Bob Dewar

Call on the Acting President Dr Goodluck Jonathan

I paid a formal call on the Acting President Dr Goodluck Jonathan.

I had earlier issued a statement designed to be clear and reassuring. While wishing President Yar'Adua a full recovery from his illness, the statement warned against anyone trying to exploit any confusion by acting unconstitutionally or undemocratically. It also warned against anyone trying to take advantage by stealing public money. Instead I made clear the Acting President should be supported by everyone in his management of the affairs of State. Britain would certainly give him constructive support.

It's important for the Government to get back to business urgently on the many challenges confronting Nigerians. These include democratic reforms, peace in the Niger Delta and reducing  poverty and corruption. Britain as always wants to be an honest and helpful partner in helping tackle these and other issues which affect the lives of ordinary people.

Posted at 08:13 04 March 2010 by Bob Dewar  |  Comments[1]

The next generation project

The New Year is being celebrated in Nigeria with much sombre reflection on all the difficult challenges ahead facing the country. But it's not all negative.

One thing that's important is to think long term and strategically,.rather than short term and for the benefit of vested interests. So it was inspiring to meet the members of an Independent Task Force set up with the President's support, supported by Harvard University and sponsored by the British Council. In 2010 they will take forward the 'Next Generation Project'. So much of the challenge in Nigeria and West Africa is to give young people choices and jobs for a better future. This can be done if the 'democraphic dividend' is exploited positively with the right policies.

The first job of the task force is to analyse the situation and what policies might bring a positive demographic dividend- if leaders make the most of their young people- or the reverse if they don't. Mapping scenarios and explaining them to policy leaders and then getting those policy leaders to 'own' and implement the right policies could make all the difference for Nigeria's future and for its prospects of joining the top 20 economies.

Posted at 13:46 04 January 2010 by Bob Dewar  |  Comments[0]

Contributors to international peacekeeping

Capacity building and transfer of experience to help create Nigerian- and by extension, regional West African- centres of excellence was again the theme last week. This time when our Minister for the Armed Forces visited. The UK helped create the peace keeping college at Jaji some years back.

Nigeria is now one of the world's top four contributors to international peacekeeping. Darfur and Liberia are just two examples. A new course to help on modernisation of the armed forces was launched at the National defence college. And the first instructors have just qualified in a new joint maritime security training centre in Lagos. International best practice is an important theme within the training, including international law and human rights principles.

Posted at 13:44 01 December 2009 by Bob Dewar  |  Comments[0]

Building regional and international trade

Held an interesting breakfast in Lagos with one of Nigeria's main banks, which was a chance to brainstorm on prospects for Nigeria's recovery from current economic difficulties and on how UK and Nigeria can do even more bilateral trade and investment. My pitch was that the UK remains the natural partner for Nigeria because we offer the gateway and contacts to the globalised world and also offer good quality and standards. In the current banking situation in Nigeria and elsewhere, one of the key lessons has been the need for better regulation for example. Transparency is important. So are standards. And so is the need for all countries to work together to rebuild confidence and look outwards, building regional and international trade. It is certainly not the time to be protectionist. Anyway the feeling round the table was that there are some cautious positives about Nigeria including the Central Bank Governor's banking reforms, the current peace in the Nigeria Delta and the increase in the world oil price, which helps the revenue situation.   Our own Trade and Investment office remains very busy indeed, which shows the interest of UK companies. In terms of performance (UKTI reports and revenue raised etc) we're doing better than other UK offices in sub Saharan Africa.  Good stuff.

Posted at 13:16 13 November 2009 by Bob Dewar  |  Comments[0]

Not oil but food!

It is not so well known how growing and processing food in Nigeria is on the up. Everyone thinks of Nigeria in recent decades as dependent only on oil and gas. So it was great to hear of the visit of directors of Olam Nigeria Ltd based in Commonwealth partner country Singapore. Olam was the biggest non-oil exporter from Nigeria in 2007 (over $133m). Its products have traditionally been cocoa, sesame seed and cotton. But there has been more recent news of plans to invest in a sugar refinery and wheat milling.  The company's investment so far has shown how they see long term opportunities here. They have helped rural employment and farmers' profits. Positive stuff. Making a difference for small holder farmers. Let's hope for more.

Posted at 13:04 28 October 2009 by Bob Dewar  |  Comments[0]

Planting the seeds of hope

I always believed small was beautiful from when I first read Shumaker's book all those years ago. Well, a few small but significant initiatives show what can be done in Nigeria on climate change. Firstly a training programme undertaken by a range of Nigerian civil socity organisation under the umbrella Nigerian CAN network (Climate Action Network) has meant they have been able to lobby for an equitable climate change deal and  to influence policy makers. Secondly a weather station in the extreme East of Nigeria (Taraba State) is now providing climate change data on the internet which can feed into climate modelling. Both funded by Britain, both seeds for the future.

Posted at 14:58 26 October 2009 by Bob Dewar  |  Comments[0]

Why we need an Arms Trade Treaty

Travelling round Nigeria only underlines the need for this country to achieve genuine peaceful development for its people and move away from conflict and violence, which can flare up. Conflict and violence is fuelled in many parts of the world by arms. Arms need to be controlled at national and international level. That's why we need progress towards an Arms Trade Treaty and we hope Nigeria will play its part at this week's discussion in New York to bring such progress.

National and regional arms export control need to be really effective. Unregulated trade in arms needs to be stopped. A timetable is needed toward such a Treaty. Ordinary people with ordinary lives need that. It's tough enough in Nigeria for many of its poorer people just to get by and get their kids into school without worrying about insecurity as well. 

Posted at 17:43 07 October 2009 by Bob Dewar  |  Comments[2]

Sport matters in Nigeria

Sport matters in Nigeria. The country had a sad day a week ago when they drew with Tunisia in a must-win game to qualify for the soccer world cup. The score was two goals each. Twice a delirious sell out crowd was on its feet. Twice the other side equalised. Excitement and hope deflated in an instant. But Nigeria has great potential as a sporting nation- and not just in football. So many youngsters have natural talent.  Why not some new sports?

The High Commission lost a cricket match against a pretty good Abuja CC on Sunday. And rugby sevens could surely grow fast with the right encouragement.

Posted at 10:24 16 September 2009 by Bob Dewar  |  Comments[0]

SMEs help create employment in Nigeria

It is impressive how our small and medium sized businesses are still focused on exports, emerging from the global downturn just as determined as ever to break into new markets. I opened an exhibition of products, of some exporters from London who have an Afro-Caribbean background.

Valuable linkages are being made with Nigerian SMEs and small scale industry. I made the points in my speech that British products offer quality and international standards. Getting small scale businesses to prosper is part of getting the international commercial system to start operating again. SMEs help create employment in Nigeria too and the future here is to have an encouraging policy environment for this.

Building intra-regional trade in West Africa is an important part of the way forward for Africa, provided that inefficiencies and corruption are reduced. Certainly this is not the time for protectionism

Posted at 16:47 09 September 2009 by Bob Dewar  |  Comments[0]

Getting rid of malaria in Nigeria

Great news that the programme to get rid of malaria in Nigeria and distribute over 63 million nets got a significant boost last week.  The idea is to get two nets distributed to every household by the end of next year, reaching over 30 million homes and hopefully saving thousands of lives.  In fact, Nigeria counts for over a quarter of all cases of malaria in Africa. 

The UK and others are working together, supporting government health services in rolling this out, including £50 million of British aid delivered through DfID.  The shocking statistic is that half of all Nigerians get infected with malaria each year, and over 30% of childhood deaths and 11% of maternal deaths are caused by it.  And those deaths are preventable.   Hopefully that will change with this new push. Picture by Williams Daniel.

Posted at 15:56 08 September 2009 by Bob Dewar  |  Comments[0]

New BBC World Service Director visits Nigeria

A splendid 'soap opera' drama was acted out on our lawn by the BBC World Service Trust. Local actors were staging a scene about local corruption over the (non) repair of a road and the death of someone driving on it. At the end one of the actors came round with the microphone asking some of us in the audience who we thought was responsible! Makes you think.

That's the good thing about what the BBC World Service Trust do in Nigeria where they produce radio dramas- like soap operas- and discussion programmes about key issues that affect the life of ordinary people. This is real communication for development, poverty reduction and human rights. There are millions of devoted Nigerian listeners for these programmes (one of the names is ‘Story Story’) which are broadcast in English and local languages. They raise awareness about so many social issues including HIV, human rights, governance, you name it. People identify with the characters and get better knowledge and understanding of social and development issues. That means they can make more informed choices and build better lives.

The reason for the performance was the first visit to Nigeria by the new BBC World Service Director, Peter Horrocks. The BBC World Service is renowned for its independence, objectivity and balanced reporting. That's why millions and millions of people all around the world- including in Nigeria- trust it and depend on it for accurate information and news.  Accurate information is so important in giving people everywhere better information, understanding and choices.

Posted at 12:57 06 July 2009 by Bob Dewar  |  Comments[1]

Towards achieving the Arms Trade Treaty

The UK's goal to achieve an international Arms Trade Treaty reminds me of the extent to which small arms- as well as more sophisticated weapons- are damaging peace and development in Africa, not least in Nigeria's Niger Delta. The UK has been supporting efforts to stop the flow of small arms across the whole of the West African region, including into Nigeria.

Unfortunately gangs are still able to get small arms and to use them to try to extort money by illegally 'bunkering' crude oil or by kidnapping innocent people. Of course there needs to be development and better governance and human rights (the communities in the Niger Delta need to see the benefits of the oil and gas revenue produced in their areas) and a political settlement and a cease-fire and better security.

But the illicit arms trade, often financed by proceeds of criminality or drugs, is helping prevent a breakthrough. Young people everywhere in Nigeria need development, training, education, jobs. They need a better life, not guns.

Posted at 15:29 17 June 2009 by Bob Dewar  |  Comments[1]

House of Commons Committee visits Nigeria

The international Development Committee of the House of Commons are here to review the DFID programme in Nigeria and also to look at urban poverty. What better way to start than to look at the issues facing Lagos, the mega-city of West Africa and one of the largest in the world. Urban poverty is often forgotten in Africa but ever more people are migrating to cities looking for a better life.

Lagos has particular issues because it is very low-lying near the sea. Transport provides special problems- there are already some amazing motorways over the swamps. Affordable housing and other services are also needed on a large scale.

The UK through DFID is already helping the State to fast track legal processes in courts and land registry. Basic issues for development. But one real headache confronting the city right now is how to plan best for sea level rise in the face of global warming. We want to help the dynamic State government in confronting such challenges.

Posted at 08:57 16 June 2009 by Bob Dewar  |  Comments[0]

UK Heads of Mission from West Africa meets in Abuja

A special event this week- the getting together in Abuja of all the UK Heads of Mission from up and down West Africa. The idea is to work better together; to work better with our other international friends; and above all to support ECOWAS (the Economic Community of West African States) to operate more effectively.

We believe in helping building Africa's capacity to sort out its own problems. ECOWAS are taking the lead regionally in keeping peace and security, in building post-conflict stability and democracy and in promoting trade and regional integration. There are new threats like drugs and terrorism undermining the region - and also the difficulties posed by the global economic recession.

So it's more important than ever that ECOWAS exerts influence on its states to meet internationally acceptable standards. Making sure states act constitutionally and that there is no reversion to military regimes is one key task. Bringing about free and fair elections, with independent electoral institutions within an increasingly accountable and transparent system which citizens can trust, is another.

And a third is to continue to improve the free movement of goods and people within the region, and to encourage more effective engagement with the rest of the world, to stimulate competition, investment and improved jobs and wealth for its citizens. We're keen to help on all these in a genuine partnership, as we made clear to Dr Chambas the President of the Commission and to the Foreign Minister of Nigeria- the country currently Chairing ECOWAS.

Posted at 16:17 02 June 2009 by Bob Dewar  |  Comments[1]

Sport is such a great way of empowering young people

Had an interesting chat with the Minister of Sport.  Sport is such a great way of empowering young people and getting communities involved, as well as bringing countries together. 

Minister has good ideas for improving facilities throughout the country, not just for football but for all sports.  Nigeria has such potential!  I explained how we hope that the Olympics in London will help bring about a "heritage" effect in many of our important partner countries such as Nigeria, e.g. helping bring sport into disadvantaged schools and improving the curricula, training etc. 

I also gave him a first hand account of the exciting launch last week at Wembley of the England 2018 World Cup bid which had been attended by David Beckham, Wayne Rooney and many of the 1966 team.

Not only does England already have great infrastructure, but also it has tremendous passion for the game on the part of its fans and communities at all levels.  Again, rather like the Olympics, it will be a tremendous event for the international community as well as for the UK.

Posted at 10:12 28 May 2009 by Bob Dewar  |  Comments[0]