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Nigerien Government Fails Attempt to Stop Sanction Imposed By ECOWAS Head of Governments

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Nigerien Government Fails Attempt to Stop Sanction Imposed By ECOWAS Head of Governments

…As ECOWAS Court Throw Out Case

By: Michael Mike

The ECOWAS Court of Justice has thrown out the request of the Republic of Niger for the Court to suspend sanctions imposed by the Economic Community of West African States Authority of Heads of State and Government following the overthrowing of a democratically elected government.

The request for interim measures is part of a broader case brought by the Republic of Niger and seven other applicants challenging the legality of sanctions imposed by ECOWAS following a military coup in the West African country in July 2023 that overthrew the government of President Mohammed Bazoum.

In the ruling delivered on Thursday by Justice Edward Amoako Asante, the Court acknowledged that it has prima facie jurisdiction over the substantive application.

However, the Court ruled that it could not grant the request for interim measures since the additional requirement for the case to be prima facie admissible had not been met.

The Court explained that the Republic of Niger, as currently controlled by the military junta, lacked prima facie capacity before the Court, making the substantive application prima facie inadmissible. The substantive application was also held to be prima facie inadmissible in respect of the rest of the applicants within the meaning of Articles 9(2) and 10(c) of the Protocol of the Court.

At the hearing held on 21 November, 2023 the Applicants represented by their lawyers Mr Moukaila Yaye and five others argued that the sanctions imposed by the Authority of Heads of State and Government of ECOWAS have had adverse effect on the Nigerien people including shortage of food, medicine and electricity, due to the closure of borders and suspension of electricity supply by Nigeria.

They asked the Court for interim orders that will compel the Authority of Heads of State and Government to immediately suspend the sanctions.

They said that ECOWAS overreacted by imposing the sanctions and that Niger was unequally and unfairly treated compared to three other ECOWAS member states (Mali, Burkina Faso and Guinea) that have experienced coup d’états in recent years.

Mr François Kanga-Penond, who represented the ECOWAS Authority and other respondents in the case told the Court that the Republic of Niger is currently controlled by a military junta which seized power unconstitutionally in violation of ECOWAS legal instruments.

He argued that since such an unconstitutional government which had been denounced by ECOWAS and the international community could not be legally deemed to represent the country, both the substantive application and request for provisional measures were inadmissible. He therefore urged the Court to decline the request for interim measures.

In the substantive application, the applicants -the Republic of Niger, six Nigerien organisations and a Nigerien national –asked the Court to declare the measures taken by the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government of ECOWAS during its extraordinary sessions of 30 July and 10 August 2023, to restore constitutional order in the Republic of Niger illegal. They requested the Court to nullify all decisions of these ECOWAS organs imposing sanctions, including the decision to resort to military intervention in the Republic of Niger.

In its ruling, the Court held the view that an entity resulting from an unconstitutional change of government, and not acknowledged by ECOWAS as a government of a member state, inherently lacks the capacity to initiate a case before the court with the aim of obtaining benefits or reprieve.

Consequently, the substantive suit and the request for interim measures presented in the name of Niger, by an unconstitutional and unrecognized governmental authority, were prima facie inadmissible.

Concerning the seven non-state applicants suing alongside the Republic of Niger, the Court held that they failed to provide specific details regarding the nature and extent of the harm suffered by each of them from the measures imposed on Niger. This lack of specificity made it challenging to differentiate their legal interests in this case from those of the Republic of Niger.

The Court stated that given these circumstances, the application was prima facie inadmissible relative to the non-state applicants as per the provisions of Articles 9(2) and 10(c) of the Protocol of the Court.
Having concluded that the substantive application before the Court was prima facie inadmissible, the Court held that the request for interim measures could not be granted. It accordingly dismissed it.

The panel of judges who delivered the ruling were Justice Edward Amoako Asante, President of the Court and judge rapporteur for the case, and Honourable Justices Gbéri-bè Ouattara and Dupe Atoki.

Nigerien Government Fails Attempt to Stop Sanction Imposed By ECOWAS Head of Governments

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New Solar farm in FUL is ultimate solution to energy crisis in school campus – Prof Akinwumi

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New Solar farm in FUL is ultimate solution to energy crisis in school campus – Prof Akinwumi

By our reporter

The Vice Chancellor Federal University Lokoja (FUL) Prof Olayemi Akinwumi has described the African Development Bank (ADB) Solar Panel farm project built at the university as a permanent solution to energy crisis in the school campus.

Prof Akinwumi made this known during a project inspection tour which was part of activities lined up for the 9th Convocation of the university scheduled for Saturday this week.

According to the VC, FUL had embarked on a major project constructing a 1.72 Megawatt Solar Hybrid Project worth $200 million as a way of cushioning it’s electricity needs.

“The project, assisted by the African Development Bank (AfDB) and World Bank under the Energising Education programme, is a significant step towards sustainable energy.

“The Solar Panel farm itself is a solution to the energy requirements of the institution that will certainly put an end to energy needs at our campuses and hostels.

The VC who took journalists on tour of project sites after the pre-convocation press conference noted that the landmark project is a testament to the university’s commitment to environmental responsibility and operational self-reliance.

He said, “the 1.72 Megawatt solar power system, will enable the university to generate surplus electricity and achieve energy self-sufficiency, and benefit students and staff for generations to come.

“The solar power project is part of the University’s efforts to promote innovation and sustainability. The project will not only reduce the University’s reliance on public electricity but also provide a clean and renewable source of energy.

Speaking at the site of the multi-millions naira project during a media facility tour, Consultant of the project Engineer Ahmed, said the project which started two years ago is almost completed.

He hinted that the project consists of a workshop and training centre which will be used to train students in renewed energy technology.

Engineer Ahmed assured that the 1.7 megawatts solar farm will diffidently power the entire Felele campus of the University.

“We are training staff of the University who will take over the routine maintenance of the project so that it will serve the institution better” he said.

New Solar farm in FUL is ultimate solution to energy crisis in school campus – Prof Akinwumi

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Aisha Babangida, FIRS boss, Shagaya, others to headline WenA’s 5th Annual Conference on Tax Reforms, Cost Reduction for SME Growth

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Aisha Babangida, FIRS boss, Shagaya, others to headline WenA’s 5th Annual Conference on Tax Reforms, Cost Reduction for SME Growth

By: Michael Mike

Top policy influencers, business leaders, development partners, and women entrepreneurs from across Nigeria will gathered in Abuja as the Women Enterprise Alliance (WenA) is set to host its 5th Annual Conference

The conference, with the theme “Translating Policy into Practice: Cost-Reduction and Tax Reforms for Sustainable SME Growth,” is scheduled for Thursday, 16th October 2025, at the Diamond Hall, A-Class Event Centre, Wuse II, Abuja.

This year’s edition underscores WenA’s commitment to empowering Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), particularly women-led businesses, by addressing critical barriers such as high operational costs and complex tax regimes.

The event will feature key policy discussions, expert panels, and collaborative sessions designed to translate government policies into actionable strategies for sustainable business growth.

At the centre of this initiative is Her Excellency Aisha Babangida, Founder of WenA, whose leadership and advocacy for women’s economic empowerment have positioned her as a reference point in Nigeria’s entrepreneurial space.

Speaking ahead of the conference, Ms Babangida stated, “At WenA, we believe that empowering SMEs, especially women-led enterprises, means empowering Nigeria’s future.

“This conference is not just a gathering; it is a call to action for stakeholders across sectors to translate policy into tangible, impactful change.”

Among the confirmed speakers are Ms Chayla Shagaya, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Entrepreneurship, who will deliver a keynote address on scaling SMEs through cost-reduction reforms, and the Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), who is expected to present critical fiscal reforms aimed at creating a more supportive tax environment for SMEs.

The conference will also feature a strategic policy roadmap presentation developed by WenA in partnership with UN Women. This document outlines practical recommendations to address the pressing challenges facing SMEs, particularly in taxation and regulatory compliance.

A high-level panel discussion will include insights from Dr Fausat Aleshinloye, Economist and Policy Analyst; Ifeoma Malo, CEO of Clean Tech Hub; Mrs Nnenna Jacob-Ogogo of SheVentures (FCMB); and representatives from Nigeria’s energy sector. The conversation will be moderated by Dr Dahiru Sani.

A dedicated session will focus on simplifying Nigeria’s tax regime, with emphasis on harmonisation, ease of compliance, and improved transparency to reduce the burden on small businesses. Participants will also benefit from extensive networking opportunities, with stakeholders from government, finance, energy, and development sectors expected to attend.

As part of recognising excellence in the SME ecosystem, the conference will celebrate standout entrepreneurs and initiatives. Awards will include the prestigious “Most Scalable Business in North-Central Nigeria” and certificates of excellence for innovation and community impact.

Aisha Babangida, FIRS boss, Shagaya, others to headline WenA’s 5th Annual Conference on Tax Reforms, Cost Reduction for SME Growth

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GIZ Launches Peacecore Project in Taraba,Trains Thirty Journalists on Conflict-Sensitive Reporting

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GIZ Launches Peacecore Project in Taraba,Trains Thirty Journalists on Conflict-Sensitive Reporting

By: Michael Mike

The German Development Cooperation (GIZ) has launched a new initiative, “PeaceCORE,” in Taraba State as part of
strategic effort to foster peacebuilding and strengthen conflict-sensitive journalism in some states in the North.

The programme aims to equip media professionals with the tools and knowledge to promote peaceful coexistence in conflict-prone communities.

The PeaceCORE project, formally titled “Strengthening Capacities for Conflict Transformation and Livelihood for Groups in Vulnerable Situations in Nigeria’s Central Zone,” is being implemented in Taraba, Kaduna, and Plateau states, and focuses on enhancing the capacity of government and civil society actors to manage conflict through sustainable dialogue, accurate information dissemination, and inclusive engagement.

As part of the initiative, GIZ hosted an intensive three-day training from October 6 to October 8, 2025, in Jalingo, bringing together 30 journalists from radio, television, print, and digital media platforms.

The training emphasized responsible and ethical reporting in times of conflict, and provided participants with hands-on experience using fact-checking tools while addressing the growing challenges of misinformation, disinformation, and malinformation in Nigeria’s volatile media landscape.

Facilitators at the workshop include: Silas Jonathan from the Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development (CJID) in Nigeria; Jérôme William Bationo, a conflict media specialist with MiCT in Germany; and Oluwole Oladipo Olurishe, a media development expert with GIZ.

The trio delivered sessions that blended theoretical frameworks with practical tools to enhance journalistic objectivity and sensitivity in reporting conflicts.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, the Chairman of the Taraba State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Mr. Mathew Eliud Jen, commended GIZ for its commitment to sustainable peace through media engagement. He urged participants to apply the knowledge gained to drive narratives that promote unity and discourage incitement.

“This training is a timely intervention. As journalists, we have the power to shape public perception. Let’s use our platforms to build peace, not stoke division,” Jen emphasized.

The PeaceCORE project is expected to roll out a series of media-for-peace initiatives across the state in the coming months, reinforcing GIZ’s broader objective of stabilizing conflict-affected regions through inclusive communication strategies and livelihood support.

With increasing political, ethnic, and resource-based tensions in parts of the country, stakeholders believe empowering thev media with conflict transformation tools is a crucial step toward lasting peace and sustainable development in Nigeria.

GIZ Launches Peacecore Project in Taraba,Trains Thirty Journalists on Conflict-Sensitive Reporting

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