News
Nigeria, Seven Other Countries Get $1.96 million from ECOWAS to Tackle VVF
Nigeria, Seven Other Countries Get $1.96 million from ECOWAS to Tackle VVF
By: Michael Mike
Nigeria and seven other member countries of Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) have received $1.96 million from the ECOWAS Gender Development Centre to tackle cases of fistula disorder (Vesicovaginal fistula).
All the eight countries got $245,000 each. The other countries are Togo, Benin, Guinea Bissau, Ghana, Cote D’Ivoire, Gambia, and Liberia.
The presentation of cheques to the beneficiaries were one of the highlights at the 91st Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Council of Ministers held in Abuja.
Speaking at the event, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Chairman ECOWAS Council of Ministers, Amb. Yusuf Tuggar revealed that the Council would deliberate on the Community budget for the 2024 fiscal year while lamenting the current economic challenges affecting the region’s Gross Domestic Product and revenue generation.
The Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs noted that: “We must be mindful of the prevailing economic and financial challenges confronting our sub-region, such as inflation, high food prices, and currency devaluation, which have adversely affected our economies.”
He lamented that: “These challenges have impacted on our gross domestic product, revenue generation, and in particular our mobilization of the Community Levy, due to devaluation of some of our major currencies, particularly Cedi and Naira
against the US Dollar.”
Tuggar urged Council Ministers to support the recommendations of the Administration and Finance Committee on enhancing prudence, as well as the efforts of the President of the Commission and other Heads of the Institutions on blocking leakages to ensure judicious use of the meagre resources.
Also, the President of the ECOWAS Commission, Omar Touray, decried that member states under sanctions have stopped remitting levies, adding that ECOWAS need enough financial resources to tackle the challenges bedeviling the region.
Touray said: “For some time now, the levy collection has been a challenge. The amount of 0.5% ECOWAS levy on imports from outside the Community has been collected by member states on behalf of ECOWAS.
“However, the deposit of these funds into the ECOWAS bank accounts at the country level and access to the funds have been a challenge. This has led to low resource mobilization.
“The situation is more critical now that our member states under sanctions have stopped remitting the levy. As the financial situation gets more difficult, the tasks for ECOWAS are growing.”
He however urged the Council of Ministers to “mobilise the levy fully to be able to implement our community work programme and keep up with the successes of ECOWAS.”
Nigeria, Seven Other Countries Get $1.96 million from ECOWAS to Tackle VVF
Troops restore calm after communal clash in Nasarawa
By: Zagazola Makama
Troops of 177 Guards Battalion have restored order following a communal clash in Aso Pada Riverside Community, Karu Local Government Area of Nasarawa State.
Security sources said that at about 9:00 a.m. on March 25, troops deployed at Gurku Patrol Base responded to reports of violence in the community.
On arrival, they discovered that some houses and properties had been set ablaze by youths of Fulani extraction.
Investigations revealed that the incident began when a vigilante from the community shot a Fulani youth with a dane gun over a dispute, claiming the youth’s cow had eaten his mango. Two other Fulani youths were also shot dead, triggering reprisal attacks that led to the deaths of two additional individuals and injuries to five others.
The corpses and injured victims were evacuated to a hospital for medical attention, while the vigilante is currently in police custody. Troops maintained a dominating presence in the area, calming the situation and restoring normalcy.
Authorities said efforts are ongoing to convene an expanded meeting with both parties to qfurther investigate the clash and apprehend other perpetrators.
Troops restore calm after communal clash in Nasarawa
Troops conduct offensive, recover arms in Zamfara
By: Zagazola Makama
Troops of 1 Brigade, Operation FANSAN YANMA in coordination with troops of Sector 2, have carried out an offensive operation to clear a terrorist group from Dutsi village in Moriki District, Zurmi Local Government Area of Zamfara State.
Security sources said that at about 2:15 p.m. on March 25, troops engaged the terrorists in the village, forcing them to flee.
During exploitation of the area, troops recovered one AK-47 rifle, one magazine, and 26 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition.
The operation was subsequently extended to Gandu village within the same district, where troops engaged fleeing terrorist positions on high ground, compelling them to withdraw.
Troops maintained aggressive posture to deny terrorists freedom of action and continue patrols to ensure the security of communities in the area.
Troops conduct offensive, recover arms in Zamfara
Troops respond irrigation farms destroyed in Rinyan, Riyom LGA, Plateau
By: Zagazola Makama
Troops of Operation Enduring Peace (OPEP) have responded to the destruction of irrigation farms at Rinyan village in Riyom Local Government Area.
Security sources said that at about 8:30 a.m. on March 25, troops of Sector 6 reacted to a report of the destruction of farms belonging to Mr.
David Samuel Dada and six other farmers. On arrival, troops observed that cabbage and pepper crops had been completely destroyed by unidentified persons.
Efforts are ongoing to apprehend the perpetrators, the sources added.
Troops respond irrigation farms destroyed in Rinyan, Riyom LGA, Plateau
Troops restore calm after communal clash in Nasarawa
Troops conduct offensive, recover arms in Zamfara
Troops trail kidnappers, warn locals in Sokoto against complicity
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