News
Council of European Union’s Africa Working Group Begins 4-day Visit to Nigeria
Council of European Union’s Africa Working Group Begins 4-day Visit to Nigeria
By: Michael Mike
Members of the Council of European Union’s Africa Working Party (COAFR) have arrived in Abuja to begin a four-day working visit to the country.
During the visit taking place from 26-29 February 2024, the COAFR members will engage with Nigerian authorities, government agencies, civil society groups, regional and international organisations and private sector actors in Abuja and in Lagos.
According to a statement on Sunday by the European Union in Nigeria, the Africa Working Party (COAFR) is mandated with the supervision and management of EU external policy towards the 46 countries of the sub-Saharan Africa, the African Union and other sub-regional organisations, including ECOWAS.
The Africa Working Party (COAFR) is composed of representatives of all 27 EU Member States, chaired by a permanent member of the European External Action Service (EEAS), and assisted by representatives of the Commission and the General Secretariat of the Council. It works under the auspices of the European Union’s Foreign Affairs Council (FAC), itself composed of the Ministers of Foreign Affairs, Defense and/or development of the 27 Member States of the European Union.
The statement said in Abuja, the visiting COAFR members will meet with key Federal Government ministries and agencies starting from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Office of the National Security Adviser, the Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning, among others.
They will also have an interactive session with the ECOWAS Commission on regional developments and integration processes.
In Lagos, the COAFR is expected to meet with the Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, the Consuls General of EU Member States, and the leadership of the European Business Chamber (EuroCham) Nigeria.
They will also visit several EU-funded projects in the state featuring digital and innovation, critical infrastructure and connectivity and migration. Deliberations during the meetings will centre on further boosting EU-Nigeria partnership.
The Africa Working Party’s (COAFR) visits to African countries aim at promoting direct contact, mutual information exchange and feedback between the political and foreign policy organs of the European Union and their African counterparts. They play an important role on taking stock of state and non-state actors views, perspectives, aspirations and expectations regarding their partnership with the European Union, its closest neighbour and its sister continent.
The team will commence a similar visit to the neighbouring Republic of Benin at the end of its current mission in Nigeria.
According to the statement, this is the group’s first-ever working visit to Nigeria, noting that in addition to the representatives of 17 EU Member States also officials from EU institutions, are expected to be in the team.
The statement further revealed that this year’s working visit will be the eleventh visit of the COAFR to the African continent, and the third visit to West Africa – following earlier visits to Senegal and Burkina Faso (2015) and Ivory Coast and Ghana (2019).
It said more than ever before, several top EU officials have visited Nigeria in recent years and months, underlining the importance the EU accords its partnership with the country.
Last October, the EU’s Commissioner for International Partnership, Ms. Jutta Urpilainen, her counterpart for Energy, Ms. Kadri Simson, led other top officials to participate in the EU-Nigeria Strategic Dialogue Meeting held Abuja. The Deputy Secretary General of the European External Action Service (EEAS), Ms Helena Konig, and the Managing Director, Africa at the EEAS, Ms. Rita Laranjinha, were also in the country shortly before then, following the visits in 2022 of European Commission’s Executive Vice President Margrethe Vestager in February 2022, EU and Member States Maritime Security Coordinators in April 2022 and senior officials of the European Commission in charge of Energy and Home Affairs.
is mandated with the supervision and management of EU external policy towards the 46 countries of the sub-Saharan Africa, the African Union and other sub-regional organisations, including ECOWAS.
The Africa Working Party (COAFR) is composed of representatives of all 27 EU Member States, chaired by a permanent member of the European External Action Service (EEAS), and assisted by representatives of the Commission and the General Secretariat of the Council. It works under the auspices of the European Union’s Foreign Affairs Council (FAC), itself composed of the Ministers of Foreign Affairs, Defense and/or development of the 27 Member States of the European Union.
In Abuja, the visiting COAFR members will meet with key Federal Government ministries and agencies starting from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Office of the National Security Adviser, the Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning, among others. They will also have an interactive session with the ECOWAS Commission on regional developments and integration processes.
In Lagos, the COAFR is expected to meet with the Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, the Consuls General of EU Member States, and the leadership of the European Business Chamber (EuroCham) Nigeria.
They will also visit several EU-funded projects in the state featuring digital and innovation, critical infrastructure and connectivity and migration. Deliberations during the meetings will centre on further boosting EU-Nigeria partnership.
The Africa Working Party’s (COAFR) visits to African countries aim at promoting direct contact, mutual information exchange and feedback between the political and foreign policy organs of the European Union and their African counterparts. They play an important role on taking stock of state and non-state actors views, perspectives, aspirations and expectations regarding their partnership with the European Union, its closest neighbour and its sister continent. The team will commence a similar visit to the neighbouring Republic of Benin at the end of its current mission in Nigeria.
This is the group’s first-ever working visit to Nigeria. In addition to the representatives of 17 EU Member States also officials from EU institutions, are expected to be in the team. This year’s working visit will be the eleventh visit of the COAFR to the African continent, and the third visit to West Africa – following earlier visits to Senegal and Burkina Faso (2015) and Ivory Coast and Ghana (2019).
More than ever before, several top EU officials have visited Nigeria in recent years and months, underlining the importance the EU accords its partnership with the country. Last October, the EU’s Commissioner for International Partnership, Ms. Jutta Urpilainen, her counterpart for Energy, Ms. Kadri Simson, led other top officials to participate in the EU-Nigeria Strategic Dialogue Meeting held Abuja. The Deputy Secretary General of the European External Action Service (EEAS), Ms Helena Konig, and the Managing Director, Africa at the EEAS, Ms. Rita Laranjinha, were also in the country shortly before then, following the visits in 2022 of European Commission’s Executive Vice President Margrethe Vestager in February 2022, EU and Member States Maritime Security Coordinators in April 2022 and senior officials of the European Commission in charge of Energy and Home Affairs.
Council of European Union’s Africa Working Group Begins 4-day Visit to Nigeria
Troops Raid Terrorist Enclaves in Katsina, Criminals Flee Before Contact
By: Zagazola Makama
Troops of 17 Brigade, in collaboration with local vigilantes, have conducted coordinated offensive operations on suspected terrorist enclaves across parts of Katsina State, forcing criminals to flee before troops’ arrival.
Security sources told Zagazola that the operation took place at about 0800 hours on May 10, 2026, targeting Kafin-Soli, Karaduwa, Maraban Musawa and Jikamshi villages in Kankia, Musawa and Matazu Local Government Areas of the state.
The sources said the clearance operation was part of ongoing efforts to dislodge criminal elements and deny them freedom of action within rural communities.
According to the sources, troops and vigilantes moved simultaneously into the identified locations but met no resistance as the suspected terrorists had fled prior to their arrival.
Military authorities said follow-up exploitation of the general area was ongoing to ensure the criminals do not regroup or return to the affected communities.
They added that troops will continue intelligence-led patrols and offensive operations across vulnerable areas in Katsina State to sustain pressure on criminal networks and restore normalcy.
Troops Raid Terrorist Enclaves in Katsina, Criminals Flee Before Contact
Troops Ambush Terrorists in Kogi State, Neutralise One, Recover Arms and Cash
By: Zagazola Makama
Troops of 12 Brigade have successfully ambushed suspected terrorists along the Old Obajana–Jakura–Tajimi axis in Lokoja Local Government Area of Kogi State, neutralising one insurgent and recovering weapons, ammunition and other items.
Security sources said that the operation occurred at about 0450 hours on May 10, 2026, west of Meyanga and north of Adankolo Forest during a planned ambush operation.
The sources said troops made contact with the terrorists in the early hours of the day, leading to a brief exchange of fire.
According to the sources, one terrorist was neutralised during the engagement, while others fled the scene, abandoning their weapons and equipment.
Items recovered at the scene included two AK-47 rifles, six magazines loaded with 145 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition, one locally fabricated pistol, one Motorola handheld radio, one motorcycle, and a sum of ₦62,900.
Other recovered items included a camouflaged bandolier, three mobile phones and additional sundry materials.
Military authorities said troops have continued exploitation of the general area to track fleeing suspects and prevent regrouping of criminal elements.
They added that operations in the axis remain ongoing as part of sustained efforts to dominate the environment and deny terrorists freedom of action.
Troops Ambush Terrorists in Kogi State, Neutralise One, Recover Arms and Cash
News
Funding of Politics with State Funds: ActionAid Demands Impeachment of Governors Found Culpable
Funding of Politics with State Funds: ActionAid Demands Impeachment of Governors Found Culpable
By: Michael Mike
Human rights and anti-poverty organisation, ActionAid Nigeria, has called for the immediate impeachment of any governor found guilty of using state resources to fund political campaigns ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The organisation made the demand in a statement issued on Tuesday in Abuja by its Country Director, Andrew Mamedu, following growing public concerns over alleged movement of huge sums of money by some political actors for campaign-related activities.
ActionAid Nigeria said the allegations have raised serious questions about the source of the funds allegedly being deployed for political mobilisation and consolidation of power ahead of the next election cycle.
Mamedu described the reports as disturbing and unacceptable, especially at a period when millions of Nigerians are grappling with economic hardship, rising inflation, insecurity, unemployment and worsening living conditions.
According to him, it would amount to a grave abuse of public trust if state resources meant for governance and development were diverted for partisan political purposes.
“It is appalling that at a time when Nigeria is drowning in debt, workers are struggling with the rising cost of living, public hospitals are underfunded, schools are collapsing, insecurity is spreading, and millions of Nigerians are battling hunger and extreme economic hardship, that any suggestion of public resources are being diverted or deployed for political campaigns,” he stated.
The organisation stressed that governors were elected to serve the people and not to convert state resources into what it described as “political war chests.”
ActionAid Nigeria challenged governors and political actors allegedly linked to the claims to publicly explain the source of the funds being used for political activities, insisting that Nigerians deserve transparency and accountability.
The group further urged anti-corruption agencies, including the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, as well as State Houses of Assembly, to commence immediate investigations into the allegations.
According to the organisation, any governor found culpable should face impeachment, prosecution and recovery of diverted public funds.
“Any governor who diverts public resources for political campaigns has violated public trust and abused the mandate given to them by citizens. Such individuals should not remain in office,” Mamedu said.
He warned that unchecked misuse of public resources could weaken democratic institutions and create an unfair political environment where incumbents enjoy undue advantage over other contestants.
The organisation also noted that while political parties have the right to organise campaigns and raise lawful support, such activities must not involve public funds, government assets or state institutions.
ActionAid Nigeria cited countries such as the United Kingdom, United States, Canada, Germany and South Africa as examples where strict accountability measures exist to prevent incumbents from using state resources for partisan political activities.
The organisation called on citizens, civil society groups, journalists, whistleblowers and anti-corruption advocates to remain vigilant and expose any suspicious use of public resources for political purposes ahead of the 2027 elections.
ActionAid Nigeria maintained that safeguarding democracy and protecting public resources must remain a collective responsibility of both institutions and citizens.
Funding of Politics with State Funds: ActionAid Demands Impeachment of Governors Found Culpable
Yobe Security Adviser Calls for Advanced Surveillance Technology to Defeat Boko Haram
Troops Raid Terrorist Enclaves in Katsina, Criminals Flee Before Contact
Troops Ambush Terrorists in Kogi State, Neutralise One, Recover Arms and Cash
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