Taking control of natural resources

Your newsletter deserves great commendation. It's been useful as a good tracker of events on social justice in Africa. The multifaceted approach adopted on social issues, in addition to the plurality of views, gives it a rich blend of highlights on key social issues.

My comment takes root in the concept of sustainable development in Africa, especially with concern to our natural resources.

African leaders are apt to ratify international conventions and treaties without a proper conceptualisation of underlined ideologies; one tends to ponder on our subjugated position. From experience it is apparent that the concept of sustainability must be redefined for instance by the AU through the organ of NEPAD and other African initiatives to accommodate African traditional institutions and structures. Sustainability for us would include the active involvement of our indigenous local actors and stakeholders.

The question we must answer therefore is what is obtainable for Africa in the sustainable development paradigm?

Take for instance the conspiracy and cartel within the oil sector in Nigeria. Nigeria earns annually about $8.5billion, only 5% of this is earned by the indigenes and a mere 2% of the total sum in earnings remain in the country. Something obviously needs to be done if we are to gain control of our own resources.

I am afraid the message of sustainability will be lost in African economics if its denotations and connotations are not clearly defined within the African context. Local content for me is beyond using a few paid indigenous people collaborating with the west in managing our own resources. Africa has come of age to begin taking responsibility for its spatial domain.

It is my hope and dreams that African natural resource specialists and contributors will emerge from their hibernation to take charge of their natural resources for the continuity of the African Continent.