By Mark Longyen

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) says member countries are currently facing a clear and present danger in the form of transnational terrorism.

Amb. Abdel-Fatau Musah, ECOWAS Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace, and Security, said this at a news conference in Abuja on Friday.

“Initially confined to certain countries in the Sahel (Mali and Niger) and the Lake Chad Basin (Nigeria), terrorist attacks have multiplied and spread to other countries (Burkina Faso and Mali) and are now a real threat to coastal countries (Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana and Togo).

“The number of fatalities, those maimed, displaced, and those who have lost livelihoods and educational opportunities has been the subject of conflicting figures.

“Yet all the figures are indicative of the pain and suffering that insecurity continues to inflict on the people, particularly in the Sahelian member states,’ he said.

Reeling out statistics to that effect, Musah said in 2023, for instance, more than 3,500 incidents of terror attacks were recorded in the ECOWAS region, including close to 2,000 in Burkina Faso; more than 1,044 in Mali; and 500 in Niger Republic.

According to the commissioner, these incidents have resulted in close to 9,000 fatalities, including 7,000 in the three Sahelian countries – Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger Republic.

Musah observed that terrorist attacks in the coastal region included 177 in Benin Republic and Togo which recorded 203 deaths.

He said the attacks left in their trails debilitating effects on human lives with dire humanitarian crises.

“In just the three ECOWAS Sahelian Countries a total of 4.8 million people faced food insecurity, 2.4 million people were internally displaced and close to 9000 schools remained closed.

“A disaggregation of the data shows that Burkina Faso had the highest number of food-insecure people – close to 2.2 million; followed by Niger with 1.9 million and Mali about 800, 000.

“Burkina Faso also accounts for the largest number of internally displaced people – about 2 million, while Mali and Niger each have close to half a million displaced persons.

“The number of schools closed stood at 6,000 in Burkina Faso, 1,700 in Mali and 1000 in Niger,” he said.

The commissioner, however, said that the sub-regional bloc had taken measures to curb acts of terror and stem the tide of humanitarian hardship which they had wreaked on the people.

He added that due to the transnational nature of terrorism threats, the bloc has initiated multilateral efforts within the framework of existing regional and continental mechanisms or through the creation of ad-hoc arrangements.

In addition, he said, partner states and institutions have also launched some initiatives aimed at contributing to the fight against terrorism.

“In addition to ECOWAS own Counter-terrorism initiatives, there have been multiple other initiatives in the region, including the Multinational Joint Task Force of the Lake Chad basin Commission (MNJTF), Nouakchott Process (AU) and the Accra Initiative.

“These are anchored on intelligence and information sharing, European Union Capacity Building Mission in Niger (EUCAP Sahel Niger), MINUSMA and the G5 Sahel until recently.

“This is why as ECOWAS our proposal is to integrate the various initiatives into the regional Plan of Action and use them as specialised operational tools of the regional mechanism.

“This will facilitate coordination, promote ownership, and enhance inclusion,” he explained.

The commissioner noted that proposals have been made by the Committee of ECOWAS Chiefs of Defense Staff with regard to the deployment of the ECOWAS Standby Force (ESF) to combat terrorism in a kinetic mode to be funded by the bloc.

“In the coming weeks, the Ministers of Finance and Defence will meet in Abuja to determine the modalities to mobilise resources including for the activation and operations of the Force.

“This Force will operate across the region, in close collaboration with local forces and existing anti-terrorist mechanisms,” he said.

Musah said ECOWAS had already involved third parties to resolve its differences with Mali, Burkina-Faso, and Niger, who had earlier announced their threat to withdraw from the bloc.

According to him, all financial and economic sanctions had been lifted on the three countries, while other measures were being deployed to make them see reasons to remain in ECOWAS.

“There are various engagements also going on, not only by ECOWAS but by third parties and all that in order for all of us to find common ground with these countries.

“We are just waiting for the three member states, who I must repeat, are all important members of ECOWAS.

“And without them, it is going to be more difficult to deal with many of the challenges facing the region.

“You know, terrorism, the whole issue of the Sahel what is happening there, and our collective goal in terms of free movement of people and all that.

“With the sanctions that were imposed, we saw the indirect impact of them on ordinary people who trade across borders,” he said.

Musah maintained that ECOWAS is a listening institution, whose heads of state have given attention to the population and have taken the appropriate measures.

“The ball is now in the court of our member states, that is, the three countries,” he added. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Emmanuel Yashim

Former British Prime Minsiter Theresa May has said she will not contest in the next general election, bringing a 27-year career in the UK parliament to an end.

May revealed her decision to stand down as MP for Maidenhead on Friday, saying she would focus on championing causes including the fight against modern slavery.

In a statement to her local newspaper, the Maidenhead Advertiser, she said: “Since stepping down as prime minister I have enjoyed being a backbencher again and having more time to work for my constituents and champion causes close to my heart including most recently launching a Global Commission on Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking.

“These causes have been taking an increasing amount of my time.

“Because of this, after much careful thought and consideration, I have realised that looking ahead, I would no longer be able to do my job as an MP in the way I believe is right and my constituents deserve.”

May, 67, has been a consistent campaigner on modern slavery and human trafficking, and launched her Global Commission in October, backed by the UK and Bahrain governments.

She was first elected as MP for Maidenhead in 1997 and served as home secretary under David Cameron between 2010 and 2016 before succeeding him as prime minister.

Her term in Downing Street lasted a turbulent three years and was dominated by wrangling over Brexit.

A snap election in 2017 saw her lose her majority, but she remained at Number 10 thanks to a deal with Northern Ireland’s Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) in the resulting hung parliament.

Eventually, opposition to her proposed Brexit deal saw Conservative MPs hold a confidence vote in her leadership, and although she survived her authority was diminished, and she announced her resignation five months later.

In her statement, May said it had been “an honour and a privilege” to serve as Maidenhead’s MP and vowed to continue working for her constituents until the general election, which is expected in the second half of this year.

She added: “As I pass on the baton, I will be ready to work with my successor to secure a Conservative victory in Maidenhead.

“I remain committed to supporting (current Prime Minister) Rishi Sunak and the government and believe that the Conservatives can win the election.

“I would like to thank all those who chose me to represent them as their member of parliament.”

Almost 100 MPs have announced they will not fight their seats at the next election, including 64 Conservatives and former Conservatives – the most Tories to retire from parliament since May entered the Commons in 1997.

Labour Party chairwoman Anneliese Dodds said the number of Tories standing down ed “no confidence” in Sunak and the Conservative Party’s prospects.

But Treasury minister Gareth Davies denied that was the case, telling Sky News he was “personally sad” to see May stand down.

He added that it is “completely reasonable” for people to decide to leave parliament before an election.

“Each one has made their own decision for personal reasons and I respect every single person’s decision to do so,” he said. (dpa/NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Emmanuel Yashim

By Maureen Okon

Mr Yemi Edun, the author of “The Number One Mission’’, a book on the contributions of Nigerians in the UK, says Nigerians should learn to document their history.

Edun said at the launch of the book on Thursday in Abuja that this was important so as “to tell the younger generation on how we got to where we are today”.

According to him, anything that is not written will cease to exist, as such Nigerians should document the story of the country and the contributions of individuals to its development.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Edun also explained why he wrote the book that centered on the history of Nigerians in the United Kingdom (UK).

He said that it was to capture their contributions to the development of not only the UK, but also their country of origin, Nigeria.

It was to celebrate Nigerians who made great history in that country, he added.

According to him, before the book project, his understanding of embassies was limited to applying for passport and visa.

He said that his perception changed when he began to interact with former Nigeria’s High Commissioner to UK, Amb. Sarafa Isola.

“Then I looked at the history between Nigeria and the UK and I realised that our first High Commissioner in the UK was Chief Matthew Mbu, who holds the record of the youngest minister appointed before the age of 25, and first ambassador to the United States.

“The book is centered on Nigerian High Commission in the UK, and as a real estate person, my work deals on locations and knowing areas.

“As I was gathering content for my personal use, I realised that Nigeria has rich history in the UK to be celebrated.

“Nigeria has 22 buildings aside from companies and individuals that have personal properties in the UK,’’ he added.

Mrs Abike Dabiri-Erewa, the Chairman of Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, said that Edun has done Nigeria proud both at home and in the diaspora.

She appreciated his efforts in writing the book that documents Nigerians’ contributions both to Nigeria and the British economy.

“You’re playing a major role in the diaspora, and we appreciate you, we respect you, and we celebrate you.

“My message is this, no matter the challenges that we have, we’re going to overcome them.

“ We have to overcome them united, stronger together, and we will survive as a country, no matter what we go through,” she added.

NAN reports that the vice presidential candidate for the Labour Party in the 2023 election, Mr Datti Baba-Ahmed bought a copy of the book for N250,000, while former Governor of Bayelsa, Sen. Henry Dickson bought 20 copies for N2 million for his school’s library.

Dickson applauded the author for documenting the good things Nigerians have been doing in the UK. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Maharazu Ahmed

By Fortune Abang

Stakeholders in good governance have called for a strategic approach to creating an atmosphere conducive for businesses to thrive in Nigeria.

The stakeholders made the call during the official virtual launch of the transformational governance corporate toolkit with support from Oando Plc.

One of the stakeholders, Ms. Naomi Nwokolo, the Executive-Director of United Nations Global Compact Network Nigeria (UNGC-NN), said the call for a strategic approach was mainly because “the world is changing rapidly and how corporations operate needs to change too.”

Nwokolo noted that adherence to regulations is not enough, as businesses are expected to operate ethically, act responsibly, and contribute to the long-term sustainability of society.

According to her, the 2023 Sustainable Competitiveness Report ranked Nigeria 161st in Global Governance, saying effective corporate governance is not just an option, but a necessity for achieving the SDGs.

“The transformational governance self-assessment tool was designed to empower companies to evaluate their operations, identify areas of improvement, supply chains, stakeholders engagement and drive positive societal change.

“This tool equips companies to transform their operations within communities, Therefore a strategic corporate approach to governance is vital for attracting investment and fostering sustainable economic growth.

“Regulations mandating human rights due diligence are raising the standards, but due diligence must also consider political and geopolitical risks to support transformative governance.

“Transformational governance is not just about meeting legal requirements, it is about embracing principles. It is about accountability, ethics, inclusivity, and transparency.

“It challenges companies to look beyond internal operations, considering the broader impact on society, by aligning with SDG-16, centered on `Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions’, to build a more peaceful, and a prosperous future,” Nwokolo said.

Corporate Affairs Mrs. Oluwasoromidayo George, Sustainability Director Coca-Cola HBC, and Chairperson UN Global Compact Network Nigeria, described the toolkit as a pivotal resource for reshaping the global business landscape.

According to George, the toolkit can be instrumental to ethical leadership and responsible business conduct.

“Our collective presence here underscores our shared commitment to shaping a new era of responsible business conduct, transparency, and ethical leadership.

“In today’s dynamic world, corporate governance is evolving rapidly, with stakeholders demanding transparency, accountability, and sustainability.

“Nigeria, with its vibrant private sector and ambitious economic goals, must prioritize strong governance to attract investment and foster innovation,” she said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the UNGC-NN is one of the 74 Local Networks country offices of the UN Global Compact. It is the world’s largest corporate sustainability initiative. (NAN) www.nannews.ng

Edited by Emmanuel Yashim

By Maureen Okon

The Director-General (DG) of Nigeria Technical Aid Corps (NTAC), Dr Buba Yakub, has pledged to build the capacity of personnel of the corps to enhance their services to the nation.

Yakub made the pledge on Wednesday in Abuja at the close of a training organised for protocol officers of the corps.

He said that the training was to boost the professional competence of the participants for the effective discharge of their duties.

The DG said that the target was to have very competent personnel who will be the best in their field wherever they find themselves in the country.

He commended the participants for their dedication during the training as they strived to improve their skills for effective service delivery.

In a remark, Director of Administration of the corps, Amb. Abdullahi Ahmed, charged the beneficiaries to deploy what they learned in improving their performances on the field of protocol duties.

Earlier, the training consultant, Mr Dominic Ogakwe, said that the focus of the training was to enhance productivity and accountability.

Mr Frederick Fwa, who spoke on behalf of the participants, appreciated the management of the corps for the capacity training.

He said that they would utilise the new knowledge and skills to ensure effectiveness in their respective duties. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by AbdulFatai Beki/Maharazu Ahmed

By Ebere Agozie

Stakeholders in the women and girl social development say that the United Nations Development programme (UNDP) partnership with state Commissioners of Women Affairs will advance their programmes in Nigeria.

The stakeholders said this at a dialogue organised by the UNDP to advance partnership with states for programming for women and girls in Nigeria on Thursday in Abuja.

UNDP Resident Representative in Nigeria, Ms Elsie Attafuah, said the dialogue would foster collaboration and exchange ideas on how to collectively enhance initiatives that promote the welfare, empowerment, and rights of women and girls in Nigeria.

Attafuah noted that though there were pockets of crisis across the country, there were still opportunities that abound that could be tapped into to change the lives of women and girls in the country.

She urged women to rise up to the challenges and organise themselves together to access UN supports.

”Women could drive the development agenda of the nation if they come together with commitments,” she said.

The Dean, Commissioners for Women Affairs and Social Development of the 36 states of federation led by Dr Ini Adiakpan urged development partners for assistance to improve the situation of women and girls in the country.

Adiakpan said the special intervention was necessary to curb the current growing number of street children and the suffering of women in the country.

“The street children must be urgently taken off the streets through proper packaged intervention to curb the risk of them turning into criminals and bandits’’.

She noted that 90 per cent of women were in agriculture and needed to be improved and taught on how to use high breed technology to solve the lack of food in Nigeria.

“Women could champion the current food security programme of the current administration if they are provided with enabling environment as women dominate the food and farming process in Nigeria.

“Women are resilient, we have the inner strength to absorb and survive even in the midst of difficulties,’’ she added.

Dr Adedayo Benjamins-Laniyi, FCTA, Mandate Secretary, Women Affairs Secretariat, said that Nigeria was ready to walk the talk with stakeholders in bringing out the best in the lives of vulnerable women and girls in Nigeria.

“We are ready in working with all stakeholders, including the UN in achieving their mandates towards the welfare and development of women and girls,’’ she added.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that state commissioners for women affairs and social development from across the states were all present (NAN)

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Pope Francis was taken to hospital for an examination after holding his weekly general audience at the Vatican on Wednesday, the Vatican announced.

The head of the Catholic Church returned to the Vatican shortly afterward.

According to the Vatican, the pope has been suffering from a “mild flu” for a few days, which is why he cancelled several public appearances.

Before visiting the hospital, during the audience, the pope said: “I still have a bit of a cold.”

The pontiff plans to meet Germany’s Chancellor Olaf Scholz in a private audience for the first time on Saturday.

The pope’s health condition has been the subject of concern for some time now.

Recently the pope also had issues with inflammation of the respiratory tract.

Last year, he was hospitalised twice.

He is often in a wheelchair during public appearances due to a knee condition.

The pope, born in Argentina, has been in office since 2013.

He was the successor to German Pope Benedict XVI, and will mark 11 years in office next month. (dpa/NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Emmanuel Yashim