NEWS AGENCY OF NIGERIA
TEXEM programme sparked strategic leadership for digital age- Abubakre
General News

TEXEM programme sparked strategic leadership for digital age- Abubakre

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In the vibrant heart of Abu Dhabi, under the soft glow of a May morning, an extraordinary gathering unfolded. Senior executives from across Nigeria and beyond convened for TEXEM UK’s transformational executive development programme—Digital Innovation: Stimulating a Culture of Intrapreneurship in a Digital Age.

Over the course of four meticulously designed days, what began as a cohort of high-potential leaders evolved into a community of purpose-driven changemakers, fuelled by shared insights, strategic rigour and an unwavering commitment to excellence.

 

From the outset, the tone was set with an air of curiosity and vision. Dr Alim Abubakre, Founder of TEXEM UK, welcomed participants with a powerful call to action: “In times of disruption, curiosity becomes our most strategic asset. Leadership today demands that we ask better questions and build better futures.” His words echoed throughout the week, grounding each moment in a greater mission—to lead not by authority, but by influence, innovation, and integrity.

 

The opening day immersed participants in the rich cultural and historical context of the UAE. A visit to a heritage destination became more than sightseeing—it transformed into a masterclass on leadership through perspective.

Delegates were reminded that understanding history and culture is essential to navigating the complexities of contemporary governance and global leadership. The afternoon brought a dynamic exploration of digital excellence in practice, providing participants with front-row access to real-world examples of how organisations are harnessing innovation to redefine customer experience and operational efficiency. By evening, conversations around the dinner table were no longer introductions—they were beginnings of collaboration.

Tuesday was a turning point. Framed around the theme of strategic leadership in a digitally disruptive era, it confronted the reality that the future does not belong to the biggest, but to the boldest. In a fast-changing world defined by volatility, uncertainty, complexity, and ambiguity, participants dissected what it truly means to lead with vision.

Practical sessions guided executives through the art of aligning culture with strategy, embedding innovation into daily practice, and creating ecosystems where intrapreneurial ideas could flourish without fear of failure. The fireside chat chaired by Abubakre was especially profound—executives shared authentic challenges and discovered the immense value of peer-driven insight.

The day ended not in closure, but in reflection, with an interactive knowledge quiz that doubled as a celebration of learning and camaraderie.

Wednesday deepened the journey by linking governance with innovation. As discussions unfolded, it became clear that digital transformation must be governed by integrity and transparency to have enduring impact.

In a session led by Abubakre on strategic perspectives on organisational culture, participants applied rigorous frameworks to assess the visible and invisible elements shaping behaviour within their institutions.

They uncovered blind spots, challenged assumptions, and began to design cultures that reward trust, accountability, and experimentation. The evening’s visit to a flagship commercial hub was not recreational—it was strategic. Participants analysed design, customer flows, and experiential branding, drawing parallels with their own organisations’ service delivery and internal culture.

By Thursday, the cohort had not only absorbed insight—they had internalised a new mindset. The day’s theme—resilience, innovation and leading through adversity—could not have been more timely.

With crises becoming the new normal, executives explored how to lead through the storm, not just survive it. They learned from powerful real-world stories of leadership under fire, understanding that composure, clarity and courage are forged in moments of trial. Sessions on strategic storytelling provided tools to inspire teams, mobilise boards, and influence stakeholders with authenticity and purpose.

The final session brought it all together in a symbolic crescendo—an energetic, competitive quiz, the awarding of certificates, and deeply moving closing reflections. These were not just credentials; they were affirmations of a new chapter—one rooted in action.

What set this programme apart was not only its world-class content or its expert faculty, including luminaries like Professor Rodria Laline and John Peters. It was the alchemy of context, content and community.

Delegates left not just with theory but with a clear, actionable roadmap tailored to their organisational challenges and strategic goals. Many had already identified intrapreneurial pilots to launch, culture shifts to initiate, and cross-sector collaborations to activate upon their return.

Within 72 hours of departure, follow-up exchanges revealed that new partnerships had been born, board-level dialogues had been scheduled, and performance metrics were being redesigned to encourage innovation and accountability.

Reflecting on the experience, Abubakre shared, “True leadership is a relay, not a solo sprint. Our duty is to pass the baton of curiosity so swiftly and so generously that innovation becomes everyone’s default.”

That philosophy—generosity in insight, urgency in action, and curiosity as currency—was the lifeblood of the entire programme.

In an era where disruption is relentless and strategy must be as fluid as it is firm, the May 2025 TEXEM programme did more than educate. It ignited. It transformed and it empowered a new generation of executives to architect a future where innovation is not a buzzword but a daily discipline—where culture is not an afterthought but a competitive advantage—and where resilience is not reactive but proactive.

The journey continues, not in classrooms, but in boardrooms, field sites, policy briefings, and innovation labs across Nigeria and beyond. These leaders do not return as they came. They return as catalysts—ready to create value, drive transformation, and lead with audacity and empathy in equal measure.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Ismail Abdulaziz

Forest Security Service seeks adoption as National Armed Forest Guard
Defence/Security

Forest Security Service seeks adoption as National Armed Forest Guard

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By Monday Ijeh

The Commandant-General (C-G), Nigerian Forest Security Service (NFSS), Mr Joshua Adewole has called for the adoption of NFSS as National Armed Forest Guard being proposed by the Federal Government.

The C-G made the call on Wednesday in Abuja at the 4th Annual Security Summit of NFSS.

He said the call was in alignment with the pronouncement of President Bola Tinubu on May 15 for the establishment of the National Armed Forest Guard to secure Nigeria’s 1,129 forests.

Adewole said NFSS, with over 50,000 trained personnel over the years with structures and tentacles within communities could fill in the gap to protect the nation’s forest from criminal activities.

He said NFSS had the capacity, training and experience as a result of its collaboration with other security agencies to be adopted as National Armed Forest Guard.

The C-G said the mandate of NFSS was to prevent and deter crime and illegal activities in Nigeria forest, partner with the police and other security agencies by providing relevant information on crimes and criminality within the forest.

“We are the ones that know the terrain, we are not saying there should be no additional equipment to enhance our operations.

“We are appealing to the Federal Government to make NFSS the nucleus of this proposed agenda,” he said.

He said NFSS started as a community-based hunter association in 2016 and had played a very key role in combating insecurity in Nigeria’s forest.

Adewole said NFSS was a voluntary security organisation, registered with the Corporate Affair Commission.

He said the service had over the years played a very significant role in fighting insecurity as a voluntary organization.

Adewole said the formation of NFSS followed the realisation that greater part of Nigerian forests were ungoverned, making them hideouts for criminal elements.

“NFSS carefully identified this gap and took up the responsibility of safeguarding the country’s forests, wildlife and their natural resources.

“It has gradually evolved into a broader security outfit addressing some of the nation’s most pressing security challenges such as insurgency, banditry and kidnapping,” he said.

In his remark, the Inspector-General of Police (I-G), Mr Kayode Egbetokun expressed dismay that the nation’s forests, rich in biodiversity, natural resources and economic potentials had turned to battlegrounds against banditry, kidnapping and illegal mining.

The I-G, represented by the Commissioner of Police in charge of the FCT, Mr Ajao Adewale, said forest security was not a regional concern, but a national priority, demanding a strategic and coordinated approach.

He said deep knowledge of forests, savannahs, and other natural terrains by hunters, as well as their familiarity with the local environments, help to detect unusual activities in communities.

The I-G called on NFSS to strengthen collaboration with local communities to improve intelligence gathering and ensure swift response to security breaches.

According to him, security cannot exist in isolation hence the need to enhance coordination with the police, military and local vigilante groups for rapid intervention strategies.

He urged the service to establish a joint security command unit, dedicated to forest operations to streamline intelligence sharing and tactical execution. (NAN)

Edited by Yakubu Uba

UNICEF promotes menstrual hygiene for girls
Health

UNICEF promotes menstrual hygiene for girls

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By Millicent Ifeanyichukwu

 

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has encouraged girls to embrace menstruation with pride and confidence, recognising themselves as vital contributors to humanity’s sustainability.

 

 

 

Mrs Aderonke Akinwole, Social and Behavioural Change Specialist at UNICEF, gave the advice during an event on Wednesday organised with the Nigeria Girls’ Guild and Lagos State Primary Health Care Board.

 

 

 

The event was held to commemorate Menstrual Hygiene Day (MHDay) and was attended by students from both public and private schools across Lagos.

 

 

 

With the theme ‘Together for a Period Friendly World’, the event aimed to raise awareness and promote dignity in menstrual hygiene.

 

 

 

“When a girl begins menstruation, it should be celebrated. It signifies her transition into womanhood and her ability to sustain life.

 

 

 

“They should be proud, and seek accurate, helpful information to remain safe, clean, and healthy during their period,” Akinwole said.

 

 

 

She emphasised that girls must not feel ashamed, as menstruation is a natural part of womanhood and a symbol of female dignity.

 

 

 

She urged the state government to increase sensitisation efforts and include menstrual hygiene education in school curricula, religious settings, and community platforms.

 

 

 

Akinwole also warned against stigmatisation, especially from boys, and called for boys to be educated to respect menstruation as part of girls’ lives.

 

 

 

“Girls should understand the menstrual cycle even before it starts. This should be part of health education in schools, churches, mosques, and communities,” she said.

 

 

 

She explained that girls need awareness on menstrual hygiene management and should know how to prepare for their periods in a healthy, informed way.

 

 

 

Mrs Honfor Adesola, Director of Education at Lagos State Primary Education Board, commended UNICEF’s support in promoting menstrual hygiene and addressing issues affecting girls.

 

 

 

Adesola highlighted that maintaining menstrual hygiene is vital in preventing infections and ensuring comfort throughout the menstrual cycle.

 

 

 

She noted that the event also helped to raise awareness about the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine available free in health centres across Lagos.

 

 

 

“We’re here to mark MHDay and to engage girls on HPV awareness. The state government has provided the vaccine, and sensitisation must continue,” she explained.

 

 

 

She encouraged girls to discuss the HPV vaccine with their parents to gain consent, ensuring protection against cervical cancer.

 

 

 

“The vaccine is safe, effective, and accessible in state facilities for girls aged nine to fourteen, but many have not yet been vaccinated,” she added.

 

 

 

Meanwhile, Ethagah Divine, Head Girl of New Estate Baptist Secondary School, Surulere, called on NGOs to provide sanitary pads for girls.

 

 

 

She urged more campaigns and rallies to distribute free menstrual products, like UNICEF did, to promote hygiene and dignity during menstruation.

 

 

 

Miss Emmanuella Azubuike, a student of the same school, expressed gratitude to UNICEF and partners for the impactful menstrual hygiene awareness event.

 

 

 

“This programme has expanded my knowledge on menstrual hygiene and HPV. More NGOs should support these campaigns to reach and educate more young girls,” she said. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

 

Edited by Kamal Tayo Oropo

Troops restrategising against insurgency in Borno, says Military
Defence/Security

Troops restrategising against insurgency in Borno, says Military

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By Sumaila Ogbaje

Troops of the Nigerian Armed Forces operating under Operation Hadin Kai, have restrategised to neutralise the recent upsurge of terrorists’ activities in Borno.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the troops in different locations have heightened surveillance, patrol and ambush operations to forestall attacks by the insurgents.

A visit to the Forward Operation Base (FOB) Tungushe, a community in Konduga Local Government and Molai in Jere Local Government Area of Borno, on Wednesday, revealed the proactive posture of the troops.

Speaking with Defence Correspondents who are on fact-finding tour, the Commanding Officer of 212 Battalion, Lt.-Col. Christian Okupe, said the troops were in high spirit and focused on winning the war.

Okupe explained that the major assignment of the FOB Tungushe was to ensure that the locals were protected and safe to carry out their faming activities without fear of attacks by Boko Haram terrorists.

He called on the media to support the military in the on-going fight against terrorism as well as the entire civil populace to be able to win the war.

He also urged the civil populace to refrain from demoralising the troops with their social media comments which are often times made from uninformed positions.

Also, the Commanding Officer of the FOB, Capt. Kabiru Musa, said their major tasks was to defend the civilians and making sure that they do their farming activities and other day-to-day activities without issue.

He said the troops undertake patrols to assist them in their farming activities whenever they were going to their farms in the daytime by providing them cover.

He also commended the people for their collaboration and support in the area of actionable intelligence.

Speaking on behalf of the community, Mallam Baba Adamu, a Head Teacher, commended the efforts of the military to secure the community and enabling them to carry out their farming activities.

He called on the government to assist the community with portable water and more effort in taming the activities of the herdsmen who, he said usually disturbs their crops.

At FOB Molai in Jere Local Government Area, the Acting Commanding Officer, Maj. Darush Yusuf, said the troops had recorded huge successes in recent times with successful ambushes on the terrorists.

Yusuf said the troops successfully engaged and neutralised the terrorists at their crossing point in Kumala to Sambisa forest, recovering six 105mm howitzer bombs from the terrorists.

“The mode of our operation here is a `do or die` affair because the army has given us everything we need to fight this war and we are grateful for that.

“Our equipment is 100 per cent and all the soldiers are happy with their welfare from the Nigerian army,’’ he said.

Speaking with newsmen, Ali Gonilawan, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Rehabilitation, Reconstruction and Resettlement, Borno State, said the military had done well in dealing with the terrorists.

Gonilawan said the efforts of the military had helped the government to continue with the construction of 500 housing unit in Dalwa community for the resettlement of the internally Displaced Persons (IDPs).

“We succeeded in actually bringing our people down to these communities where we resettled them with the support of the military.

“We have to collaborate with other stakeholders like the military who are actually providing the needed security to those who are going to occupy these houses.

“Not only the military, we also have some other security personnel who also work together with the military,’’ he said. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Sadiya Hamza

Assessing HYPREP’s clean-up mandate in Ogoniland
Features

Assessing HYPREP’s clean-up mandate in Ogoniland

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By Abigael Joshua, News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)

For decades, the waters of Ogoniland in Nigeria’s oil-rich Niger Delta ran black with crude.

Rivers that once teemed with fish became lifeless.

Farmlands turned barren.

The air thickened with the stench of spilled oil, and for the people; many of them subsistence farmers and fishermen, the land ceased to provide.

Although oil production in the region halted in 1993, the scars left behind endured.

So too did the suffering, residents continued to fall ill from contaminated water, crops failed, and livelihoods vanished.

But today, more than 30 years on, a slow, painstaking effort to restore the land and heal the people is underway.

It is the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP), a government initiative under the Federal Ministry of Environment.

While progress has been uneven and riddled with challenges, signs of recovery are beginning to emerge.

Historically, the story of Ogoniland is one of environmental injustice and political exclusion.

Between 1976 and 1991, more than 1,000 oil spills were recorded in the area, decimating ecosystems and displacing communities.

In response, the late Ken Saro-Wiwa and the Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP) mobilised peaceful resistance, calling for environmental protection and local autonomy.

The federal response was brutal.

In 1995, Saro-Wiwa and eight other Ogoni activists were executed by the military government, prompting international condemnation and Nigeria’s temporary suspension from the Commonwealth.

A decade and a half later, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) published its 2011 Environmental Assessment of Ogoniland.

The report was damning, hydrocarbons had penetrated the soil to depths of five metres, and some drinking water sources contained benzene (a known carcinogen) at levels 900 times above WHO guidelines.

UNEP recommended a 30-year, $1 billion clean-up, the most ambitious environmental remediation project ever proposed in Africa.

Since its formal launch, HYPREP has made some headway.

In several Ogoni communities, the provision of clean water infrastructure has replaced long-standing reliance on polluted sources.

According to official HYPREP data, more than 30 communities now benefit from potable water, reducing the incidence of cholera, diarrhoea, and other waterborne diseases.

Healthcare delivery has also seen incremental improvement.

In Buan, Khana Local Government Area, a newly commissioned cottage hospital is providing basic health services to residents for the first time in years.

In Tai, construction on the Ogoni Specialist Hospital is nearly complete, promising diagnostic, maternal, and emergency care.

Medical equipment from Germany’s Siemens Healthineers was recently delivered, accelerating plans for its operational launch.

“This isn’t just infrastructure, it’s symbolic,” said Dr Felicia Nkporo, a public health expert based in Port Harcourt.

“After years of neglect, people are finally seeing some investment in their health and wellbeing”.

Beyond bricks and mortar, HYPREP is investing in the people of Ogoni, especially its youth.

A raft of educational and vocational training programmes has seen more than 5,000 young people trained in diverse fields.

One hundred youths have completed aviation training; another 100 took part in a seafarers’ development scheme.

A postgraduate scholarship scheme supports students pursuing degrees in environmental engineering, public health, and sustainable agriculture.

For many, these opportunities represent more than just skills, they are lifelines.

“Cleaning the soil is important, but building capacity is critical, without local expertise, long-term sustainability is unlikely,” noted Dr Kelechi Onwubiko, an environmental consultant.

At the heart of the HYPREP initiative is land remediation.

Over 1,500 hectares have been designated for clean-up using methods such as bioremediation and soil washing.

So far, 16 of the 20 sites involved in the project’s first phase have been certified clean by Nigeria’s regulatory authorities and returned to host communities.

Stakeholders say environmental recovery is slow, but noticeable.

According to them, pilot crops planted on remediated land are beginning to thrive, offering hope to farmers.

In addition, shoreline protection and mangrove replanting, essential to restoring coastal biodiversity are underway.

The Bloody Cockles Project, for example, is helping revive traditional fishing practices once thought lost to pollution.

Notably, more than 2 million mangrove seedlings have been planted across 560 hectares, now referred as the world’s largest mangrove restoration effort.

This exercise has been led by 540 local youths and women, placing communities at the centre of restoration.

In Wiiyaakara, Khana LGA, and Nsisionke Ogale in Eleme, the newly established Centre of Excellence for Environmental Restoration (CEER) is emerging as a knowledge hub.

Designed to foster home-grown research and innovation, CEER aims to train youths and women in environmental technologies while reducing conflict and creating employment.

“This centre is the future,” said a HYPREP official. “It will drive local solutions to global problems, beginning with pollution and ending with resilience”.

Meanwhile, the 132KVA Ogoni Power Project promises to transform livelihoods through reliable electricity.

For residents like Josephine Gbaranor, a textile dyer in Gokana, the development is long overdue.

“I spend thousands on fuel every month, steady power would change my life and allow me to hire others,” she noted.

Albeit these gains, the project has not been without controversy.

Civil society organisations, including the Centre for Environment, Human Rights and Development (CEHRD), have raised concerns over delays, lack of transparency, and insufficient community engagement.

“There must be urgency, transparency, and inclusive decision-making,” said Godwin Uyi, CEHRD’s Programme Director.

“We must not replace the silence of oil companies with bureaucratic indifference”.

Environmentalists have also called for HYPREP to integrate climate adaptation strategies, arguing that sea-level rise and changing rainfall patterns pose new threats to already vulnerable communities.

Appointed in 2024, Prof Nenibarini Zabbey, a respected marine ecologist and environmental advocate is now leading the project.

He has acknowledged past failings, including poor oversight and use of substandard contractors.

In response, contracts have been revoked, audit protocols strengthened, and quality control tightened.

Zabbey confirmed that HYPREP now undergoes annual independent audits and that UNEP’s exit from the project was procedural, not a sign of withdrawal or dissatisfaction.

According to Prof. Ahmed Salisu, a sustainable development expert at Ahmadu Bello University, what is unfolding in Ogoniland today is not merely a technical clean-up, but an attempt to right historic wrongs.

“It is about restoring dignity to dispossessed communities and transforming a region long synonymous with neglect into one defined by resilience.

“HYPREP is more than an environmental project, it is a moral reckoning, a national pledge to correct decades of injustice,” he said.

For Ogoniland, the journey to full recovery may yet take decades, but with each restored waterway, rehabilitated school, and empowered youth, a new narrative is beginning to take shape. (NANFeatures)

Let’s sustain legacies of ECOWAS’ founding fathers – Tinubu
General News

Let’s sustain legacies of ECOWAS’ founding fathers – Tinubu

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By Salif Atojoko

President Bola Tinubu has called on West African leaders to uphold and pass on the vision of the founding fathers of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) as the regional bloc marks its 50th anniversary.

 

In a keynote address on Wednesday in Lagos, the President urged leaders to look beyond the artificial borders created by colonialists and embrace one another as a family, Mr Bayo Onanuga, his spokesman, said in a statement.

 

Tinubu, the Chairman of the Authority of ECOWAS Heads of State and Government, noted that the founding fathers foresaw a more united, harmonious, and purpose-driven regional bloc that would benefit many generations.

 

“Today, we celebrate not only five decades of history but the enduring spirit of unity, resilience, and shared destiny that defines our community.

 

“In 1975, our founding leaders envisioned a West Africa where borders unite rather than divide – a region of free movement, thriving trade, and peaceful coexistence. That vision is still alive,” said Tinubu.

 

The President said the regional bloc had lived up to the founders’ expectations in many respects, including peacekeeping, trade liberalisation, free movement of citizens, and working together to tackle security issues and global pandemics.

 

“ECOWAS is a beacon of African unity. In overcoming colonial legacies, we brought together Anglophone, Francophone, and Lusophone nations under one vision —an achievement of global significance.

 

“Our region has pioneered free movement, expanded intra-regional trade, and deepened integration through instruments like the ECOWAS Trade Liberalisation Scheme and Joint Border Posts.

 

“These measures have facilitated business, cultural exchange, and mobility across West Africa,” Tinubu stated.

 

On peace and security, he said ECOWAS had acted decisively to restore constitutional order and counter instability.

 

“Our regional cooperation on counterterrorism and financial crime, including through GIABA, reflects our shared commitment to peace and safety.

 

“In governance, ECOWAS has upheld democratic norms through election observation, mediation, and institutions such as the ECOWAS Parliament and Court of Justice — cementing accountability, rule of law, and people-centred governance,” the President stated.

 

President Tinubu pointed to progress in agriculture, infrastructure, and digital innovation, singling out the ECOWAS Infrastructure Master Plan (2020–2045) and new platforms advancing regional growth and gender equality.

 

He, however, emphasised the need for more vigorous policy implementation and urged member states to ensure citizens felt the tangible benefits of integration.

 

“Our young people and women – who form the majority – must be at the heart of ECOWAS development.

 

“We must invest deliberately in their education, entrepreneurship, healthcare, and leadership. Their success is the key to our future stability and prosperity.

 

“For nearly 40 years, Nigeria has supported regional capacity building through the Technical Aid Corps.

 

“We remain committed to deploying skilled professionals to ECOWAS countries and will continue to honour every eligible request,” the President added.

 

He urged leaders to close their ranks and work together to ensure the success of the economic bloc.

 

“As we look to the next fifty years, let us renew our compact with one another – with courage, clarity, and conviction.

 

“The work of integration is never done. Each generation must carry the flame forward, lighting the path of unity and shared progress for those who come after.

 

“Let us imagine a West Africa where our borders are zones of cooperation, not conflict; where our economies thrive through joint effort; and where our people, diverse yet bound by destiny, walk together toward peace, prosperity, and justice,” he said.

 

Amb. Yusuf Tuggar, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, highlighted ECOWAS’s achievements in peacekeeping, election monitoring, strengthening democratic institutions, trade liberalisation, gas pipeline construction, and security.

 

The only surviving founding father of ECOWAS, Gen. Yakubu Gowon, said he was happy that the regional body had survived for fifty years and has impacted the continent.

Gowon said Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso’s departures were not healthy for regional progress and development.

 

“Our sister nations that decided to leave will, in time, realise the bonds of culture. And with goodwill and sincere intention, they will find their way back.

 

“I am very encouraged to see the effort of government, ministers, Chief of Defense Staff, and the President. The President has constantly been working with the groups, and I hope they will convince them to return.

 

“Continue to be open, and don’t push them away. They will come back as individuals or as a group,” he said.

 

Dr Omar Touray, the President of the ECOWAS Commission, noted that ECOWAS has become a shining example as Africa’s oldest and most active regional bloc. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

 

Edited by Chinyere Joel-Nwokeoma

 

 

Tinubu recommits to ECOWAS vision
General News

Tinubu recommits to ECOWAS vision

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By Salif Atojoko

 

President Bola Tinubu on Wednesday reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to the Economic Community of West African State (ECOWAS), saying the country would continue to play its historic role in shaping West Africa’s path to peace, integration and shared prosperity.

 

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)reports that the president spoke at the 50th anniversary celebration of ECOWAS, held in Lagos.

 

“Nigeria has stood at the heart of ECOWAS since its inception in 1975. For nearly five decades, we have remained a pillar of regional development, cooperation, and solidarity,” Tinubu said at the commemorative event.

 

The president paid tribute to retired General Yakubu Gowon, Nigeria’s former Head of State, the only surviving leader among the original signatories of the ECOWAS Treaty.

 

“Gen. Gowon helped lay the cornerstone of what has become a formidable institution for unity in West Africa,” he stated.

 

Tinubu highlighted Nigeria’s consistent contributions, particularly through initiatives like the Technical Aid Corps, which had for nearly 40 years deployed skilled professionals to serve in various ECOWAS member states.

 

“We remain ready to support regional capacity-building and honor every eligible request for assistance,” he stated.

 

Nigeria, the president said, had been a driving force in ECOWAS’s evolution, from promoting trade and free movement to supporting peacekeeping and democratic governance.

 

He cited successes such as the ECOWAS Trade Liberalisation Scheme, joint border initiatives, and interventions to restore constitutional order in troubled member states as hallmarks of the community’s achievements.

 

“ECOWAS has emerged as a beacon of African unity. We overcame colonial-era divisions to forge a shared vision, uniting Anglophone, Francophone, and Lusophone nations under one cooperative umbrella,” Tinubu said.

 

Acknowledging these strides, Tinubu cautioned that regional integration must move beyond policy to tangible outcomes.

 

He said, “Our greatest task is implementation. Our citizens must feel the impact of our decisions. Let us match words with action.”

 

Tinubu stressed the need to focus development on youths and women, who represented the majority of the region’s population.

 

“We must deliberately invest in education, entrepreneurship, healthcare, and leadership opportunities. Their success is key to the future of ECOWAS,” he said.

 

Tinubu also emphasised the importance of digital transformation, infrastructure development, and food security, citing ongoing efforts to harness innovation and drive sustainable growth across the region.

 

The president called on all the member states to recommit to the founding ideals with “courage, clarity, respect, and determination.”

 

He described the golden jubilee not just as a remembrance of the past, but a clarion call to shape a future built on cooperation, prosperity, and peace.

 

“To the people of West Africa: this is your community. Your hands built it, your resilience sustained it, and your dreams will define what it becomes. Together, let us carry the flame of integration forward,” he said. (NAN)

 

Edited by Bashir Rabe Mani

Terrorists waging war against Nigeria, not armed forces – Theatre Commander
Defence/Security

Terrorists waging war against Nigeria, not armed forces – Theatre Commander

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By Sumaila Ogbaje

The Theatre Commander, Operation Hadin Kai, Maj.-Gen. Abdulsalam Abubakar, says the Boko Haram/Islamic States West African Province Terrorists are not waging war against the armed forces but against Nigeria.

Abubakar stated this while speaking with Defence Correspondents who are on media tour to the theatre of operation on Tuesday in Maiduguri.

He said the war against insurgency was an asymmetric warfare that was difficult to fight, urging the media to treat terrorism as war against the nation.

The theatre commander said that troops had continued to make sacrifices to ensure that communities affected by the activities of Boko Haram/ISWAP were stabilised.

He said the military had also ensured that human rights were upheld in all the lines of operation they needed to face to carry out military action.

“We have our troops here in the field spreading different locations during these harsh weather conditions, which can rapidly become also very cold at night.

“So there are heroes, and I tell you, we will do them well to appreciate them occasionally and the only way to do that is through the media.

“These are also Nigerians and it is not the terrorists against the armed forces. It is the terrorists against Nigeria as a nation.

“So once we begin to understand this and have a common front, we will be able to make a very tangible progress,’’ he said.

The Chief of Staff, Operation Hadin Kai, Brig.-Gen. Adamu Ibrahim, explaining why female terrorists were not being killed or prosecuted, said that Nigeria was signatory to international law of armed conflict.

Ibrahim said that the law explicitly protects combatants who are no longer actively participating in the fighting as well as women and children.

According to him, Boko Haram are Nigerian citizens and they are fully eligible to have wives and children.

“As long as their wife and children do not take off arms and engage in direct combat operations in this, then they are not Boko Haram combatants.

“The Nigerian military fully enforces and upholds human rights laws, and as such, we would not violate the laws against the Boko Haram, by engaging their families,’’ he said.

Giving overview of the activities of OPHK, Maj. Ademola Owolana, said the Joint Tax Force Northeast operation was organised to effectively curtail the activities of the insurgents across the entire territory.

Owolana said the operations were being hampered by a number of factors such as drone attacks by terrorists, activities of fifth columnists and planting of IEDs.

He said the troops had continued to show resilient in defeating the terrorists across the theatre of operation with several successes so far recorded.

According to him, in recent attack on Kukawa, own troops with support of air components defeated the terrorist onslaught; the covering was two motorcycles and neutralising 28 terrorists.

“Furthermore, the terrorists have continued to attack isolated communities in search of logistics, equipment of fighters, close-ledger, and outdoor high-value targets.

“This threat profile suggests desperation of JAS and ISWAP leaders to reassess themselves, demonstrate strength, recruit more fighters, and amass logistics interpolation for future offensive across the theatre,’’ he said. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Sadiya Hamza

ECOWAS parliamentarian raises alarm over surge in terrorism across W/Africa
Foreign

ECOWAS parliamentarian raises alarm over surge in terrorism across W/Africa

258 total views today

By Mark Longyen

A Nigerian ECOWAS Parliament member, Rep. Zainab Gimba, has raised an alarm over the surge in acts of terror and violent extremism across Nigeria, West Africa, and the Sahel.

Gimba raised the alarm while moving a motion titled, “Strengthening Regional Security Cooperation In Response To The Escalating Threat Of Terrorism And Violent Extremism In West Africa and the Sahel.”

Speaking during the Parliament’s 2025 First Ordinary Session, the lawmaker noted that the upsurge in terrorism stemmed from the recent withdrawal of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger from ECOWAS.

She said, “It is with a deep sense of urgency and commitment to regional peace and stability that I rise under Rule 87 of our Rules of Procedure to address this august House on a matter of grave concern to Nigeria my country, and to West Africa and the Sahel.

“Mr Speaker, what concerns me most is not the existence of terrorism and violent extremism alone, it is the rapid escalation of such activities across West Africa,

“This is particularly in the wake of the withdrawal of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).”

According to the lawmaker, the situation in Northeastern Nigeria is very dire because of its infiltration by Boko Haram, ISWAP and other foreign terrorists like Caucasian combatants who arrived in January.

She decried the use of advanced sophisticated weapons and ammunitions (drones, chemical agents, among others) that are capable of penetrating armored vehicles and igniting previously impenetrable metals by the terrorists.

Gimba said since March, the terrorists had launched coordinated offensives on communities in Gwoza, Pulka, Buni Gari, Buni Yadi, Alagarno, Damboa, Wajiroko, Sabongari, Gujiba, Wulgo, Rann, Dikwa, Nganzai, Gajibo, Baga, Doron Baga, and Marte.

“They have overrun multiple military battalions, seizing weapons and destroying security installations in Buni Gari, Alagarno, Pulka, Wulgo, Rann, Marte, Wajiroko, and Sabon Gari in just 60 days.

“I have personally, in the company of my state governor, Prof. Babagana Zulum, visited some of these areas with military protection, and on May 15, five days before the commencement of this very Session, Boko Haram attacked farming communities near Baga.

“This resulted in the following casualties: In Dawoshi, 40 farmers were slaughtered; In Malam Karamti, 22 civilians killed; In Dabar Giwa, 15 individuals were executed,” she said.

She said that the terrorists carried out the atrocities as punishment for the non-payment of illegal “taxes” which they imposed on the victims.

Gimba disclosed that a recently arrested terrorist in Zamfara confirmed that instability in Burkina Faso, Niger, and Mali facilitated their operations and provided them with direct sources of weaponry.

The parliamentarian said the impact of terrorism in Sub-Saharan Africa alone accounted for about 59 per cent of all fatalities globally.

She said the Sahel alone accounted for 19 per cent of all terrorist attacks worldwide and 51 per cent of global terrorism-related deaths in 2024, an increase from 48 per cent in 2023.

Gimba, therefore, moved a motion seeking a parliamentary resolution compelling ECOWAS member states to improve the funding of the Multinational Joint Task Force in the Lake Chad basin.

She also moved a motion seeking parliament’s resolution for the deployment of rapid-response forces to high-risk zones across West Africa and the Sahel to stop the spread of terrorists to the coast.

Gimba also called for the strengthening of the ECOWAS Early Warning and Response Network to anticipate, track and disrupt arms trafficking and insurgent migration patterns to pre-empt the terrorism threat.

The lawmaker further prayed for a Resolution compelling member states to provide more support to the ECOWAS Regional Food and Agricultural Agency to enhance its capacity to support and supplement the food security needs of the region.

She also moved a motion for a Resolution for Parliament to endorse the dialogue that has been opened with Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger with a view to reintegrating them into ECOWAS security frameworks.

“I dare say that we already know why and how terrorism and violent extremism is spreading and engulfing West Africa and the Sahel.

“It is pursuant to this, Mr Speaker, that I move for the adoption of a multifaceted approach, that:

“An urgent Resolution be passed by Parliament to endorse the dialogue that has been opened with the AES States (Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger) with a view to reintegrating them into ECOWAS security frameworks,” she said.

Gimba said the approach should also include supporting a collaborative security effort for the acceleration and full operationalisation of the Accra Initiative.

She added that it should also include the ECOWAS Standby Force in line with its 2020–2024 action plan to combat terrorism in West Africa and the Sahel. (NAN)

Edited by Emmanuel Yashim

AU Commission praises ECOWAS for decisive leadership on regional challenges
Foreign

AU Commission praises ECOWAS for decisive leadership on regional challenges

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By Fortune Abang

Mahmoud Youssouf, Chairperson of the African Union Commission (AUC), has commended ECOWAS for acting decisively as a guardian of peace and a builder of dialogue amidst regional challenges.

Represented by the Deputy Chairperson of the AUC, Selma Haddadi, Youssouf made the remarks during the 50th anniversary celebration of ECOWAS on Wednesday in Lagos.

The Chairperson described the anniversary as a momentous milestone marking 50 years of perseverance, purpose, and progress in Africa’s collective journey.

“Fifty years ago, ECOWAS emerged from the bold imagination of visionary leaders who understood, long before many others, that Africa’s strength would be forged not in fragmentation, but in unity,” he said.

Youssouf added, “They knew that our economic liberation could not be achieved in isolation and that our sovereignty would only be meaningful if defended collectively.

“Today, we gather not only to mark the passage of time but to honour bold vision, ambitious and enduring.

“The vision of a united West Africa, where borders yield to bonds of solidarity, and sovereignty is strengthened through shared purpose.

“This vision is embodied in ECOWAS. Amid political challenges, pandemics, economic disruptions, and the shifting tides of globalisation, ECOWAS has remained steadfast.

“Not without trials but never without resolve. In the face of adversity, ECOWAS has not stood idle; it has acted decisively as a guardian of peace and a builder of dialogue.”

He recalled that when internal conflicts threatened to tear nations apart, ECOWAS, through ECOMOG, did not merely intervene as a regional bloc but rose as a moral force, defending human dignity and upholding the promise of peace.

“ECOWAS interventions have been shaped by conviction, not convenience.

“Today, ECOWAS’s role as a first responder to political crises has solidified its standing not only as a cornerstone of West African stability but as a vital pillar within the broader continental architecture.

“Its swift diplomatic actions, operational agility, and principled stance on governance have greatly enriched the African Union’s capacity to respond to emergent threats.

“In ECOWAS, Africa finds not just a regional organisation but a credible voice anchored in the values of unity, justice, and enduring peace. But peace, while precious, is not enough,” he said.

He described ECOWAS’s achievements in economic integration as remarkable, from the seamless mobility of people and goods to the implementation of a common external tariff.

“Also notable are a unified biometric identity system and the harmonisation of trade regulations within the framework of the African Continental Free Trade Area.

“These demonstrate ECOWAS’s political will and institutional courage.”

Youssouf identified ECOWAS’s alignment with the African Union’s Agenda 2063 as strategic and visionary, reflecting a deep understanding that demands patience and precision, solidarity and sacrifice.

“As we celebrate, we must not lose sight of the sobering realities that define our present. We are living through a time of profound uncertainty, where the anchors of yesterday no longer guarantee stability today.

“Geopolitical tensions are escalating, climate change is reshaping the contours of vulnerability across our region, economic disparities are deepening, and in many societies, the social contract is under visible strain. These are not minor hurdles.

“They are seismic challenges that test the very fabric of our institutions at all levels and the convictions of our leadership.

“In such a climate, retreat may seem tempting, but history has shown us that the African spirit does not yield to despair, it rises.

“This is the time to double down on solidarity, to reaffirm the values that brought us here, and to chart the course for the next fifty years with boldness, clarity, and unity of purpose.

“Let us be reminded that for the AU, Regional Economic Communities (RECs) are the cornerstone and building blocks of African integration, and ECOWAS has consistently led by example. ECOWAS’s journey is not only West Africa’s legacy, it is Africa’s mirror.”

He explained that ECOWAS reflected Africa’s capacity to transcend colonial borders, build consensus in diversity, and craft solutions rooted in our own wisdom, urging the community to foresee and forestall challenges.

“It must be community-driven, not just by resilience, but foresight, one where innovation fuels inclusive growth and where women and youth are not peripheral stakeholders but central architects of policy and progress.

“Let us imagine a region where digital transformation becomes a tool for equity, not exclusion, bridging divides and unlocking the full potential of our people.

“Above all, let us reaffirm our unwavering belief in the African future, boldly, fiercely, and without apology.

“We at the African Union remain committed to walking this path with you, not behind you, not in front of you, but beside you. As long as ECOWAS thrives, Africa thrives, and when Africa thrives, we all move forward.

“Let the next fifty years be defined not by the limitations of our time, but by the limitless possibilities of our collective will,” he added. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Abiemwense Moru

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