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Africa Must Control Its Resources, Trade — Shettima
Vice-President Kashim Shettima says African nations must take their rightful place in controlling the continent’s resources and global trade.
Shettima spoke on Friday in Cotonou, Republic of Benin, during a tour and assessment of the Glo-Djigbé Industrial Zone (GDIZ).
He said Africa must maximise its vast natural endowments by developing industries capable of processing raw materials into higher-value products.
The vice-president said Nigeria’s renewed industrialisation drive would leave no region behind, with the Federal Government working alongside subnational governments.
He expressed satisfaction with Benin’s efforts to achieve mass production and export of locally sourced resources.
Shettima regretted that Africa benefits from only about one per cent of the global cotton industry, valued at 370 billion dollars.
He said reviving Nigeria’s textile value chain could create millions of jobs, boost non-oil exports and stimulate economic activities nationwide.
The vice-president expressed his satisfaction after inspecting cotton, textile, cashew and soya bean oil production facilities at the industrial zone.
“We are here essentially at the behest of President Tinubu, in the spirit of his Renewed Hope Agenda, to see and peer-review global best practices,” he said.
Shettima said the visit would help Nigeria learn from Benin’s experience in creating integrated value chains for cotton, cashew and soya bean.
“We are setting up eight agro-industrial zones in eight states in our country,” he said.
He added that the GDIZ represented “an African success story where there is a whole chain of value addition in cotton, cashew and soya bean value chains.
“Be rest assured that we have learnt a lot of lessons through this visit, and we are going to replicate a lot of that in Nigeria.”
He said the Federal Government remained focused on making Nigeria one of the world’s industrialised nations under President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
The vice president was briefed on GDIZ’s structure, production capacity and investment potential by Benin’s Minister of Tourism and Foreign Trade.
The delegation inspected integrated textile and agro-processing facilities, where locally produced cotton is transformed into yarn, fabric and finished garments.
It also toured facilities processing cashew and other agricultural commodities for domestic consumption and export.
The visit formed part of Nigeria’s efforts to draw practical lessons from Benin’s success in linking agriculture with manufacturing.
It also focused on attracting private investment and transforming raw materials into higher-value finished products.
Shettima was accompanied by the governors of Kwara, Imo, Katsina, Plateau, Zamfara and Jigawa States.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
Edited by Kamal Tayo Oropo
The outcome of the Osun State governorship election has been described as more than a victory for Governor Ademola Adeleke and the Accord Party, with the result also presenting President Bola Ahmed Tinubu with an important test of his administration’s commitment to democratic competition.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared Adeleke the winner after he polled 511,067 votes, defeating his closest challenger, APC candidate Bola Oyebamiji.
For supporters of President Tinubu’s democratic credentials, the outcome carries significance beyond the immediate political fortunes of the APC.
The argument is straightforward: a president does not strengthen democracy by ensuring that his party wins every election. Rather, democratic confidence is strengthened when voters are allowed to make a different choice and that choice is respected.
That is why the Osun result could become an important reference point as Nigeria begins to look increasingly towards the 2027 general elections.
President Tinubu has repeatedly spoken about the importance of credible elections and the power of the ballot. Against that background, an opposition victory in Osun provides an opportunity to assess those principles beyond political speeches.
The result also offers a counterpoint to the long-standing perception that the party controlling the Federal Government must necessarily dominate elections across the states.
In Osun, voters have produced a different outcome.
Adeleke, seeking another term, secured the mandate after a closely watched contest in which the APC sought to reclaim the state. INEC’s final declaration has now put the people’s verdict on record.
The political significance could extend beyond Osun.
With political parties already positioning themselves for 2027, the election may fuel a broader conversation about the independence of the electoral process, the ability of opposition parties to compete and the extent to which voters can determine outcomes regardless of which party controls Abuja.
For Tinubu, therefore, the Osun election can be viewed from two perspectives.
Politically, his party has lost an important governorship contest.
Democratically, however, supporters of his administration can argue that allowing the electorate’s decision to stand is itself a victory for constitutional democracy.
The bigger question is whether this standard will continue to define future elections across Nigeria.
For now, the people of Osun have spoken, and INEC has announced their choice.
Adeleke gets another term.
The APC gets another lesson.
And Nigerian democracy gets another test passed—provided the people’s verdict continues to be respected.
Congratulations to the winner. Tough luck to the losers.
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