National News
Abide by ECOWAS Protocols to Sustain Democracy, Experts Advises West African Countries
Abide by ECOWAS Protocols to Sustain Democracy, Experts Advises West African Countries
By: Michael Mike
A Former Director, Political Affairs in the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Commission, Dr. Aderemi Ajibewa has advised member states of the regional organisation to abide by ECOWAS protocols in order to sustain peace, democracy, and good governance in West Africa.
Ajibewa made the recommendation on Tuesday while delivering a paper at the delocalized meeting of the Joint Committees of the ECOWAS Parliament on Political Affairs, Peace, Security and the African Peer Review Mechanism, Judicial Affairs and Human rights, Social Affairs, Gender and Women Empowerment in Monrovia, Liberia.
Delivering the paper titled: “Assessment of the Impact of the Relevant Provisions of the ECOWAS Protocol of Democracy and Improving Good Governance and Crises Prevention in Member States”, Ajibewa said that Community protocols and instruments already captured the mechanisms on constitutional political governance principles that address governance challenges, noting that the implementation of relevant protocols by member countries would mitigate the level of conflict and bad leadership.
Ajibewa, while listing some of the challenges arising from gaps in implementing some ECOWAS protocols to include over centralization of power, weak institutions and structures, bad leadership, military interventions and interruptions of democratic governance, said: “The position of governance in ECOWAS region is hinged on constitutional political governance principles that address governance challenges and guidelines for member states.”
He noted that: “The supplementary Protocol (2021) provides for democratic control of the armed forces and zero tolerance for military coup d’etats and any form of unconstitutional change of power.”
He said the linkages between good governance and economic development is evident in good management of resources across country’s various sectors which always impacts the country’s economic growth and development.
He assured that: “The efficient operationalization of the provisions of ECOWAS Supplementary Protocol on Democracy and Good Governance would provide long-lasting solutions to the challenges faced by the West African Region.”
Ajibewa advised that in order to address some of the challenges, ECOWAS Commission should increase engagement and partnership with civil society organisations.
He also tasked the ECOWAS Commission on sensitization of the military on the ECOWAS Supplementary Protocols of Democracy and Good Governance, and capacity building for government officials.
Ajibewa said that Member States are should also be charged with decentralizing powers, noting that it poses serious threat to having a centralize power in a state.
He also advised member states on the revitalization of state structures and institutions, and advocacy for good governance.
In her intervention, Hon. Laadi Ayamba, Member of Parliament for the Republic of Ghana, lamented the limitations to the implementation of policies at the country level.
She said: We have these laws and protocols guiding us but it is sad that implementation is a problem.
“What we lack in our Parliaments is how to implement some of these protocols and that is a gap we must ensure we address. How will ECOWAS look at addressing these gaps.”
A parliamentarian from The Gambia, Hon. Fatimatou Njai, in her intervention said that it is time for ECOWAS to learn lessons from mistakes that have brought down some countries in other to move forward.
Njai said that ECOWAS bodies and institutions need to be firm on laws that retrogrades the sub-region
She said: “In ECOWAS, we need to start reminding ourselves but unfortunately, lessons have not been learnt.
“We have seen our countries draw back from what we fought for because we have refused to learn. We must build an ECOWAS that does not tolerate war. Only then can we achieve a stable region and good governance.”
Abide by ECOWAS Protocols to Sustain Democracy, Experts Advises West African Countries
Four Soldiers Injured in Vehicle Accident on Mambilla Plateau
By: Zagazola Makama
Four Nigerian soldiers have sustained injuries in a vehicle accident on the Mambilla Plateau in Taraba State.
The accident occurred on Thursday while the troops were moving across the mountainous terrain of the area, Zagazola reports.
The Emir of Mambilla, Dr. Shehu Audu Baju, was said to have personally joined in the rescue operation to ensure that the soldiers received prompt assistance.
Following the rescue, the injured personnel were evacuated to the 20 Battalion Barracks in Serti for urgent medical care.
Community members and traditional leaders in the area have expressed sympathy and prayed for the speedy recovery of the soldiers, while also calling for the safety of other security operatives on duty.
Four Soldiers Injured in Vehicle Accident on Mambilla Plateau
UKNIAF, NGF Advance Electricity Reform with Nationwide Workshop Series
By: Michael Mike
The United Kingdom Nigeria Infrastructure Advisory Facility (UKNIAF), in partnership with the Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF) have wrapped up a major national initiative to support State-led electricity market reforms.
The State Learning Workshop Series focused on Electricity Market Development, Integrated Resource Planning (IRP) and energy modelling software.
Workshops in Lagos, Calabar, Kano and Jos have been successfully completed, drawing participants from all the 36 States and the FCT and setting a strong precedent for what lies ahead.
These sessions equipped policymakers, regulators and stakeholders with the tools to design robust, sustainable and investor-ready electricity markets at the State level, in line with the provisions of the Electricity Act 2023.
Reflecting on the significance of this initiative, the Director-Legal/Head Power Desk at the Nigerian Governors’ Forum, Mr. Chijioke Chuku,, stated that: “Nigeria’s electricity future depends on the capacity of our States to lead with vision, clarity, and technical precision. Through the workshop series, we are equipping States not just with knowledge, but with the confidence to take charge of their electricity markets. The NGF is proud to partner with UKNIAF in ensuring that the promise of the Electricity Act 2023 becomes a lived reality across the country.”
The sessions in the State Learning Workshops covered: The legal and regulatory pathways for setting up State Electricity Markets; Commercial models for private sector investment; Integration of State plans into Nigeria’s National IRP;
Practical training on the software platform for energy modelling.
The initiative drew from lessons learned in the course of UKNIAF’s work supporting the Akwa Ibom, Enugu, and Oyo State Governments—early movers in electricity market development—in setting up their markets.
It also drew from experience gained in the course of UKNIAF providing technical support to the Federal Ministry of Power in drafting both the National Integrated Electricity Policy and Nigeria’s first National Integrated Resource Plan, both of which were approved very recently.
With States now empowered by the Electricity Act 2023, this series is a timely and strategic effort to ensure capacity, coordination, and sustainability in Nigeria’s decentralised energy landscape.
UKNIAF, NGF Advance Electricity Reform with Nationwide Workshop Series
Three killed, others injured in bandits’ attack on Zamfara community
By: Zagazola Makama
Armed bandits have killed three persons and injured three others in an attack on Galadi town, Shinkafi Local Government Area of Zamfara.
Sources confirmed the incident saying the attack occurred at about 10:50 p.m. on Aug. 27.
The sources said the bandits stormed the town, shooting sporadically, which resulted in the deaths and injuries.
Troops of Operation FANSAN YANMA were mobilised to the scene. The corpses and injured victims were evacuated to Galadi Primary Health Care Centre for autopsy and treatment.
Meanwhile, a manhunt for the fleeing culprits has been intensified, as the bandits escaped before the arrival of the joint forces,” the sources said.
Three killed, others injured in bandits’ attack on Zamfara community
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