News

Speaker Abbas Tasks ECOWAS On Solution to Terrorism, Human Trafficking, Climate Change

Published

9 months ago

July 2, 2024

Gloria Ikibah

…as sub-regional parliament inaugurates Kalu as member

By Gloria Ikibah

Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rep. Tajudeen Abbas, has charged the parliament of the Economic Community of West Africa States (ECOWAS) to find solutions to the menace of terrorism, banditry, piracy, human trafficking, human rights abuses, the impact of climate change and bad governance in the sub-region.

The speaker made the call at the opening ceremony of the 2024 First Ordinary Session of the Sixth Legislature of the ECOWAS Parliament in Abuja on Monday.

Represented by the Deputy Speaker, Rep. Benjamin Kalu who was formally inaugurated as a member of the parliament, Speaker Abbas also called for increased passion and commitment on the part of the member States of the sub-regional body, emphasizing that the resolutions of the parliament can only fly when stronger dedication is demonstrated.

He said: “Since its establishment by the ECOWAS Treaty in 1975, the ECOWAS Parliament has no doubt contributed immensely to strengthening representative democracy, promoting and defending human rights, democracy, the rule of law, transparency, accountability and good governance in the sub-region. It has also been actively involved in promoting peace, security and stability.

“While I feel greatly delighted to commend the ECOWAS Parliament for these invaluable contributions, we must also acknowledge that these multifaceted challenges are still confronting the sub-region in new and complex dimensions. Terrorism, banditry, piracy, human trafficking, human rights abuses, the impact of climate change and bad governance have remained serious impediments to the peace, security and economic development of our sub-region.

“These challenges have placed greater responsibility on the ECOWAS Parliament to continue to carry out its legislative functions with increased vigour, passion and commitment. It is my sincere hope that this session of the parliament will produce resolutions that will impact positively and go a long way in mitigating these challenges. However, it is important to stress that any resolutions reached will amount to nothing if there is no commitment and cooperation on the part of ECOWAS member states.

“Let me therefore take this auspicious occasion to appeal to our leaders to commit to implementing resolutions of the parliament for the greater good of our sub-region. The current challenges confronting our sub-region cannot be decisively addressed unless there is unity of purpose, partnership and cooperation in our decisions and actions.”

The Speaker further assured the parliament of Nigeria’s commitment under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to defend and promote the tenets of democracy with inputs by the National Assembly of the country.

“Rt. Honourable Speaker and Members, let me assure you that Nigeria under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, is committed to defending and promoting democratic governance, the rule of law and human rights in our sub-region. On our part, the Nigerian Parliament is committed to supporting the President through legislative measures that will provide a robust framework for Nigeria’s foreign policy, strengthening of diplomatic relations, promoting economic interests, enhancing security cooperation, and promoting regional and global peace.

“Let me also assure you that we shall continue to cooperate and partner with the ECOWAS Parliament in the areas of building legislative capacity, sharing of experiences and ensuring that resolutions passed are implemented.

“In doing this, we shall take advantage of Nigeria’s strong representation in the ECOWAS Parliament to push for debates and resolutions that will be of immense political, economic and social benefits to our sub-region”, Speaker Abbas said.

News

Nigeria and Brazil Deepen Bilateral Ties in Key Sectors

Published

12 minutes ago

March 15, 2025

Gloria Ikibah

By Gloria Ikibah

Nigeria and Brazil has taken a bold step to strengthen bilateral relationship, focusing on cooperation in agriculture, energy, and infrastructure development.

This was as a high-level Brazilian delegation, led by Foreign Affairs Minister Mauro Vieira, met with Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar, on Wednesday in Abuja.

The discussions aimed to explore mutual opportunities, with both countries expected to formalize several agreements.

In his welcome address, Amb. Tuggar highlighted Brazil’s longstanding relationship with Nigeria, and noted that it was the only Latin American country to attend Nigeria’s independence celebrations.

He described the visit as a natural step in deepening cooperation and building on past engagements.

The Minister also referenced President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s visit to Brazil last year, during which he participated in the G20 summit and pursued initiatives to enhance diplomatic and economic ties.

He said: “We welcome you and your delegation warmly, and we’re happy to see you here in Abuja.

“We share a lot in common, from our size and economies to our population and culture. This visit is a natural progression of our partnership,” he stated.

In reponse, Brazil’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Mauro Vieira, reaffirmed his country’s commitment to strengthening bilateral relations with Nigeria, building on previous engagements since President Lula took office in January 2023.

Vieira eemphasised he need for strategic dialogue and deeper collaboration in areas such as culture, economics, education, and cooperation.

He acknowledged the strong historical and cultural ties between Brazilians and Nigerians, highlighting the significant Nigerian influence in Brazilian society.

The envoy recalled his first meeting with Nigerian officials in Dubai in 2023, followed by the high-level discussions between President Lula and President Tinubu in Addis Ababa in 2024.

Vieira also commended President Tinubu’s participation in the G20 summit in Brazil last November, recognizing Nigeria’s contributions to global discussions.

Expressing appreciation for the warm reception in Abuja, Vieira lauded the Nigerian government for hosting the Brazilian delegation and looked forward to productive engagements to advance mutual interests.

News

Nigeria Debunk Allegations of Targeted Killings of Christians

Published

16 minutes ago

March 15, 2025

Gloria Ikibah

By Gloria Ikibah

The Nigerian government has strongly refuted claims suggesting that Christians are being deliberately targeted in the country, describing such reports as misleading and aimed at influencing foreign governments, particularly the United States, to designate Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern” (CPC).

In a statement issued by the Acting Spokesperson, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kimiebi Imomotimi Ebienfa, emphasised that while Nigeria faces significant security challenges, these issues are not motivated by religious bias.

He clarified that incidents of insurgency and banditry, particularly in northern Nigeria, are not directed at any specific religious group.

The statement reaffirmed Nigeria’s status as a multi-ethnic and multi-religious nation, with the government committed to protecting all citizens, regardless of faith, ethnicity, or gender. The ministry stressed that the country’s security issues stem from criminal activities, terrorism, and communal clashes—including farmer-herder disputes—rather than religious persecution.

The statement reads: “The government of Nigeria, under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has taken significant steps to address these security concerns, including the deployment of security forces, intelligence gathering and community engagement initiatives. Indeed, the military has recorded substantial gains in curtailing the activities of bandits and insurgents. To bring an end to such security challenges, both the Federal and State authorities have embarked on kinetic and non-kinetic methods and expedited the implementation of the national livestock plan.

“To this end, a Ministry of Livestock Development has been established while a Special Adviser and Coordinator of Livestock Reforms, has been appointed to find sustainable solutions to pastoral farming, with a view to end contestations over land, between farmers and pastoral herders.

“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, therefore, urges the international community to exercise caution and verify information before drawing conclusions or making statements that could exacerbate tensions within Nigeria. We call on all stakeholders, including the media, civil society organizations and foreign partners, to refrain from spreading unverified claims that could undermine national unity and stability.

“Nigeria remains a beacon of religious tolerance and coexistence in Africa and is committed to preserving this heritage. We welcome constructive dialogue and support from the international community in addressing our security challenges. However, we strongly reject any attempts to wrongly designate the country, distort the narrative, or sow seeds of discord among our people”.

News

Tinubu will be removed from office in 2027, SDP’s Adebayo boasts

Published

3 hours ago

March 14, 2025

Kayode Sanni-Arewa

By Kayode Sanni-Arewa

The 2023 presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Party, Adewole Adebayo, has said President Bola Tinubu will be defeated in the 2027 elections.

The SDP chieftain also claimed that his party will produce the next Nigerian President.

Adewale stated this on Friday while appearing on Arise Television’s The Morning Show.

“Tinubu is going to be removed from power, that one is sure, and there would be an SDP president,” he said.

Speaking further, Adebayo vowed to run for the number seat in the country in the 2027 elections.

He expressed confidence that he would be the party’s presidential candidate in 2027 regardless of the political stature of politicians defecting to the party.

The politician said he is not afraid or threatened by the defectors, adding that every party member knows he will contest again.

He said, “Let us understand something. I don’t worry about that; everybody who is coming in knows I will run in 2027.

“Any coward who will feel threatened by people coming to his party can not be president.”

Adewole’s comment follows the defection of the immediate past Governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai, to the party on Monday.

Following his defection, El-Rufai has been making political moves to woo some politicians to the SDP.

Adebayo also described El-Rufai as a hard-working and patriotic Nigerian, adding that the ex-governor is very effective in an area where there are no effective people in government.

He said, “The reason why I welcome El-Rufai to my party is that I see him as a patriotic Nigerian, hard working, very effective in an area where we don’t have effective people in government, that’s all.”