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West Africa is Facing Hard Times, Finding it Difficult to Cope with Effects of Population Growth- ECOWAS

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West Africa is Facing Hard Times, Finding it Difficult to Cope with Effects of Population Growth- ECOWAS

By: Michael Mike

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has lamented that member states are currently facing hard times as they are finding it difficult to cope with population growth and subsequent demand for housing, transportation, basic services, food, jobs, and urban livelihood.

Speaking at the Stakeholders’ Consultation Workshop on ECOWAS Regional Resilience Strategy for West Africa in Abuja on Tuesday, the ECOWAS Commissioner on Human Rights and Social Affairs, Prof. Fatou Sow Sarr said: “The current realities of rapid population growth in West Africa with women and children being worst victims contribute to increased demand for housing, transportation, basic services, food, jobs, and urban livelihood opportunities among others. These issues further strain the coping capacity of the region as Member States struggle to recover from these challenges.”

He said the workshop, holding in Abuja for three days, marks a significant milestone in our collective efforts to strengthen regional stability, peace, and development in West Africa, noting that the overall objective of the workshop is to bring together key technical stakeholders to deliberate on the development of a comprehensive Regional Resilience Strategy that will enhance our collective capacity to address the complex challenges facing our region.

He added that: “This forum which is to enhance promoting transparent communication and collaboration, will certainly foster resilience and sustainable development across our region.”

He decried that: “West Africa, with an estimated population of 446,452,019 equivalent to 5.47% of the total world population is faced with a magnitude of vulnerability and exposure to hazards and losses from disasters expected to increase over the next decade. The impact of climate change which is expected to result in more extreme weather situations such as heavy rains leading to devastating floods and drought in West Africa remain some of the most severe disasters in West Africa.
Further to the natural disasters, our region is currently facing some of the world’s most complex challenges including conflict and violence, terrorism, extreme poverty, weak governance, high food insecurity leading to malnutrition.

“Also, the region suffers from forced human displacement of different kinds, outbreaks of epidemics including cholera, Ebola virus disease and COVID-19. Vulnerability is due to the high level of poverty and high dependence on climate change sensitive sectors such as agriculture, fisheries, mining, and forestry leading to substantial economic losses, damage to agricultural lands, infrastructures as well as human casualties.”

He said despite the development of some policies and strategies to address the issues, the region continues to witness increasing disasters which have grossly affected key sectors of the economy thereby directly affecting population and livelihoods.

He said some of the strategies emplaced to build Good Governance; Peace and Security; Macroeconomic resilience; Equitable access to basic services; (Sustainable livelihood; Gender Sensitivity and Social Inclusion; and Climate Change and Disaster Risk Reduction.

On her part, the Resident Representative of United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Nigeria, Ms. Elsie Attafuah, said West African region is undergoing significant demographic, social, economic, environmental, and political transformations, noting that the population of the region is expected to exceed 900 million by 2050, with over 64% under 25 years old.

She insisted that: “These demographic changes have a bearing on the effectiveness of our current policies, resource allocation decisions, and development trajectory, demanding innovative approaches to address the needs of our youthful population.
Despite abundant natural resources, their sustainable exploitation and equitable distribution of the benefits to communities remain a challenge. While West Africa contributes to only 1.8% of global greenhouse gas emissions, the region faces rising temperatures and extreme weather events, the impacts of which are exacerbated by inadequate development and governance, peace, and security related challenges.

Attafuah, who was represented by Deputy Resident Representative Nigeria, Mr. Blessed Chirimuta, said: “We are confident in the resilience and unwavering determination of the people of West Africa to overcome these challenges to build a better future for all, through collaborative efforts and innovative solutions.”

The Director General of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Mustapha Ahmed said the workshop whose outcome is expected to provide the foundation for resilient building is very timely considering the prevailing regional and global crises, insisting that “the workshop comes at a time, economic downturn has impacted the entire world with adverse socio-economic outcomes. Countries of the West African subregion are amongst the worst hit; hence there is no better time than now to develop a resilience strategy that will help them cope with the externalities and foster sustainable devclopment.”

Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen, you may recall that the geography, demographic and political dynamics of West Africa have predisposed the sub region to complex nature and human induced disaster and emergency situations, ECOWAS countries have experienced scries of disasters, crises and conflict that have posed threats to normal life, the means of livelihood of the people and sustainable economic growth and development.

He noted that the predominant disaster risk profile of West Africa has significantly posed a threat to region’s efforts in meeting crucial global and continental initiatives including the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 2030; the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction (SFDRR) 2015-2030; and the African Agenda 2060, with the other initiatives impacted include the African Union Program of Action (AUC-PoA) and the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA) treaty.

West Africa is Facing Hard Times, Finding it Difficult to Cope with Effects of Population Growth- ECOWAS

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Yobe to establish an institute for biomedical engineering.

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Yobe to establish an institute for biomedical engineering.

By: Yahaya Wakili

Governor Mai Mala Buni CON of Yobe State has approved the commencement of processes for the establishment of the Yobe Institute of Biomedical Engineering Technology (YIBET).

Governor Buni also approved the constitution of a steering committee to drive the planning and establishment of the institute, considering the growing global demand for highly skilled professionals in biomedical and clinical engineering.

Buni gave the approval in a statement signed by the acting secretary to the state government, Dr. Mohammed Goje, in Damaturu.

“When established, YIBET is expected to serve as a premier institution for training, innovation, and capacity development in Biomedical and Clinical Engineering Technology (BCET). ” the statement further added.

The statement also revealed that the institute will equip young Nigerians with globally relevant technical skills while positioning Yobe State as a leading hub for producing the skilled workforce required by Nigeria and the wider West African subregion.

Therefore, the establishment of YIBET is another milestone in Governor Buni’s transformational agenda of investing in education and healthcare systems, creating opportunities for young people, and laying the foundation for a knowledge-driven economy.

The steering committee has Professor Mohammed Bello Kawuwa, Yobe State Commissioner for Higher Education, as chairman.

Yobe to establish an institute for biomedical engineering.

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Tegbe Brokers Truce Between NERC, States, Orders 4-Week Roadmap for Power Reform

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Tegbe Brokers Truce Between NERC, States, Orders 4-Week Roadmap for Power Reform

By: Michael Mike

The Federal Government has moved to avert a looming regulatory crisis in Nigeria’s electricity sector as the Minister of Power, Joseph Tegbe, brokered a fresh framework for cooperation between the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) and State Electricity Regulatory Commissions (SERCs).

The breakthrough came at a high-level stakeholder engagement convened by the Minister to resolve emerging tensions over regulatory jurisdiction and overlaps following the implementation of the Electricity Act, 2023, which ushered Nigeria into a decentralised and multi-market electricity regime.

The meeting, which brought together key stakeholders across the power sector, also produced a major political and legislative concession, with the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Power, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, agreeing to defer the ongoing legislative process seeking to amend the Electricity Act to allow for wider consultation and consensus-building.

The development is seen as a significant step towards preventing institutional rivalry from undermining one of the most far-reaching reforms in Nigeria’s power sector in decades.

Participants at the engagement included representatives of the National Assembly, the Special Adviser to the President on Power, the Director-General of the Bureau of Public Enterprises, representatives of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, heads of federal power sector agencies, state commissioners for energy and heads of State Electricity Regulatory Commissions.

The stakeholders deliberated extensively on the emerging challenges associated with the transition to a decentralised electricity market, including regulatory overlaps, tariff administration, institutional capacity, consumer protection and the need for clearer coordination between federal and state authorities.

Tegbe, who described the ongoing transition as one of the most significant reforms in Nigeria’s electricity sector in decades, said the success of the new multi-market framework would depend on collaboration and coordination rather than institutional competition.

He said the Federal Ministry of Power was committed to working with all relevant stakeholders to provide regulatory certainty, unlock investments and improve electricity supply and service delivery across the country.

The Minister stressed that while implementation challenges were inevitable in a reform of such magnitude, they must be addressed collectively without compromising regulatory standards, service quality or the protection of electricity consumers.

A major outcome of the meeting was the establishment of a nine-member inter-agency committee to coordinate the implementation of the Electricity Act and address emerging challenges in the transition to the new electricity market structure.

The committee, to be chaired by the Minister of Power, will include representatives of NERC, State Electricity Regulatory Commissions, the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, the Bureau of Public Enterprises and other relevant institutions.

It has been given four weeks to drive continuous engagement among stakeholders, identify and resolve implementation bottlenecks and recommend practical measures for the seamless operationalisation of the Electricity Act, 2023.

The decision by the Senate Committee on Power to defer the proposed amendment of the Act followed extensive deliberations at the workshop, with stakeholders agreeing that further consultation was necessary to build consensus and prevent legislative changes from creating fresh uncertainties in the sector.

Abaribe’s decision to suspend the legislative process temporarily was welcomed as a major outcome of the engagement, providing room for federal and state institutions, regulators, industry operators and other stakeholders to address areas of disagreement before further legislative action.

The stakeholders reaffirmed their commitment to supporting the power sector reforms being implemented under the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, stressing that the success of the decentralised electricity market would require sustained cooperation across all levels of government.

The Federal Government said the new coordination mechanism would strengthen institutional collaboration as Nigeria seeks to build a modern, reliable, competitive and investor-friendly electricity market.

The development also signals a renewed effort by the Ministry of Power to ensure that the implementation of the Electricity Act does not become a source of conflict between federal and state institutions, but instead serves as the foundation for improved electricity access, stronger investment and better service delivery to consumers.

The Minister, in closing the engagement, reiterated the government’s determination to deepen the reform process through dialogue, coordination and practical problem-solving.

He said the ultimate objective remained the creation of an electricity market capable of delivering reliable power, attracting long-term investment and supporting Nigeria’s broader economic transformation agenda.

Tegbe Brokers Truce Between NERC, States, Orders 4-Week Roadmap for Power Reform

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Troops arrest suspected ISWAP informant linked to June attack on Gubio

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Troops arrest suspected ISWAP informant linked to June attack on Gubio

By Zagazola Makama

Troops of the 149 Battalion (Motorised), in collaboration with members of the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF), have arrested a suspected ISWAP informant in Gubio Local Government Area of Borno State.

Security sources told Zagazola Makama that the suspect was apprehended at about 5:00 p.m. on July 14 during an intelligence-led operation in Gubio town.

According to the sources, the suspect confessed during preliminary interrogation to working as an informant for the terrorist group.

He also allegedly admitted to leading the terrorist infiltration attack on Gubio on June 16, 2026, during which a member of the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) was killed in action.

Military sources said the suspect is in custody and is undergoing further investigation to identify other members of the terrorist network and uncover additional details surrounding the June attack.

The arrest forms part of ongoing counter-insurgency operations by Operation HADIN KAI aimed at dismantling terrorist support networks by targeting informants, collaborators and logistics facilitators across the North-East.

Troops arrest suspected ISWAP informant linked to June attack on Gubio

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