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ECOWAS to Support School Feeding in West Africa with €4.5 million
ECOWAS to Support School Feeding in West Africa with €4.5 million
By: Michael Mike
The Economic Communities of West Africa States (ECOWAS) on Friday said it has set aside €4.5 million to support the implementation of home grown school feeding in primary schools across the West African region.
The Commissioner for Economic Affairs and Agriculture, ECOWAS Commission,
represented by the Director Agriculture and Rural Development, Alain Traore, stated this at the launch of the national policy forum on the institutionalisation and implementation of the home grown school feeding programme for sustainable economic growth and financial inclusion in Nigeria.
The event was organised by the presidential committee on home grown school feeding and supported by ActionAid Nigeria (AAN).
He said: “ECOWAS, with financial support from Spanish cooperation, is implementing the project to promote integrated school feeding models in West Africa (PMAI-AO), worth €4.5 million, the aim of which is to generate promising practices and strategies that can be scaled up and support the sustainability of school feeding programmes in the region.
“Food and nutritional security in general, and school feeding in particular, remains a strategic priority for our organisation, ECOWAS. It is at the heart of our regional agricultural policy, particularly through Axis 3, which aims to improve access to food, nutrition and the resilience of vulnerable populations.
“Children’s education is an essential pillar in the development of human capital in West Africa. School feeding based on local production (ASPL) is proving to be a promising approach for achieving this objective. It is not simply an isolated initiative; it is a holistic strategy that aims to improve child nutrition and contribute to school performance, support local agriculture, stimulate rural economies and reduce poverty.
“According to data from the Global Child Nutrition Foundation (GCNF), the school feeding situation in the region shows that 25 million children benefited from school canteens in West Africa in 2024, i.e. 32% of children of primary school age.
“This shows that the overall coverage rate is low in the region, despite the efforts made by governments and their partners. Greater political will, large-scale implementation of school feeding programmes, and their sustainability are therefore more than necessary.”
Nigeria’s Vice President, Senator Kashim Shettima, who was represented by the Special Adviser to the President on Economic Affairs, Tope Fasua, said with the relaunch of the programme Nigeria is at the forefront of feeding school children.
He said: @This year, the federal government relaunched the New Hope National Homegrown School Feeding Programme, signalling a decisive return to scale and systemisation. The programme is designed to boost enrollment and attendance, improve academic performance, and raise smallholder incomes through stable local procurement.
“Across ECOWAS, governments and partners are codifying school feeding into law, financing at scale, and improving delivery standards. Nigeria’s relaunch places us at the forefront of this regional movement, where political commitment, sustainable financing, and multisectoral coordination are the levers that lift outcomes.”
The Speaker House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, who was represented by the chairman house committee on food safety and nutrition, Chike Okafor, promised to monitor the implementation of the policy at all levels.
Representative of the Minister of state Humanitarian Affairs Yusuf Sununu, Mr. Valentine Ezulu, in his keynote address said, “the Home-Grown School Feeding Programme is not just about feeding children. It is about nation-building.
“It is about Education: because a child who is nourished is more attentive, more likely to attend school, and more capable of learning. It is about nutrition and healtth because regular balanced meals combat malnutrition, stunting, and anemia.”
ActionAid Nigeria Country Director, Dr. Andrew Mamedu in his welcome address noted that there’s need to institutionalise the policy
He said: “Across Nigeria, too many children still go to school hungry. According to the World Bank’s Human Capital Index, Nigeria scores just 0.36—meaning a child born here today will achieve only 36% of their productive potential if nothing changes.
“The Home-Grown School Feeding Programme is more than a nutrition intervention. It is an education strategy that keeps children in school and helps them learn better.”
He noted that: “When properly institutionalised, the programme will improve nutrition and learning, create jobs, enhance financial inclusion, and build resilience for future generations.”
ECOWAS to Support School Feeding in West Africa with €4.5 million
News
Troops Repel Terrorist Infiltration in Kanama, Neutralise Four Insurgents
Troops Repel Terrorist Infiltration in Kanama, Neutralise Four Insurgents
By: Zagazola Makama
Troops of Operation HADIN KAI have repelled a Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorist infiltration into Kanama town, neutralising four insurgents during a swift response operation in Borno State.
Security sources said the incident occurred at about 6:00 p.m. on April 22 when troops of 159 Battalion, deployed in Kanama, responded to sounds of gunfire within the town.
On arrival, the troops reportedly discovered that terrorists had infiltrated parts of the community.
The troops immediately made contact and engaged the attackers with disciplined fire, forcing them to retreat in disarray.
Subsequent exploitation of the general area led to the neutralisation of four terrorists.
One member of the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) sustained injuries during the encounter and has been evacuated for medical attention.
No military equipment was lost during the operation.
Items recovered from the terrorists include two torchlight mobile phones and the sum of ₦21,000.
Security sources said the general situation across the theatre remains calm but unpredictable, while troops’ morale and fighting efficiency remain high.
Troops Repel Terrorist Infiltration in Kanama, Neutralise Four Insurgents
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Dramatic Testimony Rocks Nwaukoni Terrorism Trial In Asaba — Doctor Confirms Gunshot Wounds In Palace Attack Case
Dramatic Testimony Rocks Nwaukoni Terrorism Trial In Asaba — Doctor Confirms Gunshot Wounds In Palace Attack Case
The high-profile terrorism trial in Charge No. FHC/ASB/18C/2024 took a dramatic and gripping turn this week at the Federal High Court, Asaba, as explosive evidence and powerful witness testimonies continue to unfold against Mike Nwaukoni (aka “Supu”) and his alleged accomplices.
Standing trial alongside him are prominent figures including Barrister Francis Okolie, Secretary of the Ogwashi-Uku Development Association (ODA), and Mazi Elue Adigwe, the association’s Secretary-General, among others accused in connection with the violent October 12, 2023 attack on the Palace of the Obi of Ogwashi-Uku.
🔴 Doctor’s Testimony Leaves Court in Silence
In what court observers have described as one of the most chilling moments of the trial so far, Dr. Ezeike Ugochukwu Godwin took the witness stand and delivered a clinical yet deeply emotional account of the injuries sustained by a vigilante operative assigned to protect the Palace.
The doctor confirmed that the victim suffered multiple gunshot wounds, including injuries to the head and upper limbs, describing in precise medical terms the severity of the trauma.
According to his testimony, the victim was brought into the emergency unit in a state of intense pain and critical distress, alongside several others wounded during the attack.
Dr. Ezeike further told the court that the patient was referred from the Divisional Police Headquarters in Ogwashi-Uku, reinforcing the official chain of response following the violent incident.
🔴 Police Investigator Details Chaos and Destruction
A day earlier, on April 21, 2026, the court heard from Inspector Ijeoma Ovat, the initial Investigating Police Officer (IPO), who painted a harrowing picture of the aftermath of the attack.
She testified about the widespread chaos, multiple casualties, and destruction that followed the invasion of the Palace during the controversial Ineh Festival. Crucially, she tendered photographic evidence showing heavily damaged police and vigilante vehicles, corroborating claims of a coordinated and violent assault.
Sources within the prosecution confirm that the damage to the vehicles was extensive and consistent with armed aggression.
🔴 Witnesses Tie Defendants to Armed
AssaultEarlier testimonies in the trial have reportedly identified the defendants as active participants, alleging they were armed with guns and other dangerous weapons during the attack. Witnesses have also pointed to Mike Nwaukoni as a central figure who allegedly instigated and coordinated the operation.
🔴 Passport Request Sparks Legal Firestorm
In a fresh development that has further intensified proceedings, lead prosecutors in the case including CSP Samuel Mallum Esq and A.I Aminu Esq from the Police Legal Directorate in Abuja have strongly opposed an application by Nwaukoni’s legal team seeking the temporary release of his international passport for overseas travel.
According to sources, the prosecution argued that granting such a request poses a serious flight risk, warning that the defendant could attempt to evade justice, seek asylum, or acquire foreign citizenship.
The prosecution also suggested that the move may be a deliberate tactic to delay the trial, particularly as significant portions of the case have already been established.
The matter has been adjourned for further consideration, with hearings expected to resume in late May, continuing into early June 2026.
🔴 Calm Returns to Ogwashi-Uku Amid Trial
Meanwhile, community sources in Ogwashi-Uku report a notable return of peace and stability since the commencement of the trial. Residents have expressed hope that the judicial process will be seen through to a swift and just conclusion, bringing lasting closure to one of the most serious security incidents in the Kingdom’s recent history.
Dramatic Testimony Rocks Nwaukoni Terrorism Trial In Asaba — Doctor Confirms Gunshot Wounds In Palace Attack Case
News
Troops Intercept Suspected Terrorist Logistics Supplier, Seize PMS in Borno
Troops Intercept Suspected Terrorist Logistics Supplier, Seize PMS in Borno
By: Zagazola Makama
Troops of Operation HADIN KAI have arrested a suspected ISWAP/JAS logistics supplier and intercepted a large quantity of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) concealed in a tricycle in Borno State.
Security sources said the suspect was apprehended at about 9:10 a.m. on April 21 by troops of 159 Battalion at a checkpoint within Sector 2 Area of Responsibility.

The suspect was reportedly conveying PMS concealed in 15 sacks, disguised with bags of sachet water in an attempt to evade detection.
Preliminary investigations indicated that the consignment was being transported to Kanama town and neighbouring communities around Dikwa and Bultuwa, areas believed to be within terrorist influence.
Items recovered from the suspect include a mobile phone and the sum of ₦34,950.
The sources said the suspect and recovered exhibits are in military custody for further investigation and necessary action.
They added that the interception forms part of ongoing operations aimed at disrupting terrorist logistics networks and denying them access to critical supplies across the North-East theatre.
Troops Intercept Suspected Terrorist Logistics Supplier, Seize PMS in Borno
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