Nigeria Urges Europe and Africa to Build Bridges, Not Walls

By: Michael Mike

Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar has called on Europe and Africa to reject isolationist tendencies and embrace a partnership rooted in shared history, geography, and responsibility.

Delivering the keynote address at the 2026 Annual Conference of Spanish Ambassadors in Madrid, attended by 182 diplomats, Ambassador Tuggar framed Europe and Africa not as distant continents but as interconnected regions whose destinies are historically and economically linked.

Speaking under the theme, “Good Neighbourliness: Building Bridges or Building Walls,” he urged policymakers to focus on tangible realities rather than abstract divisions, highlighting the Mediterranean as a historic connector of peoples.

Tuggar recounted Africa’s longstanding contributions to the modern world—from the trans-Saharan gold trade of the 14th century to early Atlantic commerce in sugar and palm oil—emphasising that contemporary relations cannot ignore this shared past. He proposed that Africa be recognised alongside Europe and Ibero-America as a core component of Spain’s broader historical identity.

On migration, the Foreign Minister acknowledged its sensitivity while warning against policies driven by fear. He reaffirmed Nigeria’s opposition to irregular migration but cautioned that securitised approaches in the Sahel often exacerbate instability, dismantle local economies, empower traffickers, and undermine governance.

He praised Spain’s circular migration schemes as a pragmatic, humane model that aligns with centuries-old patterns of seasonal work across West Africa.

Highlighting Nigeria–Spain collaboration, Tuggar cited joint initiatives in migration management, police training, and the fight against human trafficking. He commended Spain for demonstrating that engagement, dialogue, and development-focused partnerships yield more sustainable results than coercion.

Turning to development, the minister stressed that Africa’s marginal share of global trade is incompatible with its demographic weight. He argued that reliance on raw material exports in exchange for manufactured goods perpetuates underdevelopment, urging investment in value-addition and development finance as mutually beneficial strategies for stability.

Tuggar also cautioned against the shrinking space for diplomacy amid over-militarisation and polarised domestic politics. He called for diplomats to champion dialogue, compromise, and long-term solutions, particularly in addressing democratic backsliding and unconstitutional changes of government in parts of West Africa. He highlighted Nigeria’s leadership in launching a Regional Partnership for Democracy with the United Nations Development Programme, a program designed to strengthen democratic resilience in ways that respect local histories and cultures.

He urged Spain’s diplomatic corps to promote good neighbourliness not only within Europe but globally, stressing that in a world tempted by walls and withdrawal, true statesmanship lies in building bridges where geography, history, and shared interest already demand them.

Nigeria Urges Europe and Africa to Build Bridges, Not Walls

Karai-Karai leader urges Bauchi government to engage youths for better productivity

By: Yahaya Wakili

The leader of the Karai-Karai cultural heritage, Bala Bara Ma Jalam, Malam Usman Marqui Ma Jalam (known as Marqui), has called on the Bauchi state government to pay more attention to youths to engage them with something to do in the state.

He reiterated that, because youths are the backbone of everything in the society, anything to be done has to involve youths first; therefore, in reality, youths have been left behind, so the government should have done something to revive the teeming youths in the state.

Marqui made the call while briefing the newsmen at his residence shortly after this year’s Bala Bara Ma Jalam celebration in Jalam, Dambam local government area of Bauchi state.

According to Marqui, neglecting the youths without something to do is pushing them to get involved in crime, such as terrorism, kidnapping, banditry, and other criminal activities in the society; therefore, we are appealing to the Bauchi state government to create something for the youths so that they can be self-reliant.

“As they know and everybody knows, this Karai-Karai tribe culture call Bala Bara Ma Jalam used to take place in every first week of the new year, and we are celebrating it today, Tuesday, 6th January, 2026, at Jalam town in the Dambam local government of Bauchi state,” Marqui said.

He maintained that, as history comes, any tribe has its own culture, because the tribe that doesn’t have its own culture is not a complete tribe, and by the grace of Almighty God, we will face the next year’s Bala Bara Ma Jalam celebration, inshallah.

Karai-Karai leader urges Bauchi government to engage youths for better productivity

Cuba Accuses U.S. of Military Aggression Against Venezuela, Pledges Unwavering Support

By: Michael Mike

Cuba has issued a fierce condemnation of what it claims was a military attack by the United States on Venezuela, describing the alleged action as a serious breach of international law and a threat to regional peace.

In an official statement released in Havana on Saturday, the Cuban Revolutionary Government said it stood in full solidarity with Venezuela and its leadership, backing calls by Caracas for proof of life of President Nicolás Maduro and First Lady Cilia Flores. Cuba also demanded their immediate release, alleging they were being held by U.S. authorities.

Havana characterised the reported operation as a “cowardly and criminal act,” accusing Washington of escalating a long-running campaign of pressure and hostility against Venezuela.

According to the statement, U.S. actions in the Caribbean intensified from September 2025, including increased naval activity justified by what Cuba called unfounded allegations.

The Cuban government said the alleged aggression was driven by imperial ambitions, claiming it was aimed at asserting dominance over Latin America and gaining access to Venezuela’s vast natural resources. It warned that the move was intended not only to undermine Venezuela’s sovereignty but also to intimidate other governments in the region.

Cuba placed responsibility for any deaths or damage resulting from the situation on the U.S. administration, naming President Donald Trump and senior officials as accountable for the consequences of what it described as reckless actions.

Recalling the 2014 Proclamation of Latin America and the Caribbean as a Zone of Peace, signed in Havana by regional governments, Cuba said the current developments represented a direct challenge to that collective commitment.

The statement urged the international community to reject what it called an unlawful act against a United Nations member state, warning that allowing such an action to go unanswered would set a dangerous precedent. Cuba stressed that Venezuela had not attacked the United States or posed a military threat.

Reaffirming its close alliance with Caracas, Cuba said it remained prepared to support Venezuela in defending its independence and sovereignty, calling on governments, parliaments and social movements worldwide to condemn the alleged aggression.

Cuba Accuses U.S. of Military Aggression Against Venezuela, Pledges Unwavering Support