National News
ECOWAS Calls for Return to Lagos Treaty for Political, Security Stability in West Africa
ECOWAS Calls for Return to Lagos Treaty for Political, Security Stability in West Africa
By: Michael Mike
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has called for a return to the Lagos Treaty of 1975 which encourages inclusive governance system in order for the advancement of political and security stability in the member countries.
Vice President of ECOWAS Commission, Mrs Damtien Tchintchibidjaa made the call on Tuesday in Abuja, at the launch of the project; Citizens Participation for Accountable and Inclusive Democracy (C-PAID), organised by West
African Network for Peacebuilding (WANEP) in partnership with United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
Tchintchibidjaa noted that, member states of the ECOWAS must remain focus in their collective endeavour in the areas of peace and stability as to achieve the set goal of the organisation.
She said the call had become imperative in view of the fact that despite the overall appreciable progress made, particularly in the field of political governance, the subregion had continued to face considerable security challenges.
She said: “The widespread public perception that national development plans and actions to improve socio-economic services through the provision of basic infrastructures and amenities such as healthcare, electricity, housing, employment, small scale business development and others are often perceived as elitist, exclusive and inadequate to serve the needs of communities.
“In other words, the state and the citizens do not view developmental needs from the same prism and often measure success or failure of policies and governance from different lenses.
“The recent trend of peaceful and violent demonstrations, call for a more in- depth discussion on the state and structure of inclusive governance in member states in line with the actualisation of the vision for a more stable, secure and citizen centered West Africa.
“Prevailing socio-economic challenges, manifesting through issues such as youth unemployment, has laid the foundation for new political and social movements by youth that challenge existing political establishments.
For his part, the Acting Resident Representative UNDP Nigeria, Mr. Lealem Dinku reiterated the role of internal politics in the role of insecurity in the region adding democracy entails the ability of government to deliver to it’s people the expected mandate.
Dinku said, “Public Governance does not stop at democracy, human rights, and lack of corruption. Rather, defined by the ability of a government to deliver to its citizens the right to access public goods and services also encompasses human development and sustainable and equitable socio-economic opportunities.
“There is no doubt that internal politics, regional power-plays, and bad governance has nurtured the acute insecurity in West Africa, Richly endowed with human and material resources, the region remains one of the most impoverished in the world for reasons linked mainly to absence of leadership and poor political and resource governance capacity.
“For the region to reap the dividends of good governance and democracy, citizens must be allowed to play a detrimental role in the decision-making processes. Engaging citizens in governance systems engenders transparency, improves accountability and public resource management, and bring about adequate policy outcomes, development, and the social well-being of citizens.
“The involvement of the citizenry in democratic governance systems, is also strategic as citizens are no longer just beneficiaries, instead act as implementers, practitioners and partners of policies and programs.
“It is not enough to work only on setting up democratic institutions and processes. These institutions and processes must be put to work creating opportunities for citizens to lead healthy and productive lives.
Speaking on the project initiative Executive Director WANEP, Chukwuemeka Eze said, the project is to leverage on the citizens opinions to monitor and criticize government’s performance for effectiveness.
Eze noted that, “the project launched is to leverage the opportunities of the digital space through crowdsourcing to mobilise citizens’ ideas, contributions, and opinions beyond borders to create a regional online community across West Africa, to monitor and critique government performance for the effectiveness of democratic institutions and practices.
“The project will specifically provide unique perspectives across various interest groups on the expectations of democratic governance as well as mechanisms for accountability and inclusivity of West Africa peoples to development and peace within the region.
ECOWAS Calls for Return to Lagos Treaty for Political, Security Stability in West Africa
Nigeria@65: FG’s programmes improving welfare of Nigerians- NOA
The National Orientation Agency (NOA), on Wednesday said that the Federal Government’s programmes and policies under President Bola Tinubu-led administration were improving the welfare of Nigerians.
Mrs Adaline Patari, the State Director of NOA, Gombe State office, stated this shortly after a road show to mark Nigeria’s 65th Independence Day anniversary in Gombe.
Patari said that programmes and policies of Tinubu-led administration had supported many Nigerians from the student’s loan to conditional cash transfer to support to small businesses amongst others.
She stated that the initiatives by the present administration had restored hope and put the country amongst serious countries pursuing better reforms to improve their economy while revamping infrastructure.
According to her, many undergraduates benefitting from the student’s loan scheme which has removed all financial hindrances impeding access to tertiary education now feel a sense of belonging.
She said that the programmes and policies of the Federal Government have benefitted many households and improved their welfare in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Tinubu.
“The reforms of the Federal Government are working and many persons are proud to be Nigerians and more persons are now trying to do the right things as Nigerians.
“People are beginning to see themselves as proud Nigerians and that confidence of being a Nigerian is being restored.
“Today, many Nigerians are benefitting from the programmes of the current administration, this means that the country is now working for them,” she said.
While acknowledging that there were still challenges that needed to be addressed, Patari said, at 65, we have made tremendous progress especially working together in peace and unity.
She urged Nigerians to continue to support Tinubu administration’s programmes towards building a better country that works for all Nigerians.
The state director said that with the necessary reforms being carried out and already yielding results in the economic, agriculture, security and other sectors, more Nigerians would be prouder to be Nigerians in the future.
“Today, the country is progressing and we are united; we are now prouder to be Nigerians and I can tell you that the labour of our heroes past, indeed is never in vain,” she added.
Commending the contributions of youths to national development, Patari urged them to have a positive mind-set towards Nigeria and to always express optimism of a better Nigeria for everyone.
Patari also lauded the renewed strength with which NOA under the Director General of the agency, Malam Lanre Issa-Onilu was being driven.
She said that government’s policies and programmes were getting more supports from Nigerians because of the constant engagements of Nigerians by the NOA nationwide.
The event also featured sensitisation of residents on Federal Government’s policies, programmes and the need for the people to support the current administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda
Nigeria@65: FG’s programmes improving welfare of Nigerians- NOA
Nigeria, European Union hold inaugural Trade and Investment Dialogue
By: Michael Mike
Senior Government officials of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the European Union (EU) have today met in Abuja to assess the vibrant economic partnership between the two parties and chart a way forward.
The inaugural Nigeria-EU Senior Officials Trade and investment Dialogue (TID) was anchored by the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment (FMITI), Ambassador Nura Abba Rimi, and Director of the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Trade and Economic Security (DG TRADE), Ms Dora Correia,
The Minister of Industry, Trade and Investments, Dr. Jumoke Oduwole, and the EU Ambassador to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Gautier Mignot,, welcomed the launch of the Dialogue, which they said underscored the growing importance attached to trade and investment in the EU-Nigeria partnership.
This Senior Officials’ meeting marks an important step in strengthening the trade and investment partnership between the EU and Nigeria, and provided opportunity for the officials to exchange views on areas of mutual interest; address potential challenges and explore opportunities for further collaboration.
Discussions focused on a range of issues, including trade and investment policy, cooperation on market access barriers and requirements, preferential trade and investment arrangements, investment, collaboration within the World Trade Organization (WTO), regulatory measures that could impact trade and investment, and the identification of trade and investment-related development cooperation areas.
Both sides expressed their interest to continue the Dialogue, with the second TID billed to take place in Brussels, Belgium, in 2026, on a date to be jointly decided.
Nigeria, European Union hold inaugural Trade and Investment Dialogue
FG Declares Wednesday, Oct. 1 Public Holiday to Marks 65th Independence Anniversary
By: Michael Mike
The Federal Government has declared Wednesday, 1st of October as a public holiday to commemorate Nigeria’s 65th Independence Anniversary.
The Honourable Minister of Interior, Hon. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, who made the declaration on behalf of the Federal Government, congratulated all Nigerians both at home and in the diaspora on this historic occasion.
Tunji-Ojo, in a statement by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Interior, Dr. Magdalene Ajani, enjoined citizens to continue to uphold the patriotic spirit, unity, and resilience that have sustained the nation since independence in 1960.
He urged Nigerians to further keep faith in the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu, which is anchored on national rebirth, economic transformation, and collective prosperity.
The Minister expressed confidence that, with the cooperation of all Nigerians, the country will continue to grow stronger in peace, progress, and development.
He wished Nigerians a happy and memorable 2025 Independence Day celebration.
FG Declares Wednesday, Oct. 1 Public Holiday to Marks 65th Independence Anniversary
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