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ECOWAS Expends Over $26 million on humanitarian activities between 2023-2024- Commissioner
ECOWAS Expends Over $26 million on humanitarian activities between 2023-2024- Commissioner
By: Michael Mike
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) said between 2023 and 2024 it splashed over $26 million on humanitarian activities in West Africa.
The regional political cum economic bloc said it also supported sport federations in the region with $100,000 each per year.
Addressing a press conference on Friday in Abuja, ECOWAS Commissioner for Human Development and Social Affairs, Professor Fatou Sow Sarr said the regional body startups in scientific innovation with the sum of $50,000 in the area of youth innovation.
Sarr said a total of $700,000 was used for the training of 30 young people from the region in Masters and PHD programmes.
She also revealed that countries under sanctions were not excluded from the humanitarian gesture of the regional body.
She stressed that ECOWAS puts significant resources into the humanitarian sector for displaced people, migration, floods and various forms of disaster:
She said, “Guinea under sanctions received nearly 600,000 dollars in January 2024, namely: 100,000 dollars for the fire at the oil depot and 499,390 dollars for the floods.”
For the displaced people within the region, Prof. Sarr said, “In 2023 for floods and nutrition out of a total of 8.5 million people affected, ECOWAS provided support to half of the victims, or 4 million people for an amount of $12.6 million.
“In 2024, ECOWAS has released 9 million dollars for internally displaced people, refugees, asylum seekers, as well as for the communities that welcome them (i.e. all 15 countries).
” ECOWAS has allocated $1 million for stabilization in Nigeria (victims of terrorism, displaced people, injured people, rehabilitation and strengthening community resilience).”
The Commissioner also revealed that “Out of a fund of 25 million dollars intended for the fight against terrorism (Nigeria, Burkina, Mali and Niger), ECOWAS has reserved 4 million dollars for humanitarian actions.”
She explained that ECOWAS places more emphasizes on prevention, adding “We have a disaster reduction strategy and tools such as the observation, monitoring and alert center which allows ECOWAS to monitor displaced populations and floods, to anticipate problems. and better manage crisis situations.”
On the programmes for the youth integration within the region she said that the commission intervention was in the area of Volunteers programs, Sport and Economic Integration
According to her “Since 2014, ECOWAS has posted 217 volunteers in the following countries: Liberia, Sierra Leone, Guinea, Nigeria, Burkina, Benin.
“ECOWAS works to promote the spirit of volunteering among young people to give them opportunity for professional development, enhance their civic engagement and foster their conscience for community service.”
ECOWAS, she also said supported sports federation of each member states with $100,000 per year.
Sarr also listed other sporting activities and Union supported to include the Union of deaf sports associations, university sport development organizations. ECOWAS cycling tours Lagos- Accra 2010, Lagos Abidjan 2012.
“The Ecowas Game Event that included 5 to 6 sports disciplines were organized in 2009 and 2011,” she added.
She also said ECOWAS supported the Entrepreneurship project and youth mentoring Business incubation project.
She listed the area of training to include “Training in agrosylvopastoral farming from 2010-2018 at the Shanghai Center for 1,300 young people
“Training in refrigeration and air conditioning, auto mechanics in Burkina between 2014 and 2019 for 500 young people
“Training in building electricity in Mali for 500 young people.”
Prof. Sarr also revealed that ECOWAS initiated cooperation with the People’s Republic of China in 2023 to support young people, “Thus 12 entrepreneurship projects for young people in the sub-region received an awardcompetitors out of a total of 100 worldwide.”
In the area of Science Education, the ECOWAS Commissioner said the programs of the Directorate of Education, Science and Culture focus largely on young people, we can cite
“The academic mobility and professional integration program for young people within ECOWAS institutions, which from 2016 to 2024 enrolled 845 young people.
“The youth integration program in industries and the private sector in ECOWAS countries, which benefitted 180 young people between 2021 and 2022.”
Sarr added that: “Since 2019 ECOWAS has sent 42 young people for master’s degrees in diplomacy and international relations in Spain.
“Support for young people through prizes to the most successful startups in scientific innovation ($50,000).
“With PARI (Research and Innovation Support Program) from 2018 to 2024, it was possible to train more than 30 young people in Masters and PHD through funds donated to research consortia, for a total of $700,000.”
She also said the commission was supported the youths during film and art festivals, ad prizes were awarded to young artists.
For the ECOWAS Gender Center, Sarr said: “1,720 excellence scholarships were distributed from 2010 to 2022 to young girls from disadvantaged families.”
The Commissioner also revealed that there are plans to host ECOWAS Youth Forum in the coming month.
The forum, she said is “to take stock of the current situation, identify the changes and ruptures which have led to the general malaise observed in the sub- region.
“Consultations will be organized in member countries by bringing together young people concerned in their geographic, social and socio-professional diversity.”
The forum which will be extended by webinars to reach a larger number of people, television shows and radio debates, she said “will allow populations in each country to know that ECOWAS is looking into youth problems.
” At the end of the process, the ECOWAS meetings will be organized in a member country, allowing the regional organization to review its policy, strategy and roadmap accordingly.”
ECOWAS Expends Over $26 million on humanitarian activities between 2023-2024- Commissioner
News
Social media reckless leaks of U.S. ISR flights over Lake Chad force ISWAP fighters to relocate
Social media reckless leaks of U.S. ISR flights over Lake Chad force ISWAP fighters to relocate
By: Zagazola Makama
Reckless disclosure of sensitive intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) operations by social media users has compromised ongoing counter-terrorism efforts in the Lake Chad region, forcing Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) fighters to relocate from monitored locations, reliable security sources told Zagazola Makama.
The social media handler had posted that the United States Air Force ISR aircraft, which has flown missions over the Lake Chad basin for three consecutive days, again returned on Saturday to conduct surveillance on ISWAP’s “Mantiqah Krinwa” in northern Borno. The aircraft, as with previous sorties, was tracked taking off from Accra, Ghana.
The operational gains, however, were undermined when a social media handler, identified as Brant Philip on Twitter (X), published the real-time flight paths and details of the ISR operations that were expected to remain covert.
The sources said that although ISWAP fighters were not recently concentrated in Krinwa, the ISR media leaks had unsettled the group, prompting a tactical movement from Dogon Chikun to Bulabulin in an apparent attempt to avoid potential air interdiction in identified locations.
“Once the details of the ISR mission were posted online, the terrorists became aware of the surveillance and began repositioning. These kinds of leaks directly endanger operations and personnel,” a security source said.
Another source noted that online exposure of such highly sensitive military activity compromises not only Nigerian security efforts but also partner operations.
“People on social media must understand that sharing operational intelligence, especially in real time, is not content, it is sabotage. Terrorists monitor these platforms too,” the source added.
Social media users, bloggers and open-source enthusiasts must exercise restraint and avoid amplifying sensitive information that could compromise missions, or empower terrorist networks.
Social media reckless leaks of U.S. ISR flights over Lake Chad force ISWAP fighters to relocate
Nine killed in katsina-ala multiple crash as nurtw officials arrested over road blockade
By: Zagazola Makama
The death toll from Friday’s multiple motor accident in Katsina-Ala, Benue State, has risen to nine, while four injured victims are currently receiving treatment in hospital, officials have confirmed.
The crash, which occurred on the Katsina-Ala axis, involved several vehicles after an alleged deliberate obstruction of the expressway by two members of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW).
Sources told Zagazola Makama that the two drivers – Stephen Kahungur, of Gbor community, who drove a Toyota car with registration number Benue MKD 569 TJ, and Saater Vihiga, of Ammafu Village, who drove a Toyota Carina with registration number Benue AX 896 MKD – were arrested for allegedly blocking the highway and causing the fatal chain collision.
Also arrested was the Chairman of the NURTW Katsina-Ala branch, Aja Vanger, who was said to have mobilised the suspects to block the road.
The three suspects are currently in custody.
Authorities say investigation into the circumstances surrounding the obstruction and the fatal crash is ongoing.
Nine killed in katsina-ala multiple crash as nurtw officials arrested over road blockade
Police Scorpion squad arrests two notorious kidnappers, recovers three vehicles in zamfara
By: Zagazola Makama
Operatives of the Scorpion Squad have arrested two notorious kidnappers and armed robbers in Zamfara State and recovered three suspected stolen vehicles.
The operation, coordinated by ACP Victor O. Godfrey, was carried out on Nov. 25 following what security sources described as actionable digital reconstructive intelligence.
The suspects, Dalhatu Bashiru (aka Yellow), 38, and Chidiebere Nwadigo Emmanuel, 34, both ex-convicts, were apprehended for their alleged involvement in multiple kidnapping and car-snatching operations across several states.
Recovered from the suspects were: A black Toyota Corolla, Reg. No. JUX 578 AA, A grey Toyota Corolla, Reg. No. JUX 890 AA, an ash-coloured Toyota Camry (Pencil Light), Reg. No. APR 459 AE
According to sources, the suspects confessed to participating in several high-profile criminal operations, including the Jan. 18, 2024 abduction of Mr. Segun Akinwumi O. near Rita Lori Hotel, Garki, Abuja.
In that incident, the victim was kidnapped from his residence and taken toward Kano. While en route, the gang allegedly dispossessed him of his ATM cards in Kaduna, where ₦500,000 was transferred from his bank account.
Luck ran out for the gang after they were intercepted at a filling station in Kaduna. Three members escaped, but Chidiebere, Dalhatu (Yellow), and another suspect, now at large were identified. Their accomplice, Chinanza Philip Okoye Michael, was arrested, the victim rescued unhurt, and his vehicle recovered.
Investigations further revealed that the arrested suspects had previously been apprehended in November 2023 for similar offences and arraigned at the High Court, Kwali, but allegedly returned to crime while on court bail.
Police operatives also recovered three Beretta pistols from the suspects.
Security authorities said the suspects confessed to snatching over 20 exotic SUVs within Abuja.
Efforts are ongoing to apprehend the remaining fleeing suspect.
Police Scorpion squad arrests two notorious kidnappers, recovers three vehicles in zamfara
Social media reckless leaks of U.S. ISR flights over Lake Chad force ISWAP fighters to relocate
Nine killed in katsina-ala multiple crash as nurtw officials arrested over road blockade
Police arrest own inspector, brother over alleged attack and forceful seizure of corpse in Benue
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