Nigeria Endorses China’s Global Governance Initiative

By: Michael Mike

The Federal Republic of Nigeria has formally endorsed the Global Governance Initiative (GGI) launched by President Xi Jinping of the People’s Republic of China.

The endorsement was conveyed by the Director General of the Nigeria–China Strategic Partnership (NCSP), Mr. Joseph Tegbe, on behalf of President Bola Tinubu, and the Government of Nigeria.

Speaking in Abuja, Mr. Tegbe described the Global Governance Initiative as a framework that speaks directly to the aspirations of nations seeking fairness, inclusivity, and shared progress in the international system.

He stressed that the vision of the GGI aligns closely with President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which is anchored on economic revitalization, social inclusion, and global engagement.

Mr. Tegbe further noted that the GGI’s emphasis on sovereign equality, international rule of law, and multilateralism resonates strongly with Nigeria’s foreign policy priorities. He highlighted Nigeria’s leadership role in Africa’s long-standing call for permanent representation on the United Nations Security Council, reaffirmed the country’s contributions to peacekeeping and transparent dispute resolution across West Africa, and underscored Nigeria’s tradition of advancing collective action through ECOWAS, the African Union, and the United Nations.

Beyond principles, he explained that the initiative’s focus on practical cooperation creates tangible opportunities for Nigeria. With infrastructure, energy, and industrial corridors identified as critical drivers of growth, and with the National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy targeting broadband expansion, fintech innovation, and youth empowerment, the GGI provides a valuable platform for mobilizing resources and accelerating national development goals.

“The Global Governance Initiative is more than a vision, it is a call to action,” Tegbe stated. “Nigeria stands ready to work with China and other partners to translate this initiative into tangible progress for our citizens, for Africa, and for the world.”

Nigeria Endorses China’s Global Governance Initiative

AT UNGA 80: President Tinubu: Africa Must Begin To Finance Its Mineral Assets, Wield Power In Global Supply

** Pledges Nigeria’s commitment towards catalysing mineral-led renaissance under Renewed Hope Agenda

By: Our Reporter

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, has called for a complete overhaul of the global financial architecture governing Africa’s mineral resources, saying it was time for African nations to not only finance their own mineral sectors but also assert their influence and control over African products’ global supply chains.

This, the President stated, had become necessary if African nations’ sovereignty is to be protected, just as he recommended collective action by development allies and partners, to bring Africa’s mineral economy to reality for the benefit of the continent.

President Tinubu, represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima, called for these decisive actions at the Second Africa Minerals Strategy Group (AMSG) High-Level Roundtable on Critical Minerals Development in Africa, held on the margins of the 80th Session of the United Nations General Assembly, New York City.

“We must take the bull by the horns in financing our future. Never again shall we wait for capital to trickle in. With sovereign funds, blended vehicles, and innovation tools like the Africa Mineral Token, Africa shall finance Africa. To safeguard this sovereignty, we must guard our cobalt, lithium, graphite, gold, and rare earths not as fragmented states but as one continental bloc, wielding collective power in global supply chains,” the President submitted.

Pledging Nigeria’s commitment towards catalysing a mineral-led renaissance under the Renewed Hope Agenda, as exemplified back home, President Tinubu urged African leaders to end the “ignoble cycle” of importing finished goods through accelerated government-led mineral exploration.

To unlock Africa’s mineral economic future, the President said the objective will materialise based on four imperatives.

First, Tinubu urged African nations to climb the value chain, adding, “We must end the ignoble cycle of exporting rocks and importing finished goods. From beneficiation to green manufacturing, Africa must build industries on African soil.”

The President continued, “Second, I am proud to announce that with the African Minerals and Energy Resource Classification (AMREC) and the Pan-African Resource Reporting Code (PARC), we will no longer beg for geological knowledge of our own land. Africa’s data will be mapped, standardised, and owned by Africans.

“Third, data alone is not enough. We must accelerate government-led mineral exploration and national geological mapping.

“Without exploration, there is no sovereignty. Without mapping, there is no value. Every member state must prioritise country-wide surveys, strengthen geological agencies, and pool expertise through AMSG. For when Africa owns the map, Africa owns the future.”

Fourthly, President Tinubu urged African leaders to take the bull by the horns in financing Africa’s future. “With sovereign funds, blended vehicles, and innovative tools like the Africa Mineral Token, Africa shall finance Africa,” the President maintained.

The President demanded a collective demonstration of leadership while calling upon sovereign wealth funds, private partners, and development allies to join Africa in rewriting the story of Africa’s mineral economy.

“Nigeria, Uganda, Zimbabwe, Burkina Faso, Mali, Botswana, Gabon, and Ghana are already leading this new age of equal exchange, enforcing bans on the export of raw minerals to promote domestic beneficiation. Zimbabwe’s ban on raw lithium in 2022, Gabon’s decision to end manganese exports by 2029, and Kenya’s plan to restrict raw gold exports are historic acts of courage. Nigeria is accelerating similar reforms, for we know this is the road to jobs, to industries, and to prosperity,” the President said.

The President commended Nigeria’s Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr Dele Alake, who chairs the event, and the Secretary-General, H.E. Moses Michael Engadu of Uganda, for guiding Africa towards a path of productivity and pride.

The President concluded, “As Chair of this Roundtable, I pledge Nigeria’s unflinching commitment to ensuring that AMSG fulfils its promise of catalysing a mineral-led renaissance. Let us rise from this dialogue with a communiqué of clarity, a framework for action, and a spirit of unity.”

Earlier, Dr. Dele Alake while welcoming stakeholders and partners to the event called for cohesion amongst African nations saying with determined focus and a reinvigorated sense of partnership and transparency in the minerals sector, Africa will harness in all ramifications the total benefits of a sustained, deepened and well harmonised mineral sector, adding that, “these resources are indispensable for global sustainable development and remain catalyst for Africa’s rapid industrialisation”.

Speaking at the event, UN Assistant Secretary General and Regional Director, Africa UNDP, Ahunna Eziakonwa, urged African leaders to be cautious in terms of how they position themselves to make the most of the African resources for the people, rather than to be subjected to extreme exploitation, which is already happening, and being extracted without appropriate value.

She also emphasised the need for leaders in the continent to ensure partnership that delivers technology transfer, beneficiation, and creates jobs, saying ” there is a scramble and a lot of interest in Africa’s minerals, people are coming to partner, Africa can shape the quantum of that partnership and determine what works from the partnership.

Also, Mr Jozef Stkela, European Union Commissioner for International Partnership, said in the last few years, the European Union structured its approach, boosted, and secured its supply of critical raw materials.

He said that the EU adopted the Critical Raw Materials Act in 2024, to increase domestic production and diversify supply outside the European Union, saying “under this Act and our global gateways strategy, we have signed 14 strategic partnerships with the raw materials value chain of which four are in Africa.”

IN RELATED DEVELOPMENT

Meanwhile, Vice President Shettima has also held a roundtable hosted by the Business Council for International Understanding (BCIU) in partnership with the Flour Mills of Nigeria and other conglomerates, where he spoke about the investment opportunities in Nigeria and the ongoing economic reforms of President Tinubu’s administration.

The Vice President told investors that in President Tinubu, they have an ally, a friend, a colleague who grew up in the American ecosystem, who speaks their language and the language of business.

He said the Nigerian economy, given the super reforms of the President, had turned the corner and hence the mirific turnaround and positive figures cum stability, the Nigerian economy is experiencing. He charged investors to invest in the country as there had never been a time like now to invest in Nigeria, given the enabling environment and the ease of doing business now in Nigeria.

Similarly, VP Shettima held a bilateral meeting with the Chancellor of the Republic of Austria, Christian Stocker, at the UN Headquarters in New York, where both countries agreed to forge new ties and explore new ways of deepening their relationships.

AT UNGA 80: President Tinubu: Africa Must Begin To Finance Its Mineral Assets, Wield Power In Global Supply

Niger accuses France of arming terrorists with weapons, drones to destabilise Sahel, Lake Chad

By: Zagazola Makama

Niger’s military leader, President Abdourahmane Tchiani, has accused France of supplying weapons and supporting terrorist groups to destabilise the Sahel and Lake Chad Basin countries.

Speaking in Niamey during the weekend Chat on Niger’s National Television, Tchiani alleged that France, with the backing of Western allies, was fuelling insecurity to weaken the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) comprising Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso.

According to him, France has allegedly armed ISWAP to sustain instability in Nigeria, Niger, Mali, Burkina Faso and Chad.

He also accused President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of hub nosing with French President Macron.

He claimed that France was using the groups to prevent the AES from consolidating its sovereignty after expelling French troops and asserting control over national resources.

“France and its partners are doing everything possible to remain in Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso. They want one of our countries to fall so that they can re-enter through the back door,” Tchiani said.

He further alleged that France, alongside the United States, had provided drones and sophisticated weapons to terrorists operating in the Lake Chad Basin.

“In January this year, they initially deployed 150 Boko Haram fighters to occupy positions left Benin, after deadly attack by Jama’a Nusrat ul-Islam wa al-Muslimin (JNIM), in April 17, 2025, near the country’s northern borders with Burkina Faso and Niger – regions that left 70 Beninese soldiers killed. later, they increased the number of ISWAP fighters to 200, and most recently 250, to launch attacks on Niger and destabilise the wider region. France supplied these groups with arms and stationed them at Udullibi along our porous borders,” he added.

Tchiani recalled that Nigerien and Chadian troops had previously played a critical role in Nigeria’s counter-terrorism campaign, including major operations against ISWAP in Borno State.

He said Generals Muhammadu Toumba of Niger and another senior commander from Chad had led forces that cleared areas from Damasak up to Malam Fatori more than 100 kilometres.

“Relative peace in the region at that time was due to the joint sacrifices of Nigerien and Chadian soldiers, many of whom laid down their lives. But now, France and its partners have shifted the war to our soil because they see our unity in AES as a threat,” he said.

The Nigerien leader also accused France of exploiting uranium, gold and even water resources from Niger for decades while leaving the people in poverty.

He insisted that the AES, formed on Sept. 16, 2024, had empowered its members in security, diplomacy and the economy, and that the bloc was determined to resist foreign interference.

“France fears our success because it will end its exploitation of our natural wealth. That is why they are arming terrorists, shifting the battlefield, and using propaganda to weaken our resolve,” Tchiani declared.

He urged the people of Niger and neighbouring Sahel states to remain vigilant and united, stressing that only collective resistance could ensure lasting peace and sovereignty.

France has not yet formally responded to the latest allegations, but Western governments have consistently denied supporting terrorist groups in the Sahel.

Niger accuses France of arming terrorists with weapons, drones to destabilise Sahel, Lake Chad