Nasir El-Rufai, the ex-Governor of Kaduna State, has advised the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), against pursuing a military intervention in Niger Republic. This counsel comes after ECOWAS defence chiefs expressed their preparedness to engage a standby force aimed at reinstating democracy in Niger following the removal and detention of President Mohamed Bazoum by military leaders on Thursday. In a statement via X, El-Rufai said, “As ECOWAS beats the drums of war, I recall the 1970s rock classic by Dire Straits – ‘Brothers in Arms’, because a war within our subregion is a war between brothers. Indeed, the…
Author: Editor Francis
The new minister of solid mineral development, Dele Alake reveals that his office requires urgent and professional individuals, adding that President Bola Tinubu appointed him to this role due to the sector’s vital role in economic revitalization. The former Special Adviser to the President on Special Duties, Communication, and Strategy made this known to journalists following his inauguration in Abuja on Monday Alake disclosed that he actively sought out this portfolio, diverging from the prevailing notion that he would be assigned a different one. “I heard about that matter since the beginning of this administration when I was given the…
Vice President Kashim Shettima is set to depart from Abuja on Monday to represent President Bola Tinubu at the upcoming 15th BRICS Summit of Heads of States and Governments. The prestigious summit is scheduled to take place at the Sandton Convention Centre in Johannesburg, South Africa, from August 22 to 24. Shettima’s participation in the summit will see him join a diverse gathering of international business magnates and political figures. The announcement of his role was relayed through a statement from the Office of the Vice President’s Director of Information, Olusola Abiola. The overarching agenda of the summit encompasses a…
Ambassador Kathleen FitzGibbon, acting under the direction of Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken, has journeyed to Niamey to lead the U.S. diplomatic mission in Niger. Her mission is geared towards bolstering efforts aimed at resolving the prevailing political crisis at a pivotal juncture. With her extensive experience as a seasoned senior diplomat specialising in West Africa, Ambassador FitzGibbon’s appointment uniquely equips her to spearhead U.S. government initiatives. The United States government said that her focus remains firmly on supporting the American community and safeguarding the integrity of Niger’s hard-earned democratic system. “Due to the current political crisis in Niger,…
The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesome Wike, along with the Minister of State, Mariya Mahmud, have officially assumed their roles in office. Their arrival at the FCT took place at approximately 1:20 pm, following a formal swearing-in ceremony held at the presidential villa. More to come…
In a grand ceremony held at the State House Conference Center, Presidential Villa, Aso Rock, Abuja, President Bola Tinubu officially inaugurated his team of 45 ministers on Monday. The swearing-in process took place in seven separate batches, each consisting of several ministers. The first batch, comprising notable figures such as the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Nkiruka Onyejeocha, Minister of State Gas in the Ministry of Petroleum Resources, Ekperikpe Ekpo, Minister of Women Affairs, Uju Kennedy, and Minister of Education Tahir Maman, were sworn in amidst an…
Chinese President, Xi Jinping, is embarking on a visit to South Africa with the aim of bolstering China’s influence among developing and emerging nations. This comes as relations with the United States remain strained, and China faces economic challenges domestically. As reported by CNN, the three-day state visit includes a summit with leaders from the BRICS emerging economies. Notably, this marks Xi’s second international trip this year, a departure from his pre-pandemic active diplomatic schedule. Xi’s prior overseas visit occurred in March, when he met with Vladimir Putin in Moscow. During this meeting, the two leaders, both known for their…
The three-year power transition plan put forth by the military junta of the Niger Republic has been turned down by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). This decision was revealed by Abdel-Fatau Musah, the ECOWAS Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace, and Security, during an interview with the BBC on Sunday. Govima reports that, in a late-night address on Saturday, Abdourahmane Tiani, the Niger Republic’s self-declared head of state, said the country will return to civilian rule within three years. The coup leader gave no details of the plan, noting that only the principles for the transition would be…
In an official statement released on Sunday, Ajuri Ngelale, the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, revealed significant ministerial redeployments within the Nigerian government. In the staement made available , Abubakar Momoh has been reassigned from his role at the Federal Ministry of Youth to now serve in the Ministry of Niger Delta Development. Similarly, Adegboyega Oyetola has undergone redeployment and will now take on the position of Minister of Marine and Blue Economy.
Over 40 ministers-designate have successfully finished their documentation process, according to the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF). The official documentation process concluded on Saturday, August 19, with more than 30 out of the 45 ministers-designate having their documentation completed. Willie Bassey, the OSGF’s director of information, shared a brief update on Sunday, confirming that the process had proceeded smoothly without complications. Those who completed their documentation have also received invitation cards for up to three guests for their forthcoming engagements. Bassey assured that more updates would be provided as the situation progresses, emphasising that…
Pressure from world countries and the West African Regional bloc, ECOWAS, have made the Niger Republic self declared head of state to announce his intention to return power to the civilian government. Abdourahmane Tiani said himself and his team will rule for three years to restore sanity and normalcy to the country. Tiani spoke late Saturday night in a televised address. The coup leader gave no details on the plan, saying only that the principles for the transition would be decided within 30 days at a dialogue to be hosted by the junta. “Our ambition is not to confiscate power.…
The Association of Professional Women Engineers of Nigeria (APWEN), has called on President Bola Tinubu to provide female engineers with the chance to rejuvenate the country’s inactive refineries. Atinuke Owolabi, the chairperson of APWEN, made this appeal during the association’s public lecture and annual general meeting held in Lagos on Saturday. Owolabi emphasized the competency of Nigerian female engineers to efficiently restore the refineries to operational status within a year. “All women engineers are ready to come together and see how we can proffer solutions, making sure that we revamp these refineries,” she said. “So, we call on our president…