By Toye Olori
ABUJA, Nigeria, Apr 5 2002 (IPS)

Canadian Prime Minister, Jean Chretien has begun a tour of seven African nations in preparation for the G-8 summit in Kananaskis, Alberta on June 26-27.

From Nigeria, where he arrived on Friday, Chretien — who is the current chair of G-8 — will proceed to Senegal, South Africa, Morocco, Algeria, Mozambique and Ethiopia.

He also will meet civil society representatives, including young people, involved in development, as well as representatives of the African Union (AU) and the UN Economic Commission for Africa (ECA).

Africa will be the principal focus of the June summit of the Group of Eight (G-8) most industrialised countries, according to a press statement made available to IPS in Abuja, the capital of Nigeria.

G-8 comprises Canada, Japan, Britain, France, Russia, Germany, Russia and Italy.

In Genoa, Italy, last year, G-8 leaders agreed to develop an Africa Action Plan for adoption in Kananaskis that would support the unique proposal – New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) – put forward by African leaders for the renewal of their continent.

NEPAD is designed to address the social, political and economic challenges facing Africans and is endorsed by the 53 members of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU), now renamed African Union (AU).

“As chair of the G-8 this year, I have committed to consulting with Africans on a G-8 Africa Action Plan to build lasting peace and security, strengthen democratic governance, address health and education and open trade and investment,” said Chretien, in the statement released by the Canadian Embassy in Abuja.

His visit, he said, will allow him “to gain a better understanding of the opportunities and challenges for Africa. The continent is on the fringes of our globalised world and risks falling back. We must help reverse the situation”.

Speaking at a joint press briefing with President Olusegun Obasanjo in Abuja on Friday, the Canadian Prime Minister said: “The members of the G-8 that had met so far are happy with NEPAD.”

“It is very welcome by everybody and the commitment of investing more in Africa by the world is a positive thing,” he said. “Unfortunately, Africa has not grown in the last ten years and if we have the right approach, Africa will have some positive participation in the economic growth of the world and in the political debate that is going on.”

“It is in the interest of African nations and the people to create the proper climate for investment. In my discussion with the President (Obasanjo), we talked about investment. I am happy that the President is working with his neighbours to create some economic activities that will lead to growth for example, piping natural gas that is abundant in Nigeria to some West African countries to help those nations for economic growth,” said Chretien.

The two also touched on recent decision by the Commonwealth – a club of mainly former British colonies – to impose sanctions on Zimbabwe for allegedly running a violent campaign during the country’s controversial Mar 9-10 polls.

Chretien praised Obasanjo for embarking on a diplomatic campaign to urge “President (Robert) Mugabe (of Zimbabwe) to incorporate in his government members of the opposition” as part of the reconciliation process in that country.

Canada, which severed diplomatic ties with Nigeria during the late dictator Sani Abacha’s reign in 1997, restored relations when General Abdulsalami Abubakar began a genuine transition to democracy. It provided over one million dollars to assist in the 1998/99 elections. Part of the fund was used in the provision of a widely distributed manual for poll officials.

Canada also sent technical experts as part of a commonwealth initiative and election observers in co-operation with the European Union.

In 1990, Canada forgave Nigeria the entire foreign debt of 42.4 million dollars owed it. Analysts say Canada remains the only country to have forgiven Nigeria her entire foreign debt.

Canada also has supported Nigeria’s peace efforts in the West African sub-region by contributing around one million dollars to ECOMOG, the Nigerian-led military peacekeeping force. Canada’s aid to Nigeria over the past decade totalled over 30 million dollars.

Canada imports crude oil and cocoa beans from Nigeria, while Nigeria imports cereals, building materials, motor vehicle and machinery spare parts.

Though Canada’s imports fell from 521 million dollars after the severance of diplomatic ties in 1997 to 305 million dollars in 1993, more than 1,000 Canadian companies operate in Nigeria presently.

Excerpt: