Author: Emeka Gbandi

Anthony Ekene Onwuka, an accomplished lawyer and a former staff of Nigeria’s diplomatic mission, is the Special Assistant (SA),Project Monitoring&Special Duties on Presidential Monitoring Committee on Niger Delta Development Commission(NDDC) In this exclusive interview, Prince Ekene speaks on his duties as an SA; his experiences and challenges on the job; his relationship with his boss, Senator Godswill Akpabio and his many achievements as the Minister in charge of the NDDC. He concludes in this no hold barred interview, by calling on his many Diaspora contemporaries to return home and contribute more meaningfully to Nigeria’s development. Sir, congratulations on your appointment…

C Mounting Death Toll in the Central Mediterranean Calls for Urgent Action UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) are deeply disturbed by reports of a tragic shipwreck off the coast of Libya. Fears are that this latest incident could have claimed the lives of up to 130 people. The rubber boat, which reportedly embarked from the Al Khoms area east of Tripoli, is said to have capsized due to bad weather and stormy seas. The NGO SOS Méditerranée reported that the first distress call was received by authorities on Wednesday morning. SOS Méditerranée and…

EU leaders are to search for pandemic strategy solutions on Thursday under immense pressure due to Covid-19 vaccine shortages and a fresh spike in cases. Our top priority is to speed up vaccination campaigns,” European Council President Charles Michel wrote to the 27 heads of government ahead of the video summit. The summit was moved exclusively online as cases climbed in member states. The bloc’s inoculation drive is advancing much slower than in Britain or the United States. Meanwhile, France, Germany, the Netherlands and Belgium are among those trying to stop a potential third wave in its tracks by re-tightening or…

The economy of the United States of America is considered one of the largest and most profitable economies in the world. Many companies around the globe compare their economic trajectory to the changes in the American economy. This clearly shows how the countries largely rate their economy in the line with the changes in the US dollar. The coronavirus outbreak in china and its subsequent spread to other countries including the United States of America has caused severe effects to the global market. The stock markets, America included recorded several shock waves, and financial volatility continued to increase in line…

With twenty three fuel price increases, six reductions and one decisive price reversal, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) persistent upward review product price, often with reasons that lack credibility, always put pressure on the macro and micro economic breath of Nigeria. At the receiving end of each experience is the average Nigerian. Each fuel price increase digs a damaging hole in his purchasing power; with a punishing impact on his aspirations, existence and sense of worth. Olamide George’s son slipped and hit his head on the bucket placed beside the bath tub; as he tried to pick his towel…

The Pungent Food Insufficiency Narrative in the Southwest: Diaspora Onion Farm-Tech Rescue Initiative Ikechi K. Agbugba (PhD), (Director, Research & Development/International Coordinator, Africa Agriculture Agenda (AAA), Senior Advisor, African Youth Diaspora Organization) Food supply chains and items in Nigeria are increasingly getting expensive; most especially in the Southern region. Hence, the need to improve on the scope of farming and cultivation of crops and merchandising. Among other dangers associated in the food supply chain and the prevalent hitches affecting Nigeria’s agriculture sector, the increase in the quantity of spoilt and substandard food products in the case of food with fast…

Re: All Nigerian Political Parties in diaspora Security Conference “The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.” – Martin Luther King Jr. Our attention has been brought to the above subject matter of withdrawal of participation by APC. We were pleasantly surprised that APC Diaspora agreed to be part of this patriotic event in the first place. But it turned out to be a false hope. The current precarious security situation incubated, hatched and flourished under the APC incumbent government. We…

The fallout from the Minister of Finance Ministerial Briefing on the 2021 Nigeria’s National budget is mainly the proposed action by the Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN) to flip and sell some critical National Assets to assist raise necessary funds to finance the budget gap. This underscores the pressure on the side of the FGN to figure out how to generate and raise requisite funds to finance the budget estimate. The issue becomes more precarious when it is realized that the rest of the world is paying specific attention on Nigeria especially arising from the unprecedented damages to the National…

According to Hon. Kenneth Chibuogwu Gbandi, the newly appointed Deputy National Chairman, Diaspora Engagement of African Democratic Congress, the involvement of Nigerians in Diaspora in the social-political transformation of Nigeria has now become an SOS call for Nigerians is diaspora to team up with our credible compatriots in Nigeria to execute “Mission Nigeria Rescue” to salvage the sinking ship of a great nation Nigeria. Below is part of Hon. Kenneth Chibuogwu Gbandi’s intervention note during the ADC-DN 1st Global Roundtable (FGR) on the 12/12/2020. Dear Distinguished Senator Mrs. Patricia Akwashiki Deputy Chairperson ADC BOT and Chairman of the occasion, dear…

Hon. Miriam Onuoha, a lawmaker from Imo State who is sponsoring the bill to decriminalise cannabis in Nigeria. Whenever there is a new global geopolitical or economic trend, African countries have always jumped on the bandwagon, albeit through subtle prodding from those leading them into booby traps or simply doing so with the eyes closed and totally forgetting to read the fine prints critically. In Nigeria’s eagerness to jump onto the cannabis gravy train, it has just made its first grave mistake. It had overlooked the potential pitfalls it will encounter when it decides to draft a legislation that fails…