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By Gloria Ikibah

The ECOWAS Parliament is set to convene a major regional meeting in Dakar aimed at advancing renewable energy deployment and expanding electricity access to millions of people living in rural communities across West Africa.

The five-day Delocalised Joint Committee Meeting, scheduled for June 15 to 19, will bring together Members of Parliament, representatives of ECOWAS institutions, government officials, development partners, private sector stakeholders, civil society organisations and energy experts to examine practical solutions for accelerating rural electrification throughout the region.

The meeting will be held under the theme, “Harnessing Renewable Energy for Rural Electrification and Empowerment of Rural Economies in the ECOWAS Region: The Role of the ECOWAS Parliament”, will be organised by the Joint Committee on Energy and Mines, Agriculture, Environment and Natural Resources, and Infrastructure under the Sixth Legislature of the ECOWAS Parliament.

The gathering comes against the backdrop of persistent energy deficits across many rural communities in West Africa, where millions of residents still lack access to reliable electricity despite notable progress in recent years. Limited electricity access continues to affect key sectors, including agriculture, education, healthcare, digital connectivity and economic productivity.

With ECOWAS targeting universal access to sustainable and affordable energy by 2030, participants are expected to focus on the role of parliamentary action in advancing that objective and supporting policies that encourage investment and innovation in the energy sector.

Central to the discussions will be the potential of decentralised renewable energy solutions, including solar mini-grids, hybrid energy systems and stand-alone solar installations, to close the electricity access gap in underserved areas.

Delegates will also assess how West Africa can better harness its vast but largely untapped solar and hydropower resources to meet growing energy demand.

The meeting will further review major regional energy frameworks, including the ECOWAS Renewable Energy Policy (EREP), the Energy Efficiency Policy (EEEP), the updated ECOWAS Energy Policy and the Regional Electricity Market (REM).

Participants will also evaluate the contributions of the ECOWAS Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (ECREEE), the West African Power Pool (WAPP) and the ECOWAS Regional Electricity Regulatory Authority (ERERA) in strengthening regional energy integration.

One of the key features of the programme will be a field visit to a renewable energy installation in Senegal. During the visit, lawmakers will engage directly with beneficiary communities, local entrepreneurs, women and youth groups to gain first-hand insight into the impact of rural electrification on livelihoods, economic activity and community development.

At the end of the meeting, Members of Parliament are expected to adopt a set of recommendations aimed at reinforcing regional rural electrification initiatives, attracting greater investment into renewable energy infrastructure and strengthening parliamentary oversight of ECOWAS energy policies and programmes.

The outcomes of the Dakar meeting are expected to contribute to ongoing efforts to bridge the energy access gap and support sustainable economic growth across the ECOWAS region.

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By Ojomah Austin.

…Nigeria no longer a safe corridor for cocaine or any other illicit substance, Marwa warns drug cartels

Barely six months after their arrest by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) for importing 31.5 kilograms of cocaine from Marshall Islands into Nigeria through the Apapa seaport in Lagos, 11 Indian sailors and their merchant vessel marked MV Aruna Hulya have been convicted and fined a total of Six Million US Dollars ($6million) by a Federal High Court in Lagos.
The Agency took into custody the Indian crew members and their merchant vessel, MV Aruna Hulya, following the discovery of 31.5 kilograms of cocaine in hatch 3 of the ship by NDLEA operatives at the GDNL terminal, Apapa port Lagos on Friday 2nd January 2026.
The Master of the Vessel, Sharma Shashi Bhushan and 10 other crew members, namely: Bharati Manoj Kumar; Nevage Sandesh Suresh; Pandey Prashant; Nuttu Anand; Akash Babu; Nilesh Mukuno Bhalerad; Melethil Insaf Rahman; Barla Chantanya Krishna; Prabhasukhan Singu; and Jai Parkash were eventually arraigned on two counts charge in suit number
FHC/ L/56C/2026 before Joseph Chukwujekwu Aneke of the Federal High Court, Lagos.
After months before the court, the trial judge on Thursday 11th June 2026 delivered his ruling on plea bargain terms filed by the prosecution and defence in the case. As a result, all 12 defendants were convicted under Section 25 of the NDLEA Act and sentenced to pay the sum of 100,000 Naira each which is the penalty for the offence under the Act. ⁠In addition, the 1st defendant, which is the vessel, is to pay restitution to the Federal Republic of Nigeria in the sum of Five Million Three Hundred Thousand US dollars ($5,300,000) or its equivalent in Naira.
The three principal officers of the vessel who are the 2nd, 3rd and 4th defendants, namely: Sharma Shashi Bhushan; Nilesh Mukuno Bhalerad; and Melethil Insaf Rahman are also to pay restitution to the Federal Government in the sum of 100,000 US dollars each, while
other crew members, the 5th to 12th defendants are to pay their restitution in the sum of 50, 000 US dollars each.
Reacting to the landmark judgement, Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig Gen Mohamed Buba Marwa (rtd) noted that the conviction of the vessel and its crew members sends a resounding message to every drug trafficking network in the world that “Nigeria is no longer a safe corridor for cocaine or any other illicit substance.”
According to him, “This judgment is the third of its kind in recent times, following the convictions of foreign nationals and vessels on similar charges. Let it be known that these are not coincidences, they are the direct result of deliberate, intelligence-led operations by our officers who remain vigilant at every port of entry.

“The NDLEA will not relent. Whether you come by air, land, or sea; whether you are a Nigerian or a foreign national, if you attempt to use our waters as a narcotics highway, you will face the full weight of Nigerian law. Our courts have spoken, and we will continue to give them reason to speak. The war against drug trafficking is one we are winning and we intend to keep it that way.”
He commended the officers, men and women of the Apapa Strategic Command of the Agency for their vigilance in identifying the cocaine consignment buried deep within the cargo of a massive commodity vessel. He specifically expressed appreciation to the Agency’s Directorate of Prosecution and Legal Services for their diligence in the prosecution of the case.

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Operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) have arrested a suspected arms courier in Kano State allegedly transporting weapons intended for delivery to a notorious bandit leader operating in Zamfara.

An operational report made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Saturday said the suspect was apprehended on Friday in Gezawa Local Government Area following actionable intelligence.

According to the report, the suspect was intercepted while moving a cache of arms and ammunition from Maigatari Local Government Area of Jigawa to Funtua in Katsina State for onward delivery to criminal elements.

“Items recovered from the suspect include three AK-47 rifles, four rocket-propelled grenade (RPG) tubes and warheads, as well as two empty magazines.”

The report said preliminary investigations linked the consignment to a suspected bandit kingpin believed to be operating in parts of Zamfara.

“The suspect confessed that he was contracted to transport the weapons from Maigatari to Funtua and was promised a payment of N450,000 upon successful delivery.

“Investigations are ongoing to unravel the network behind the arms movement and identify other collaborators involved in the operation,” the report said.

The report described the arrest as a major breakthrough in ongoing efforts to disrupt the supply of arms and ammunition to criminal groups responsible for violent attacks, kidnappings and other security threats in the North-West.

It added that the suspect was in DSS custody and would face further investigation and possible prosecution in accordance with the law.

According to the report, security agencies have continued to intensify intelligence-driven operations aimed at dismantling logistics networks that sustain banditry, terrorism and other forms of organised crime across the country.

(NAN)