News
I Could Say A Few Things That Could Rubbish Soyinka – Baba-Ahmed

By Kayode Sanni-Arewa
Former Vice Presidential candidate of the Labour Party, LP, Yusuf Baba-Ahmed, has hit back at Nobel Laureate, Prof Wole Soyinka, over his comment that Peter Obi, LP’s presidential candidate, was unfit to lead the country.
Baba-Ahmed said that he could say a few things to Soyinka that could destroy him for good but he wouldn’t say that.
According to him, intellect doesn’t give Soyinka the right to insult anybody.
Recall that Soyinka had said that Obi’s failure to reign on his supporters attacking others with opposing views online was a pointer that he is unfit to lead a country like Nigeria.
The literary icon also accused Obi of encouraging ‘Obidients’ to attack him and others with opposing views online.
However, while responding to Soyinka’s comment, Friday, on Arise Television, Baba-Ahmed said what Soyinka was doing was an attempted distraction, adding that he wouldn’t not join issues with him.
“The learned elder statesman, Prof Wole Soyinka is scared in advance about what good Peter Obi will bring to Nigeria. He’s scared in advance that the end is still looking very likely for his principal, for bad governance.
“What Wole Soyinka is doing now is an attempted distraction, which I beg you excuse me from joining issues with Wole Soyinka, please.
“You and I have much better things to do. For all I know, he could continue to throw punches at my principal, at me, as small as I am. If he continues to do that, all I can do is to grieve in my heart and continue to pray for him.
“You see, intellect doesn’t give you the right to insult anybody. I remember this Soyinka insulting late General Abacha, insulting him to the core that he was daft. Nothing gives him the right to do that. Abacha was not an academic. He was a soldier for God’s sake. And a good soldier in his own way in his own right.
“I beg you, let’s push Soyinka and his likes aside; we have better things to talk about.
“Nobel Laureates are loved and cherished by their people. Soyinka keeps getting insulted, and it is his responsibility to maintain his dignity and respect, not Peter Obi’s.
“I could say a few things to Wole Soyinka that could destroy him for good, but I wouldn’t say that.”
News
Reps Pass For Second Reading Bill To Enhance Rural Agricultural Innovation

By Glori Ikibah
The House of Representatives has passed through second reading, a bill seeking to amend the Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria Act, by expanding its mandate to establish specialised training institutions across the country to deepen national agricultural productivity capacity.
The piece of legislation is titled, ” A Bill for an Act to Amend the Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria Act, Cap. A12, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004, to Provide for the Establishment of Certain Specialised Colleges; and for Other Related Matters”, was sponsored by the Deputy Speaker, Rep. Benjamin Kalu and six others.
Leading the debate on the general principles, on Wednesday at plenary, Rep. Kalu restated that agriculture remains a vital part of Nigeria’s economy and a key driver of rural development, job creation, food security, and national GDP.
According to him, Nigeria continues to face glaring gaps in research and innovation, especially in regions where unique agricultural potential remains untapped due to the absence of tailored educational institutions.
That is what this bill seeks address, by bridging this gap. He explained that the amendment will not simply be adding institutions, but will serve as an investment in untapped potential, and empowerment of those whose hands feed the nation.
Kalu is hopeful that when the bill is signed into law, it will lead to stronger agricultural research ecosystem; more employment and entrepreneurship opportunities for Nigerians; greater food security and overall economic growth.
He said: “this is not merely to introduce a legislative proposal, but to lay before this Peoples House a vision to take agricultural education into the fabric of our national development strategy and effort. A vision that recognises that research and innovation must not remain in silos or city centres, but must live where the land is tilled, where the livestock roam, where the rivers run.
“Through this amendment, we are not simply adding institutions — we are answering a national call -a call to invest where there is untapped potential, to empower those whose hands feed the nation, and to deepen our national agricultural productivity capacity by expanding the mandate and reach of the Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria through the establishment of specialised training institutions in various parts of our great nation by establishing certain specialised agricultural colleges in strategic locations across the six geo-political zones.
“This bill which comprises three clauses principally seeks to amend the Third Schedule of the Principal Act to provide for the establishment of the following specialized colleges of agriculture – (a) Federal College of Veterinary and Medical Laboratory Technology, Bende, Abia State; (b} Federal College of Land Resources Technology, Takum, Adamawa State.
“(c) Federal College of Land Resources Technology, Ikole Ekiti, Ekiti State; (d) Federal College of Freshwater Fisheries Technology, Ikot Ekpene, Akwa Ibom State; (e) Federal College of Anima} Health and Production Technology, Dange Shuni, Sokoto State; (f} Federal College of Animal Health and Production Technology, Olamaboro, Kogi State.”
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Nigeria Congratulates Friedrich Merz on Election as Germany’s New Chancellor

By Gloria Ikibah
The Federal Government of Nigeria has extended heartfelt congratulations to the Federal Republic of Germany on the election of Friedrich Merz as the new Chancellor.
Merz, leader of Germany’s conservative bloc, secured his position with 325 votes in the 630-seat Bundestag during a vote held on Tuesday, May 6, 2025. His emergence marks a new chapter in German leadership and has been hailed by Nigeria as a demonstration of the strength and maturity of Germany’s democratic system.
In a statement signed by Kimiebi Imomotimi Ebienfa, spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Nigeria praised the peaceful and transparent electoral process that led to Merz’s victory and commended Germany for its steadfast commitment to democratic values.
“Nigeria commends Germany’s strong democratic traditions and values, which have once again been demonstrated through a peaceful and transparent electoral process.
“We are confident that under Friedrich Merz’s leadership, Germany will continue to play a pivotal role in advancing global peace, stability, and prosperity”, the statement read.
The statement reaffirmed the long-standing ties between Nigeria and Germany, highlighting key areas such as trade, investment, security, and sustainable development as critical pillars of cooperation.
“As longstanding partners, Nigeria looks forward to deepening bilateral relations with Germany in areas of mutual interest”, Ebienfa said, as he stressed Nigeria’s readiness to collaborate further in multilateral spaces like the United Nations.
Nigeria conveyed best wishes to the new Chancellor for a successful tenure and reiterated its willingness to work closely with Germany for the mutual benefit of both countries and the international community.
Friedrich Merz succeeds Olaf Scholz as Chancellor, taking the reins at a time of significant political and economic shifts in Europe.
News
High Airfare Costs Hindering West African Unity – Speaker Ibrahima

…as ECOWAS say airfare within the region is highest
By Gloria Ikibah
Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament, Hon. Mémounatou Ibrahima, has raised concerns over the soaring cost of air travel across West Africa, warning that it poses a serious threat to regional integration and the free movement of citizens.
Speaking on Tuesday at the opening session of a regional parliamentary meeting in Lomé, Togo, Ibrahima said the current state of air transport within the sub-region is far from ideal, especially for a region that has long preached the gospel of unity and seamless mobility.
“Without affordable and efficient transport systems, the dream of a truly integrated West Africa will remain out of reach,” she said.
The meeting, which falls under the Sixth Legislature’s delocalised sessions, brought together members of the ECOWAS Parliament’s Joint Committee on Infrastructure, Energy and Mines, Agriculture, Environment, and Natural Resources. The session is themed: “Air Transport as a Means of Integration for West African Peoples: A Strategy for Reducing Airline Ticket Costs.”
Participants included aviation experts, policymakers, and civil society actors, all focused on developing workable strategies to address the high cost of airfares—a problem many say discourages both business and cultural exchanges among member states.
Ibrahima underscored the importance of air transport not only for economic growth but as a symbol of unity in a region where road networks remain underdeveloped and borders, though open in theory, are still difficult to cross in practice.
She blamed the soaring airfares to multiple taxes and charges imposed across airports in the region, fragmentation of the aviation market and poor infrastructure.
She said: “The theme that brings us together today, ‘Air Transport as a Means of Integration for West African Peoples: A Strategy for Reducing Airline Ticket Costs,’ is of paramount importance to our community. It reflects a major issue facing our citizens: the prohibitive costs of air travel between our countries, which hinder the free movement of people and compromise our ambitions for regional integration.
“Therefore, there is no need to emphasize the importance of air transport in a country’s economy, especially within a sub-regional community. Indeed, air transport is an essential lever for economic development and sub-regional integration. It promotes trade, stimulates tourism, strengthens cultural and social ties, and contributes to the growth of our economies. In reality, there can be no free movement without transport facilitation. And among these facilitations, transport costs figure prominently.
“These airports contribute financially to state budgets in several ways, including landing fees, air ticket taxes, security taxes, non-aviation taxes, and revenues from commercial activities at the airport. However, it is clear that all these fees make air ticket costs prohibitive within the ECOWAS region, thus hampering a major driver of development: tourism.
“For my part, several factors may contribute to the high cost of air fares in our region. These include, among others: excessive taxation and high airport fees; a fragmented aviation market, with national airlines operating in isolation rather than in synergy; a lack of modern infrastructure adapted to the needs of air transport; weak implementation of agreements liberalizing African airspace, notably the Yamoussoukro Declaration.”
The Speaker further warned of the implications for the region’s long-term goals, noting that the ECOWAS Vision 2050 would remain elusive without an efficient and affordable air transport system.
“If we are to achieve the objectives of the third pillar of ECOWAS Vision 2050, ‘Economic Integration and Interconnectivity,’ it is up to us, as representatives of the peoples of ECOWAS and in view of our responsibility in the Community’s decision-making process, to explore viable and sustainable solutions. Our role is crucial in the realization of these reforms”, she warned.
Ibrahima therefore urged the Legislature to develop strong recommendations that would guide Member States and relevant institutions in establishing a policy framework for more accessible regional air transport.
“I am convinced that the discussions that will take place during this meeting, to which we have invited African air transport experts and leaders, will be fruitful and will lead to concrete proposals to address this major challenge.
“Together, let us commit to working towards more efficient regional aviation, serving the integration and development of our community and for significant progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the aspirations that underpinned the African Union’s Agenda 2063”, she added.
Delivering the keynote address, Vice-President of the Togolese National Assembly, Dzereke Yao, described the theme of the meeting as both timely and crucial. He stressed that the issue of air travel within West Africa can no longer be treated as secondary, given its central role in connecting economies and people across the sub-region.
Yao warned that the high cost of airline tickets is steadily eroding the progress made toward regional integration, arguing that it discourages interaction, trade, and mobility among citizens of ECOWAS member states.
He also used the occasion to commend President Faure Essozimna Gnassingbé for what he called his consistent commitment to African unity and cross-border collaboration.
According to him, “Togo continues to play a pivotal role in ECOWAS affairs, thanks to the President’s leadership and the country’s steady investment in aviation and transport infrastructure”.
Yao urged delegates to approach the meeting with a clear sense of purpose, insisting that the deliberations must result in actionable outcomes and not just talk.
“This gathering must produce more than a communique,” he said. “The citizens of West Africa are waiting for real solutions that will make regional travel less of a luxury and more of a right.
“This paradoxical situation merits our attention because our community boasts considerable potential, whether in population size, economic growth, or youthful dynamism.
“I therefore hope that it will lead to solid, pragmatic, and ambitious recommendations,” he urged, adding that a competitive and open airspace would benefit all citizens in the region”, he said.
Yao explained that the geographical location of Togo and modern facilities, gave the country a strategic edge in facilitating regional air mobility.
The vice-president also ememphasised the importance of translating political will into sustainable reforms that will boost connectivity and unlock economic opportunities across the sub-region.
Alao ECOWAS Commissioner for Infrastructure, Energy and Digitalization, Sédiko Douka, disclosed that recent studies conducted by renowned organizations showed that air transportation within West Africa is still less than 10 percent, which represents the lowest.
According to Douka, this situation has become a barrier to the integration of the region. This is as he said the ECOWAS leadership was concerned with the situation and has mandated the Commission to coordinate and harmonize the air transport policies, programs, and projects of Member States.
He stressed the importance of the Lome meeting to address the gap, revealing that the meeting has the blessing of the Heads of State and Government.
He said: “The air tariff in West Africa remains excessively high compared to other countries in the world. In this case, it is less expensive to make the flight to another African country than to travel between two countries in ECOWAS. This situation is counterproductive for the future of the West African region and the collective airspace.
“That recent studies conducted by renowned organizations in 2024 have shown low growth in air transport in West Africa (less than 10%). This, at a time when other regions, for example, record 40.4% for North Africa, 21.4% for Southern Africa, and 20.5% for East Africa. Other comparisons made in terms of domestic flights, intra-African travel, major airlines, and airport size have also shown that West Africa lags far behind these same regions mentioned above.
“In response to this instruction, a meeting of Ministers responsible for Air Transport was convened on November 8, 2024, here in Lomé. The meeting concluded with modalities for the gradual reduction of taxes, fees, and charges aimed at making air transport more affordable. Thus, an Additional Act A/SA.2/12/24 6, relating to the common policy on fees, taxes and air transport charges in ECOWAS Member States and its implementation strategy, were adopted by the Ministers and submitted to the Conference of Heads of State and Government of ECOWAS on December 15, 2024, which endorsed them.”
“Our primary concern is to comply with ICAO principles and recommendations on setting charges, which are: (i) non-discrimination between users, (ii) transparency, appropriate pricing for services provided, and (iii) user consultation.”
“The recommendations made by the Ministers to Member States for efficient regional air transport include, among others: Commit to eliminating all taxes in accordance with these ICAO principles and recommendations;”
“Reduce the passenger service charge and the security charge by 25%; reduce the cost of aviation fuel, etc.”
“All this, with the aim, I say, of making our region efficient in terms of air transport, with its 400 million inhabitants”, he said.
He also charged the meeting to consider the issue of common rules for passenger compensation in the event of denied boarding, cancellation, or significant delays of a flight within the ECOWAS region.
“The task now lies in working towards the implementation of these community texts by ECOWAS member states, whose effective implementation start date has been set for January 1, 2026, a 15-month period to allow them to prepare, particularly from a budgetary perspective”, he stated.
The ECOWAS Commissioner also charged Members of Parliament that the region is counting on them “to implement the community texts that the states themselves initiated and participated in the development, review, and adoption process.”
He therefore urged them to engage strongly with member states to raise awareness about the implementation of these additional acts with a view to the sustainable development of air transport in West Africa.
“As ECOWAS celebrates its 50th anniversary, it is an opportune time to highlight the organization’s visibility. While many achievements have been made in various areas/sectors of regional integration, these remain largely unknown to ordinary citizens, either due to a lack of awareness, communication, or simply the highly political orientation given to ECOWAS’s vision by stakeholders. Opportunities such as these allow you, as a Representative of the People, to gain a comprehensive view of the challenges, issues, strengths/weaknesses, opportunities/threats, and sectoral achievements,” he added.
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