President Bola Tinubu has extended heartfelt condolences to President John Mahama and people of Ghana over a tragic helicopter crash that claimed the lives of eight Ghanaians, including two ministers.
This is contained in a statement issued by Presidential Spokesperson, Mr Bayo Onanuga on Wednesday in Abuja.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the crash, which occurred Wednesday in Ghana’s southern Ashanti region, killed all on board, among them Defence Minister Edward Boamah and Environment Minister Ibrahim Muhammed.
Tinubu assures President Mahama and all Ghanaian that the thoughts and prayers of the government and people of Nigeria are with them during the time of profound national loss.
The President urged the Ghanaian nation and the bereaved families to find comfort in the knowledge that their loved ones died in the line of patriotic service to the country.
“He prayed for the peaceful repose of the souls of the departed and strength for those they left behind.” (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) says having a sub-regional Standby Force (ESF) that can be swiftly deployed to quell conflicts is critical to ensuring peace, security, and development.
Amb. Abdel-Fatah Musah, ECOWAS Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security, stated this on Wednesday in Abuja at a meeting of the ESF’s police/gendarmerie focal point for peace support operations.
Musah described ESF as a multidimensional force and vital mechanism for regional peace and security architecture designed to swiftly respond to regional conflicts, and an African Standby Force brigade.
He noted that the rapidly changing nature of threats and conflicts has not only made a dynamic and adaptive approach to policing a necessity, but it has underscored the need for combat readiness, cooperation, collaboration, and coordination.
The Commissioner, represented by Dr Sani Adamu, ECOWAS Director of Peacekeeping and Regional Security, therefore, urged participants to leverage their collective strengths and resources to foster a sustainable environment of peace.
“An effective ECOWAS Standby Force supports not just immediate crisis response but also long-term peacebuilding initiatives, creating conditions necessary for economic development and social progress across our region.
“As we refine the operational readiness and effectiveness of the ESF, we must recognise that true security is not only about arms and strategy.
“It is also about leveraging our collective strengths and resources to foster a sustainable environment of peace,” he said.
According to him, the ESF is an investment in a future where the children of community citizens can grow up in a world free from the fear of conflict.
ECOWAS, he said, was a testament to the importance of regional partnerships, bringing together nations under a shared vision of peace and security.
“I therefore urge each of you to actively participate, share your perspectives, and help refine our policing strategy to ensure it meets the highest standards we set for ourselves.
“Our commitments today will pave the way for actionable strategies and tangible outcomes in the field,” he added.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the event was attended by participants from the African Union, ECOWAS, and security officials from its training centres of excellence and institutions. (NAN)
Egypt has dispatched its first export of locally developed, high-tech “mini tuber” potato seeds to Uzbekistan, the Ministry of Agriculture announced, according to Daily News Egypt, a partner of TV BRICS.
Mohamed El-Mensy, Head of the Central Administration of Agricultural Quarantine, noted that the shipment was in line with directives from the Ministry of Agriculture to strengthen domestic seed production and boost exports, as part of a wider strategy to expand Egypt’s role as a regional seed exporter.
El-Mensy emphasised that a plant health unit was tasked with preparing the technical documentation for the exported seeds.
He stressed that close coordination between Egyptian and Uzbek officials, including a video conference with the Uzbek ambassador in Cairo, helped finalise the file in time for the planting season.
This development comes on the heels of a high-level Uzbek delegation’s visit to Egypt in late May, aimed at deepening cooperation in agriculture.
The Egyptian Ministry of Agriculture instructed relevant departments to support collaboration by arranging field visits to Egyptian agricultural projects, research institutions, and farms, and facilitating knowledge exchange.
Further shipments are currently being prepared. (TV BRICS/NAN)
Ethiopia’s Government Communication Service said that as of July 31, it had planted more than 103 tree seedlings across the country in a single day’s Green Legacy Initiative campaign.
ENA, a partner of TV BRICS, reported that in the early hours of the morning, Ethiopia had witnessed millions of nationwide turnouts to break its record by planting 700 million saplings from dawn to dusk as part of its Green Legacy Initiative.
This year’s campaign, launched under the theme “Renewal Through Planting,” aims to plant 7.5 billion seedlings across the country during the rainy season, which typically runs from June to September.
As a state news agency, this nationwide effort underscores Ethiopia’s continued commitment to combating land degradation, enhancing climate resilience, and promoting sustainable development through its flagship environmental initiative. (TV BRICS/NAN)
Russia is ready to step up cooperation with the Global South and BRICS to counter the illegal U.S. sanctions pressure, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said on Monday.
“Nevertheless, we believe that no tariff wars and sanctions can alter the inevitable course of history.
“We have a vast network of partners, like-minded people, and allies within the Global South, particularly among BRICS countries, who share this perspective.
“We are ready to step up cooperation with them to counteract illegal unilateral sanctions and to establish a truly multilateral, just, and equitable global order,” Zakharova said.
Such U.S. policy is a direct encroachment on the national sovereignty of states, constituting interference in the domestic affairs of other nations, the spokeswoman said.
“Sanctions and restrictions are a regrettable reality of the current historical stage, impacting the entire globe.
“Washington cannot accept the loss of its hegemony in the emerging multipolar world order and continues to pursue a neocolonial policy to uphold its dominance, using politicised economic.
“Pressures against those who resist its agenda on the international stage,” she said. (RIA/NAN)
The Zimbabwean government is calling on employers across sectors to prioritise the recruitment of people with disabilities, as part of its broader commitment to promoting equal opportunities and fostering social inclusion.
A report by ZBC News, a TV BRICS partner, quoted Mr Edgar Moyo, the country’s Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare Minister, as saying that Zimbabwe needs to bridge the employment gap urgently for people with disabilities.
“All ministries have received a directive to give preference to people with disabilities in recruitment.
“If anyone from the disabled community is being excluded due to their condition, we encourage them to report it. We have inspectors at national, provincial, and district levels to address such cases,” he said.
In addition to employment, the government has pledged to improve access to quality education for children with disabilities.
Moyo highlighted ongoing efforts under the Basic Education Assistance Module (BEAM), noting that school selection committees at community levels are expected to prioritise children with special needs.
The country’s commitment to inclusion was formalised through the launch of the National Disability Policy in 2021, aligning Zimbabwe with international standards under the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. (TV BRICS/NAN)
Amb. Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs says Nigeria and the Republic of Benin have begun the implementation of the economic cooperation agreement between the two countries signed during the West Africa Economic Summit (WAES).
Ojukwu disclosed this in a statement on Sunday by Dr Magnus Eze, her Special Assistant on Communication and New Media.
The statement is coming following a two-day meeting between officials of both countries organised to work out the framework for effective implementation of the economic cooperation agreement entered into in Cotonou, Republic of Benin.
According to her, the move by both countries is also in line with the objectives of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed during the maiden regional economic summit, in June 2025, in Abuja.
She praised President Bola Tinubu’s foresight in putting the summit together, describing it as a catalyst for the economic growth of the region.
She also congratulated Republic of Benin @65th independence anniversary, saying bilateral relations between the two West African neighbours had grown from informal interactions to structured, strategic partnerships, amidst challenges ranging from trafficking and smuggling to wider trans-border crimes.
“Our shared successes affirm a truth we must never lose sight of – that cooperation, not conflict; dialogue, not suspicion – remain our best tools for overcoming obstacles.
“The frequency and depth of our engagements at the highest political levels underscore the strategic nature of our relationship.
“The recent efforts by President Tinubu and his Beninese counterpart, Patrice Talon, have further deepened our bilateral cooperation particularly in the areas of trade and border management.
“These demonstrate a shared political will to resolve longstanding issues and usher in a new era of mutual prosperity.
“It is important that we work together to ensure policies and procedures on both sides of the border promote legitimate trade, encourage investment, and empower our business communities.
“Let us continue to align our customs and transit frameworks, streamline bottlenecks, and reinforce our joint commitment to regional integration under ECOWAS and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA),” the statement quoted the minister as saying.
The statement indicated that Nigeria’s Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Jumoke Oduwole, presented the resolutions of the meeting as it concerned the economic cooperation between the two countries.
The economic cooperation covers trading services and private sector engagements, market access, customs procedures, as well as trade facilitation, transport infrastructure, and storage.
In furtherance of this, according to her, technical working groups are expected to deliberate on such areas aforementioned and submit reports in Abuja.
The statement disclosed that the Beninese Minister of Foreign Affairs, Olushegun Bakari, reiterated his country’s commitment to sustaining excellent mutually beneficial relations with Nigeria.
The meeting, the statement indicated, was attended by the Minister of Industry and Trade of the Republic of Benin, Mrs Shadiya Assouman, the Director-General of Customs, the Comptroller-General of Nigeria Customs Service, Adewale Adeniyi, Permanent-Secretary, Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment.
Amb. Nura Rimi, Director, Africa Affairs Department in Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Amb. Regina Ocheni, Director, Office of the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Amb. Innocent Iwejuo, and other members of the technical committee attended the meeting. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
Nigeria and Algeria have reaffirmed their commitments to strengthening bilateral relations following a high-level diplomatic engagement between the foreign affairs ministers of both countries.
Amb. Yusuf Tuggar represented Nigeria while Amb. Ahmed Attaf represented Algeria during the meeting.
A statement on Sunday by Alkasim Abdulkadir, Special Assistant on Media and Communications to Tuggar, indicated that during the meeting both ministers exchanged views on shared strategic interests and pledged to deepen cooperation across political, economic, and multilateral platforms.
“Emphasis was placed on revitalising the Nigeria-Algeria Binational Commission, enhancing regional coordination, and promoting African priorities on the global stage,” Abdulkadir said in the statement.
He added that Tuggar performed the groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of a new chancery for the Nigeria at Dely Ibrahim, the diplomatic enclave in the Algiers with senior officials, embassy staff, and members of the Nigerian community in attendance.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that a chancery is the principal office that houses a diplomatic mission or an embassy.
This often includes the associated building and the site. The building can house one or several different nations’ missions.
The statement indicated that the groundbreaking ceremony marked a significant step towards modernising Nigeria’s diplomatic infrastructure.
“The new chancery is designed with eco-friendly architecture, enhanced security features, and upgraded facilities to improve consular service delivery and working conditions for Foreign Service personnel.
“The construction is scheduled to begin immediately and is expected to be completed within 18 months, in line with the ministry’s broader reform agenda.
“It is also aimed at projecting Nigeria’s image abroad and fostering international cooperation,” he added. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
African leaders, policymakers and global health stakeholders will converge in Accra on Aug. 5 for a landmark summit on health sovereignty, convened by the Ghanaian President, John Dramani Mahama.
The Africa Health Sovereignty Summit is with the theme “The Accra Initiative: African Health Sovereignty in a Reimagined Global Health Governance Architecture”.
It is expected to mark a pivotal moment in advancing Africa-led reforms in global health governance.
According to a statement signed by Felix Kwakye Ofosu, spokesperson to the President, made available to News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Abuja, the summit will unveil the “Accra Initiative”.
Ofosu said that the Accra Initiative is a bold action plan to promote national ownership, investment and leadership in the continent’s health systems.
He said that there had been progress in global health, such as a 50 per cent drop in child mortality since 1990 and a 40 per cent decline in maternal deaths since 2000.
He, however, said that shifting geopolitics, dwindling donor funds and emerging threats had exposed deep flaws in the current health architecture.
“This summit is our moment to lead, not only in financing our systems, but also in reshaping the rules that govern global health; rules that must reflect the voices and realities of our people.”
Ofosu said that key expected outcomes included the endorsement of the Accra Compact, which outlines Africa’s vision for equitable global health governance.
“There will be a launch of the SUSTAIN Initiative to support domestic investment-driven health systems.
“There will also be the formation of a Presidential High-Level Panel to design a reform roadmap and a commitment to inclusive, accountable and resilient health systems,” he said.
NAN reports that the summit draws inspiration from Mahama’s leadership during the 2014 Ebola crisis.
It builds on the work of Rwanda’s President, Paul Kagame, and the African Union, to enhance health financing and coordination across the continent. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
Benin Republic is repositioning itself as a premier destination for culture, heritage and tourism by blending its deep historical roots with a bold new vision.
Tucked away in the heart of West Africa, Cotonou, the capital of Benin, is a cultural goldmine of picturesque surroundings and untapped potential.
The vibrant city, with its warm hospitality and rich history, is emerging as a must-visit destination for adventurous tourists and strategic investors.
From the serene beauty of the Atlantic coastline, with beautiful beaches, to the sacred forest and slave trade route, Cotonou offers a rare blend of traditional and modern attractions.
Tourists on a pathway in the Kpasse Sacred Forest at Ouidah
During a two-day tour of Benin by the National Association of Tour Operators (NATOP), stakeholders acknowledged that the Beninese Government had implemented various initiatives to boost economic growth, including investments in infrastructure and tourism development.
A government tourism consultant, Cléopatre Kougniazonde, describes the country as “a key” to culture and authenticity.
Kougniazonde says the government, under President Patrice Talon, has declared tourism a priority sector, investing in infrastructure, hospitality training and cultural preservation.
This, she said, is aimed at transforming Benin into a holistic experience beyond leisure.
“What we’re doing goes beyond bringing people to come and go.
“It’s about transforming lives, restoring balance and contributing to national development,” she said.
Citing the adaptable floating village of Ganvié, popularly referred to as the ‘Venice of Africa’, to the historical slave trade port of Ouidah, Kougniazonde says Benin’s destinations are being reimagined as both experience and memory.
She says many sites, including a reconstructed last slave ship in Ouidah and a new museum honouring the kings and queens of Abomey, are being upgraded to support immersive storytelling.
Kougniazonde says the legacy of the famed Agodjié female warriors, which inspired films such as The Woman King and Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, is being preserved in museums and a growing cultural trail at international tourists and diaspora returnees.
Amazon Statue
Other legacies include the construction of Africa’s second-largest Amazon Statue and the world’s longest graffiti wall, all celebrating Beninese identity.
“We fought for 130 years to bring back our royal treasures.
“Now we are taking ownership of our narrative,” she said.
The event, which also serves as a bridge-building platform between Nigeria and Beninese tourism stakeholders, aims at promoting intra-African travel.
The Co-founder of God’s Own Travel Agency, Olanma Ojukwu, calls for a unified West African tourism identity and easier cross-border movement for travellers.
Advocating a common visa policy modelled on East Africa’s single-entry system, Ojukwu says: “We need to begin to make this noise, one visa for at least four West African countries.
“It’s what foreign tourists keep asking for.”
Ojukwu, who is also a Nigerian-Beninese tour operator of over 25 years, says the region needs to move from competition to collaboration by marketing its special highlights as complementary.
“We’re not competitors. Your strength complements mine,” she said.
Tourism stakeholders from Nigeria were taken on a familiarisation trip to experience Benin’s attractions firsthand.
Some of the destinations explored include the Sacred Forest, Python Temple and the slave trade route at Ouidah.
The group also visited Casa del Papa, an eco-resort flanked by a lagoon and the Atlantic Ocean.
The trip ended at Ganvié, a village where the residents do everything on water.
L-R: The President of the National Association of Tour Operators, Mrs Bolaji Mustapha, Co-founder of God’s Own Travel Agency, Dr Olanma Ojukwu, and the President of Consortium Tourism by Millions of Benin CTMB, Dine Bouraima, during a cocktail at Benin Republic
The President of NATOP, Mrs Bolaji Mustapha, says the collaboration is part of a broader regional goal to promote intra-African tourism especially during Summer when many West Africans travel to Europe or the U.S.
“We said, why not market Africa this Summer?
“We are beginning from Benin.
“You need to experience the product before selling it. That’s why we’re here,” she said.
Also, the President of Consortium Tourism by Millions of Benin CTMB, Dine Bouraima, says the collaboration will be beneficial in boosting both nations’ tourism industry.
Bouraima, who is also the Founder of Benin Royal Hotel, emphasises the need for African tourists to explore destinations within the continent.
He assured the tour operators of his commitment to ensure that Nigeria and Benin promote Africa destinations.
The General Manager of Azalai Hotel, Cotonou, Mariam Posset, commended the tourism stakeholders from Nigeria, adding that their presence expressed the will to build an integrated and prosperous tourism sector in West Africa.
Posset says the similarities between Nigeria and Benin, including languages such as Yoruba, is evident that both nations will work well together and leave a lasting impact. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
Edited by Folasade Adeniran
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