The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has decried the neglect of the education sector, saying Nigeria ranks lowest in education budgets across the West African sub-region. ASUU President, Prof. Emmanuel Osodeke, said this at a One-Day Workshop on ‘Emerging Areas of Students Needs in Beneficiary Institutions’, organised by the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) … Read more
Niger’s junta has threatened to kill ousted President Mohamed Bazoum if neighbouring countries attempt any military intervention to reinstate him. According to a report by The Associated Press on Thursday, two “Western officials” said the putschists issued the threat while speaking to a top U.S. diplomat. This came shortly before the Economic Community of West … Read more
West Africa experienced slower economic growth in 2023, except for Cape Verde, The Gambia, Guinea, Mali, and Niger, says the African Development Bank (AfDB). AfDB said this in its 2023 West Africa Economic Outlook report which was released on Wednesday in Abuja. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the report is entitled “Mobilising … Read more
Tensions remain high in the aftermath of a coup in Niger Republic as the military junta refused entry to a negotiating mission planned for Tuesday by the United Nations, Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the African Union (AU). The military governments of Mali and Burkina Faso have called on the UN Security … Read more
The United States Institute of Peace (USIP) has said that the recent coups in the Republic of Niger, Burkina-Faso and Mali are not good images for the West African region and its people. Dr Chris Kwaja, the Country Director of USIP, said this to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Abuja. Kwaja … Read more
Defence chiefs from West Africa’s regional bloc ECOWAS will meet in Nigeria’s capital Abuja for two days beginning Wednesday to discuss last week’s coup in Niger, the bloc said in a statement on Tuesday. On Sunday leaders of the Economic Community of West African States slapped sanctions on Niger and warned they may use force … Read more
The Secretary-General’s Special Representation for West Africa, Léonardo Simão says Niger crisis could worsen insecurity throughout West Africa if not addressed. Simão said this while briefing journalists on Tuesday at UN headquarters in New York. The UN envoy reiterated condemnation of the attempted overthrow of Nigerien President Mohamed Bazoum on July 26. He also underscored support for … Read more
President Bola Tinubu will on Tuesday, August 1, 2023, honour an invitation to attend the 63rd independence anniversary of the Republic of Benin. The President, who is also the Chairman of the Authority of Heads of State and Government of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) will be the Special Guest of President … Read more
A major decision of the 30 July emergency Summit of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) is the seven-day ultimatum, which the regional leaders handed the coup makers in Niger to either release and reinstate deposed President Mohamed Bazoum or face “all necessary measures, including the use of force, to restore constitutional order.” … Read more
Chairman of ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government, President Bola Tinubu, will host a special meeting of the regional leaders on Sunday in Abuja. This followed the coup in Republic of Niger that has upended the constitutional political leadership in the West Africa country. Tinubu, in a statement he personally signed on Wednesday, … Read more
By Paul Ejime (BANJUL) The International Conference of the ECOWAS Community Court on Zero Tolerance for unconstitutional change of governments in West Africa continued in Banju,l the Gambia capital on Tuesday with presentations on several sub-themes including the ECOWAS Mechanism for Conflict Prevention, Management, Resolution, Peace Keeping and Security. Dr Emmanuel Udo Ifeadi, a former … Read more
By Joseph Danjuma – The Nigerian Government has laid the foundation for the establishment of the first solar cell production factory in West Africa. This initiative is part of the government’s efforts towards transforming Nigeria’s power and energy sector. The landmark achievement, which places Nigeria among countries adopting alternative energy sources, will also transform Nigeria’s … Read more
By Abiodun Adebimpe – The Russian-Ukraine war and the lingering impact of the COVID-19 pandemic have severely weakened West African economies and currencies – but businesses and investors are looking to dollar assets to mitigate the damage. As most West African economies are commodity-driven, any development within the global economy that affects the supply and/or … Read more
Ouranos Technologies Limited, a provider of Information Technology (IT) infrastructure services, says it will provide two million dollars to boost enterprise solutions in West Africa. A statement issued on Tuesday by Joseph Aransiola, Managing Director of Ouranos Technologies Ltd., stated that part of the money would also finance the construction of a technology lab in … Read more
Mali has taken a delivery of warplanes and helicopters from Russia as Moscow deepens its involvement in the country. Since breaking ties with France, the military regime in Mali has become reliant on its new ally, which has deployed mercenaries from the Wagner group, according to multiple sources. The troops according to BBC reports are … Read more
President Muhammadu Buhari says Nigeria is working closely with ECOWAS to deal with insecurity in the West African region as well as implementing strategies to contain the spate of unconstitutional changes in government. The president spoke while receiving Letters of Credence from Ambassadors of Switzerland, Sweden, Republic of Ireland, the Kingdom of Thailand, the Republic … Read more
President Muhammadu Buhari has performed the official ground-breaking ceremony of the new ECOWAS Headquarters complex also known as the Eye of West Africa, to be constructed by the Chinese Government. President Buhari declared that the edifice will strengthen the brotherhood of African countries. The building which comes in the aftermath of engagements and an agreement … Read more
Mahamat Idriss Deby Itno, the President of the Transition Military Council of Chad, has emerged Chairman of the Lake Chad Basin Commission (LCBC). The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the emergence of Itno as Chairman of the LCBC at the 16th Summit of the Commission in Abuja on Tuesday followed the expiration of … Read more
With the different challenges in the West African sub-region including the undemocratic takeover of governments, the Economic Community of West African States has done well, rising to the occasion and for this, ECOWAS ought to be proud. Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, SAN expressed this view today while receiving a delegation of the ECOWAS Commission led … Read more
Above-average rainfall and devastating flooding across West and Central Africa has affected five million people in 19 countries across the region, claiming hundreds of lives, upending livelihoods, displacing tens of thousands from their homes and decimating over a million hectares of cropland – in a region already in the grips of an unprecedented hunger crisis. … Read more
Some tourism stakeholders have called on African leaders to put measures in place in boosting seamless travels across the West African region. The stakeholders spoke during the launch of Destination West Africa Project (DWAP) in Lagos on Friday. DWAP focuses on improving intra-Africa travel as well as tourism and some other objectives. Mrs Nneka Isaac-Moses … Read more
By David Iorja (ABUJA) President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday in New York vowed to entrench a process of free, fair, transparent and credible elections through which Nigerians elect leaders of their choice. In his farewell speech to the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) as President, he told the 77th session that next year, there would … Read more
STATEMENT BY HIS EXCELLENCY, MUHAMMADU BUHARI, PRESIDENT OF THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA AT THE GENERAL DEBATE OF THE 77TH SESSION OF THE UNITED NATIONS GENERAL ASSEMBLY, WEDNESDAY 21ST SEPTEMBER, 2022 Mr. President, Heads of State and Government, Mr. Secretary-General, Distinguished delegates, Ladies and gentlemen, Mr. President, On behalf of the Government and people of … Read more
Nigeria remains an attractive investment destination of West Africa and other parts of the world, Gov. Atiku Bagudu of Kebbi has said. .Bagudu made this known when the Chairman of WACOT Rice Company, Alhaji Faruk Gumel visited the governor at the Government House, Birnin Kebbi on Tuesday. The governor expressed optimism that Nigerian Rice Farmers … Read more
The United Kingdom (UK) said on Tuesday it had donated 15 million pounds for the provision of vital food and nutrition for vulnerable people in the Northeastern states of Borno, Adamawa, and Yobe. The UK High Commission in Nigeria which announced this in a statement said the amount was an emergency humanitarian funding. According to … Read more
Heaps of unwanted clothes have washed up on a beach in Ghana, west Africa. Disturbing pictures from the capital city of Accra in Ghana show huge piles of wet garments strewn over the sand, with many of these thought to have been imported from Britain and other western nations. According to environmental sustainability charity WRAP, up … Read more
President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday in Monrovia, Liberia called on leaders in West Africa to do all within their powers to ensure that elections are conducted in their countries in an atmosphere of trust, freedom and transparency as this is the only way the sub-region can be insulated from the scourge of unconstitutional take overs … Read more
Leaders of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) have adopted the recommendations of its mediator for Mali and Nigeria’s former President, Dr Goodluck Jonathan, concerning the lifting of economic sanctions on the country. In a document obtained by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), in Abuja, Jonathan’s six-point recommendations was adopted after his … Read more
The President, National Bambara Nut Producers, Processors and Marketers Association (NABAPPMA), Igwe Ezedioramma Aniagu, says Bambara nut is the solution to world hunger. Aniagu made this known at the sideline of the official inauguration of 11 new member associations to the National Commodity Associations of Nigeria in Abuja. He said that Bambara nut was a … Read more
Mali has denied allegations in a UN report that its national army (Fama) carried out human rights violations. A report by the country’s UN mission, Minusma, released last week highlighted alleged gross rights abuses by the Malian army between January and March this year. It attributed to Fama an “exponential rise” in abuses, including summary … Read more