General
EU Strengthens African Human Rights System
By Dipo Olowookere
Today, in the wake of the 12th AU-EU Human Rights Dialogue, the EU signed a €1.8 million grant contract with the Pan-African Parliament (PAP).
This was the last of a series of 5 contracts the EU is funding under €10 million action aimed at ‘Strengthening the African Human Rights System’ under the EU Pan-African Programme (PANAF).
The main objective of the contract with the PAP is to ensure that all AU Member States ratify, domesticate and implement the AU legal instruments in the field of good governance and human rights.
The cooperation with Regional Economic Communities (RECs), national and regional Parliaments and the African Union Commission (AUC) would be crucial to effectively address this objective by using the PAP’s oversight, advisory and consultative functions.
The contract also covers the cooperation with the European Parliament (EP) and the formulation of model laws in the field of good governance and human rights.
The other grant contracts were signed with the African Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the Child (ACERWC), the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR) and the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights (AfCHPR).
A last contract provides support to these four thematic contracts via a dedicated Technical Assistance team.
The major objective of the project with the ACERWC is to enhance and strengthen the function of the ACERWC with a view of enabling the Committee to effectively deliver in accordance with its mandate.
Specifically, the project aims at ensuring full ownership and implementation of the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child at country level; introducing an integrated approach of protection and promotion of children’s rights in Africa; and creating an enhanced information flow and knowledge sharing platforms and tools on the African Children’s Charter.
Some of the major activities under the project include engaging State Parties on experience sharing and cross boarder issues affecting children’s rights in Africa, litigating on child rights issues including follow up on decisions of previous communications and concluding observations and recommendations.
The third contract, with ACHPR, is to improve the respect for human rights under the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and other relevant human rights instruments.
The ACHPR will advocate for and monitor the implementation of instruments in the AU Member States. The contract also concentrates on litigation, ensuring timely adjudication of complaints to the AfCHPR as well as diligent follow-up on compliance by the AU Member States.
It will raise awareness to enable citizens to have a clear understanding of their rights and duties, document good practices in legal and policy reforms and undertake joint investigative missions.
The AfCHPR contract complements the previous one by concentrating on the streamlining of the Court’s processes to improve efficiency and understanding of the proceedings. The AfCHPR is also expected to reduce time for completion of cases and ensure adequate and timely compensation to victims.
The AfCHPR will work to increase the number of ratifications of the Protocol on the establishment of the AfCHPR and the number of countries which have deposited the Article 34(6) declaration allowing individuals and civil society organisations direct access to the AfCHPR.
The PANAF, which was set up in order to support African integration, is the first ever EU cooperation instrument that covers the whole of Africa. It was established in 2014, and constitutes one of the main EU financial instruments for the implementation of the Joint Africa-EU Strategy.
The PANAF is funded under the EU’s Development Cooperation Instrument (DCI) with €845 million for 2014-2020.
The current Project ‘Strengthening the African Human Rights System’ is part of a wider approach covering governance and human rights under the PANAF which includes support to the African Governance Architecture, election observation and civil society organisations.
The objective is to contribute to a transparent, democratic and accountable environment in respect of human rights and rule of law in Africa.
The EU has been supporting the work of the Africa’s human rights organs since 2011 in the framework of the African Union Support Programme as well as the European Instrument for Democracy and Human Rights.
By Dipo Olowookere
A $15 million debt facility has been obtained by Watt Renewable Corporation from the AfriGreen Debt Impact Fund to finance hybrid solar power plants to be built and operated by the former, especially in Nigeria.
WATT intends to use the projects to serve commercial and industrial clients in Nigeria, particularly in the telecommunication and financial services sectors.
By integrating solar hybrid solutions, the firm aims to significantly reduce diesel consumption and CO2 emissions, enabling its clients to achieve substantial energy cost savings while promoting environmental sustainability.
As a pioneer in renewable energy solutions, WATT continues to drive innovation in Nigeria’s energy sector.
The company’s robust roll-out plan includes deploying hundreds of hybrid solar power sites nationwide to meet the growing energy demands of commercial & industrial clients.
This strategic expansion aligns with WATT’s vision to revolutionize energy access across Africa, enabling sustainable development and reducing reliance on fossil fuels.
The funds from AfriGreen provide the critical capital needed to accelerate WATT’s ambitious projects, strengthening its market position and empowering businesses with reliable and affordable energy solutions.
Business Post gathered that to mitigate the currency risk for WATT in the event of devaluation of the Nigerian Naira, AfriGreen is offering a local currency facility that matches the payment structure of the power purchase agreements.
“We are thrilled to partner with AFRIGREEN on this transformative journey to expand reliable and sustainable energy solutions across Africa.
“With this support, it enables us to accelerate our shared mission of providing hybrid solar power to businesses, reducing carbon emissions, and supporting economic growth while enhancing energy security for our clients,” the Managing Director of WATT, Mr Oluwole Eweje, said.
“We are delighted to support WATT in rolling out hundreds of hybrid sites across the country.
“This represents another key transaction for AFRIGREEN in Nigeria. The combination of high energy prices, good solar irradiation, and strong demand from industrial and commercial energy users makes this market particularly attractive for companies like WATT.
“By leveraging these favourable market conditions alongside WATT’s exceptional operational performance and a well-structured financing solution, we are setting the stage for a strong and lasting business partnership,” the Managing Director of AfriGreen, Mr Alexandre Gilles, stated.
By Adedapo Adesanya
The Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) has denied issuing a directive that gas supply to power generating companies (GenCos) be halted.
In a statement on Wednesday, the authority also denied instructing wholesale gas suppliers to stop further supply of gas to companies due to failure in payment obligations.
The NMDPRA described reports stating that it has directed the stoppage of gas supply to GenCos over N2 trillion debt as “false and completely unfounded”.
“It has absolutely no bearing on the information shared at a recent stakeholders’ engagement held in Lagos between the Authority, the OPTS, IPPG and other stakeholders in the oil and gas industry,” the NMDPRA said.
“The purpose of the engagement was to sensitise stakeholders on the requirements, opportunities and benefits associated with the implementation of the wholesale supply license as provided by sections 142 and 197 of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) 2021.
“It was a follow-up to an earlier stakeholder engagement held at the NMDPRA corporate headquarters in Abuja on November 27, 2024.
“The Authority wishes to reassure all our stakeholders and indeed the general public that at no time was the false statement made at that event and anywhere else, and are advised to completely disregard the publication as every effort is being made to ensure that the supply and distribution of natural gas and petroleum products to end users is seamless and unabated as we head into the festive season and indeed all through the coming year 2025.”
Recall that Nigeria’s national grid experienced another collapse on Wednesday, the 11th time in 2024 as Gencos couldn’t generate enough power, compounding issues facing the Nigerian power sector.
This was the first time in over a month as the last time the nation witnessed a nationwide shutdown in electricity supply was on November 7, 2024.
Before then, the country was experiencing an incessant collapse of the grid, which prompted the federal government to set up a team to address the issue.
By Aduragbemi Omiyale
Nigeria is currently experience a cut in power supply after the national grid collapsed for the 11th time in 2024.
This is the first time in over a month as the last time the nation witnessed a nationwide shut down in electricity supply was on November 7, 2024.
Before then, the country was experiencing an incessant collapse of the grid, which prompted the federal government to set up a team to address the issue.
However, just when Nigerians were thinking they will not witnessed another national grid collapse in the year, it issue reared its ugly head again.
On Wednesday afternoon, most of the energy distribution companies suffered power outage, prompting them to inform their customers of the situation.
One of the DisCos, Ikeja Electric Plc, in a message to electricity consumers under its franchise area, said, “Please be informed that we experienced a system outage today, December 11, 2024, at about 13:32 hours affecting supply within our network.
“Restoration of supply is ongoing in collaboration with our critical stakeholders. Kindly bear with us.”
Recall that on Tuesday, in a report, Google listed national grid as one of the top trending searches by Nigerians this year.
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