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Tag: ECOWAS

  • Tinubu sends ECOWAS mission to Niger Republic

    Tinubu sends ECOWAS mission to Niger Republic

    President Bola Tinubu said that an ECOWAS mission has been sent to the Niger Republic to intercede in the attempted coup in the country.

    The president spoke after a meeting with Benin Republic President Patrice Talon at the Presidential Villa on Wednesday in Abuja.

    He said that Talon was mandated by the ECOWAS to proceed immediately to the West African country that has been termed the most coup prone country in the region.

    Tinubu is the Chairperson of the ECOWAS Head of States and Government, and the body had decided to discourage the issue of undemocratic change of government by the military in the region.

    During a meeting between Tinubu and the Presidents of Niger and Benin a fortnight ago, Talon was mandated to lead the ECOWAS delegation to Mali and Burkina Faso where the military are in control.

    An attempted coup was reported in Niger Republic early on Wednesday.

    Sources from the country said that the presidential guards have held President Mohamed Bazoum hostage at the presidential palace in Niamey.

  • Expectations and urgent security action for Tinubu as ECOWAS Chair

    Expectations and urgent security action for Tinubu as ECOWAS Chair

    The election of Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu as new Chairman of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), during the 63rd Ordinary Session of the Authority of Heads of State and Government of ECOWAS held in Guinea-Bissau, has led to high expectations on the potential implications it may have on regional dynamics.

    Tinubu’s appointment carries even more weight as the country’s influence and role in the region hold significant importance. One key issue that will likely be in focus during Tinubu’s chairmanship is the matter of border control.

    The ECOWAS Borderless Protocol and African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) are sub-regional and regional economic arrangements that aim to promote regional integration and development in Africa and there has been ongoing debate surrounding Nigeria’s border closure policy.

    Former senator representing Kaduna Central, Shehu Sani, commenting on the appointment, noted the protocol of ECOWAS that demands open borders for the free movement of people and goods.

    “We shall see what the Chairman will do with Nigeria’s closed land borders,” he said.

    Sani further advocated for the adoption of a single currency in West Africa, citing the examples of Germany, Italy, Greece, and France, who sacrificed their strong currencies for the collective good of their continent.

    He emphasized the importance of a common currency for the region’s economic prosperity, stating, “It’s time for West Africa to have a Single Currency. I still wonder why it’s so difficult to achieve this.”

    The basic principle of both the ECOWAS and AFCFTA agreements is the removal of all barriers to trade within the region, thereby encouraging the unrestricted movement of persons and goods within the frontiers of state borders.

    But while the free movement of people and goods is a core principle within ECOWAS, the enforcement of these arrangements brings with it the potential for unintended consequences, particularly in terms of cross-border security challenges.

    The region faces numerous security threats, including the proliferation of small and light weapons, human trafficking, drug trafficking, terrorism, and the rise of transnational criminal syndicates that can be exacerbated by increased cross-border activities.

    These criminal activities not only undermine the stability and security of individual member states but also pose a significant obstacle to the overall progress and integration of the region.

    In his address to the issue, Tinubu emphasized the urgency of taking decisive actions to confront these challenges and their detrimental impact on the region’s progress and development.

    “On peace and security, the threat has reached an alarming level, and needs urgent actions in addressing the challenges. Indeed, without a peaceful environment, progress and development in the region will continue to remain elusive.

    “In this regard, we must remain committed to the utilisation of all regional frameworks at our disposal to address the menace of insecurity,” Tinubu said.

    Chairman of the Nigerian Association of Small and Medium Enterprises (NASME) Abdulrashid Yerima, expressed optimism that President Tinubu’s emergence as ECOWAS Chairman will ensure policies that promote economic activities in West Africa.

    “The focus on bolstering economic ties and creating an environment conducive to business growth will be crucial for the region’s overall development,” Yerima said.

    There is hope that under his leadership, initiatives will be undertaken to harmonize trade policies, improve market access for MSMEs, and enhance the competitiveness of products and services within West Africa.

  • How Tinubu emerged new ECOWAS Chairman

    How Tinubu emerged new ECOWAS Chairman

    President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Sunday emerged as the new Chairman of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports President Tinubu was unanimously endorsed as new ECOWAS Chairman at the 63rd Ordinary Session of the Authority of Heads of State and Government in Bissau, Guinea-Bissau.

    President Tinubu, who is the latest entrant into the exclusive club of Heads of State in West Africa, enthusiastically accepted the honour, on behalf of Nigeria, with a solemn pledge to bear the responsibility of the office and run an inclusive administration of the regional organisation.

    The Nigerian leader, however, warned that the threat to peace in the sub-region had reached an alarming proportion with terrorism and the emerging pattern of military takeover that now demand urgent and concerted actions.

    He said insecurity and creeping terrorism were stunting the progress and development of the region while calling for collective action from member-states, pledging that under his leadership, frameworks would be harmonized to actualize the dreams of ECOWAS.

    “On peace and security, the threat has reached an alarming level, and needs urgent actions in addressing the challenges. Indeed, without a peaceful environment, progress and development in the region will continue to remain elusive.

    “In this regard, we must remain committed to the utilisation of all regional frameworks at our disposal to address the menace of insecurity,” he declared.

    President Tinubu noted that ECOWAS had developed a security architecture, which he noted, “covers a wide range of areas that involved kinetic and non-kinetic operations, including preventive diplomacy.

    “There is also the Regional Plan of Action on Fight against Terrorism 2020-2024 as well as the operationalization of the ECOWAS Standby Force on Fight Against Terrorism.

    “I will ensure that we immediately harmonize these plans and mobilize resources as well as the political will to towards the actualisation of the initiatives. As terrorists do not respect boundaries, we must work collectively to have an effective regional counterterrorism measure”.

    On his emergence as Chairman on his first participation at the summit, having just started out as the elected leader of Nigeria, President Tinubu stated that he was humbled and honoured by the trust to assume the leadership of the regional body, pledging his commitment to serve the interest of the community.

    He said: “Indeed, I’m humbled and honored by this trust, and want to assure you of my unalloyed commitment to provide the necessary leadership with dedication to serve the interest of the community.”

    To underscore his commitment towards regional integration, the Nigerian President declared that he would prioritize political stability, peace and security, regional economic integration and strengthening of the ECOWAS institutions, declaring that democracy and good governance remain the abiding cornerstone of peace and sustainable development.

    While decrying the emerging pattern of coup d’etat in West Africa where soldiers have toppled the popular mandate of the people through barrel of guns, President Tinubu charged ECOWAS to stand firm in defence of democracy.

    “We must stand firm on democracy. There is no governance, freedom and rule of law without Democracy. We will not accept coup after coup in West Africa again. Democracy is very difficult to manage but it is the best form of government.

    There is no one here among us who did not campaign to be a leader. We didn’t give our soldiers resources, we didn’t invest in them, in their boots, in their training to violate the freedom of the people.

    To turn their guns against civil authorities is a violation of the principles upon which they were hired which is to defend the sovereignty of their nations. We must not sit in ECOWAS as toothless bulldogs,” the President warned.

    On political stability, he said: “You will all agree with me that democracy and good governance are the cornerstones of peace and sustainable development of every society. I’m fully committed to deepening democracy and good governance in the region.

    “We must strengthen our democratic institutions and ensure the respect for human rights and the rule of law. I will enhance engagements with the countries in transition to ensure their quick return to democratic rule.

    The new ECOWAS Chairman called for improved private sector participation in the effort towards the economic development of Member States as well as their social integration.

    “We would work collectively to pursue an inclusive economic integration, which will be significantly private sector driven, in order to unlock the vast economic potentials of our region. We would actively promote trade, investment, and business cooperation among Member States by addressing the barriers impeding intra-regional trade, as well as creating a conducive business environment.

    “We must encourage economic partnerships to raise the level of trade and investments in our region, hence facilitating employment creation and sustainable development and prosperity for our citizens.

    “To this end, we must look inward and work with our regional economic facilitation platforms such as the Federation of West Africa Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FEWACCI) as well as ECOWAS Trade Organisation Network to attain our desired goals, “he said further.

    President Tinubu assured the regional leaders of the immediate implementation of his vision for the body, declaring that:

    “In furtherance of my vision for our region’s economic recovery and growth, Nigeria intends to convene an ECOWAS Extra Ordinary Summit on Trade and Investment in October 2023.

    “The event will provide opportunity for Member States to showcase their potentials and encourage match-making, in order to evolve business cooperation among the various organized private sector within the region,” he added while calling for the strengthening of the institutions of the body.

    “In the area of strengthening our Organisations Institutions and ensuring effective performance, we underscore the need for the conclusion of the on-going institutional reforms of the organization.

    “Given that Community Levy remained the biggest source of generating funds to run our organization, we must ensure that our citizens being taxed must be positively impacted by the programmes and projects of ECOWAS. This is in line with the shift of ECOWAS slogan from “ECOWAS of State” to

    “ECOWAS of People,” the Nigerian President emphasised.

    He appreciated the Authority of Heads of States and citizens of the Community for trusting him to lead the West African body.

    President Tinubu said: “Your Excellencies, let me conclude by once again deeply appreciating the Authority of Heads of State and the citizens of the Community for your trust in me. Together, we can shape a brighter future of shared values of peace, democracy, and economic prosperity of our region.”

    In his welcome address, the outgone ECOWAS Chairman and President of Republic of Guinea-Bissau, Umaro Mokhtar Sissoco Embalo saluted his fellow leaders for sustaining the vision of the organisation despite the global economic headwinds and trouble spots within the region.

    He cited Mali, Burkina Faso and Republic of Guinea as countries where the constitutional order had been distorted while congratulating Nigeria and Sierra Leone for sustaining constitutional order through democratic process with the recent successful elections.

  • BREAKING: President Tinubu emerges new ECOWAS chairman

    BREAKING: President Tinubu emerges new ECOWAS chairman

    President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has emerged as the new Chairman of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

    “We will take democracy seriously, Democracy is very tough but it is the best form of government,” he said upon his emergence on Sunday in Guinea-Bissau.

    Tinubu succeeds President Umaro Embalo of Guinea Bissau as ECOWAS chair.

    Tinubu’s emergence was announced at the 63rd Ordinary Session of the Authority of Heads of State and Government of ECOWAS.

    The 63rd Ordinary Session summit was the first engagement of the President within the African continent since he assumed office on May 29, 2023.

  • President Tinubu visits troops in Guinea-Bissau

    President Tinubu visits troops in Guinea-Bissau

    President Bola Tinubu has arrived Guinea-Bissau for the 63rd Ordinary Session of the Authority of Heads of State and Government of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

    This is Tinubu’s second foreign trip after his participation at the summit on “A New Global Financing Pact” in Paris, France, hosted by President Emmanuel Macron.

    Tinubu used the opportunity of the summit to visit the Nigerian contingent stationed in Guinea-Bissau under the ECOWAS Stabilisation Force.

    In his address, the President commended the soldiers and their Commander, Gen. Al-hassan Grema, for their dedication and service to Nigeria and their host country, adding that Nigeria would continue to support democracy in West Africa and around the world.

    “I am here to show solidarity with you. I want to assure you we are committed to support peace and democracy not only in West Africa but around the world.

    “Nigeria is a giant that has made its mark in Sierra Leone and Liberia and other places. We count on your support for the defence of constitutional order.

    “I heard your allowances have been paid up to date. Nothing else should make you angry. We will continue to build a virile force.

    “We are proud of you. Proud of your loyalty. Nigeria depends on you. There will be peace and progress in our country,” Tinubu said.

    Grema expressed the appreciation of the troops to Tinubu for being the first Commander-in-Chief in Nigeria’s history to visit his soldiers outside the shore of the country.

    While in Guinea-Bissau, the Nigerian leader is scheduled to hold bilateral meetings and have other engagements on the sidelines of the Summit.

    On the entourage of the President are National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu; Acting Governor of the Central Bank, Dr Folashodun Shonubi; former governors Abubakar Bagudu (Kebbi), Abdullahi Ganduje (Kano), and Abubakar Badaru (Jigawa).

    The 63rd Ordinary Session Summit, which will open on Sunday, will be the first international engagement of the President within the African continent.

    The 16 regional leaders are expected to address memoranda on pressing sub-regional issues bordering on security, trade and democratic governance as it concerns Mali, Burkina Faso and Guinea.

  • Security tops agenda as Tinubu jets out for ECOWAS Summit

    Security tops agenda as Tinubu jets out for ECOWAS Summit

    President Bola Tinubu is scheduled to attend the 63rd  Ordinary Session of Heads of State and Government of ECOWAS on Saturday.

    The meeting to be held in the port city of Bissau, Guinea-Bissau on Sunday is expected to address memoranda on pressing sub-regional issues.

    A statement from the presidential spokesman, Dele Alake, announced that the memoranda include Report of the 50th Ordinary Session of the Mediation and Security Council (MSC).

    The report covers security challenges faced by the member countries.

    “Slated for discussion is Report of the 90th Ordinary Session of ECOWAS Council of Ministers on the financial situation of the body and the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

    “It will also discuss the Report on the status of Transition in the Republics of Mali, Burkina Faso and Guinea.

    “Other items slated for discussion include; Memoranda on the ECOWAS Single Currency Programme and the Report on Obstacles to Free Movement of Goods on the Abidjan- Lagos corridor”, he said.

    He said that Tinubu would be accompanied by some members of the Presidential Policy Advisory Council and other top government officials.

    The president is expected back in Nigeria at the end of the meeting.

  • Tinubu to jet out to Guinea-Bissau on Saturday for ECOWAS summit

    Tinubu to jet out to Guinea-Bissau on Saturday for ECOWAS summit

    Nigeria’s President,  Bola Tinubu will jet out to Guinea Bissau on Saturday  to attend the 63rd Ordinary Session of the Authority of Heads of State and Government of the Economic Community of West African States.

    This was made known by The President’s Special Adviser on Special Duties, Communications and Strategy, Dele Alake, via a statement released on Friday in Abuja.

    Participants at the summit, which begins on Sunday, are expected to address memoranda on five pressing sub-regional issues.

    They include the report of the 50th ordinary session of the Mediation and Security Council covering security challenges faced by the member countries; report of the 90th ordinary session of the ECOWAS Council of Ministers on the financial situation of the body and the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area, as well as the report on the status of transition in the Republics of Mali, Burkina Faso and Guinea.

    Another item on the discussion table is the memoranda on the ECOWAS single currency programme and the report on obstacles to the free movement of goods on the Abidjan-Lagos corridor.

    Guinea-Bissau is the first African state Tinubu is visiting since assuming office on May 29, 2023.

    Recall that the Guinea Bissau president, Umaro Sissoco Embaló also visited Tinubu in Lagos last week.

    So far, Tinubu has visited Paris, France, where he participated in the summit for ‘A New Global Financing Pact’ hosted by French President, Emmanuel Macron, on June 22 and 23.

    From June 24 to 27, the President was in London for a private visit, where he reportedly met his predecessor, Muhammadu Buhari.

    President Tinubu will return back to Nigeria on Sunday.

     

  • FG approves re-opening of Seme border for vehicle importation

    FG approves re-opening of Seme border for vehicle importation

    The Director of Road Transport in the Ministry of Transportation, Ibrahim Musa, has said the Federal Government of Nigeria approved the re-opening of the Seme land border for the importation of vehicles.

    Musa, who spoke at the Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS, meeting on Wednesday, organised between officials of Nigeria and Benin Republic, revealed that the development followed complaints by freight forwarders operating at the Seme border.

    “I was here with the former Minister of State for Transportation when the freight forwarders pleaded that the border should be reactivated for the free movement of goods and services.

    “The former minister made us prepare a memo to that effect. It was considered and sent to the government.”

    Similarly, the Customs Area Controller of Seme Border Command, Dera Nnadi, who also spoke at the event, lamented that the service has noticed a reduction in its revenue since the importation of vehicles through the land borders was suspended by the immediate past administration.

    Nnadi said: “The former Minister of Transportation, responding to some of our requests and from the stakeholders, promised to take them to the Federal Executive Council, FEC, one of them is how to fully open this border.

    “The Ministry has informed us that the memo has been written to FEC and it was adopted and that it would be given to the new government, he assured us that all the requests were adopted.”

  • Imperialists partitioning has adversely affected united kith and kin in Africa -DG NBC, Adaji

    Imperialists partitioning has adversely affected united kith and kin in Africa -DG NBC, Adaji

    Director General of National Border Commission, NBC Surv. Adamu Adaji has said the partitioning of Africa has adversely affected the pre-existing historical, socio-cultural and economic relationship existing between the people.

    He disclosed this when experts on Cross Border Cooperation from Nigeria and the Republic of Benin held a two day Consultative Forum to brainstorm on the best strategies to step up rapid development between both countries.

    Adaji speaking during the opening ceremony of the event said that it was the consensus desire of the participants to promote cordial relationship between Nigeria and Benin Republic in line with the policy thrust of Cross Border Cooperation which seeks to promote and strengthen good neighborliness between Border communities, territorial communities and administrations or other relevant actors of two or more States.

    Adaji averred that “the Cross border Cooperation initiative is one of the components of the African Union Border Programme designed to break the barrier effects of the colonially inherited borders that has been a source of dispute between African countries”.

    The Cross border initiative he added will help to address the challenges associated with the colonial borders and also serve as a vehicle for promoting the integration of the African Continent.

    “The challenges of insecurity along our borders have made it imperative for African countries to yearn for economic Cooperation and integration for the rapid economic transformation of our Continent”

    “It would be recalled that the colonial imperialists partitioning African homogeneous communities without recourse to the pre-existing historical, socio-cultural and economic relationship existing between the people.

    Adaji noted that this has adversely affected communities who were hitherto united as kith and kin.

    He said that aside from the peculiarities of the colonially imposed boundaries, that African countries are equally grappling the effects of globalization which he stated was breaking the barriers of the national borders.

    He urged African countries to resolve their border differences and seek closer contacts and cooperation in order to increase opportunities for trade and development as well as form stronger alliance that is capable of mitigating the negative influence of globalization.

    The Director-General gave the assurances that the Government of Nigeria will continue to work assiduously with the government of the Republic of Benin to conclude all outstanding works leading to the clear definition and demarcation of the common boundary to pave way for healthy collaboration in the execution of the joint programmes that will enhance the quality of lives of the border dwellers.

    On his part, the Director-General of the Benin Integrated Border Management Agency, Dr. Marcel Balgo noted that both countries shared same values and socio-cultural inheritance and have always lived in harmony with one another.

    He however lamented that some people have misconstrued the concept of boundary demarcation as division lines between people that share common inheritance and values.

    The Representative of the Minister of Nigeria’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Amb. Auwalu Namadina pledged the country’s commitment to closely work with the Beninese government to further strengthen the already existing cordial relationship between the two countries.

    In his remarks, Representative of the German International Corporation (GIZ) ECOWAS Manager, Dr. Bakary Sanou said that the GIZ will support the cause of African unity especially in Transborder cooperation.

    Seven years ago, African Ministers responsible for Border management met in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia and resolved to address the problem of insecurity facing the African Continent they unanimously agreed that peaceful cooperation was a necessary panacea to economic development in the Continent.

  • Ekweremadu: ECOWAS lends voice to appeals for clemency

    Ekweremadu: ECOWAS lends voice to appeals for clemency

    The Speaker of the Parliament of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Sidie Mohamed Tunis, has appealed to the Chief Clerk of the Central Criminal Court Old Bailey, London, over the sentencing of his predecessor Ike Ekweremadu, for offences relating to organ trafficking.

    Eweremadu, a Deputy Senate President, along with his wife Beatrice, daughter Sonia and Doctor Obinna Obeta were convicted of organ trafficking, in the first verdict of its kind under the UK’s Modern Slavery Act.

    The couple had facilitated the travel of a 21-year-old Nigerian man to the UK, for the purpose of transplanting one of his kidneys to their ailing daughter, after the man was confirmed as a good match by Obeta.

    But the story took a different turn when the man told UK authorities that he was deceived into travelling and was not aware he was to donate his kidney to Sonia, raising questions about consent which the couple claimed they previously got from him.

    In his letter to the UK Court, Tunis said as a parent, he could relate to the pains, dilemma and crossroads the couple faced over the health of their daughter and urged the court to wear a human face in meting out judgement on 5th May, noting that Sonia must still undergo a kidney transplant to stand a chance of surviving to fulfil her destiny.

    “It is certain that Sonia cannot survive the absence of her parents in her present health condition…I wish to fervently appeal to the honourable court, on behalf of the ECOWAS Parliament, for leniency in meting out justice to the couple.

    “We understand the position of the law, but only appeal that the honourable court puts on a human face in this circumstance and temper justice with mercy, especially considering his good behaviour and contributions to the good of the society, the less privileged, and democracy.

    “Importantly, the typical Ekweremadu, being one, who is given to charity work and experienced in lawmaking in Nigeria and internationally, could also be very useful to the Nigerian and international community in public enlightenment and legal reforms/campaigns on organ trafficking to curtail such incidents drawing from his personal experience,” Tunis added.

    Nigeria’s 9th House of Representatives and a former President of the country Olusegun Obasanjo, have also made similar appeals to the Old Bailey Court.