ECOWAS, Africa Agenda Network Deepen Partnership to Showcase Regional Bloc’s 50-Year Legacy

By: Michael Mike

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening collaboration with the Africa Agenda Network (AAN) as part of efforts to document, promote and deepen public understanding of the regional bloc’s five decades of achievements and contributions to West African integration.

The renewed commitment was made on Tuesday when the President of the ECOWAS Commission, Dr. Omar Alieu Touray, received the Chief Executive Officer of the Africa Agenda Network, Ms. Muna Jallow, during a working visit to the Commission’s headquarters in Abuja.

The meeting focused on the progress of the Africa Agenda Network–ECOWAS Strategic Partnership Initiative, a three-phase programme designed to commemorate ECOWAS’ 50th anniversary while strengthening citizens’ appreciation of the organisation’s role in advancing regional cooperation.

Briefing the Commission President, Jallow said the initiative’s first phase had been successfully implemented through the ECOWAS@50 Trade, Investment and Exhibition Forum held in Lagos, Nigeria.

She disclosed that attention has now shifted to the second phase—the production of a commemorative publication documenting the history of ECOWAS over the past 50 years, highlighting its major milestones, achievements and contributions to regional integration.

According to her, the final phase of the initiative will see the production of a high-quality documentary series that will tell the ECOWAS story through the voices and experiences of citizens from across the organisation’s member states.

Responding, Touray welcomed the initiative and reaffirmed the ECOWAS Commission’s commitment to sustaining and expanding its partnership with the Africa Agenda Network.

He said the collaboration would play a vital role in increasing public awareness of ECOWAS, preserving its institutional history and projecting the organisation’s achievements and impact across West Africa and the international community.

The partnership comes as ECOWAS marks 50 years since its establishment in 1975, a period during which the regional body has played leading roles in promoting economic integration, facilitating free movement across member states, supporting democratic governance and peacekeeping efforts, and advancing regional development initiatives despite persistent political and security challenges.

The commemorative publication and documentary are expected to serve as enduring records of the bloc’s evolution while helping a new generation of West Africans better understand the relevance of regional integration to the future of the sub-region.

ECOWAS, Africa Agenda Network Deepen Partnership to Showcase Regional Bloc’s 50-Year Legacy

Netherlands Donates Equipment to Boost Nigeria Immigration’s Hostmanship Programme

By: Michael Mike

The Kingdom of the Netherlands has donated specialised equipment to the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) to strengthen its Hostmanship Unit, deepening more than two decades of bilateral cooperation aimed at improving migration management and customer service delivery.

The equipment was presented by the Repatriation and Departure Service (R&DS) of the Dutch Ministry of Justice and Security during a ceremony at the NIS Headquarters in Abuja on Monday.

Receiving the donation, the Comptroller-General of Immigration, Kemi Nandap, described the gesture as a significant milestone in the long-standing partnership between the Nigeria Immigration Service and the Netherlands, noting that it would bolster institutional professionalism and improve service delivery.

Nandap said the equipment represents a strategic investment in institutional excellence and would enhance the Hostmanship Unit’s training capacity and operational efficiency.

She explained that the initiative is designed to entrench the philosophy of hostmanship across the Service, encouraging immigration officers to ensure that members of the public are treated with courtesy, empathy and professionalism at every point of contact.

“The equipment will further strengthen our capacity to institutionalise the Hostmanship philosophy, where every officer is inspired to make people feel welcomed, respected and valued,” she said.

The Chargé d’Affaires of the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Abuja, Mr. Ronald Sonnemans, described the collaboration with the Nigeria Immigration Service as a model of sustained international partnership.

He reaffirmed the Dutch government’s commitment to supporting initiatives that enhance migration management, institutional capacity and public service delivery in Nigeria.

The Nigeria Immigration Service disclosed that the partnership has already produced tangible results, including the training of hundreds of immigration officers, the establishment of a dedicated Hostmanship Unit and sustained capacity-building programmes under the European Union-funded Capacity Building and Relationship Management (CBR) Project.

According to the Service, the latest donation underscores the commitment of both countries to strengthening migration governance through innovation, knowledge sharing and institutional reforms that enhance public confidence in immigration services.

The Service expressed appreciation to the Government of the Kingdom of the Netherlands and the Repatriation and Departure Service for their continued support, pledging to ensure the donated equipment is effectively utilised in advancing ongoing reforms.

The Nigeria Immigration Service has in recent years intensified reforms aimed at modernising border management, improving service delivery and enhancing the professionalism of its personnel. A key component of these reforms is the Hostmanship programme, a customer service philosophy developed in Sweden that focuses on creating positive service experiences by treating every individual with respect, courtesy and empathy.

The Netherlands has remained one of Nigeria’s key international partners in migration governance, supporting capacity-building initiatives through bilateral cooperation and European Union-funded programmes. The collaboration has focused on improving migration management, combating irregular migration, strengthening institutional capacity and promoting international best practices in public service delivery.

The latest donation is expected to further consolidate these reforms as the Nigeria Immigration Service seeks to build a more citizen-focused and globally competitive immigration system.

Netherlands Donates Equipment to Boost Nigeria Immigration’s Hostmanship Programme

Troops neutralised key bandit leaders, restored confidence along Gusau- Funtua highway

By Zagazola Makama

The Commander of Combat Team 7 under Operation FANSAN YAMMA, Capt. A.U. Usman, has disclosed that troops have recorded significant operational successes over the past six months, including the elimination of several notorious bandit kingpins and the restoration of security along the strategic Funtua–Tsafe–Gusau highway.

Speaking on Saturday during a visit by Defense Correspondents at the unit’s operational base in Tsafe, Zamfara State, the commander said sustained offensive operations and strategic deployment of troops at identified bandit crossing points had drastically reduced attacks on commuters and boosted public confidence.

“During the period under review, Combat Team 7 has recorded some significant successes,” Usman said.

He revealed that on Jan. 14, troops neutralised notorious bandit commanders, including Kachalla Dan Agwal and Baban Baby, alongside several of their fighters during intelligence-led operations.

“Combat Team 7 was able to neutralise the likes of Kachalla Dan Agwal, Baban Baby and many others. These successes came through carefully planned operations and the deployment of our troops to strategic locations,” he said.

According to the commander, the unit established numerous pickets along the Funtua–Tsafe–Gusau road, particularly at known bandit crossing points frequently used to ambush travellers.

“If you are driving along the Katsina–Funtua–Tsafe–Gusau road today, you will notice several military pickets. Those soldiers are strategically deployed at identified bandit crossing routes,” he explained.

He noted that the deployment had significantly curtailed the activities of armed groups that previously terrorised motorists through kidnappings and violent attacks.

“These bandits were the ones repeatedly disturbing this road. Before now, commuters could not move freely the way they do today. They stopped vehicles, abducted passengers and created fear among the people,” he said.

“Today, because of the strategic deployment of troops and the equipment made available to us, civilians are moving freely without fear. The picketing has restored confidence among road users.”

Capt. Usman further disclosed that another major breakthrough was recorded on Feb. 15 when troops neutralised additional notorious bandits, including Yunusa Dogon Ahmad, during sustained clearance operations along the same corridor.

“On Feb. 15, we were able to neutralise Yunusa Dogon Ahmad and some other key bandits who had been terrorising this route,” he said.

Beyond securing highways, the commander said the military had also created a safer environment for farming activities across communities within its Area of Responsibility (AOR).

According to him, Combat Team 7 currently operates from about 13 operational locations, including Lilo, Mada, Wanzamai, Keta, FOB Railway, Gidan Giye, Keware and several blocking positions established to deny criminals freedom of movement.

“Our troops conduct daily foot patrols from these locations into surrounding farmlands and communities to ensure that farmers carry out their activities without interference from criminal elements,” he said.

“The same pattern is replicated across our entire Area of Responsibility. Whether in Mada, Wanzamai or other locations, our troops are constantly patrolling to provide security for farmers.”

The commander acknowledged that improvised explosive devices (IEDs) remained one of the challenges confronting troops during operations, especially on rural access routes.

“There are places where movement is still affected because of the threat of IEDs,” he said.

“However, with support from the theatre headquarters, Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) teams have now been deployed, and we no longer move on roads without conducting proper scanning to detect possible IED threats.”

On civil-military relations, Capt. Usman described cooperation from residents as encouraging but said more support was needed to deny criminals access to information.

“The locals are cooperating to some extent, but there is still room for improvement,” he said.

“Without informants, terrorists cannot operate effectively. Unfortunately, there are still a few bad elements within some communities who pass information about our movements and activities to the criminals.”

Despite the challenge, he commended the majority of residents for their support and expressed confidence that stronger collaboration between security forces and communities would further weaken the activities of bandits across the region.

The commander reaffirmed the commitment of Combat Team 7 and Operation FANSAN YAMMA to sustaining offensive operations and ensuring that communities, farmers and travellers continue to enjoy improved security across Zamfara and adjoining areas.

Troops neutralised key bandit leaders, restored confidence along Gusau- Funtua highway