General News
Africa Can End Capital Flight in Technology Space via NEPAD- Monaisa
Mokgethi Monaisa, consul-general, South African (SA) High Commission in Nigeria (since January 2012) believes that both countries share similar potentials and well-positioned to influence the continent’s economic developments.
Monaisa had worked as Ambassador for SA Embassy, Antananarivo; High Commissioner, SA High Commission, Cameroon; Ambassador, SA Embassy, Gabon and Director- Human Rights, Department of International Relations and Cooperation, Pretoria Area, South Africa.
To him, Africa shouldn’t have business importing technology from other continents. In this short interview with peter ugwu, at SAGE Software Day in Nigeria 2015, he also shares some insights into the unfortunate xenophobic incident in SA recently.
Nigeria & South Africa Economic Relationship
If we look back, we will remember that there is a bi-national commission between the two countries and normally what bi-national commission implies (at the top of agenda) is business and thus far there has been so many south African companies that have invested in Nigeria and there are also Nigerians business that are in a South Africa too.
The trade balance between the two countries is increasing but it favours Nigeria more, because South Africa imports a lot of crude from Nigeria and that is what tipped the scale in favour of Nigeria. And South Africa on the other hand exports consumer products into Nigeria.
The Trade figures are in the region of 45billion South Africa Rands (SA Currency). It is quite a huge Investment. So also our relations are not only at government to government level, industry to industry level, but also at people to people level.
Grey Areas in SA and Nigeria Bi-lateral Trades
I think there are vast manufacturing opportunities in Nigeria and that is the area which really has to be boosted.
Maybe, there could be a lot challenges that Nigeria is facing and these challenges could be based on Energy (Power) because when you drive industry you have to source plenty of electrical power and there are discussion in South Africa government also to try and boost manufacturing industry in Nigeria because we also want to be importing a lot of finished products from Nigeria and Nigeria also importing finished products from south Africa.
Also there is need for the refining of petroleum product in Nigeria which is another area that has to be boosted so as to be encouraging growth.
It is not good to be exporting a lot of our raw materials to other continents; and next thing, we don’t have to go and buy the finished product, so we need to redefine our own petroleum products.
And then we are looking forward to having more and more refined products being imported by Nigeria from South Africa.
Assessment on Level of Technology Evolvement in Africa Ecosystem
Some years ago our leaders on the continent conceived the idea of the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) and if we can all as, African countries implement NEPAD as proposed by our leaders I think that will go a long way to promoting technology in Africa instead of looking for technology solutions elsewhere.
We have a lot of brain-powers in Africa and we need to utilize them. And we have a lot of skills that we need to tap into too.
And we have in the Diaspora, Africans who are holding positions at certain industries abroad and we could bring them with those skills into the continent, and go into production and refines our product and NEPAD could be the vehicle to achieve that.
The aim or objective of NEPAD is to inter-trade and promote investment in the continent and also to stop cash flow outside of the continent.
While we don’t break ties with our friends abroad, either in Europe or America, we don’t wish to ‘de-capitalize’ but we wish to be equal.
They need to also come and import from us finished product so we should be dealing at the same level with them as equals.
Concern of Insecurity in the Continent
It is true we are growing and going through a tough time on the continent, we see a lot of terrorist activities now, and suddenly a lot of our countries are becoming targets of these activities.
Therefore, insecurity could be part of that but also we must remember that nobody will come from anywhere else to come and secure the continent for us.
We are the ones that will secure the continent, at the same time promoting investments, build infrastructure.
They will come and destroy that, but we should also have plans in place to rebuild and with that we can boost of stronger and improved results.
I think we need to concentrate on dealing with the insecurity. We need to be able to tell people outside the continent that they can count on Africa for investment. And we need to know that we are the one to secure the continent.
Aftermath of Xenophobia
South Africa has been safe for so many years for many Africans; that is why we find many Africans residing and doing businesses in South Africa. If South Africa was not safe then we won’t have found so many Africans in the country.
About the issue of xenophobia, xenophobia is evident all over the world, as every nation has its own brand of xenophobia.
And normally xenophobia is not a policy of any government. Xenophobia is always caused by a few people and it’s not a culture of any nation.
But you find that it is in a particular minority. You may find out that there are some tendencies like those in which most of them are driven by criminals.
For instance the last xenophobic incidences in South Africa, when you look at them, they were more of criminal elements driven by their own agenda because as much as there were lots of noise about it but when you sit down and recount, you will see that there were only one foreigner who died out of that and three South Africans.
The figures we know are seven and the other three who died were unrelated to the xenophobi. It was just that they happened during that time.
But the noise that was made you will think that people have been killed at random in South Africa and there was nothing like that. What also happen then was that some people post on social Media images that have no relevance to what was happening there.
For instance there were some other images that were picked up from what happened in Rwanda during the genocide.
And then the picture depicted scenarios there were not reflective of the happenings in South Africa then.
It was only a few people in Durban, Alexander and Johannesburg that was all; South Africa will always be safe.
Even if you look there were countries that sent planes to collect their citizens but how many did really go back home?
You can count them and those who left even came back. So they will always be lot of people going to South Africa then just that tells you that South Africa has never be unsafe for anybody.
South Africa’s Expectation from Buhari Led Government
To South Africans, we hope the new government will promote democracy, push human rights and all the tenets of good governance, because they are key issues; good governance, human rights and democracy.
So, we know that Nigeria has also demonstrated that it could be one of the strong homes of democracy.
The way the elections took place and also the fact that a sitting president could be unseated through the ballot box speaks a lot about the democracy in Nigeria and we expect that the new government of Nigeria will also follow those good steps of promoting democracy and good governance.
So, we say congratulations to Nigerians for smooth elections and congratulations for exercising their right to elect the government they want.
Breathe Life Foundation partnered with Teach Nigeria Fellow, Ms Bunmi Rotimi, to deliver a respiratory health awareness session for over 200 senior students of Cleggs Girls High School, Surulere, Lagos.
The session equipped students aged 15–19 years with practical knowledge about the risks associated with smoking, vaping, and shisha, while challenging the misconception that shisha is a safer alternative to cigarettes or other substances.
Through an engaging and interactive discussion, students explored the influence of peer pressure and learned practical strategies for making healthier, more informed lifestyle choices.
They also gained a better understanding of common environmental triggers of asthma and other respiratory conditions, including cigarette smoke, generator fumes, bush burning, mosquito coil smoke, candles, charcoal, and firewood.
The session highlighted an important reality: young people may not always recognise how seemingly routine lifestyle choices and environmental exposures can gradually affect their respiratory health, quality of life, and long-term wellbeing.
For Breathe Life Foundation, this reinforces the importance of shifting the conversation from treatment to prevention through awareness and education. By equipping young people with the knowledge to identify risks and make healthier choices early, the Foundation is helping to build a generation that is more conscious of – and better prepared to protect – its respiratory health.
Breathe Life Foundation is dedicated to advancing respiratory health, an often-neglected public health priority. Healthy lungs are essential to life, yet respiratory diseases remain among the world’s leading causes of death and disability, even though many are preventable and treatable.
Nigeria’s technology retail landscape reached another significant milestone on Monday, August 3, 2026, as global technology giant ASUS, in partnership with Konga, officially commissioned its first flagship experience store in West Africa.
Strategically located at 16 Otigba Street, Computer Village, Ikeja, Lagos; the heartbeat of Nigeria’s technology ecosystem, the state-of-the-art facility represents a major investment in customer experience, product accessibility, and digital innovation.
The launch also reinforces Konga’s growing reputation as a preferred gateway for leading global technology brands into the Nigerian market.
The landmark event attracted Dr Kingsley Tochukwu Udeh, SAN, minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, who officially commissioned the store.
Also in attendance were the Chairman of Zinox Group, Leo Stan Ekeh; Chief Operating Officer of Konga, Dave Omoregie; VP Omni-channel & Commercial Planning, Melvin Onochie; and Head of Marketing and Communications at Konga Group, Victor Oluwaleye.
The ASUS team was led by E.EMEA General Manager, Aaron Tsai, alongside Business Development Manager, Sunnie Chen; Sales Manager, Mohammed Kazim; Gaming Product Manager, Joy Chen; Marketing Manager, Adeola Odeleye; and Sales Specialist, Williams Okenna.
The Honourable Minister described the facility as a defining achievement for Nigeria’s digital economy, noting that it is far more than the opening of a retail outlet.
He called it a strong vote of confidence by a global technology brand in Nigeria’s innovation, science, and technology ecosystem and the immense potential of its market.
He noted that his presence underscored the Federal Government’s commitment to fostering stronger collaboration between the public and private sectors, describing such partnerships as essential to achieving Nigeria’s ambition of building a one-trillion-dollar economy driven by private enterprise and enabled by government.
The Minister paid tribute to Leo Stan Ekeh, describing him as one of the foremost architects of Nigeria’s digital transformation.
He announced that Ekeh had recently agreed to champion the Federal Government’s Youth and Students in Innovation initiative, a flagship programme aimed at equipping young Nigerians with entrepreneurial and technology skills.
According to him, Ekeh’s decades of visionary entrepreneurship have played a pivotal role in shaping the country’s technology ecosystem and attracting prominent technology companies into the Nigerian market.
Using the occasion to address the international business community, the Minister encouraged global investors and brands to look beyond establishing commercial operations in Nigeria and actively partner with the government in driving national development.
He assured investors of the Federal Government’s commitment to creating an enabling environment that safeguards investments and delivers sustainable returns.
Speaking at the event, ASUS E.EMEA General Manager, Aaron Tsai, expressed appreciation to partners, government representatives, and customers for their support.
He explained that the flagship store was conceived to provide consumers with direct access to authentic ASUS products, and expressed confidence that the partnership with Konga will further accelerate the brand’s growth and strengthen customer engagement in the region.
The experience centre features dedicated sections showcasing ASUS’ complete portfolio of premium laptops, gaming devices, AI-powered PCs, and cutting-edge innovations. A standout attraction is an interactive digital display that allows visitors to explore ASUS’ latest technologies virtually before making purchase decisions, creating a more engaging and informed customer journey. Plus, every ASUS device purchased through the flagship store or online on Konga comes with a special one-year replacement warranty at no extra cost.
In his remark, Chief Operating Officer of Konga Group, Dave Omoregie, said the flagship store reflects Konga’s deliberate strategy to give Nigerian consumers a seamless blend of online and offline retail.
He noted that Konga’s logistics network, payment infrastructure, and nationwide retail footprint uniquely position the company to support global brands like ASUS at scale, while ensuring customers enjoy authentic products backed by reliable after-sales service.
According to him, the partnership demonstrates what becomes possible when world-class technology brands trust Nigerian platforms to deliver exceptional experiences, adding that Konga remains committed to setting the operational standard for authentic technology retail across the country.
The launch further reinforces the enduring partnership between ASUS and Konga, built on shared values of innovation, authenticity, and customer satisfaction.
It also highlights Konga’s continued evolution beyond traditional e-commerce into a comprehensive omnichannel technology ecosystem that combines online convenience with physical retail experiences.
For Nigerian consumers and businesses, the new ASUS Flagship Experience Store represents more than a retail outlet; it is a symbol of confidence in Nigeria’s technology market. It highlights Konga’s commitment to bridging the gap between global technology brands and Nigerian consumers. With its robust logistics infrastructure, digital payment solutions, and nationwide physical retail presence, Konga continues to set the standard for authentic, accessible, and reliable technology retail across Africa.
The flagship store opening featured guided product demonstrations, immersive technology experiences, exclusive launch-day offers and customer engagement activities celebrating this historic milestone.
Customers can begin shopping immediately at the ASUS Flagship Experience Store, located at 16 Otigba Street, Computer Village, Ikeja, Lagos. Visitors can explore authentic ASUS products, experience live product demonstrations, receive expert guidance, and access dedicated Starlink customer-support services.
Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has called on President Bola Tinubu to direct, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), attorney general of the federation and minister of Justice; Olatunji Rilwan Disu, inspector-general of Police, and relevant anti-corruption agencies to investigate allegations that more than ₦6.79 billion in public funds were missing, diverted or misapplied within the Nigeria Police Force and the Federal Ministry of Police Affairs.
The allegations are contained in the Auditor-General of the Federation’s 2022 Annual Report, published on September 9, 2025.
In a letter dated August 1, 2026, and signed by Kolawole Oluwadare, deputy director, SERAP, the organisation urged the government to ensure that anyone implicated in the report is prosecuted and that all missing public funds, firearms and ammunition are recovered.
“Anyone suspected to be responsible—including contractors, companies and public officials implicated in the report—should be promptly prosecuted, while all missing public funds, firearms and ammunition should be fully recovered, secured and properly accounted for.”
SERAP described the Auditor-General’s findings as a serious breach of public trust.
“The Auditor-General’s findings suggest a grave betrayal of the public trust and raise serious concerns about corruption and the management of public funds, police exhibits, firearms and ammunition.”
The organisation also expressed concern over allegations involving missing firearms, unauthorised use and release of police exhibits, and poor storage of weapons.
“The report also raises serious concerns over missing firearms and ammunition, the unauthorised use and release of police exhibits, failures to properly account for exhibits, and the insecure storage of firearms, creating significant risks to public safety and national security.”
According to SERAP, the alleged diversion of funds meant for policing and the reported irregularities have weakened the operational effectiveness of the Nigeria Police Force.
“The diversion of funds meant for policing, abandoned security projects, missing firearms and ammunition, and the misuse of police exhibits undermine the operational effectiveness of the Nigeria Police Force, weaken public confidence and may contribute to Nigeria’s worsening insecurity.”
The organisation said the Auditor-General’s report documented several alleged financial irregularities, including payments for projects that were never executed, abandoned contracts, inflated contract costs, irregular procurement, unretired cash advances, unsettled insurance claims and payments for services allegedly not rendered.
“The report documented numerous alleged financial irregularities within the Nigeria Police Force and the Federal Ministry of Police Affairs, including payments for projects that were never executed, abandoned contracts, inflated contract costs, and irregular procurement.”
“The report also documented unretired cash advances, unsettled insurance claims, payments for services allegedly not rendered, and other suspected diversion and misapplication of public funds amounting to over ₦6.79 billion.”SERAP further cited allegations of missing firearms and ammunition, failures to properly account for recovered weapons and exhibits, and insecure storage of firearms.
“The allegations also include missing firearms and ammunition, the unauthorised use and release of police exhibits, failures to properly account for recovered firearms and other exhibits, and the insecure storage of firearms, posing serious risks to public safety and national security.”
The organisation gave the Federal Government seven days to act on its demands, warning that it would pursue legal action if no response is received.
“We would be grateful if the recommended measures are taken within seven days of the receipt and/or publication of this letter. If we have not heard from you by then, SERAP shall consider appropriate legal action to compel your government to comply with our request in the public interest.”
SERAP also argued that the allegations, if left unaddressed, would violate constitutional provisions requiring the government to combat corruption and safeguard the welfare and security of Nigerians.
Among the specific findings cited from the Auditor-General’s report were allegations of payments for abandoned and unexecuted police projects worth hundreds of millions of naira, inflated contract values, unretired cash advances, irregular procurement processes, unsettled insurance claims exceeding ₦681 million, over ₦1 billion in uncleared insurance policy liabilities, missing firearms and ammunition, unauthorised release of police exhibits, and contracts allegedly awarded without due diligence by the Federal Ministry of Police Affairs.
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