News

ECOWAS: President Tinubu Urges B/Faso, Mali, Niger To Reconsider Decision

Published

5 months ago

February 24, 2024

By Gloria Ikibah

The Chairman of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Authority of Heads of State and Government and President of Nigerian, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has called on the military junta in Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger, to reconsider their decisions to exit the bloc and return back.

President Tinubu gave stated this at the opening session of the Extra Ordinary Summit of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of States and Government, in the State House Abuja.

Tinubu who urged the military junta, not to see ECOWAS as an enemy, noted that the recent decision by the Constitutional Council of Senegal to annul the postponement of the electoral process is a matter that demands ECOWAS attention.

He said: “we will deliberate on the announced withdrawal from ECOWAS by the Republics of Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger. In the spirit of collective security and African solidarity, we realize that the stability of these nations is intricately linked to the overall peace and security of West Africa. As such, it is pertinent that we engage in constructive deliberations to examine the actions taken by these countries and ensure that the citizens are not denied the benefits derived from our regional integration initiatives. In our ensuing discussions, we must put the plight of people, the ordinary citizens at the centre of our decisions.

“I therefore, urge them to re-consider the decision of the three of them to exit their home and not to perceive our organization as the enemy. I am confident that through our collective efforts and determination, we will navigate the challenges before us and chart a course towards a more peaceful, secure, and prosperous West Africa”.

The Nigerian President, also applauded President Macky Sall of Senegal for agreeing to abide by the Court’s decision to organize election as soon as possible and to step down in line with the rule of law.

“We must all commend his courage and statesmanship as we wish him the very best in his future endeavours. Let me underscore that these challenges, though daunting, present an opportunity for ECOWAS to reaffirm its commitment to the vision of our founding fathers and the principles underpinning our commitment to peace, security, and regional integration. We must stand united in our resolve to promote economic integration, democracy, and human rights, with a view to fostering sustainable development across all our member states,” he added.

Times like we currently face in our sub region, President Tinubu, said, demand that ECOWAS Heads of State take difficult but courageous decisions that put the plight of citizens at the centre of their deliberations.

Democracy, he added is nothing more than the political framework and the path to addressing the basic needs and aspirations of the people.

“This is why we must re-examine our current approach to the quest for constitutional order in four of our Member States,” he concluded.

Entertainment

South African star rapper Malome Vector is dead

Published

12 mins ago

July 27, 2024

Austin Ojomah

South African rap icon Bokang Moleli, also known as Malome Vector in the entertainment industry, has tragically passed away in a road accident.

The news of the rapper’s death was shared by his former record label, Ambitiouz Entertainment, on their official page on X, which was previously known as Twitter.

In their post, the music label paid tribute to the late rapper, expressed sympathy for his family, and announced their intention to provide support to the family as needed.

“With heavy hearts, we mourn the loss of a shining star; the Lion of Lesotho’s sun has set. Our deepest condolences go out to his loved ones and colleagues in the industry during this time of great loss,” a portion of the label’s post on X read.

According to a report on 3news.com from the Free State Department of Health, three men were pronounced dead at the scene of the accident, which took place on the N1 near the Koppies turn-off close to Kroonstad. The health department also disclosed that two other individuals were taken to Boitumelo Regional Hospital for treatment.

The same report mentioned that the “Nobody” hitmaker was en route from Gauteng, passing through the Free State, to his home country of Lesotho to film a music video when the accident occurred shortly after 13:00.

Hillary Mophethe, a senior official from the Free State Department of Transport, explained that while the exact cause of the accident is still unknown, he suspects that a burst tire might have been the reason behind the tragic incident.

News

HUNGER! US Embassy issues security alert, warns citizens to avoid troubled spots

Published

16 mins ago

July 27, 2024

Austin Ojomah

The US Embassy in Nigeria has issued a security alert to citizens resident in Nigeria over planned nationwide protests.

SEE details of notice below:

Alert: Potential Nationwide Protests
Location: Nigeria Date: July 26, 2024

According to media reports, nationwide protests may occur in Nigeria between July 29th and August 5th, 2024. Based on past occurrences, protests may involve roadblocks, checkpoints, traffic congestion, and physical confrontations. No specific times or locations have been identified for potential protests at this time.

Actions to take:

Monitor local media for updates.
Avoid crowds.
Avoid demonstrations.
Be aware of your surroundings.
Review your personal security plans and keep your cell phone charged in case of emergency.
Carry proper identification.
The Consular Sections of Embassy Abuja and Consulate General Lagos will remain open during regular business hours and Consular services will be provided as scheduled.

U.S. Embassy Abuja, Nigeria
Plot 1075 Diplomatic Drive
Central District Area, Abuja, Nigeria
Phone: (234)-209-461-4000
Fax: (234)-209-461-4036
AbujaACS@state.gov

U.S. Consulate General Lagos
2 Walter Carrington Crescent,
Victoria Island, Lagos
Telephone: (234)-201- 460-3400
Fax: (+234)-201-460-3717
LagosACS@state.gov

News

Po!n, betting sites recorded 162m Nigerian visitors in June – Report

Published

3 hours ago

July 27, 2024

Admin

A report by global data and business intelligence platform, StatiSense, has revealed that more than 162 million Nigerians visited porn and betting websites in June 2024.

According to the platform’s most recent data, which lists the top ten websites that Nigerians saw on their mobile devices in June, a sizable percentage of this traffic visited websites with gambling and pornographic content.

A post on StatiSense’s official X page revealed that a variety of search engines, social media apps, and betting platforms were among the most popular websites.

Notably, two pornographic websites, Xvideos and Xnxx, came in second and sixth place respectively with a total of 80.18 million visits.

In addition, Nigerian mobile users visited sporting websites 176.83 million times. Of these, 83.1 million visits were allocated to sports betting sites Sportybet and Bet9ja, which secured third and fourth places on the list.

Google and Facebook were also among the sites that featured prominently in the report.