THE assistance, which Nigeria offered to famine-ravaged Ethiopia, is in tandem with Abuja's new foreign policy aimed at providing continental leadership by example, according to the Minister of Foreign Affairs Amb. Olugbenga Ashiru
At the just-ended donor's conference on famine in the horn of Africa, Nigeria gave $2 million to the project meant to save that critical part of the continent from persistent food shortages.
Ashiru, who explained the gesture in Abuja yesterday, said after the years when Nigeria was generally felt to have been losing continental and global influence, what was needed now was "the kind of leadership that can galvanise African countries on the path of self-reliance and sustainability instead of being perpetually at the mercy of foreign powers. We must stop being the laughing stock of the rest of the world."
Speaking to The Guardian on the expediency of the gesture, in Abuja, the minister said: "This is in line with our new foreign policy of consensus. Embedded in this is the reciprocity of goodwill...The African Pledging Conference on Drought and Famine in the Horn of Africa region has to be regarded as a turning point for countries to show their leadership credentials and diplomatic character in the new time."
The donors conference was called because, again and again the drought and escalating famine have once more exposed Africa's lack of preparedness to deal with natural disasters and resultant humanitarian challenges.
Ashiru said: "We must wake up to the fact that it is our responsibility as governments and peoples, to prepare for such disasters, particularly when our kith and kin are the direct victims. It is therefore gratifying, that Africa has come together today to address this problem.
"Going forward, Nigeria is convinced of the urgent need for medium and short-term measures to tackle the challenges of future foods shortages no matter their underlying causes. To this end, Nigeria strongly suggested the adoption by governments of an effective emergency mechanism to be established at two levels: national and regional, as a practical way to speedily address any future challenge of food shortages."
According to the minister, Nigeria also suggested that at the regional level, member-states should establish strategic regional food reserves. In this regard, it wants the African Union (AU) to "complement these measures through an emergency relief fund and also play a coordinating role."
Ashiru maintained that the advantage of adopting these proposed mechanisms was that food would be readily available "once the threat of famine becomes imminent, and member-states can also rely on the reserves as back-up plans for their food security."
The Guardian
There is nothing wrong in giving out aid to countries who need it. But, Nigeria should be her house in order before assisting other nations.
Nigeria case can be liked to a Yoruba adage which says, "eniyan fa eru ti e si owo, osi gbe ti elomiran si ori". Meaning, a person drags his property with his hand, and carrys someone else property on his head. You can't help others, when you have not solved your burning needs!