All Posts in "Day: August 9, 2023"

NIMASA Releases Modular Floating Dock Site To Technical Partners

Mohammed Shosanya

The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency(NIMASA), has handed over the leased site at the Continental Shipyard Limited (CSL) of the Nigerian Ports Authority to the technical partners, Melsmore.

The technical partners are to liaise with the Management of the Nigerian Ports Authority in finalizing site management, which include risk assessment in preparation to move the Modular floating Dock to the Continental Shipyard for the commencement of full operations.

Besides,NIMASA and the technical partners agreed to invite manufacturers of the Floating Dock, Damen Shipyard to join in recommissioning the Dockyard, while site preparations are ongoing. This is to ensure the Floating Dock is deployed in the shortest possible time.

The Director General of NIMASA, Dr. Bashir Jamoh,who addressed officials of Melsmore,emphasised the need for them to review the action plan in the light of realities on ground with detailed deliverables, and key performance indicators with clearly stated timelines.

He added:“Nigerians eagerly await the deployment of the Modular Floating Dock. This is a national asset, which has potentials to boost maritime trade, create jobs, develop skills, by providing training avenues to various maritime training institutions in Nigeria, while also attracting foreign investment and preventing capital flight, thereby generating revenue. We hope to have students from the Maritime Academy of Nigeria and the Maritime University Okerenkoko amongst other maritime institutions come for practical time”.

The Managing Director, Melsmore, Mr. Danny Fuchs commended NIMASA for the opportunity to work on such important project.

He assured that the company is prepared to handle the movement of the floating dock from the naval dockyard to the Continental Shipyard Limited (CSL).

admin by — August 9, 2023 in Business 0
Police Decorate Officer Assaulted By Seun Kuti

Mohammed Shosanya

Mohammed Aminu,an officer attached to the Police Training College, Ikeja, who was on assaulted by Afro singer, Seun Kuti has been decorated as an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) .

He was decorated by an Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIGP), Shina Olukolu (rtd) and Deputy Commissioner of Police, DCP Ishaq Ismail Salihu at the rank decoration ceremony held at Police Training School, Ikeja, Lagos.

He was said to have been slapped by Seun Kuti without retaliation , an act that was commended by many.

AIGP Olukolu joined DCP Ismail Salihu, the Commandant of Police Training School, Ikeja and other members of the society while decorating the police officer said that Aminu, is a shinning example who has successfully represented the Inspector General of Police and his management team and Nigeria Police force at large.

ASP Aminu was presented with a cheque of unspecified amount by AIGP Olukolu (rtd) on behalf of the foundation as a way of encouragement. He congratulated him for being able to discharge high level of discipline in the face of provocation and temptation.

Reacting,the Police Training School commandant, DCP Salihu, thanked retired AIG Olukolu for identifying with the force.

He also appreciated the Inspector General of Police with Police Commission, IGP Solomon Arase (rtd) and the member of his squad for approving the recommendation of the promoted officers.

He also commended IGP Kayode Egbetokun, for his timely recommendation and releasing of the promotion to the officers at a due time it was released; saying that such actions can only happened when there is a leader that is attune to the needs of his personnel.

admin by — August 9, 2023 in News 0
Resident Doctors’ Strike Unreasonable–Perm Sec

The Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment, Daju Kachallom has has faulted the action of the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) to go on strike without a Minister in place as highly unreasonable.

She appealed to the conscience of the striking medical professionals to shelve their planned nationwide protest in the interest of Nigerians who rely on them for medical care in hospitals across the country.

Kachallom, who had a brief interaction with the media to highlight some of the constraints facing the ministry, lamented that Nigerians were dying in their numbers owing to Doctors absence in the hospitals.

She noted that government was working assiduously to meet all the demands of NARD within the shortest period of time, adding that the major demands of NARD was being responded to including:; the Medical Residency Training Fund (MRTF) and timely replacement of doctors as some are leaving the system for greener pastures.

She also said that while the committee set up to look into the issues raised by NARD needs to conclude their work within the time frame given and submit recommendations for government to work with, government had appealed to the striking doctors to exercise little patience for ministers to come on board.

She added: “We held another meeting here on the 17th of July 2023 to review the level of implementation from the government side and we appealed to them (NARD) that complete carry away unless governments see to what they can do because this is a new regime; we just came in on the 29th of May, and we couldn’t welcome them with a strike.

“To be honest, federal government on its side has done quite a bit of trying to who ensure that the National Association of Resident Doctors do not go on strike but they still went ahead.

“The main crux of the matter for now are two main issues; payment of the 2023 Medical Residency Training Fund and one on one replacement of exited doctors

“On the immediate payment of 2023 Medical Residency Training Fund we appealed to them that they should kindly await when ministers are in place because permanent secretaries have a threshold and what the government is expected to pay is far and above the threshold of the permanent Secretary secretary. Very soon we are sure that ministers are going to be in place and we told them to please tarry a while we understand the plight of where you’re coming from.

“We are pleading with them to call off the strike. To be honest, the Federal Ministry of Health their parent ministry actually wrote to the Presidency on the issue in the health sector for him to intervene, we are awaiting his response.”

Explaining further she said an inter-ministerial committee was set up to look into the one on one replacement of doctors. Her words: “we need to determine and establish who exactly are exiting because we’re all guided as civil servants by the public service rules. There’s a difference between exits from an office, there is study leave, there is leave of absence and different kinds of leave so we need to be sure.

“We all know how these things work in the Federal civil system and we pleaded again for a little more time for the committee to wrap up and when recommendations are made we will bring them forth”.

admin by — August 9, 2023 in Health 0
My Wife Encouraged Me To Start Acting,After I Lost My Job-Pete Edochie

Mohammed Shosanya

Nollywood legend, Pete Edochie, discusses with the host of the viral TV show #WithChude, Chude Jideonwo,Mary and Yul Edochie’s seperation,his thoughts on polygamy, how he ventured into acting and why he has given up on Nigerian politics.

Speaking about his traditional perspective on the dynamics of the roles of men and women, Pete Edochie shared, “When you get married, your wife drops her father’s name and assumes yours. You can’t have two people as captains in a ship. Women transform houses into homes, and if you don’t have a woman in the house, your house can never be a home. My wife is a lawyer. I have lived with this woman for the past 53 years, and nobody has ever come in here to say, ‘Pete, please stop beating her; you will kill her.’ No. I never saw my father beat my mother, so I cannot say I learned from my father how to beat Mama.

“I want to think on things that should help us progress, not influences that should drag us backward. Why are men wearing earrings? What was the inspiration behind that? Most of these influences come from outside the country, and they don’t help us. In our culture, a man does not kneel to offer a ring to a woman. Men and women are not equals; in the home, there has to be a leader”

“If you come to our industry today, most of our women who got married two to three years ago have all left their husbands from beginning to end. I am even shocked to hear that Chioma Chukwuka and Ireti Doyle have also left their husbands. You take a vow when you want to get married, ‘for better or for worse, not for better for us.’ You will always think it’s greener on the other side, but that’s the mistake that we all make. Try to find satisfaction with what you have within you; it goes a long way.

“If I didn’t have children, you could say, ‘aha, I don’t like youth,’ but what am I disliking youth for? If I tell you not to do this and you decide to do it, you can go ahead. I always like to engage in things that will provide me with inspiration, things I can defend. I have a great deal of love and respect for women. If I see any young man harming a woman, I just think that he doesn’t qualify to be a mature man. God has given women their voices; what makes you a mature person is your ability to handle what they tell you without resorting to violence,” he added.

Pete Edochie also commented on the separation between his first son, Yul, and his wife,saying:”I really don’t interfere in his affairs. Suddenly, we heard that he had taken a second wife. I don’t lie, because it’s not necessary. God created me so well that if I tell you this thing is black, it is black.

“When he wanted to run for governor, and I saw his photograph, I thought it was from the production they were working on. It was somebody who called me and said, ‘Do you know Yul is running for governor?’ We just heard it, and that’s it. There’s something we say in Igbo, which means, ‘If you go and pick up ant-infested firewood, it’s a direct invitation for lizards to come roost.’ So, here I am, and that’s all.”

Speaking further about his relationship with Mary Edochie, his son’s first wife, he said, “Mary is not just a daughter-in-law. I don’t want to say that I love Mary more than the other wives of my sons. But the love I have for Mary is so strong. Her father and I were very close. When we went for the traditional marriage rights in their place, the reception their people gave me is something I will never forget.

“Mary is a wonderful person, and she is very brilliant. To a large extent, the success of that home is credited to Mary. She is a wonderful woman, but many people have been advising her wrongly, trying to sunder the link between herself and her husband. Most of those women who are advising her that way don’t have good homes.”

On his view of polygamy, he said:”The people who take a second wife know best why they take second wives. I don’t have any need for a second wife. I have a wife who has given me five sons. What am I going to look for in a second wife? No, it’s not necessary. I will not condemn polygamy because people have their reasons for what they do.”

He also shared his experience of how he got into acting, spurred on by his wife’s encouragement.

He recounted how he lost his broadcasting job due to religious differences and internal issues and how his wife suggested he pursue his interest in acting.

He said:”I told my wife my work was over. She hugged me, bought me a bottle of beer, and said, ‘Pete, you’ve always wanted to be an actor; the time has come.’ I was sitting there with her in the parlor when somebody from Lagos came to give me a check for fifty thousand to make a film. At that time, my salary as the director was 9000 naira per month.”

admin by — August 9, 2023 in Arts/Entertainment 0
Coup:Group Sues Tinubu Over Planned Military Action In Niger

Mohammed Shosanya

An international civil group, Egalitarian Mission for Africa (EMA) has sued President Bola Tinubu of Nigeria at the Economic Community of West African (ECOWAS) Court of Justice, over plans to deploy military action in a bid to reinstate the ousted democratically elected government in Niger Republic.

The suit which seeks to invoke the ECOWAS protocols to halt the planned military action was filed on behalf of EMA by a Nigerian lawyer, Dr Kayode Ajulo.

Other plaintiffs in the suit are a former Director General of the Nigerian Institute of Internal Affairs (NIIA), Professor Bola Akinterinwa and a Nigerian lawyer, Hamza Nuhu Dantani.

Defendants are ECOWAS, Authority of Heads of State & Government of ECOWAS, President of ECOWAS Mission, Federal Republic of Nigeria and Republic of Niger.

The group wants the ECOWAS Court to invoke relevant treaties of the regional body and international laws to stop the military invasion of Niger Republic being spearhead by the Nigerian Government.

The group said that the planned military action or invasion will run foul of the obligations in the ECOWAS treaties and therefore amounting to illegality.

The plaintiffs averred that Nigeria should not travel the dangerous road of military hostilities that may further escalate the crisis in the Niger Republic.

The suit marked ECW/CCJ/APP/3/23, stated that ECOWAS treaties prohibit aggression among member states.

The plaintiffs are seeking the ECOWAS Court to restrain any form of military action in Niger Republic that may undermine the sovereignty and the territorial integrity of Niger Republic.

The plaintiffs’ counsel, Dr Ajulo, in a letter to President Tinubu, notified the ECOWAS Chairman of the pendency of the suit and invoking the Protocol of the ECOWAS Court on the need to respect and obey the rule of law as well as to refrain from doing what will militate against the subject matter.

The letter is entitled: “Notification of Pendency of case before the ECOWAS Community Court of Justice; Call For Strict Adherence To The Protocol of the Honourable Court of the ECOWAS Commumity Court of Justice”.

It reads in part: “We are Counsel to the Plaintiffs/Applicants in the above case before the ECOWAS Community Court of Justice and it is on their firm and unequivocal instructions that we write.

“Sequel to the Resolution and several sanctions imposed by the ECOWAS in the aftermath of the unfortunate and unconstitutional takeover of the democratically elected Government of the Republic of Niger, we have lodged a Case before the ECOWAS Community Court of Justice in an application for reliefs as the proposed military intervention in the Republic of Niger would be tantamount to aggression between ECOWAS member states.

“The intervention will specifically violate Articles 1, 5, 15, 16, 17, 21, 22 & 24 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights; Articles 1 (2), 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 11, 12, 13 & 14 of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights; Articles 1, 3, 22, 23 (3), 25 (1) & 26 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights 1948; Articles 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 & 10 of the Declaration on the Right to Development 1986; Articles 6, 15, 31, 63 & 64 of the Revised Treaty of the Economic Community of West African States; Article 10 of the Supplementary Protocol (A/SP.1/01/05) amending the Protocol (A/P.I/7/91) relating to the Community Court of Justice and Articles 10 (c), 22, 26, 27, 28, 56 of the ECOWAS Protocol Relating to the Mechanism for Conflict Prevention, Management, Resolution, Peace– Keeping and Security 1999.

“The case, an official copy of which has been duly served on your Excellency through the ECOWAS Secretariat, 101, Yakubu Gowon Crescent, Asokoro, Abuja, has invoked the jurisdiction of the International Court to consider Conventions, Treaties, Protocols and Regulations to which your Excellency and the Federal Republic of Nigeria are signatories and which override the resolutions, sanctions, domestic law and practices and which the ECOWAS Community Court of Justice has been called upon to declare illegal.

“We wish to further draw your attention to Article 22(2) of the Protocol on the Community Court of Justice which mandates that “When a dispute is brought before the Court, Member states or institutions of the Community shall refrain from any action likely to aggravate or militate against its settlement”.

“In the Case before the ECOWAS Court of Justice, the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government (of which your Excellency is the Chairman), President, ECOWAS Commission, The Federal Republic of Nigeria (of which your Excellency is the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces) have been sued as sovereign legal representatives of respective institutions including the Republic of Niger.

“It is your Excellency’s sacred duty as the Chairman of the Authority of Heads of State and Government of ECOWAS and the President and Commander-in-Chief of Armed Forces of Federal Republic of Nigeria under your hand to bring the institution of the Case before ECOWAS Community Court of Justice to the attention of the other Defendants and to insist, particularly in your Excellences’ subsequent meetings, that the Defendants refrain from taking any action in respect of the subject matter pending the determination of the case, in view of your Excellency and Nigeria’s protocol obligation under the Article above quoted.

“Your Excellency, it is our firm confidence that by your enviable knowledge of high international standard of due adherence to the rule of law and respect for the supranational judicial process obtainable in a Case of this nature, we need not further stress the need to ensure that all the Defendants concerned maintain the status quo presently obtaining, and restrain themselves from taking any step susceptible to being regarded by the ECOWAS Community Court of Justice and international Community as prejudicial to the interest of our client or any of the parties in court.

“Your Excellency would agree with us that as the law stands presently, the Resolution on proposed military actions be discontinued pending the determination of the Case by the ECOWAS Community Court of Justice.

“The Federal Government of Nigeria and other Defendants have never been known to confront the international judicial system nor subject themselves to international ridicule and is beyond mischievously foisting a fait accompli on an International Court to which charter or protocol she is a High Contracting party.

“It is without any reservation that we proceed on the common ground that your Excellency would use your good offices as the Chairman, Authority of Heads of State and Government of ECOWAS and President & Commander-in-Chief of Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to adhere and advise compliance on the part of the afore-listed defendants.
.

“While thanking you for your adherence to the rule of law, please accept the assurance of our warmest professional regards”

admin by — August 9, 2023 in Law/Human Rights 0
Senegal To Get €50m From Africa Finance Corporation To Boost Oil, Gas Industry

Africa Finance Corporation (AFC),is partnering with the Government of Senegal to fund the development of the landmark Sangomar oil field.

Through this strategic collaboration, AFC will invest €50 million in the oil field to help boost the country’s emerging oil & gas industry and improve energy access and security in Senegal,a statement said on Wednesday.

Located 100 kilometers southwest of the capital, Dakar, the Sangomar oil field spans 7,490 square kilometers and is estimated to hold around 500 million barrels of crude oil.

The Corporation’s investment in the Sangomar oil field will be used to drive the first phase of development towards achieving first oil, a key milestone in the advancement of the country’s hydrocarbons sector.

The facility will provide a significant boost to Senegal’s economy, supporting the country’s ambitions to become a regional hub for the oil & gas industry. It will also generate significant revenues for the government through taxes and royalties, create employment opportunities for local workers, and contribute to energy security by reducing dependence on imported oil & gas.

“We are pleased to support the development of the Sangomar field which we expect to have a transformative impact on the Republic of Senegal and its people though the reduction of import reliance, the generation of increased government revenues, the creation of local jobs and an overall contribution to accelerated industrialisation and economic development,” said Mr. Samaila Zubairu, President & CEO of the Africa Finance Corporation.

Since the Republic of Senegal acceded to membership of the Corporation in 2019, AFC has helped to finance several critical sectors of the country’s economy. These include: the 300MW combined-cycle gas power project in Cap des Biches, the country’s largest Independent Power Project (IPP); the construction and rehabilitation of road networks in Senegal through Fonds d’Entretien Routier Autonome (FERA); and the provision of funding to the Ministry of Economy and Finance for projects such as the 128MW Sambangalou Hydro Power Dam in the Kedougou region and the procurement of petroleum products for power generation.

admin by — August 9, 2023 in Oil&Gas 0
Subsidy: NLC,TUC,Others Reject Gbajabiamila’s Conciliatory Committee

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Trade Union Congress (TUC), and other sister bodies have rejected President Bola Tinubu’s Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila move to set up a panel to negotiate cushioning policies on fuel subsidy removal.

They maintained that the panel lacks capacity to bring solutions to the controversy.

The National President of NLC, Joe Ajaero who said this at a meeting between the NLC and the leadership of the Senate, regretted that Tinubu wage award committee is yet to sit two months after the removal of fuel subsidy on Nigerians.

“Part of our challenge is the issue of the committee put in place, the committee seem not to be capable , as labor we have done with Negotiation and engagement with the government from the time of Ikaite, as SGF, kingibe, Pius Ayim and Boss Mustapha .

“At no time had the chief of Staff to the president who is very busy called to negotiate or lead negotiations.

“And that has delayed the issues , even since after our protest , another meeting have not reconvened , although president promised that he will restructure the mechanism of engagement with government to help things to be treated fast.We had agreed on wage award, and up till this moment the committee on wage award is yet to sit.”

He outlined the hardship endured by Nigerians due to fuel subsidy removal, as he lambasted the federal government for not putting measures in place to ameliorate the effect on the country.

Ajaero told the lawmakers that while Labour leaders were still deliberating on N537 per litre of fuel and that the court had ruled for status quo to remain, the government decided to increase the fuel to N620 per liter.

Speaking further , the NLC President said that $800 million intended to borrow to cushion effect of subsidy removal and you till now the Labour yet to get information about urging Federal government not to use the record that was used in the past by the previous administration.

“We should not follow the record that was used in 2019 because we’ve our doubts on that record.And no indices have been put forward to dictate those that are termed poor”

President of the Senate,God’swill Akpabio appreciated Organized Labour for their patience and understanding to assist government .

He told the trade unions that although the executive has saved N1 trillion as a result of fuel subsidy removal, but President Tinubu inherited a broke country with debt profile of over N30 trillion.

Akpabio assured the aggrieved Labour Unions of partnership and to approach the Executive to ameliorate the suffering of Nigerians.

admin by — August 9, 2023 in News 0
Niger Coup: Military Operation Will Cost Nigeria $2bn Annually-Muda Yussuf

Mohammed Shosanya

Nigeria will need a minimum of $2 billion annually to prosecute a military operation in Niger,on account of the prevailing geopolitical dynamics in the Sahel,Dr Muda Yussuf,Chief Executive Officer of Centre for the Promotion of Private Enterprise,CPPE,has said.

In a statement,Yussuf,said it will be difficult to accommodate such huge financial commitment at this time without putting a serious strain on our fiscal operations and foreign reserves.

He also recalled how Nigeria spent over $4 billion and lost about 700 soldiers in its military intervention in Sierra Leone which lasted from 1998 to 2002.

Nigeria,he said,spent $8billion on 7years Liberian war and lost 1600 soldiers.

According to him, Nigeria got any significant benefit from the military interventions in both Liberia and Sierra Leone,inspite of the huge financial burden on Nigeria.

He said:”The costs to Nigeria were colossal. Military spending in a war situation is largely in foreign currency. It could therefore be a major drain on the Nigeria’s reserves.The loss of lives was also a tragic outcome of the war. At the end, there was no concrete benefit for Nigeria for expending so much of its financial and human resources. Of course, we were consoled by the perception of Nigeria in the comity of nations as the ‘giant’ of Africa”.

He posited that Nigeria’s current balance of payment position is weak and may not be able to support any major military engagement outside the country’s shores.

Its external sector is fragile, posing a profound challenge of currency volatility,he said,adding that the worsening of the external sector would adversely impact investors confidence , weaken growth prospects and decelerate the pace of economic recovery.

He said Nigeria’s military intervention in Niger,would erode the expected gains from the recent reforms by President Bola Tinubu administration.

He explained that the reason is because there would be an escalation in the defense budget which would trigger a surge in fiscal deficit, worsening of inflationary pressures and a spike in debt levels and related debt service burden.

He added that resources that would have been used for the funding of critical infrastructures such as roads, electricity, education health railway system would be deployed to funding military operations.

He said:”While it may be easy to determine the commencement of a military campaign, it is often difficult to predict the duration, scope, intensity, dimension and the ultimate cost. Military operations are typically dynamic. Underlying assumptions may change as the military operations progress. And this may have significant budget implications.

“If Nigeria decides to go ahead with a military campaign in Niger, our defense spending may have to increase substantially possibly by 100% or more. Over 70% of the spending would have to be foreign exchange. Though the military option would be an ECOWAS decision, the burden of prosecuting the operation would have to be borne substantially by Nigeria.

“These are scenarios we need to worry about. Characteristically, it is difficult to predict what the scope of a military engagement because of the dynamic nature of such operations. Extant strategies may therefore not capture all the variables, many of which may unforeseen. The ECOMOG story is a classic example”.

He said,military actions among member of Economic Community of West African States,ECOWAS, would surely negate this fundamental objective of the promotion of economic integration in the sub region.

He said,itwould perpetuate fragmentation of the region and trade within the region will be severely impacted,adding that this has grave consequences for the economies of the economies of member states and the welfare of the citizens.

He advised that it is not in Nigeria’s interest to get deeply involved in the military adventures in the zone, with Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger being major theatres of their operations.

According to him,this could further complicate matters for the entire sub region,adding that Nigeria should avoid getting entangled in these geopolitical dynamics.

admin by — August 9, 2023 in News 0
Coup: Tinubu Orders CBN To Impose Tougher Financial Sanctions On Niger Republic

Mohammed Shosanya

President Bola Tinubu has instructed the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to impose extra financial sanctions on Niger Republic.

The development followed the deadline given by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to reinstate President Mohamed Bazoum.

Tinubu also directed the CBN to extend such sanctions to senior government officials of Niger who have refused to heed to the demand by ECOWAS.

Bazoum was overthrown and detained by senior military officers in the country about two weeks ago, to the chagrin of ECOWAS leaders who have threatened a possible military action against the coupists if democratic governance is not returned.

Tinubu’s spokesman, Ajuri Ngelale, announced the latest sanction by Nigeria, which currently chairs the Authority of ECOWAS heads of state and government.

Addressing State House correspondents in Abuja, Ngelale said that “following the expiration of the deadline of the ultimatum and standing on the pre-existing consensus position of financial sanctions meted out on the military junta in Niger Republic by the bloc of ECOWAS Heads of State, His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has ordered an additional slew of financial sanctions through the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) on entities and individuals related to or involved with the military junta in Niger Republic”.

He debunked attempts by section of the media to personalise the angst and sanctions against the military in Niger Republic, stressing that whatever action Nigeria has taken or takes falls under ECOWAS protocols and decisions, and not by unilateral fiat of Tinubu.

According to Ngelale, “this is not an individual action taken by an individual President on behalf of individual nation. This is an action taken by ECOWAS chairman who is the president of Nigeria, but standing on the authority provided by the consensus resolution of all ECOWAS members and heads of state with regard to financial sanctions being levied by ECOWAS Member States against the military junta in Niger Republic.

“There is an authority that we are standing on. It is not Nigerian government authority, it is the authority of the resolution passed in public before now.

“This is the context, the nuance and the detail that is required in our reports, lest our people be misinformed; and we begin to be framed internationally as being in a situation where it’s Nigeria versus its neighbour, Niger, because that’s the narrative that some certain international perspectives would like to advance for their own interest.”

He added that :”The ECOWAS mandate, and ultimatum is not a Nigerian ultimatum. It is not a Nigerian mandate and the office of His Excellency President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, also serving as the chairman of ECOWAS seeks to emphasize this point.”

Ngelale further noted that Tinubu in recent days, particularly following the expiration of the ultimatum given by ECOWAS, has widened consultations internationally but most especially domestically, including interfaces with States governors in Nigeria, who govern states bordering Niger public on the various fallouts and outcomes of the situation in Niger Republic.

He also affirmed that Nigeria will be hosting an extraordinary summit of the ECOWAS leaders on Thursday to discuss the next line of action after the deadline given to the military in Niger Republic expired last Sunday.

admin by — August 9, 2023 in News 0