Today’s edition of the Nigerian Army Resource Centre (NARC) Weekly Subject Experts’ Presentation was held at Hall B, TY Buratai Block, NARC, Abuja. The presentations were made by the Subject Experts covering Southern Africa, South East Asia, South America, and the Caribbean.
The first presentation was made by Maj Gen KI Mukhtar, Subject Expert for Southern Africa. Amongst topical headlines highlighted from Southern Africa, his presentation focused on Zimbabwe’s ban on all Lithium Exports. The Zimbabwean government said it was losing 1.7 billion euros from exporting lithium as raw material and not processing it into batteries in the country. Just like Zimbabwe, Nigeria is blessed with many mineral resources in abundance and economic quality in over 500 locations across the country. But the challenge remains with the exportation of these raw materials by artisans and illegal miners without proper legal rights and return to government coffers. The minister for mine and steel development realizing the importance has put up a new policy that restricts the exportation of lithium in its raw form out of the county. He further stated that there is a need for the Federal government to enforce strict control of pollution and environmental protection as enshrined in the mineral extraction policy, and also to ensure that the revenues generated are well accounted for and properly utilized for development.
The second presentation was made by Brig Gen SN Eze, Subject Expert, Southeast Asia, his presentation discussed Lao’s approval of regulated production of cannabis for medical use. The Ministry of Health issued an agreement to this stating their approval to produce and distribute hemp or cannabis sativa L and the restriction that businesses must follow for medical purposes. In relation to Nigeria, his presentation highlighted that legalizing this for medical use only offers an interesting prospect for Nigeria’s agricultural sector, it could also serve as a means of diversifying the country’s oil-dependent economy, a means of treating terminal diseases, generating high revenue, job creation, and foreign exchange through exportation amongst others.
The final presentation was made by Brig Gen M Ibrahim Subject expert South America and the Caribbean. His presentation discussed analyst views that the last election results produced more independent legislature in Antigua and Barbuda. In Nigeria, the constitution also provides for the separation of power among the arms of government, and drawing from this, the lesson for Nigeria is that both the Executive and Legislature are to uphold the constitutional principles of separation of power and at the same time ensure collaboration in carrying out their oversight functions.
Present at the briefing was, Director General, Director of Research, other management staff, Senior Research Fellows and Research Fellows, Consultants, senior officers, and other staff of the Centre.
