside Military cantonments.

All the amenities are present process facelifts to attain worldwide requirements and guarantee nice performances.

Motto and Theme
The Motto of OSMA, the organiser of the Games, is ‘Friendship through Sports’ capturing the essence of collaboration between the militaries and residents of all African nations.
The theme of the 2024 Games is ‘Enhancing military cooperation in Africa through sports’.

In a transparent demonstration of this spirit, though Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger had pulled out of ECOWAS (the organisation of 16 nations in West Africa, led by Nigeria) earlier this 12 months as a result of ideological variations, all of the three nations are collaborating in these video games, underlining the commonality of function, and of sports activities as a strong soft-power device that may bridge divides, soften tensions, and drive regional and even continental relations (and battle resolutions) between nations.

The metropolis of Abuja
Abuja is without doubt one of the most trendy cities in Africa. Located within the geographical coronary heart of Nigeria, it’s a actually cosmopolitan metropolis with slightly of each a part of Nigeria in its make-up.
It is a vacationer delight for guests who benefit from the outside at night time. The metropolis is secure and its night time life is superior.

Activities past sports activities
During the video games, the athletes, officers, all members of the visiting delegates in addition to the touring military of sports activities followers and the media, will probably be handled to a full dose and array of Nigerian hospitality, together with the nation’s wealthy and various tradition, delicacies, leisure, sights, sounds and glad faces of the folks of Abuja.

At a press convention final Tuesday in Lagos, worldwide Afrobeats star, Olamide (Baddo) was revealed as the primary entertainer of the Games. He will carry out in the course of the opening ceremonies.

The Nigerian Military And Sports
The Nigerian navy has at all times been an integral a part of Nigerian sports activities.
The first Nigerian and African to win a person medal (Gold) at any worldwide sport occasion was a soldier, late Major Emmanuel Ifeajuna, within the excessive leap. It was on the British Empire and Commonwealth Games in 1954.

The Military ruled Nigeria for a number of a long time from 1965. They used their well-established custom of bodily exercise within the navy via sport, to ascertain a strong basis for sports activities improvement within the nation.

The navy recruited many younger Nigerians proficient in sports activities into the armed forces; arrange a number of Military golf equipment in varied sports activities of their formations; offered a lot of the sports activities directors that arrange the constructions and constructed the primary main amenities for sports activities; supervised, organised and took part in international sports activities politics and occasions.

Under the Military, with their massive variety of educated and well-trained personnel, glorious amenities of their barracks, custom of self-discipline and getting issues performed with out the bureaucratic bottlenecks related to civilian governments, Nigeria’s sports activities improvement was speedy and big.

The navy produced excellent directors, athletes and amenities that influenced the quickest sports activities improvement programme in Nigeria’s historical past from after the Civil struggle in 1970 to the mid Nineteen Nineties.

At varied instances, navy personnel headed the sports activities ministry, the National Sports Commission, the Nigerian Olympic Committee, and many of the nationwide sports activities federations. They additionally provided a lot of athletes in varied nationwide groups to worldwide sports activities occasions.
The custom of selling sports activities throughout the navy in Nigeria has at all times existed however to completely different levels, and internet hosting of worldwide sports activities occasions isn’t new to Nigeria.

The CDS – A New Visionary
So, the nation is worked up concerning the internet hosting the 2024 African Military Games below the supervision of a soldier who was a former nationwide athlete. It is a daring assertion about sport and the navy in a brand new dispensation.

Sport generally is a very useful gizmo in worldwide diplomacy, a rallying level, a unifying power. It is an empowering device for the youths, for his or her enrollment into establishments together with the navy, partaking them in helpful exercise away from different societal ills, and for constructing a wholesome civilian/navy relationship.

General Christopher Musa and his workforce are nice visionaries, following within the custom of earlier giants of navy sports activities in Nigeria’s historical past.

The Economic Community of West African Countries (ECOWAS) Court on Friday ordered the Sierra Leonean authorities to pay a compensation of $15,000 in damages every to 2 of its residents for violating their rights to safety.

The two residents – Hassan Kargbo and Mohamed Fornah – had in a go well with requested the courtroom to implement their rights following a violent quelling of protests by safety forces within the West African nation.

The police and military had allegedly used dwell ammunition and tear gasoline towards unarmed younger demonstrators which led to the dying and accidents of many throughout the demonstrations.

Justice Gberi-Bè Ouattara, who delivered the judgment, held that Sierra Leone violated the candidates’ elementary rights.

READ ALSO: ECOWAS launches initiative to tackle disinformation

Other members of the panel are Justice Ricardo Gonçalves (chairman) and Justice Edward Asante.
The courtroom famous that the Sierra Leonean authorities failed in its obligation to the candidates, and neither appeared nor offered a defence earlier than the courtroom.

The courtroom, due to this fact, delivered the judgment towards Sierra Leone by default.

It additionally ordered the Sierra Leonean authorities to research to establish and prosecute these accountable for the violence, which occurred in Makeni on July 17 and 18, 2020.

The courtroom equally ordered the state to take measures to forestall the extreme use of power throughout peaceable demonstrations within the nation going ahead.

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On Thursday, the ECOWAS Court of Justice dismissed a swimsuit filed by the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP), in search of N50 million for every sufferer of the Abuja-Kaduna prepare assault.

Terrorists in March 2022 bombed an Abuja-Kaduna rail line close to Rigasa in Kaduna and kidnapped a number of passengers.

At least 30 individuals died within the incident.

Another 150 victims are nonetheless unaccounted for.

Justice Dupe Atoki, who delivered the judgement, held that SERAP’s claims had been inadmissible as a result of the organisation failed to satisfy the “victim status” requirement important for litigation beneath Article 10(d) of the identical Protocol.

She stated: “The court docket recognises its jurisdiction to listen to the case because it concerned potential human rights violations inside a member state, in accordance with Article 9(4) of the ECOWAS Supplementary Protocol.

“However, the court docket determines that the case doesn’t meet the standards for a public curiosity motion, or actio popularis, which requires that the alleged violations have an effect on a big, indeterminate section of the general public or most of the people itself.

“The victims of the March 28 attack were identifiable individuals rather than an indeterminate public group, making the claim unsuitable as a public interest litigation.”

Other members of the panel are Justice Ricardo Gonçalves (chairman) and Justice Sengu Koroma.

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Nigeria is getting into highlight, with the internet hosting of the 2nd version of the African Military Games, Abuja 2024, code named “AMGA Abuja 2024”, from November 18th -Thirtieth, reinforcing its management place as hub of army operations in Africa.

As athletes from the continent collect to compete, Nigeria’s affect in internet hosting and guiding the video games, displays its rising function in fostering African partnership and stability.

This is extra in order the nation is internet hosting the African Military Games after a 22-year hiatus, reflecting a robust image of resilience and management for each the nation and the continent.

Nearly deserted, this occasion’s revival emphasises Nigeria’s function as a unifying pressure in Africa, bringing army forces collectively to foster cooperation, peace, and camaraderie amongst African nations.

A visit to the MKO Abiola International Stadium, one of the lovely stadia on the African continent, having been renovated in time to host the most important army video games in African historical past signifies Nigeria’s substantial funding in monetary and human assets to host the army video games and displays the nation’s dedication to making a world-class occasion that promotes unity, showcases African expertise, and strengthens worldwide sports activities diplomacy.

Nigeria’s new Chief of Defence Staff, a former athlete himself and first-class soldier, General Christopher Musa, presently driving an genuine sports activities revival within the army, says that internet hosting the sport highlights Nigeria’s dedication to strengthening African partnerships by way of sports activities diplomacy, reinforcing belief and collaboration on problems with regional safety and stability.

“The Games are a step toward revitalising African unity and self-sufficiency, projecting a continent ready to address its challenges and stand stronger on the global stage,” the Defence Chief additionally stated.

Also in his efforts in direction of utilizing the platform of the AMGA 2024 to foster peace and cooperation amongst nations of Africa, as chief host, the Nigerian Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Christopher Musa has additionally reached out personally to aggrieved international locations who in their very own volition pulled out beforehand from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) therefore, Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger are all billed to take part within the now christened African Military Olympics thus furthering cooperation and sports activities diplomacy amongst African nations.

For Nigeria, internet hosting the well-known army recreation in Africa, akin to different worldwide army sports activities competitors at this important second is a welcome improvement as the sport will present the much-needed alternative to current Nigeria’s scorecard of management to the worldwide neighborhood.

It may even current alternative for Nigeria Armed Forces to showcase their abilities to the world as officers and personnel of the Nigerian Armed Forces drawn from varied army formations throughout the nation are anticipated to take part through the occasion.

As on the final depend and nearly some three weeks to the video games, 32 international locations have already registered their athletes, with Ghana topping the checklist with 267.

Other international locations with anticipated giant contingents, aside from the host, Nigeria, are Algeria 160, Kenya 60, Tunisia 48, and so forth. So far, over 2000 athletes and their officers have been registered to take part within the sports activities feast.

More will be part of because the deadline for registration approaches, thrilling new spirit and power blowing by way of the African army institutions.

Conceived as a platform for the army in Africa to work together and improve good working relationship and collaboration, the sport not solely function a contest but in addition as a catalyst for continental cooperation.

The African army video games provide greater than a show of athletic expertise and army self-discipline, it represents a step towards deeper cooperation, stronger partnerships, and enhanced regional safety.

Both female and male athletes will take part within the 19 sporting occasions that includes; Badminton, Boxing, Basketball, Combat Swimming, Football, Golf, Judo, KickBoxing, Obstacle Crossing, Shooting, Squash, Table Tenis, Lawn Tenis, Taekwondo, Volleyball, and Wrestling amongst different sporting actions, thus demonstrating how Sports Diplomacy can foster collaboration, strengthen partnership and construct belief among the many African nations.

Military sports activities have through the years been a platform for fostering unity, breaking down obstacles and selling peace amongst nations. With the peculiarity of safety challenges in Africa, starting from terrorism to worldwide insurgencies, cross hassle partnership by way of sports activities is well timed and important.

The African Military Games embody the spirit of cooperation, providing armed forces from varied international locations a impartial floor to work together past the battlefield.

For Nigeria, internet hosting the occasion will function a possibility to interact constructively with different nations, presenting a imaginative and prescient of collective defence and resilience in an more and more complicated safety panorama.

Nigeria’s function as host additionally aligns with the broad efforts in sustaining regional safety, notably by way of establishments such because the Economic Community for West African States (ECOWAS) with a historical past of peace conserving in Liberia, Sierra Leone and Mali, thus demonstrating Nigeria’s sturdy dedication in stabilising the area.

Hosting the video games in Nigeria may even reinforce the nation’s management place and deepen army and non-military relations with different African international locations. These relations are mandatory as international locations work collectively to collectively sort out points reminiscent of cross border terrorism, piracy and organised crime.

Furthermore, the sport will create an avenue for sharing practices in defence infrastructure, joint workout routines as sports activities competitors offers alternative for data switch, capability constructing and technological collaboration.

Sports diplomacy has additionally in current instances change into a gentle instrument that fosters unity past conventional diplomacy.

For occasion, the Military Games will deliver collectively officers and personnel from various cultures and backgrounds, nurturing camaderie and mutual respect.

The cultural trade from the varied ethnicities will strengthen the African identification rooted in cooperation and reinforcing the concept that the continent’s future will depend on partnership reasonably than isolation because the internet hosting of the sport by Nigeria will underscore the nation’s dedication to constructing the collective African spirit. In the long term, the Military Games may even contribute in humanising troopers, shifting perceptions of the army of being solely about battle to an establishment that may construct bridges.

Athletic occasions, not solely promote bodily prowess but in addition stimulates self-discipline, teamwork, and management qualities important in efficient army operations. Nigeria as a bunch nation may even have the chance to showcase the capabilities of its armed forces and the nation’s rising affect in Africa whereas additionally projecting a picture of energy, resilience and readiness.

The video games may even provide taking part troopers the chance to excel on the worldwide stage, inspiring nationwide pleasure and reinforcing the notion that Nigeria is just not solely a regional energy however a companion dedicated to African collective progress.

The video games may even entice consideration to Nigeria’s army assets, infrastructure and logistics experience for a rustic investing closely in defence modernisation, because the occasion will spotlight its army adaptability in each fight and non-combat roles reminiscent of catastrophe response and peace constructing.

For Nigeria, it is a distinctive alternative to guide by instance, demonstrating that African international locations can work collectively to construct a safer, extra built-in future. As these video games foster friendships, strengthen alliances, and encourage collective motion, Nigeria stands poised to profit not solely by elevating its army profile but in addition by contributing to a extra united and resilient Africa.

In a continent the place unity is usually examined, the African army video games remind us that energy lies in partnership. Through sports activities diplomacy and shared army values, Nigeria helps lay the inspiration for an Africa that’s not solely safe but in addition linked by bonds.

Okoronkwo, a management and good governance advocate, wrote from Lagos. He might be reached by way of: [email protected]