Pay to Travel to Nigeria?

Nigeria’s Air Travel

I knew that the country suspended all air travel to comply with restrictions on coronavirus. This restriction was aimed at all incoming flights from March 23, 2020. Likewise, all outgoing flights were also restricted.

Now the government is saying that the first four international flights will be arriving in the federal capital, Abuja, and the commercial capital, Lagos. But no word yet on where the flights are coming from.

Nigeria’s minister of aviation, Hadi Sirika, said these restrictions were lifted after no “justification” was found earlier in July.

He also announced a resumption of flights given that the virus is “not comprised at airports.”

Nigeria insists that all passengers undergo a coronavirus test before their departure. Then they have to pay to have a second test when they arrive! “The government warned that any travelers who manage to skip the tests will be put on a travel watch list,” his notice said.

Will they avoid a second test? How will they know? Is the airport authority keeping a list of all passengers?

Unanimous Vote to Keep AfDB President at the Helm

A second five-year term as President of the African Development Bank has been selected. Akinwumi A. Adesina has been selected again. His choice was confirmed by the board of governors.

“According to the official statement by the AfDB, the globally-renowned development economist . . . received a 100% of votes of all regional and non-regional members of the bank,” I read in a recent news article.

In addition to his vote, he is known for his World Food Prize laureate and Sunhak Peace Prize laureate.

Who Gives These Prizes?

I wondered who awards these prizes. The World Food Prize is given to “individuals who have advanced human development by improving the quality, quantity or availability of food in the world.” It is in the amount of $250,000. The World Food Prize was awarded beginning in 1987.

The Sunhat Peace Prize is given every two years, starting in 2015. It is awarded to someone who has contributed to peace and welfare of future generations.

The election for the AfFD took place on the last day of the 2020 meeting. Bismarck Rewane is a leading economist, CEO of Financial Derivatives, and a board member. He said, “The re-election of Dr. Akin Adesina is an epoch-making event for the African continent. It goes a long way towards erasing the stereotypical image of Africans in general and Nigeria in particular as lacking in the discipline of transparency, accountability and governance.”

He felt that this institution, the African Development Bank, will “provide opportunity for it to play a more catalytic role.”

A Renewed Agreement by the Supreme Court

“The Supreme Court in a landmark decision has upheld the right of a female child to inherit properties of her father.” This is the Supreme Court reaching again a decision first arrived at a few years ago.

Their decision has evoked mixed reactions from Igbos. One of the reactions came from the Anglican Bishop on the Niger. (My cousin Jonathan held this position about 35 years ago!)

He described the judgment “as a welcome development.” According to one of the newspapers, he said that “female children are not second class citizens and should not be treated like one.”

“In its judgment, the Supreme Court held that the Court of Appeal, Lagos was right to have voided the Igbo native law and custom that disinherit female children,” I read. Justice Bode Rhodes-Vivour who read the lead judgment said that no matter who the child is, that child is inherited to her father’s estate.

However, a prominent king in Nsukka said that the Supreme Court ruling cannot “abolish the tradition and custom of the Igbos.” He maintained that the attempt to implement such a law would lead to chaos!

Testing of Boundaries in Westport

Our granddaughter Nkiru arrived on Thursday night. She brought her friend Dahmir. He’s also a student.

Our daughter Beth wanted him to go out on Friday early in the morning. But she reasoned that with his African-American ancestry, he could get stopped. She just was not sure she wanted him to face the inequities.

He might have used Nkiru’s car, with her license. (She was already in bed.) Then he might have been told to get her. Or even worse, he might have just faced the music without her. So she didn’t asked him to go.

But how sad that we cannot just give instructions like these for a young person to run out for a cup of coffee!