This week, President Tinubu will be addressing the UN General Assembly as it celebrates its 80th anniversary. Why are Nigerians not demonstrating outside the building making demands like these of the industrialised world?

Ayo Akinfe

[1] Population-wise, we are number seven in the world. Nigeria should thus be the seventh largest foreign direct investment (FDI) destination by 2030. G20 UN members must pledge to invest at least $10bn annually in Nigeria

[2] Every automobile manufacturer must be compelled to open at least one assembly plant in Africa by 2030. We refuse to be left behind in this clean energy and electric car revolution

[3] The UN must pass a resolution mandating ant pharmaceutical giant supplying a Covid-19 vaccine or the remedy to any other contagious disease to open a manufacturing plant in Africa to supply the continent

[4] If Africa as a continent does not receive up to $1trn in FDI annually, G-20 industrialised nations must be levied to raise such capital for investment

[5] Any G-20 nation that takes out a supply contract in Africa in excess of $1m must be compelled by a UN resolution to manufacture the products locally on the continent

[6] Every G-20 nation must commit to train at least 5,000 skilled African workers annually

[7] Every G-20 nation must pledge to add at least 50% value to any product they buy from an African nation. This should make the export of African raw materials and primary products illegal

[8] Importing African animals must be made illegal and considered as poaching through a Security Council resolution. Instead, the G-20 should encourage any tourist who wants to see African wildlife to visit the continent

[9] G-20 nations shall freeze the bank accounts of all African public servants currently holding office if such bank accounts are in developed countries. This money will be handed over to Unesco for development investment

[10] Every G-20 nation shall open up shelve space in its retail industry for African goods. To develop, we need access to the global market, so a UN Security Council resolution needs to be passed forcing all industrialised nations to open up their markets to African goods.

ayoakinfe@gmail.com