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Speaker ECOWAS Parliament Urges Member States to Fast-Track Free Movement Protocol Implementation
By Gloria Ikibah
The Speaker of the Parliament of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), Hon. Memounatou Ibrahima, has urged member states to speed up the implementation of the free movement protocol.
Speaker Ibrahima stated this at the opening of a delocalized meeting of the joint Committees on Trade, Customs and Free Movement/Social Affairs, Gender, Women Empowerment & Persons with Disabilities/Legal Affairs and Human Rights/Political Affairs, Peace Security and African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM), ta Banjul, The Gambia, with the theme: Parliament’s role in the implementation of the protocol on the free movement of persons, right of residence, and establishment in the ECOWAS region.
According to her, free movement is vital for ECOWAS regional integration and it supports economic growth, cultural exchange, and regional security, especially as it remains the promotion of cooperation and integration between its Member States, having adopted the Protocol on the Free Movement of Persons and the Right of Residence and Establishment in the Region on May 29, 1975.
The Speaker said that the full realisation of free movement in the ECOWAS area requires strong governance, based on mutual trust, shared responsibility and ownership of results. She therefore urged members of parliament to put in place mechanism that will ensure constant monitoring for effective implementation of the protocols and stressed the need for policy makers and stakeholders to unify their efforts to identify challenges and propose solutions that will maximize the benefits of free movement at the regional and national levels.
The objective she said will be achieved through the development of coordinated policies and actions.
She said: “The Protocol allows ECOWAS citizens to enter and move freely in Member States without a visa. They can settle and carry out economic activities, subject to obtaining an ECOWAS card or residence permit. These measures facilitate mobility and stimulate intra-regional trade within our space.
“Despite these advances, considerable challenges remain in the implementation of our own choices. In recent years, free movement within the Community has been severely tested by several factors.
“Weaknesses in the implementation mechanism, differences in national interests and infrastructure problems hinder the achievement of the Protocol’s objectives. You will agree with me that the full realisation of free movement in the ECOWAS area requires strong governance, based on mutual trust, shared responsibility and ownership of results.
“To achieve our objectives, it is imperative to put in place mechanisms that ensure constant monitoring for more effectiveness of our protocols.
“Undoubtedly, the institution best placed to carry out these audits and ensure this balance within the ECOWAS architecture is the ECOWAS Parliament. Unfortunately, the latter is still insufficiently involved in the implementation of the Protocol and its Additional Protocols. This limits its contribution to effective and complete integration.” She added.
The 4th Deputy Speaker of the ECOWAS parliament, Billay Tunkara called on the need for the committee to focus on issues that will promote fast implementation of the free movement protocols in the region.
Hon Tunkara who is also Head of the Gambia delegation to the ECOWAS Parliament, said the meeting is an opportunity for the joint committee to review and renew the commitment on the ideals of ECOWAS and work collaboratively to the full realisation of the fundamental goals of integration.
He said: “We are reminded of the critical role that this body plays in shopping for our region and the continent at large.
“The theme of this meeting is in many ways fundamental of acting on totality of objectives of which ECOWAS as a body was established, therefore, the free movement of people and the rights to residence and idea of unhindered opportunity for the community of the region to be able to freely establish business across our borders, and not just principles and trying in our protocol, they are in the true objectives of ECOWAS. The very foundation of the unity, economic, integration and prosperity to seek for all of our citizens.
“I wish to prevail on all of us to assert roles in direction of shaping the ECOWAS to meet the very objectives for which it has been established and consequently discharge our duties to the great continent of our people”.
Tunkara therefore tasked MPs to approach the meeting with determination to create tangible outcomes that will benefit the lives of millions of citizen across the community.
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PHOTOS Of Prisoners Who Escaped Borno Prison And Those Recaptured
By Mario Deepromoter
Nigerian Correctional Service on Sunday disclosed that about 281 inmates escaped from Maiduguri Medium Security Custodial Centre following severe flooding in the capital city.
NCoS spokesperson, Umar Abubakar, said the agency had alerted the Nigerian Immigration Service, and Nigeria Police Force among other security agencies to help recapture the fleeing inmates.
“Every security agency in the country has been notified and they are on alert to help track down the fleeing inmates wherever they may be. With their help, we will capture them and return them to our custodial centre,” Umar said.
In a statement on Sunday, he said of the 281 fleeing inmates, seven had already been recaptured and returned to the facility.
“The Nigerian Correctional Service has observed the flooding currently being experienced in Maiduguri, Borno State, and its environment.
The unfortunate incident has left scars, bringing down the walls of the correctional facilities, including the Medium Security Custodial Centre in Maiduguri as well as the staff quarters in the city.
“Upon the evacuation of inmates by officers of the service, with support from sister security agencies to a safe and secure facility, 281 inmates were observed to be missing.
Presently, a total of seven inmates have been recaptured and returned to custody, while efforts are on the ground to track down the rest and bring them back to safe custody,” the statement read in part.
Abubakar further stated that details of the fleeing inmates had been made available to the public while noting that efforts were underway to track them.
“However, it is important to note that the service is in the custody of their details, including their biometrics, which are being made available to the public. The service is working in synergy with other security agencies as both covert and overt deployments have been activated to locate them. While this effort is ongoing, the public is assured that the incident does not impede or affect public safety,” the statement added.
Recall that the flood affected many parts of Maiduguri, leading to the displacement of over 300,000 residents and the deaths of over 30 people, including children.
Meanwhile, Borno State Governor, Babagana Zulum, on Saturday said he was “seriously worried” that jailed Boko Haram terrorists might have escaped from the prison facility.
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SEE new price of petrol across all 36 states
By Mario Deepromoter
Despite the counter accusations by both Dangote Refinery and NNPCL over prices, the price list of petrol has emerged online.
According to reports, this is because NNPCL bought petrol at a higher price from Dangote Refinery on Sunday.
NNPCL also mentioned that Dangote Refinery sold the petrol in US Dollars, not naira, against the federal government’s directive.
However, Dangote Refinery will sell its petrol in naira starting in October.
According to a breakdown from NNPCL, Dangote Refinery sold petrol to NNPCL at N898.78 per litre.
NNPCL paid Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) fee of N8.99, inspection fee of N0.97, a distribution cost in Lagos of N15, margin N26.48.
NNPCL’s statement added that the estimated pump price in:
Lagos will be N950.22
Sokoto State N999.22
Kano State N999.22
Borno State N1,019.22
Kaduna N999.22
FCT N992.22
Oyo State N960.22
Lagos State N950.22
Rivers State N980.00
Imo State N980.22
An analysis of the chart showed that except from Lagos State, other states of the federation will be paying higher because of distribution costs.
The distance from Dangote Refinery and NNPCL‘s depot in Lagos State to other states of the country majorly would determine the price differences.
The report also showed that the six geo-political zones would be paying differently.
The North East states would be paying the highest per liter from N1,019.22, followed by North West states from N999.22, followed by North Central states from N992.22, followed by South East states from N980.22, South South states from N980.22 and South West states paying the least from N960.22, except Lagos State paying from N950.22.
At the time of filing this report, the presidency is yet to speak on the latest development.
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Rivers 2027: Ogoni powerful men snub Fubara, throw weight behind Wike
By Mario Deepromoter
Political heavyweights from the Ogoni and Oyigbo zones have formally withdrawn their support for Rivers Governor Siminalayi Fubara ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The leaders have dumped Fubara and lace their boots with the action packed Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike.
The leaders gathered on Saturday in Nonwa, Tai Local Government Area, at an event tagged “Ogoni, Oyigbo People’s Assembly.”
The assembly, which focused on fostering unity between the two ethnic zones, was heavily attended by politicians loyal to Wike, who remains locked in a bitter political feud with Fubara, his estranged protégé.
Prominent personalities, including Senators Barinada Mpigi and Magnus Abe, Ambassador Desmond Akawor, and Chief Victor Giadom, attended the meeting.
The group emphasized that after years of marginalization, it was time for Ogoni and Oyigbo to produce the next governor of Rivers State.
Speaking on behalf of the assembly, Senator Mpigi declared, “The Ogoni and Oyigbo Peoples Assembly, a multi-political convergence of five Local Government Areas within the Rivers South-East Senatorial District, met today to reaffirm their support for the President Bola Tinubu-led administration and pledged total loyalty to the former Governor of Rivers State and current Minister of FCT, Chief Nyesom Wike.
“We also reiterate the obvious fact that the senatorial district’s upland is due for a governor and should produce the next governor of Rivers State come 2027.”
Tensions between Wike and Governor Fubara have been mounting, with Wike publicly withdrawing his support for his former ally.
Wike, who was instrumental in Fubara’s rise to power, has accused the governor of straying from their shared vision for the state.
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