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We Are Not Poor; We Are Being Robbed: Africa Must Unite and Reclaim Her Future

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We Are Not Poor; We Are Being Robbed: Africa Must Unite and Reclaim Her Future.

Written by George Omagbemi Sylvester | Published by SaharaWeeklyNG.com

Africa stands at a critical crossroads. The continent that gave the world mathematics, medicine, music and metallurgy is today mocked and marginalized on the global stage. We, the inheritors of Mansa Musa’s gold, the architects of the pyramids, the descendants of Shaka Zulu’s discipline and Queen Nzinga’s resistance, now beg for aid, sell our birthrights for political appointments and worse; enslave ourselves to modern colonialists through debt traps and deceptive foreign investments.

The time for SLAVE TRADE is over. Africa must RISE. We must REBUILD, we must believe in OURSELVES and above all, we must stop selling OURSELVES as ECONOMIC, POLITICAL and INTELLECTUAL SLAVES to a world that profits from our downfall. The chains of yesteryears may no longer be iron, but they are now woven into neo-colonial economics, corrupt leadership, exploitative trade agreements and systematic brain drain.

A Continent of Gold, Governed Like Dust
Africa is arguably the richest continent in terms of natural resources. We possess over 30% of the world’s mineral reserves, 40% of global gold and 90% of chromium and platinum. The Democratic Republic of Congo alone is considered the richest country in natural resources, holding an estimated $24 trillion worth of untapped raw minerals. Nigeria sits on vast oil reserves, Ghana on gold and South Africa on diamonds. Yet, more than 430 million Africans live in extreme poverty. This paradox is not only shameful; it is criminal.

The world does not pity a weak man and AFRICA has been weak for too long. For decades, foreign corporations have exploited our lands while leaving our children to die in poverty and our youth to drown in the Mediterranean seeking greener pastures. Enough is Enough!

The Betrayal of Leadership. We must tell ourselves the truth; our biggest enemies are not in Washington, London, Paris or Beijing. They are seated in our parliaments, palaces, and presidential villas. African leaders have become auctioneers of our destiny, selling critical assets to China, the EU and the Middle East under the guise of development.

How do we explain African presidents flying abroad for medical treatment while their citizens die in poorly funded hospitals? How do we justify leaders who build schools and industries only in the West while their own countries rot in illiteracy and joblessness?

As Kenyan scholar Prof. P.L.O. Lumumba rightly said, “We have become a continent of MOURNERS; we mourn every day. We mourn POVERTY, we mourn HUNGER, we mourn DISEASE, we mourn BAD GOVERNANCE and yet WE DO NOTHING.”

Modern Slavery in New Garments. Make no mistake, the slave trade is not over; it has simply changed form. Today, it’s disguised as debt diplomacy, visa lotteries, talent poaching and foreign ‘aid’ riddled with imperial strings. Young Africans are being trafficked into Europe and the Gulf, exploited as domestic workers, prostitutes and cheap labour, while our governments turn a blind eye.

We Are Not Poor; We Are Being Robbed: Africa Must Unite and Reclaim Her Future.
Written by George Omagbemi Sylvester | Published by SaharaWeeklyNG.com

China now builds roads in exchange for strategic minerals. Western tech giants loot our data while paying no taxes. The IMF and World Bank prescribe economic poisons and then offer aspirin as loans. This is modern slavery and we must reject it with the same force our ancestors resisted colonial invaders.

The Gaddafi and Sankara Blueprint. Africa once had visionaries who dared to dream of unity and independence. Muammar Gaddafi of Libya called for a UNITED STATES of AFRICA; with a single military, one currency and one passport. He was silenced through foreign-backed war and betrayal. Thomas Sankara, the revolutionary president of Burkina Faso, denounced foreign aid, cut government luxury and empowered mostly women. He was assassinated by Western interests aided by African hands.

Kwame Nkrumah said it best: “The independence of Ghana is meaningless unless it is linked up with the total liberation of Africa.”

These heroes were not perfect, but they believed in Africa. They were hated, hunted and killed; because they refused to be pawns in global chess games. We must pick up the broken pieces of their dreams and rebuild the continent they died for.

The Role of the Youth and Diaspora. Over 60% of Africa’s population is under 25. This youth bulge is not a threat; it is a WEAPON, a BLESSING and a chance for REBIRTH. It must be sharpened with KNOWLEDGE, UNITY and PATRIOTISM. African youth must stop worshiping the West and start building the Africa of our dreams.

Our teachers, doctors, engineers and artists in the diaspora must look homeward. The West will never love us more than we love ourselves. Every African child who escapes poverty through a scholarship owes the continent a duty to return and rebuild.

As Julius Malema of South Africa said, “We are not poor. We are being looted.” And truly, Africa is not poor; it is MISMANAGED, MISLED and MENTALLY ENSLAVED.

Faith Without Fear, Unity Without Borders. Religion has become a weapon of mass deception in Africa. Pastors fly private jets while their members trek to church. Imams preach about paradise while ignoring the hell on Earth we live in. We must begin to measure spirituality by development not donations.

Africa must rise above the tribal, religious, and political lines that divide us. Rwanda rose from genocide through unity. Ethiopia once beat back colonial powers through solidarity. NIGERIA, SOUTH AFRICA, EGYPT and KENYA must lead a CONTINENTAL REVIVAL.

The African Union (AU) must stop acting as a toothless elite club and become the engine of our rebirth. ECOWAS, SADC and other regional blocs must break the chains of foreign influence and put Africa first.

As Gaddafi once warned, “If we do not unite now, we will all fall one by one.”

A Call to Conscience and Courage. The time has come to build African-owned industries, fund African tech, protect African women and empower African minds. The world respects strength and if Africa must be respected, we must first respect ourselves.

We must also rewrite our education system. Our children must be taught about the empires of Mali, Songhai, Zulu and Benin; not just Shakespeare, Columbus and Napoleon. A people without historical pride will always seek validation from their oppressors.

We must prioritize made-in-Africa products, music, films, apps and ideas. If we don’t consume our own, why should the world do so?

It is no longer enough to pray or protest; we must produce, protect and prosper as one Africa.

The Final Word: Destiny Is Calling. The age of betrayal must end. The time of rebuilding must begin. From Cairo to Cape Town, Lagos to Nairobi, Dakar to Addis Ababa; we must unite. No more selling out. No more begging. No more silence.

As the great Kenyan writer Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o once said, “Africa’s problem is not the absence of knowledge but the betrayal by those who know.”

Let us rise in truth, rise in unity and rise in courage. Africa is not a problem to be fixed; it is a giant that must be awakened.

Let history remember this moment not as another lamentation, but as a declaration of a new dawn. Africa must rebuild. And that rebuilding begins with YOU and ME.

We Are Not Poor; We Are Being Robbed: Africa Must Unite and Reclaim Her Future.
Written by George Omagbemi Sylvester | Published by SaharaWeeklyNG.com

By George Omagbemi Sylvester
Published by SaharaWeeklyNG.com

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Ramadan 2026: Let’s Be United, Shina Akanni Urges Muslims.

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Ramadan 2026: Let’s Be United, Shina Akanni Urges Muslims.

 

As Muslims all over the world begins the 30 days compulsory fasting and prayer today,top Fuji Musician Aare Sir Shina Akanni Aroworeyin Scorpido has congratulates them for witnessing another month of Ramadan.

 

Akanni advised them to follow the teachings of the the Holy Prophet Muhammad (SAW) which is peaceful co existence among themselves and their neighbor ‘because Islam is Religion of peace”.

 

He said the month of Ramadan is an holy month therefore Muslims should try as much as they can to maintain peaceful coexistence among themselves and others and that they should see themselves as ambassador of peace.

 

While praying for Nigeria,Aare Sir Shina Akanni Aroworeyin Scorpido said he believes that there will be an economic turnaround soon because what’s is happening now are signs of thought times that never last “if we can pecevere things will get better”.

 

The Scorpido crooner who recently released a hip hop single titled “Magbelo” said he is currently working on a complete album which will be released before the end of the year.

 

Aare Sir Shina Akanni Aroworeyin Scorpido whose last album ‘ABCD” is still in hot demand said that his next album will be a pot pouri of all kinds of music because his brand of Fuji music is a blend Fuji , Hip-hop,Apala ,Highlife and others.

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The Enemies Within:  Jonahs Are Not Manageable — Dr. Chris Okafor

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The Enemies Within: 

Jonahs Are Not Manageable — Dr. Chris Okafor

…….“To remove Jonah, you must bring Jesus into the matter.”

 

When a “Jonah” enters a person’s life, confusion, gossip, blackmail, betrayal, and the pull-him-down syndrome often follow. But the moment Jesus Christ is invited into the situation, the storm subsides and stability is restored.

 

 

This was the central message delivered by the Generational Prophet of God and Senior Pastor of Grace Nation Global, Dr. Chris Okafor, during the midweek non-denominational Prophetic Healing, Deliverance and Solutions Service (PHDS) held at the international headquarters of Grace Nation Worldwide in Ojodu Berger, Lagos, Nigeria.

 

The Clergyman also declared that Nothing Happens Without Spiritual Influence

 

 

In his sermon titled “The Enemies Within,” Dr. Okafor declared that nothing happens without spiritual involvement. According to him, every visible battle has an invisible root.

 

 

Referencing the biblical story of Jonah, the Man of God explained that Jonah’s presence on the ship gave access to a contrary spirit that tormented everyone onboard.

 

Despite the losses suffered by innocent traders and sailors, the storm persisted because of one man’s disobedience.

However, he noted that when Jesus speaks into a situation, every storm must obey. Just as Christ rebuked the storm and it ceased, so too will the storms in believers’ lives subside when He is invited into their “boat.”

 

*The Impact of a Jonah*

 

Dr. Okafor further emphasized that “Jonahs” are difficult to manage. When such individuals are present in one’s circle, progress becomes delayed.

 

 

What should ordinarily manifest quickly may be prolonged or frustrated because someone close—someone who understands you deeply—may be operating as a spiritual adversary.

 

 

He explained that negative narratives, unnecessary battles, and unexplained setbacks often begin when a “Jonah” gains access to a person’s inner circle.

 

*The Solution*

 

“To remove Jonah from the boat of your life,” the Generational Prophet declared, “you must invite Jesus Christ into the matter.”

 

 

 

According to him, when Jesus takes control of the boat, the plans of the enemy are overturned.

 

What was designed for downfall becomes a testimony. No storm or battle can succeed where Christ reigns, and the enemy is ultimately put to shame.

 

 

 

 

The midweek service witnessed a strong prophetic atmosphere, with the power of God evident through deliverance, restoration, and divine revelations.

 

 

 

The Generational Prophet ministered deeply in the prophetic, calling out names, villages, and addressing alleged spiritual strongholds, as many lives were reportedly restored—all to the glory of God.

 

By Sunday Adeyemi

 

The Enemies Within: 
Jonahs Are Not Manageable — Dr. Chris Okafor

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FROM BORDER TO MARKETS: HOW NIGERIA’S REFORMS ARE REWRITING AND MODERNISING TRADE FACILITATION By O’tega Ogra

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FROM BORDER TO MARKETS: HOW NIGERIA’S REFORMS ARE REWRITING AND MODERNISING TRADE FACILITATION

By O’tega Ogra

On the surface, the 2026 World Customs Organization (WCO) Technology Conference in Abu Dhabi, held in the last week of January, followed a familiar script: flags, formal sessions, carefully worded speeches. But beneath the choreography, something more consequential was unfolding. As customs chiefs and trade officials compared notes on the future of borders, Nigeria arrived not with theory, but with a working proposition.

 

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) Modernisation Project, being implemented through Trade Modernisation Project (TMP) Limited, unveiled to a global audience of customs administrators and policy leaders a window into how Africa’s largest economy is confronting one of the most complex challenges in public administration: reforming the machinery of trade while it is still running.

 

For decades, customs reform was treated largely as a technical exercise—frequent patches here, shoddy fixes there; new software in one corner, revised procedures in another. Nigeria’s presence in Abu Dhabi signalled something different. TMP Limited, working in partnership with the NCS, advanced the argument that trade is a cornerstone of economic development and must be supported by organic, sustainable partner ecosystems. Such ecosystems deliver speed and trust, revenue and credibility, and secure borders without stifling commerce.

 

 

That argument resonated in a room increasingly aware that global trade is no longer defined solely by tariffs and treaties, but by data, interoperability, and the quiet efficiency of systems that simply work.

 

The annual WCO Technology Conference has, in recent years, become a barometer for the direction of global trade governance. This year’s discussions reflected a shared anxiety: supply chains are more fragile, compliance risks are rising, and governments face mounting pressure to collect revenue without discouraging investment. Customs administrations now sit at the intersection of all three.

 

Nigeria’s response has been to attempt a full reset.

At the heart of this effort is the NCS Modernisation Project, implemented through a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) arrangement with TMP Limited as the concessionaire. The project seeks to replace fragmented technology deployments and manual processes within the Nigeria Customs Service with a single, integrated framework. This is anchored on B’Odogwu, a Unified Customs Management System (UCMS) that brings together cargo clearance, risk management, payments, and inter-agency collaboration. The ambition is sweeping—and so are the stakes.

Alhaji Saleh Ahmadu, OON, Chairman of TMP, framed the initiative as nothing less than an institutional reconstruction, designed to position the NCS at the forefront of global customs administration technology, aligned with international standards and assurance frameworks.

“Digital trade modernisation is not just about upgrading systems,” he told participants in Abu Dhabi. “It is about upgrading trust, predictability, and confidence in how trade flows through our borders.”

That choice of words matters. Nigeria’s economy has long struggled with the perception gap between its size and the ease of doing business. Investors cite delays. Traders complain of opacity. Government points to revenue leakages. In this context, customs reform becomes as much a credibility project as a technical one.

Saleh’s message was timely and direct: modern trade demands modern customs. Data-driven processes, automation, and risk-based controls are no longer luxuries; they are prerequisites for competitiveness in a world where capital moves faster than policy.

The institutional face of this digital transformation is the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, who led Nigeria’s delegation to Abu Dhabi. His message reflected a subtle but important shift in how customs leadership now understands its role.

“Customs administrations today must evolve from gatekeepers to facilitators of legitimate trade,” Adeniyi said. “Nigeria’s customs modernisation project reflects our determination to place the Nigeria Customs Service at the centre of national economic transformation.”

It is a familiar refrain globally, but one that carries particular weight in Nigeria, where customs revenue remains a critical pillar of public finance. Automation, Adeniyi argued, is not about weakening control; it is about strengthening it through intelligence rather than discretion.

Risk management systems reduce unnecessary physical inspections. Integrated platforms limit human contact. Data analytics improve compliance targeting. When executed well, the result is faster clearance for compliant traders and tighter scrutiny for high-risk consignments.

In Abu Dhabi, peers from Asia, Europe, and Latin America listened closely to Nigeria’s presentation. Reforming customs in a small, open economy is one thing. Doing so in a market of over 200 million people, home to some of Africa’s busiest ports and its largest economy, is quite another.

Nigeria’s engagement emphasised that customs modernisation is embedded within a broader economic reform agenda under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR. Simplifying trade procedures, strengthening revenue assurance, and aligning with international standards form part of a wider effort to reposition the economy for investment-led growth.

What makes the project particularly noteworthy is its insistence on end-to-end coherence. Rather than digitising isolated functions, the reform aims to connect agencies, harmonise data, and reduce duplication across government—an all-of-government approach that acknowledges an uncomfortable truth: trade friction is often created not at the border, but between institutions.

The WCO 2026 Technology Conference offered Nigeria more than a platform; it provided a stress test. Questions from peers were pointed. How will change be sustained across political cycles? How will capacity be built? How will entrenched institutional behaviours be unlearned?

The responses were pragmatic. Reform is being phased. Training programmes are ongoing. International benchmarks are being adopted not as slogans, but as operating standards. There were no claims of perfection—only a clear statement of intent.

“Our engagement here underscores Nigeria’s commitment to international cooperation,” Adeniyi noted. “We are learning, sharing, and contributing to global conversations on the future of customs administration.”

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That contribution matters. As Africa moves to deepen regional trade under continental frameworks, customs efficiency will determine whether integration succeeds in practice or remains aspirational on paper. Nigeria’s experience, if successful, could offer a valuable template for other developing economies navigating similar constraints.

In Abu Dhabi, the mood was cautious but curious. Reform fatigue is real in many countries. Yet there was a growing sense that Nigeria’s effort—precisely because of its scale and difficulty—deserves attention.

Borders are rarely glamorous. But they are decisive. In choosing to modernise its borders in public, under global scrutiny, Nigeria is signalling something beyond technical competence. It is signalling seriousness.

And in global trade, seriousness still counts.

O’tega Ogra is Senior Special Assistant to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, responsible for the Office of Digital Engagement, Communications and Strategy in the Presidency.

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