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Marking 50 Years of ECOWAS, Tinubu Urges Regional Leaders to Prioritise Youth, Development

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…call for stronger commitment to stability, opportunity, unity

By Gloria Ikibah

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has called on West African leaders to deepen their focus on addressing the pressing challenges of poverty and youth unemployment across the region.

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President Tinubu who was represented by Nigeria’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, during the ECOWAS 50th anniversary celebration in Accra, Ghana, emphasised the urgent need for investment in education, innovation, and skill-building, especially among young people.

He described ECOWAS as the product of a bold and visionary effort by West African pioneers who came together on May 28, 1975, to lay the foundation for regional cooperation. Fifty years on, he noted, the community had grown in strength and unity, weathering challenges and celebrating shared victories.

Tinubu also commended Ghanaian President John Dramani Mahama for his steady leadership and enduring commitment to the ideals of regional integration, describing him as a source of encouragement and strength to the bloc.

Reflecting on the path ahead, President Tinubu stressed the importance of nurturing peace, fostering inclusion, and building a more resilient and opportunity-driven future for the people of West Africa.

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He said: “Under your stewardship, Ghana remains a beacon of democratic governance, economic progress, and regional solidarity. Your efforts in championing the upliftment of our dear region through diplomacy, collaboration, and transformative policies deserve our most profound appreciation and admiration”.
The President who also commended the tireless efforts and unwavering dedication of the ECOWAS Commission staff, noted that their professionalism, commitment, and collaborative spirit were instrumental in making the day’s event a resounding success.
He further highlighted the achievements of the subregional organization in past especially in peacekeeping and promoting democratic governance.
The speech reads in part: “Five decades ago, our founding fathers from 15 nations envisioned regional economic integration, cooperation, and shared prosperity. From the ashes of colonialism and the turbulence of post-independence struggles, they forged ECOWAS—a beacon of hope for our people. Their dream was not merely to dissolve borders but to build bridges of trade, cultural exchange, and mutual progress.
“From the original Treaty of Lagos in 1975 to this momentous gathering here in Accra, ECOWAS has remained a pillar of integration and a beacon of hope for over 400 million citizens across our region.
“Remarkably, our journey over the past five decades has not been without challenges. We have faced political instability, economic hardship, infrastructural deficits, and security threats. But we remain undaunted.
“We shall not relent in our commitment to a united, peaceful, purposeful, and prosperous West Africa.
“Your Excellencies and Distinguished Guests,
“Today, we celebrate numerous remarkable achievements that distinguish ECOWAS as the most successful regional economic community on the African continent. We have established one of Africa’s most vibrant free trade areas in five decades, fostering intra-regional commerce and lifting millions from poverty.
“We have championed peace through ECOMOG’s valiant efforts, mediating conflicts in Liberia, Sierra Leone and The Gambia.
“We have introduced the ECOWAS passport, symbolising our commitment to free movement.
“We have also advanced democratic norms, standing firm against tyranny and supporting transitions to constitutional governance.
“However, the journey toward a truly united and prosperous region is far from over. We must confront the hard truths of our present reality.
“Despite our shared vision, too many of our citizens still live in poverty, too many of our children lack access to quality education, and too many of our youth remain unemployed, disillusioned, or forced to seek opportunities abroad.
“Our region continues to grapple with new and evolving threats — violent extremism, climate change and food insecurity. The wave of unconstitutional changes in our region seriously threatens the democratic gains we have painstakingly built.
“As the current Chair of ECOWAS, I reaffirm Nigeria’s unwavering commitment to the fundamental principles that bind us: democracy, the rule of law, good governance, and regional solidarity. These are not just ideals; they are the foundations for peace, development, and the dignity of our people.
“In this new chapter, we must reimagine ECOWAS as not just a Community of States but a Community of People.
“We must place our young, dynamic, creative, and resilient people at the centre of our agenda. We must invest in education, innovation, and skills development to unleash the full potential of Africa’s future. We must seek to expand the frontiers of democracy. We must limit the forays of unconstitutional rule into the democratic space. We must always seek peace towards achieving the collaborations needed for development.
“We must also deepen our economic cooperation, support intra-regional trade, and ensure that the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) becomes a vehicle for genuine transformation. A prosperous West Africa is good for Africa and the world.
“In deepening our integration, we must accelerate the realisation of a single currency and strengthen infrastructure corridors to connect markets and minds.
Your Excellencies, Ladies and gentlemen,
“Let us use this Jubilee as a moment of renewal. Let us rededicate ourselves to the spirit of Pan-Africanism that inspired our founders. Let us build an ECOWAS that is more resilient, more inclusive, and more responsive to the needs of our people.
“This moment calls for a renewed commitment to fostering unity and solidarity among Member States. It is a time to strengthen the bonds that tie us together through shared values, collective responsibility, and a common vision for a prosperous region.
“In hopes of reconciliation and reintegration, we must remain open and willing to engage in sustained, constructive dialogue with our estranged brothers, those Member States currently outside our fold.
“At the same time, there is an urgent need to implement bold, comprehensive reforms that will enhance our institutions’ effectiveness, relevance, and credibility to meet the challenges of today and the future.
“By embracing these imperatives, the organisation can better respond to its people’s evolving needs and advance sustainable development, stability, and prosperity across the region”, he stated.
President therefore called for unity  as he declared that “a tree does not stand alone in the forest, hence the need for unity of purpose and collaboration.
“Our strength lies in our unity. As a proud member, Nigeria pledges to collaborate with every nation—large or small—to build an ECOWAS that is resilient to confront the challenges of our time.
“May the next 50 years be etched in history as an era when West Africa rose—united, prosperous, and unstoppable,” he stated.
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NNPC slashes petrol price twice within four days

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The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, NNPCL, has slashed its fuel pump price for the second time within four days.

A market survey on Saturday by DAILY POST showed that NNPCL retail outlets around Airport Junction and Wuse Zone 6 (Berger) in Abuja have reduced their petrol price to N1210 per litre, down from N1260.

This means that the state-owned oil firm slashed the petrol price by N50 per litre.

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This comes barely two days after Dangote Refinery reduced its petrol gantry price by N50 to N1,125 per litre.

Recall that four days ago, NNPCL had adjusted its fuel price pump by N75 per litre to N1260.

With the latest drop by NNPCL retail outlets, petrol prices stand between N1210 per litre and N1305 per litre in Abuja and its environs.

The reduction in domestic fuel comes amid falling crude oil prices, which stand at $69 per barrel and $71 per barrel for West Texas Intermediate and Brent crude, respectively, following the easing of the conflict in the Middle East.

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Recall that President Bola Tinubu has kept mum amid the clamour by Nigerians for a commensurate drop in domestic fuel pump prices due to the significant reduction in crude oil prices.

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Lokoja Court order: INEC speaks on NDC, says it’s yet to receive CTC

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The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has said it is yet to receive the Certified True Copy, CTC, of the Federal High Court judgment that set aside an earlier order directing it to register the Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, as a political party.

INEC revealed this in a statement issued on Saturday by its Chief Press Secretary and Media Adviser to the Chairman, Adedayo Oketola.

According to the commission, although it is aware of media reports on the judgment delivered by the Federal High Court sitting in Lokoja on June 26, it cannot comment on the ruling until it obtains and reviews the certified copy.

The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, is aware of reports circulating in the media regarding the judgment delivered on Friday, June 26, 2026, by the Federal High Court sitting in Lokoja, which set aside an earlier order concerning the registration of the Nigeria Democratic Congress.

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“However, as of this moment, the Commission has not yet received the Certified True Copy, CTC, of the court’s order,” the statement said.

INEC stated that its legal department would study the judgment upon receipt of the CTC before advising the commission on the next course of action.

“Once the Commission’s legal department receives and thoroughly studies the CTC of the judgment, INEC will take an informed, lawful decision in line with the court’s directives.

“Until then, we cannot comment on the specifics of the ruling, and the public is urged to await the Commission’s formal position on the matter,” Oketola added.

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Justice Isah Dashen of the Federal High Court in Lokoja had on Friday set aside the court’s December 10, 2025, judgment directing INEC to register the NDC as a political party.

The court held that the rights of the Peace Movement Party were affected by the earlier judgment because it was not joined in the suit despite claiming ownership of the logo relied upon in securing the registration order.

Justice Dashen consequently ordered that all parties be restored to the positions they occupied before the December 2025 judgment and directed that the substantive suit be heard afresh with all necessary parties joined.

The NDC has rejected the ruling and announced plans to appeal the decision. Its National Chairman, Senator Moses Cleopas, maintained that the party had not been deregistered and argued that the trial court lacked jurisdiction to revisit a matter on which it had already delivered a final judgment.

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The ruling has also attracted reactions from opposition figures, including the NDC’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi, the party’s National Leader, Senator Henry Dickson, and other stakeholders, who described the decision as a threat to Nigeria’s multiparty democracy and vowed to challenge it through all available legal channels.

INEC, however, maintained that it would reserve its position on the judgment until it receives and reviews the Certified True Copy.

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Just in: Police rescue five abductees in Ogun

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A joint police operation rescued five victims abducted near Ogbere Forest in Ogun state on Wednesday.

They were rescued within 25 hours by the Lagos and Ogun Police Commands, which were part of a joint operation codenamed KOSAYE, meaning “No Space” in Yoruba.

The woman was among the victims who were shot in the incident. Her daughter and sister were among those rescued by the police on Thursday.

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