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The All Progressives Congress has announced plans to reopen its electronic membership registration exercise nationwide from August 31, 2026, as the party begins preparations for the 2027 general elections.

The exercise will be conducted across all wards in the country, with existing members expected to validate their records, while new and prospective members will have the opportunity to join the party.

The APC National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka, disclosed this in a statement issued in Abuja on Tuesday, urging party leaders, stakeholders and supporters to take advantage of the exercise.

Morka said the electronic registration was aimed at updating and strengthening the party’s membership database while making it easier for the leadership to access accurate membership information.

According to him, the exercise will help the party digitise its membership register, improve the integrity of its records and provide reliable data for effective planning and decision-making.

He said the initiative would also promote internal democracy and demonstrate the APC’s commitment to using technology to strengthen its structures and operations.

“The E-Registration Exercise is designed to digitise the Party’s membership register, ensure the integrity of membership records, enhance efficient access to membership data for planning and management decisions, promote internal democracy, and strengthen the Party’s commitment to democratic innovation in Nigeria,” Morka said.

The party said prospective registrants must be at least 18 years old and possess a valid National Identification Number.

The reopening of the registration exercise comes as political parties intensify their preparations for the 2027 general elections, with the APC seeking to expand and consolidate its membership base across the country.

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By Gloria Ikibah

Nigeria is set to push for stronger humanitarian cooperation, youth empowerment and economic partnerships when the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Council of Foreign Ministers meets in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on August 27.

The Nigerian delegation to the meeting is being led by the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Sola Enikanolaiye, who said the country’s participation was aimed at securing practical partnerships that would deliver tangible benefits to Nigerians.

The delegation departed from the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano, on Tuesday ahead of the meeting.

Speaking to journalists before departure, Enikanolaiye said Nigeria’s participation was in line with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda and the country’s 4-D Foreign Policy Doctrine of Demography, Development, Diaspora and Democracy.

“This is a journey of strategic partnership and purpose devoid of ideological or religious fixation. Nigeria goes to Jeddah to advance cooperation that delivers real benefits to our people.

“Under President Tinubu’s leadership, our focus goes beyond partisan religious orientation and persuasion. It is about bringing real benefits and development to Nigerians. Our focus remains peace, prosperity, from stronger ties with the Islamic world,” the Minister of State said.

On humanitarian and security cooperation, the minister said Nigeria will advocate the operationalisation of a Nigeria-OIC Working Group on Humanitarian Affairs.

He said the proposed mechanism would strengthen regional responses to insecurity and humanitarian challenges in the Lake Chad Basin and the Sahel.

According to him, the initiative would cover support for interfaith dialogue, the rehabilitation of displaced communities, as well as efforts to tackle terrorism and violent extremism.

The minister also said Nigeria will seek expanded OIC-supported programmes targeting young people, women and other vulnerable groups.

He listed vocational training, women’s empowerment, healthcare and cultural exchanges among areas where Nigeria would seek greater cooperation.

The aim, he said, was to equip Nigerian youths with relevant skills while promoting peace and unity among OIC member states.

On economic diplomacy, Enikanolaiye said Nigeria will use the meeting to showcase the country’s economic reforms and investment opportunities under the Renewed Hope Agenda.

He said priority areas will include agriculture, manufacturing, Business Process Outsourcing, automotive, oil and gas, and commerce.

The minister added that Nigeria will engage OIC investors and institutions on Business-to-Business (B2B) and Business-to-Government (B2G) partnerships to attract foreign direct investment and support economic diversification.

The meeting will also feature the election of a new Secretary-General of the OIC.

Enikanolaiye said Nigeria will participate constructively in the process and work towards the emergence of leadership committed to unity, reform and people-centred programmes across the 57-member organisation.

He also sought to correct what he described as a lack of awareness about the activities of the OIC in Nigeria, noting that the organisation had implemented several programmes and projects in the country without religious bias.

The minister reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to multilateralism and stronger solidarity within the OIC, which he described as the second-largest intergovernmental organisation after the United Nations.

He noted that Nigeria had remained an active and prominent member of the OIC since 1986 and continued to play a leading role in promoting peace, development and cooperation among its 57 member states.

“Nigeria remains a committed member of the OIC. We will work with all member states to ensure our collective decisions reflect the aspirations of over 1.8 billion people and contribute to global peace and development,” he added.

The Minister of State is also expected to hold bilateral meetings with his counterparts and OIC officials on the sidelines of the Council of Foreign Ministers meeting.

The discussions are expected to focus on strengthening bilateral relations and advancing Nigeria’s interests in humanitarian affairs, security, youth development and economic cooperation.

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By Gloria Ikibah

Nigeria and Thailand have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on technical cooperation as both countries seek to deepen economic relations, increase bilateral trade and attract more investment.

The agreement was signed on Tuesday at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Abuja by Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, and Thailand’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Sihasak Phuangketkeow.

Speaking at the signing ceremony, Odumegwu-Ojukwu said the agreement would provide a fresh platform for both countries to work together in skills development, technology transfer and sustainable development.

She welcomed Thailand’s Thailand-Africa Initiative (TAI) and called for closer collaboration between the Nigerian Technical Aid Corps (NTAC) and the Thailand International Cooperation Agency (TICA).

The minister also highlighted the ongoing Thailand-Nigeria Sustainable Agricultural Technology Development Project, proposing that it be expanded to other parts of Nigeria.

She called for greater cooperation in agricultural research, technology and innovation, stressing the need to use the partnership to improve development outcomes.

Odumegwu-Ojukwu said Nigeria was interested in taking its relationship with Thailand beyond its current level and building a strategic partnership anchored on stronger economic cooperation.

She urged both countries to diversify bilateral trade, which has largely centred on commodities and agricultural products.

The minister called for increased Thai investment and joint ventures in agro-processing, manufacturing, energy, ICT, mining, renewable energy and other value-added sectors.

She also drew attention to Nigeria’s large consumer market and the investment opportunities available to Thai businesses, urging them to take advantage of the country’s incentives and growing economic potential.

The minister further proposed the establishment of a Joint or Bi-National Commission to provide a permanent framework for bilateral economic dialogue, monitor the implementation of agreements and speed up the conclusion of pending bilateral instruments.

Among the agreements she identified for attention were the Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement, Trade Agreement, and Agreement on Economic, Scientific, Technical and Cultural Cooperation.

Nigeria also called for closer relations between the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), saying stronger regional cooperation could open up fresh opportunities for trade, investment and development.

Odumegwu-Ojukwu reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to building a stronger economic partnership with Thailand through increased trade and investment, technical cooperation and regular high-level engagements.

On his part, Thailand’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Sihasak Phuangketkeow, described Nigeria as “a key economy in Africa.”
He said a strategic economic partnership between the two countries would boost investment and trade while delivering benefits to their citizens.

The signing of the MoU comes as Nigeria and Thailand seek to build on their longstanding diplomatic relations by expanding cooperation beyond traditional areas of trade and towards technology, agriculture, manufacturing and other sectors capable of creating jobs and supporting economic growth.