Business

ECA Urges Respect For Human Rights In Free Trade Agreements

Published

9 years ago

March 27, 2017

By Joseph INOKOTONG
The Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), has counseled that the plight of the people should be paramount, especially human rights when negotiating the continent’s Free Trade Area.
David Luke, Director of the African Trade Policy Centre at the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), said this on Saturday at the launch of the report on Human Rights Impact Assessment of the African Continental Free Trade Area in Senegal’s capital.
He pointed out that ‘We need to put people ahead of economic aggregates and focus on human rights, especially for the vulnerable when negotiating Africa’s Continental Free Trade Area.’
Speaking to delegates at the 10thAfrican Development Week, Luke advised African states to carefully consider the overall benefits of the Continental Free Trade Area (CFTA) agreements and the possible negative impact for their populations.
A statement issued by Communications Section of the Economic Commission for Africa said quoted Luke as saying “We need to pay close attention to the details of how trade opens under the CFTA to ensure that we respect human rights commitments and keep focus on the people in whose name development is being pursued.”
The impact assessment report, a joint effort between ECA, the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights and the Friedrich Ebert Stiftung, remarks that trade liberalisation efforts must be balanced and the impact of distribution should be checked.
“We should ensure poorer countries can benefit from open trade. Inequality does not only matter to people living in poverty but also for the wellbeing of society,” stressed Caroline Dommen, a research consultant with the ECA.
Dommen noted that governments are concerned that “trade often benefits capital” leaving populations with little or no tangible benefits from open trade agreements. She remarked the report recommends that “trade should complement domestic production capacity and must benefit producers and consumers.”
Free trade agreements mainly affect the rights to food; movement; work and adequate standard of living. According to ECA, Africa spends $64 billion dollars a year on food imports, with 20% of inter-African trade stemming from agriculture. Since the bulk of African trade hinges largely on movement, any meaningful free trade agreement requires facilitating cross-border movement.
Cross-border trading provides income for43% of Africa’s population according to one of the report’s researchers, Christopher Changwe Nshimbi, the Deputy Director of the Centre for the Study of Governance at the University of Pretoria, South Africa.
The prevailing perception of cross-border trading as an illegal and tax evading informal sector defeats the purpose of understanding that this form of trading has an impact on the formal economy, said Nshimbi.
“Informal trade is dynamic and diverse in goods and services cutting across various sectors such as agriculture, manufacturing and services,” stated Nshimbi.
Reiterating Luke’s point on transforming the African economy to “ensure that it starts to work for the millions without jobs”, Nshimbi pointed out that informal traders constitute 70% of the economy in many African countries and recommended governments to include the informal economy as part of employment creation.
Easing border formalities and procedures isa priority if Africa wants to have a successful free trade area.
Women conduct a bulk of cross-border trading and are often faced with harassment, lack of security and are unaware of their rights. Discussion at the report launch pointed to many hindrances to cross-border trade, for example obstacles posed by border security agents, who in many circumstances, unwittingly hamper trade and erode profits for the traders. Complicated procedures that defy even the educated and lack of facilities play a role in reducing a trade that could benefit many families.
Those attending the report launch recommended that ECA should strive to effectively communicate with the negotiators for the free trade area that human rights and free trade should be aligned. Africa expects to establish its continent-wide economic community by 2027 and negotiators need to be aware of the confluence of rights and free trade.
The session concluded that in addition to easing of procedures, the negotiators should address the rights to movement, work and food, and how people are to be made aware of these rights.

Business

Dangote Refinery Boosts Fuel Exports as Gulf Refineries Shut Down

Published

1 month ago

September 2, 2025

Our Reporter

By: Fabian Apechihin

The Dangote Petroleum Refinery has ramped up fuel exports to international markets amid widespread refinery shutdowns in the Middle East, industry sources confirmed.

A senior official at the $20bn Lagos-based plant told The PUNCH that the facility exported significant volumes of petrol (PMS), diesel (AGO), and aviation fuel (Jet A1) to foreign buyers in August, following earlier shipments in June and July.

The surge comes as Saudi Aramco and other regional producers face heavy maintenance schedules, tightening fuel supply. Aramco has already shut down two plants and plans further closures, including its 460,000 b/d Satorp refinery in Jubail for a 60-day turnaround in November–December. Kuwait and India are also scaling back capacity for maintenance and seasonal demand.

According to Argus Media, these shutdowns are pushing Gulf nations to import record volumes of gasoline, with Saudi Arabia and the UAE sharply increasing purchases from Europe and other markets in recent months.

While some reports pointed to operational constraints at Dangote’s 650,000 b/d facility, the company dismissed such claims, insisting production is on track to reach 700,000 b/d by December. Earlier this year, Aliko Dangote announced the refinery had sold two cargoes of jet fuel to Saudi Aramco and recently achieved exports of about 1 million tonnes of petrol between June and July.

“With Gulf refiners offline, Nigeria has now emerged as a net exporter of refined products,” Dangote said.

Analysts suggest the extended refinery outages in the Middle East will further strengthen demand for Dangote’s output, positioning the Nigerian plant as a key supplier in regional fuel markets.

Would you like me to tighten this further into a 5–6 paragraph wire-style news brief, or keep it as a detailed feature-style report with more context on Gulf refinery shutdowns?

Business

US Oil Exports to Nigeria, Others Fall to 3.3m bpd as Local Output Rises

Published

2 months ago

August 20, 2025

Our Reporter

By: Fabian Apechihin

The United States’ crude oil exports to Nigeria and other African countries fell for the fifth consecutive month in July 2025, averaging 3.3 million barrels per day (bpd), the lowest level since March 2022.

The Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) disclosed this in its August 2025 Monthly Oil Market Report (MOMR), attributing the decline to weaker flows to Europe and Africa, particularly Nigeria, but without giving further details.

Industry analysts link the slowdown to the ramp-up of local refining capacity, especially the 650,000 bpd Dangote Refinery, which has reduced Nigeria’s reliance on imported crude, including from the US. Vanguard checks also show that crude importation has slowed further in recent months due to improved domestic production.

According to OPEC data, Nigeria’s crude oil output—excluding condensates—rose by 11 per cent year-on-year to 1.559 million bpd in July 2025, up from 1.386 million bpd in the same period of 2024. This marks the country’s highest monthly production level so far this year.

The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) corroborated the figures, stating that overall output, including condensates, exceeded 1.8 million bpd in July.

Gbenga Komolafe, Chief Executive of the NUPRC, said the milestone was achieved through the agency’s “Project 1 MMBOPD Incremental” initiative, supported by a multi-stakeholder collaborative framework.

“We are glad to report that we crossed the 1.8 million bpd mark on peak production last month, with average production hovering at 1.78 million bpd,” Komolafe stated.

He added that the Commission is working to sustain production growth by optimising the Maximum Efficient Rate (MER) framework, improving produced water management, and aligning operational shutdowns and maintenance schedules to minimise disruptions.

“With these measures and continued collaboration, the presidential mandate on production increase is well within reach,” he said.

Do you want me to make this rewrite more concise for a newspaper front-page brief or keep it detailed like a full energy market report?

Business

NDYPC Hails Otuaro’s Reforms in Presidential Amnesty Programme

Published

2 months ago

August 10, 2025

Our Reporter

• Lauds transparency, fairness in beneficiary selection and grassroots empowerment

• Says reforms align with Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, restore trust in Niger Delta

The Niger Delta Youths for Positive Change (NDYPC) has commended the Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP), Dr. Dennis Otuaro, for what it described as bold, people-focused reforms that are restoring trust and delivering tangible benefits to the Niger Delta.

In a statement signed and issued by Comrade Elliott Yibakeni, after the conclusion of leadership training sessions with ex-agitator leaders in Abuja, the group said the PAP, once in urgent need of renewal, is now undergoing a transformation that reflects transparency, fairness, and accountability.

“At a time when public trust in institutions was waning, Dr. Otuaro has emerged as a symbol of credibility and transformation,” the statement read. “His visionary leadership is restoring integrity, empowering communities, and driving a sustainable development agenda that resonates with the aspirations of the Niger Delta.”

According to NDYPC, under Otuaro’s leadership, beneficiary selection has become fair and merit-based, ending years of favoritism and political interference. The group added that access to education, skills training, and empowerment opportunities, both locally and abroad, is now guided by equity and open competition.

The group highlighted several internal reforms, including improved staff welfare, strengthened professional capacity, and strict adherence to best practices in public procurement. These, it said, have made the PAP more efficient, responsive, and transparent.

NDYPC also praised Otuaro’s inclusive governance style, noting his sustained engagement with traditional rulers, women leaders, civil society organizations, and local communities. This approach, the group said, has strengthened peace-building efforts and deepened trust between the PAP and the people it serves.

In line with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, the PAP has maintained consistent payment of stipends to ex-agitators and extended direct support to vulnerable populations. NDYPC also applauded new healthcare interventions for ex-agitators facing health challenges.

The statement further commended the programme’s investments in scholarships, vocational training, and economic empowerment initiatives aimed at preparing Niger Delta youths for leadership, innovation, and sustainable livelihoods.

“Every decision reflects a deep commitment to public trust, responsible stewardship, and long-term development,” NDYPC stated. “Under Dr. Otuaro’s watch, the Niger Delta is rising stronger, united, and filled with renewed hope.”