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Nigeria, Benin Fine-Tune Framework for Economic Cooperation

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Nigeria, Benin Fine-Tune Framework for Economic Cooperation

By: Michael Mike

Nigeria and the Republic of Benin have commenced the process of operationalizing the economic cooperation agreement they signed during the recently held West Africa Economic Summit (WAES).

Both countries had at the maiden regional economic summit in June 2025, in Abuja, signed the memorandum of understanding.

At a two-day meeting of officials of both countries to work out the framework for the implementation of the economic cooperation agreement held August 1-2, in Cotonou, Republic of Benin, Nigeria’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, said the move was in line with the objectives of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

The Minister praised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his foresight in conceptualizing the summit as catalyst for the economic growth of the region.

She described the bilateral engagement as timely emphasizing that the two countries were bound not only by geography, but by centuries of shared history, familial ties, culture, commerce and vibrant commercial activity.

The Minister on behalf of the Government and people of Nigeria, also congratulated the Republic of Benin on her 65th Independence anniversary noting that it was fitting the important dialogue took place at a moment of national pride and reflection for the country.

She stated that over the years, the bilateral relations between the two West African neighbours had grown from informal interactions to a structured, strategic partnership, but not without challenges—ranging from trafficking and smuggling to wider trans-border crimes.

She noted that both countries had always found solutions whenever they came together with sincerity and determination.

“Our shared successes affirm a truth we must never lose sight of: that cooperation, not conflict; dialogue, not suspicion, remain our best tools for overcoming obstacles,” the Minister said.

Odumegwu-Ojukwu declared that the visit of the Nigerian delegation was not merely a technical conversation but a symbolic and political commitment.

According to the Minister, it was a commitment to Nigerian people and to the ideals of economic development, peace, and stability.

Therefore, both countries must be driven by a shared vision and mutual trust as they seek to build a resilient and sustainable trade corridor between their nations.

She added that: “The frequency and depth of our engagements at the highest political levels underscore the strategic nature of our relationship. The recent efforts of Presidents Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Patrice Talon to recalibrate our bilateral cooperation, particularly in the areas of trade and border management, demonstrate a shared political will to resolve longstanding issues and usher in a new era of mutual prosperity. Both Presidents have shown remarkable leadership in guiding this partnership forward. Their engagements, particularly at the West Africa Economic Summit have reaffirmed the mutual desire to build a future anchored in trade, security, and economic transformation. You would recall the words of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu who at the Summit said, “Nigeria and Benin are more than twins. We are the same people. Let us show the region that integration is possible.” I can boldly affirm that the discussions we’ve had from the 31st of July are an extension of that statement and vision.

“The bilateral meetings held in the course of this visit and the ones we will continue to have, offer yet another opportunity for us to deepen our dialogue and build on the gains made through various mechanisms; be it the Trade Facilitation Committee, the Joint Customs Working Groups, or the recent strides made in cross-border trade harmonization. We must seize this momentum to find practical and forward-looking solutions to the challenges that continue to constrain our trade and economic cooperation.

“It is important that we work together to ensure that policies and procedures on both sides of the border promote legitimate trade, encourage investment, and empower our business communities. Let us continue to align our customs and transit frameworks, streamline bottlenecks, and reinforce our joint commitment to regional integration under ECOWAS and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

On her part, Nigeria’s Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Jumoke Oduwole, who presented the resolutions at the meeting noted that the economic cooperation would cover four thematic areas including trading services and private sector engagements, market access, customs procedures and trade facilitation, transport infrastructure and storage. Technical working groups are expected to deliberate of these areas and submit reports in Abuja in the coming weeks.

Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Benin, Mr. Olushegun Adjadi Bakari, said his country was committed to sustaining excellent mutually beneficial relations with Nigeria.

The Minister of Industry and Trade of the Republic of Benin, Mrs. Shadiya Alimatou Assouman, the Director General of Customs, the Comptroller General of Nigeria Customs Service, Adewale Adeniyi, Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, Amb. Nura Abba Rimi, the Director, Africa Affairs Department in Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Amb. Regina Ocheni, Director, Office of the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Amb. Innocent Iwejuo and members of the technical committee as well as members of both delegations, participated in the meetings.

Nigeria, Benin Fine-Tune Framework for Economic Cooperation

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17 abducted victims released in Zamfara

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17 abducted victims released in Zamfara

By: Zagazola Makama

At least 17 abducted victims, including 14 females and three males, who were kidnapped in Katsina State earlier in the year have been released in Zamfara state.

Zagazola report that the victims were among those abducted on June 19, 2025, at Birdigau village in Kankara Local Government Area of Katsina State.

According to the sources , the victims regained their freedom on Oct. 3, 2025, at about 8:30 a.m.

Upon receipt of the information, police operatives visited the scene, after which the victims were conveyed to the Ahmed Sani Yariman Bakura Specialist Hospital, Gusau, for medical examination under tight security.

The Chairman of Gusau Local Government, Hon. Abubakar Imam, supervised their evacuation and medical assessment.

Sources added that the victims would be handed over to their relatives in Katsina State after completion of medical checks.
End

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Fake news factories fueling religious tension in Northern Nigeria — No faith spared

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Fake news factories fueling religious tension in Northern Nigeria — No faith spared

By; Zagazola Makama

A dangerous campaign of fake news and deceptive online propaganda is threatening Nigeria’s fragile peace, security, and unity.

The campaign, largely driven by faceless actors from Nigeria and foreign-based platforms, deliberately promotes false narratives portraying Nigeria’s security crisis as a religious war between Muslims and Christians.

In reality, both Muslims and Christians have suffered devastating losses from terrorism, banditry, and communal violence across the North and other parts of the country.

Over the years, extremist groups such as Boko Haram and ISWAP have attacked mosques, churches, markets, schools, and military formations killing thousands of innocent Nigerians without discrimination.
Rural bandits in Zamfara, Sokoto, Katsina, and Niger States have also targeted farming communities, where the victims have overwhelmingly been Muslim.

In the North-Central states of Plateau, Benue, Taraba, and parts of Southern Kaduna, both Muslim and Christian communities have endured repeated cycles of reprisal killings, with no group left untouched.

Despite these facts, foreign-based organisations and online platforms continue to publish distorted reports and manipulated images, branding every incident in Northern Nigeria as an “attack on Christians.”

In several cases, images from Muslim funeral prayers were misrepresented as photographs of Christian victims, fuelling anger and suspicion among faith communities.

Some of the fake reports also cite unverified statistics, claiming that “2,000 churches are destroyed daily” or that “3,000 Christians are killed daily.” These figures are not only false but mathematically impossible designed purely to inflame emotions and attract international condemnation against Nigeria.

These claims are “a deliberate campaign of psychological warfare” aimed at dividing Nigerians along religious lines and damaging the country’s image abroad.

The motive ⁰is to destabilise the nation by creating mistrust, promoting religious extremism, and pressuring foreign governments to impose sanctions based on fabricated data.

These actors have double standards, while they amplify unverified claims about Nigeria, they have remained silent on global revelations, such as those made by the U.S. President Donald Trump, alleging that certain international agencies indirectly funded Islamist extremist groups like Boko Haram and ISWAP through aid channels.

Nigeria’s government and civil society have been urged to rise to the challenge by countering false narratives, strengthening media literacy, and ensuring that verified information dominates the digital space.

This is no longer about careless reporting, it is a war on truth, unity, and the sovereignty of the Nigerian state.

We called on Nigerians, regardless of faith or ethnicity, to unite in defense of the country’s image and resist efforts to plunge the nation into a religious crisis built entirely on misinformation.

Fake news factories fueling religious tension in Northern Nigeria — No faith spared

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NEAZDP flags off mosquito fumigation in Yobe

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NEAZDP flags off mosquito fumigation in Yobe

By: Yahaya Wakili

In a bid to combat malaria in 9 local government areas of Yobe state. The North East Arid Zone Development Programme (NEAZDP) has flagged off a large-scale mosquito fumigation campaign in Gashua, the headquarters of Bade local government, aimed at curbing the increasing cases of malaria across the communities in the state.

Dr. Mulima Idi Mato, the Programme Manager of the North East Arid Zone Development Programme (NEAZDP), described the exercises as part of the program’s ongoing commitment to public health and rural development.

According to Dr. Mato, mosquitoes remain one of the leading causes of morbidity in the state, adding that fumigation, combined with proper hygiene and environmental management, will significantly reduce health risks.

He commended Governor Dr. Mai Mala Buni’s administration for its sustained support of NEAZDP’s integrated rural development program.

Speaking on behalf of the Chairman of the Bade local government area, Hon. Ibrahim Baba Gana, the Vice Chairman of the council commended NEAZDP for the proactive initiative, while urging the residents to cooperate with health workers and embrace clean hygiene practices to ensure sustainable malaria prevention.

The stakeholders at the event pledged their support for the program and noted that the initiative will not only protect households from malaria but also enhance productivity by reducing the burden of sickness in the rural communities.

The fumigation campaign begins in Bade and will be extended to Bursari, Geidam, Jakusko, Nguru, Machina, Yusufari, and Yunusari local government areas, and the exercises will target mosquito breeding sites, public facilities, and residential areas to reduce the menace of malaria in the affected communities.

The fumigation campaign will be monitored across all the participating local government areas to ensure effectiveness, while the health education campaigns will run simultaneously to sensitize residents on the importance of sanitation, using mosquito nets, and environmental cleanliness.

NEAZDP flags off mosquito fumigation in Yobe

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