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ECOWAS Court Orders Côte d’Ivoire to Pay CFA50 million for Violation of Citizens Rights
ECOWAS Court Orders Côte d’Ivoire to Pay CFA50 million for Violation of Citizens Rights
By: Michael Mike
The ECOWAS Court of justice on 30th of November, 2023, declared the State of Côte d’Ivoire liable for violation of rights of Adou Kouamé and nine other Ivorians, and ordered the Ivorian government to pay 50 million CFA Francs to each of them as compensation.
In its judgement delivered by Hon Justice Ricardo Claúdio Monteiro Gonçalves, Judge Rapporteur, the Court declared that the Respondent – State of Côte d’Ivoire violated the right to healthy environment and health, right to private and family life, right to adequate standard of living and food, right to freedom of religion and right of minorities to have their own culture.
However, the Court dismissed the Applicants – Adou Kouame and Others’ claim that their right to property was violated, for lack of sufficient evidence of ownership. The Court also declared the second, thirteenth and fourteenth Applicants in the suit as improper parties before the Court, stating that they did not present evidence showing their relationship with the parents they claimed to be representing respectively. The Applicants request for collective compensation was dismissed by the Court too.
In the case with suit number ECW/CCJ/APP/08/21, the Applicants – Adou Kouame, village head of Similimi and 14 other residents, claimed that the State of Côte d’Ivoire’s failure to protect them from the negative effects of the mining activities in their community violated their right to healthy and sustainable environment, and health, right to religious and cultural freedom, right to private and family life, right to adequate standard of living and food, and right to property guaranteed under international laws cited in the application.
The Applicants’ lead counsels, Mr Rashidi Ibitowa, Ms Geneviève Aïssata Diallo and Mr Jonathan Kaufman argued that the Ivorian government did not “take measures to give effect to human rights protected by international law,” adding that the mining operations have had adverse effects on plantations, forests, rivers and places of worship causing them health hazards from polluted water, polluted air, explosions, noise pollution and ground tremors. And that their ancestral places of worship were destroyed by the mining activities including altars for sacrifices and they are of the opinion their ancestors are angry with them because their prayers and invocations were no longer answered.
They also asked the Court to hold the State liable for failure to validate the impact assessment results of 2010 that would have resettled them, adding that the Ministry of Mining and Geology renewed the mining licence of the company in 2018 despite the fact that the environmental damage persisted, and the company had not fulfilled its obligations.
They demanded 12 billion CFA francs as compensation for the estimated 600 residents of Similimi, and another 3 billion CFA francs for the Applicants for the prejudice suffered, and an order for their resettlement, among other reliefs.
The Respondent – State of Côte d’Ivoire said that following the exploitation of the mines, and the residents’ demand for compensation from the mining company as well as complaint of adverse effect on water and human health, the Minister of Environment engaged its agencies – Ivorian Anti-Pollution Centre (CIAPOL) and the National Environment Agency (ANDE) and that their reports led to the suspension of the activities of the mining company by an Order of 11 November 2015.
However, the company was allowed to resume activities in 2016 while implementing corrective measures, adding that periodic meetings between all parties continued until 2020 and that a general meeting was also held in 2021.
The Respondent asked the Court to declare the case inadmissible arguing that the matter was within the jurisdiction of national courts and that the claims of the Applicants were ill-founded and should be dismissed.
In the judgment, the Court which held that the matter was within its jurisdiction, also asked the State of Côte d’Ivoire to ensure the residents of Similimi community located in Bondoukou district in Côte d’Ivoire were resettled in compliance with relevant laws, ensure a healthy environment is restored rapidly, end the ongoing environmental degradation, and hold the perpetrators responsible for the environmental degradation.
The State of Côte d’Ivoire was ordered to bear the cost of litigation, and submit to the Court within three months, measures taken to implement this judgment.
Also on the bench were Justices Edward Amoako Asante (presiding) and Dupe Atoki (Member).
ECOWAS Court Orders Côte d’Ivoire to Pay CFA50 million for Violation of Citizens Rights
News
Zulum Rolls Out 20 Electric Buses to Cushion Petrol Price Hike
Zulum Rolls Out 20 Electric Buses to Cushion Petrol Price Hike
By: Our Reporter
Borno State Governor, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum, has directed the immediate deployment of 20 luxury electric buses for public use as part of measures to cushion the impact of the recent petrol price hike on residents.
The buses, which were inaugurated by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on 20th December, 2025, alongside 3,000 electric bicycles, 500 electric tricycles, and 100 electric vehicles aimed at improving transportation services across the state.

The rollout of the buses, which commenced on Friday, 3rd April, features a fleet of 17 buses with 49 seating capacity, two 37-seaters, and one 28-seater. They are currently being deployed across major routes within Maiduguri metropolis and its environs to ease the burden of rising transport costs on commuters.
The Fully air-conditioned and energy-efficient vehicles can cover over 400 kilometres on a single charge. This initiative complements the existing fleet of buses and salon cars earlier procured by the Zulum administration to enhance urban mobility.
To ensure seamless operations, the governor has also established the largest electric vehicle charging terminal in the country, with the capacity to charge up to 50 vehicles at a time.

To further protect residents from the ripple effects of the global energy crisis, Governor Zulum directed Borno Express Transport Service to maintain a subsidised fare of N50 per drop.
The intervention has already begun to yield positive results, with noticeable reductions in congestion and improved access to affordable transportation for students, civil servants, traders, and other residents.
Commuters have since commended the initiative, describing it as timely and impactful.
“This transport initiative is indeed commendable. We are not feeling the impact of the rising transportation costs, as fares remain at N50 per drop. We thank Governor Zulum for the gesture”.
The initiative forms part of Governor Zulum’s effort to promote green energy, modernise transportation system and provide relief to the vulnerable.
Zulum Rolls Out 20 Electric Buses to Cushion Petrol Price Hike
News
Youth Exclusion Could Derail Development Goals, UN Issues Urgent Warning
Youth Exclusion Could Derail Development Goals, UN Issues Urgent Warning
By: Michael Mike
A senior United Nations official has issued a strong warning that governments and institutions risk deepening instability and policy failure if they continue to sideline young people, insisting that meaningful youth inclusion is now a critical condition for peace, stability, and sustainable development.
Speaking in Abuja at an interactive session with youth, the United Nations Assistant Secretary General for Youth Affairs and Head of UN Youth Affairs, who is currently on an official visit to Nigeria, Mr. Felipe Paullier, said global institutions are failing to evolve at the pace required to match today’s rapidly changing realities, particularly the demographic shift driven by an unprecedented youth population.
The event, themed “Open-Door Youth Engagement,” convened youth-led organizations, young women’s groups, youth peacebuilders, innovators, students, young professionals, persons with disabilities, and underserved youth communities for an interactive dialogue with representatives of the Government and the United Nations.
According to Paullier, young people now represent the largest, most educated, and most interconnected generation in history, especially in developing countries like Nigeria. However, this demographic advantage is being undermined by persistent gaps in access to quality education and limited opportunities for meaningful participation in governance.
He noted that: “Engaging young people in policy is not just an option—it is a condition if we want to achieve peace, stability, and effective solutions.”
He said the UN acknowledged a growing disconnect between policy formulation and real-world impact, describing the process of closing this gap as complex but urgent.
He admitted that while global frameworks exist, including the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and youth-focused strategies, implementation at the national level remains inconsistent.
LHe emphasized that governments must move beyond rhetoric and adopt clear, actionable commitments that integrate youth voices into decision-making processes.
He said central to this effort is the UN’s broader development roadmap, which includes commitments to embed youth participation not only at global levels but also within country-level governance and policy execution.
Addressing concerns over the sustainability of policies, he warned that many initiatives fail because they are not designed to endure or adapt over time. The solution, the official argued, lies in institutionalizing youth engagement rather than treating it as a temporary or symbolic exercise.
He noted that nearly half of the world’s population under 30, and significantly higher percentages across Africa, the stakes are even higher for countries on African continent.
He said: “Youth engagement should not be seen as a project—it must be embedded at the heart of governance, financing, and development planning.”
The UN also called for increased investment in youth-driven innovation, noting that young Nigerians are already transforming sectors such as agriculture, technology, and the creative economy through ingenuity and entrepreneurship.
Youth Exclusion Could Derail Development Goals, UN Issues Urgent Warning
News
Nigeria’s Skills Crisis Deepens as Government, Experts Push Urgent Overhaul of Technical Education
Nigeria’s Skills Crisis Deepens as Government, Experts Push Urgent Overhaul of Technical Education
By: Michael Mike
Growing concerns over Nigeria’s widening skills gap took centre stage in Abuja on Wednesday, as education stakeholders warned that the country risks undermining its industrial ambitions without a radical overhaul of its technical training system.
At a high-level session of the BEAR III Programme convened by United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), the Federal Ministry of Education Nigeria acknowledged that current training models are failing to keep pace with the rapidly evolving demands of industry—particularly in agro-processing, a sector seen as critical to job creation and economic diversification.
Director of Technology and Science Education, Mrs. Patricia Ogungbemi,, delivered a blunt assessment: Nigeria is producing graduates who are increasingly disconnected from the realities of modern workplaces.
While investments in infrastructure and technology have grown, she warned that the human capacity needed to drive those systems remains weak.
“There is a dangerous mismatch between what is taught and what is required,” she said. “Machines are evolving, industries are advancing, but the workforce is not keeping up at the same speed.”
Ogungbemi pointed to emerging trends such as automation, smart packaging, and sustainable production systems, noting that many Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions have yet to integrate these realities into their curricula.
She described the ongoing Labour Market Analysis (LMA) as a critical diagnostic tool, but stressed that data alone would not solve the problem without decisive policy action and sustained funding.
“What we are confronting is not just a training issue—it is a structural challenge that affects productivity, competitiveness, and national growth,” she added.
The warning comes amid rising youth unemployment and growing frustration among employers who say graduates often lack practical, job-ready skills.
Stakeholders at the event argued that unless Nigeria urgently retools its education system to prioritise hands-on, industry-driven learning, sectors like agro-processing—despite their vast potential—may struggle to absorb the millions entering the labour market each year.
Kano State Commissioner for Education, Ali Makoda, reinforced the urgency, describing work-based learning as a “non-negotiable pathway” to addressing the crisis.
According to him, states are beginning to recognise that traditional classroom models alone cannot solve unemployment challenges.
“We must embed learning within the workplace,” he said. “The future of education is not just in classrooms, but in factories, farms, and production lines.”
Makoda said Kano State is scaling up partnerships with industry players to ensure students gain real-world experience before graduation, aligning training with both national development goals and global standards.
Despite these commitments, participants acknowledged persistent obstacles, including underfunded institutions, outdated equipment, and weak collaboration between academia and industry.
They also stressed the need for stronger private sector involvement, arguing that employers must play a more active role in shaping curricula and offering apprenticeship opportunities.
With support from international partners, including the Government of the Republic of Korea, the BEAR III initiative is expected to drive reforms in skills development, particularly in agriculture-linked industries.
However, observers said the success of such programmes will ultimately depend on Nigeria’s willingness to translate policy discussions into concrete, system-wide change.
As deliberations continue, one message remains clear: without a skilled workforce aligned to industry needs, Nigeria’s economic aspirations may remain out of reach.
Nigeria’s Skills Crisis Deepens as Government, Experts Push Urgent Overhaul of Technical Education
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