Aliko Dangote, president of the Dangote Industries Limited (DIL), Femi Otedola, chairman of First HoldCo Plc, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, director-general of World Trade Organisation (WTO), are among the personalities to be honoured at the 100 most notable Africans leadership and business summit in Rwanda.

The event billed to be held from July 4 to 6 at the Marriott Hotel in Kigali will also honour Damini Ogulu, popularly known as Burna Boy, and Mohammed Salah, Egyptian footballer.

Speaking on Wednesday during a press conference in Abuja, Kingsley Amafibe, the project director for the 100 most notable peace icons in Africa, said the summit promotes cross-border initiatives that allow nations to share best practices in areas like agriculture, education and health.

He added that the summit will celebrate the contributions of leaders on the continent and businesses to inspire future generations.

He said the event hopes to drive positive change and economic growth initiatives that promote entrepreneurship and innovation and strengthen governance and education across Africa.

Amafibe added that the platform supports startups, innovators, and small businesses through mentorship and access to markets.

“Today we celebrate trailblazers shaping Africa’s future, capturing the attention of leaders across Africa and business executives,” Amafibe said.

“There is a pressing need for visionary leadership, strategic governance, transparency, and partnerships to drive positive change and unlock the continent’s full potential.”

He added that the summit will see economic experts, government officials, entrepreneurs, captains of industry, policymakers and professionals converge to explore opportunities for collaboration and partnerships.

Confirmed participants of the summit include Babajide Sanwo-Olu, governor of Lagos; Tony Elumelu, chairman of United Bank for Africa (UBA); Biodun Fatoyinbo, senior pastor at COZA Global; Tems and Diamond Platnumz, music stars; and Zainab Nasir-Idris, wife of the Kebbi state governor, among others.

President Bola Tinubu has urged Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) leaders to match policies with actions for real impact on citizens.

Tinubu spoke in Lagos on Wednesday during the commemorative ceremony marking ECOWAS’ 50th anniversary. 

He said the regional bloc is lagging in policy implementation and urged member states to turn plans into action. 

Tinubu highlighted the organisation’s achievements, noting its efforts in expanding trade, restoring constitutional order, and launching bold strategies to enhance food security and promote regional development.

“Our region has pioneered a free movement, expanded intra-trade, regional trade and deepened integration. These measures have facilitated business, cultural heritages and mobility across West Africa,” he said.

“Of peace and security, ECOWAS has acted decisively to restore constitutional order and counter instability. Our regional cooperation on counterterrorism and financial crime reflects our shared commitment to peace and safety.

“In governance, ECOWAS has upheld democratic norms through election observations, mediation and institutions such as ECOWAS’s parliament and court of justice.

“In agriculture and infrastructure, we have launched bold strategies to address our food security and to drive our regional development. The ECOWAS infrastructure master plan 2020-2045 provides a framework for connectivity, trade and prosperity. 

“Despite our progress, challenges remain. Our greatest task now is implementation. We are lagging behind on implementation, and I urge all member states to match policy with action.

“Let all our citizens feel the real impact of our shared efforts.”

The president, who is also the ECOWAS chairman, called on member states to place young people and women — who make up the majority of the region’s population — at the centre of development efforts through deliberate investments in education, entrepreneurship, healthcare, and leadership.

“We must mentor them. Their success is the key to the future and stability and prosperity of ECOWAS,” Tinubu added.

Looking ahead to the next 50 years, Tinubu urged renewed unity and determination among member states to promote trade and confront all forms of challenges.

‘ECOWAS IS UNSUNG HERO AMONG REGIONAL ECONOMIC COMMUNITIES’

Yusuf Tuggar, Nigeria’s minister of foreign affairs and chairman of the ECOWAS council of ministers, described the community as the “unsung hero” among regional economic communities in Africa.

Tuggar commended the ongoing reform process under Tinubu’s leadership, saying it is enhancing the implementation of ECOWAS objectives and paving the way for legal and regulatory convergence towards a customs union and common currency.

“We are also aware that ECOWAS is the unsung hero among the regional economic communities with its funding mechanism, the community levy, that others actually even seek to emulate,” the minister said.

“Under President Tinubu’s leadership, the reform process has continued to make implementation of ECOWAS objectives more efficacious, fostering legal and regulatory convergence towards a customs union and common currency among member states.”

Tuggar addressed the withdrawal of Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger from ECOWAS, describing democracy as “a process, not an event” and expressing confidence that the countries would return to the regional bloc.

John Onaiyekan, a cardinal and former Catholic archbishop of Abuja, says President Bola Tinubu’s re-election prospects in a free and fair election would be jeopardised if he continues with his current policies.

Onaiyekan spoke in Abuja on Wednesday during an interview with journalists after participating in the communication week public lecture organised by the Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria (CSN).

The cardinal pointed out the disconnect between the government and the people, stressing the need for the president to understand the everyday struggles of the ordinary Nigerians.

“My advice for Mr. President is to find ways and means of finding out what Nigeria is actually going through,” Onaiyekan said.

“Not those around him who are always praising him to the skies. They should find out. It is the job of every leader now.

“I’m not telling him to go and live in Mpape for two days, which would not be a bad idea. But he should be able to know how the people in Mpape are surviving. He should also know how families are managing with N30,000 salary a day.

“Since it is the people that he should serve, he should do more to raise the level of well-being of Nigerians.

“I don’t think we are unfair to the government if we say that in the last two years, our level of well-being has crashed considerably. The government may say it’s not their fault.

“They may say they have done their best. But the government is there to make sure that that does not happen. The government is there to make sure that at least the level of well-being of Nigerians is maintained and, if possible, improved.

“And I think it is a good time. Two years is halfway through for him to at least try and do that.

“If he changes gear in that regard and takes policies that really target the poor people of Nigeria, they will remember him forever.

“But if he continues like this for the rest of his term, if we have a free and fair election, he will not win. Because how can the country bring him back if we are not feeling good?

“Obviously, if they are not waiting for us to vote and they already made up their mind, if we win, okay, we praise the nation; we will continue. Going down, going down.”

He said the president should govern the country well and make it liveable for the ordinary Nigerian.

“We are still 250 million of us here in this country. We are struggling, and we shall win, we shall win. So, I’m hoping that the people around Mr. President will give him that advice,” Onaiyekan said.

“The elections were over two years ago. He doesn’t have to worry again whether he won the election or not. The Supreme Court said he won, so we have agreed now.

“We have agreed that he won. This is what the Supreme Court said, we have nowhere else to go. Now he should just govern, make life as liveable as possible for Nigerians, deal with security everywhere, improve the economic level of our people, and fight corruption.

Troops of operation Hadin Kai (OPHK) have arrested 18 serving soldiers and 15 police officers for allegedly selling arms to terrorists and other criminal elements.

Speaking at a press briefing on Wednesday about the activities of troops in the north-east, Ademola Owolana, a major, said operation snowball, an exercise launched in August 2024 to target ammunition racketeering in the theatre, has recorded successes.

Owolana said the exercise was conducted across 11 states, with suspects arrested in Bauchi, Benue, Borno, Ebonyi, Enugu, Lagos, Plateau, Kaduna, Rivers, Taraba and the federal capital territory (FCT).

He said eight civilians and one traditional ruler were also arrested over alleged arms racketeering.

“So far, a total of 18 soldiers, 15 mobile policemen, and eight civilians, including a traditional ruler, have been arrested,” he said.

Owolana said the “lucrative” nature of arms racketeering is the driving force behind the illegal activity.

He noted that Ameh Raphael, an armourer of the 7th division garrison, who has been engaging in the act since 2018, had N45 million in his bank account.

He added that Seidi Adamu of the 3rd division ordnance services, who has also been in the trade since 2022, had N34 million in his bank account.

He said the investigation revealed that N135 million passed through the bank account of Enoch Ngwa, a police inspector, arrested for arms racketeering.

He accused some non-governmental organisations (NGOs) of conveying additives and food items to terrorist locations under the guise of humanitarian assistance.

“Additionally, a few soldiers motivated by greed are involved in ammunition racketeering, deliberately diverting arms from the military stockpiles and supply chains to terrorists,” he said.

“Such actions erode battlefield morale, reduce troops’ effectiveness, and strengthen enemy resistance.

“The most recent incident occurred on 24th February this year when a soldier of 144 Battalion was arrested with 30 rounds of 7.62mm specials at Tashin-Karo Kano by a military police K-19 on route search operations.

“Consequently, the theatre has continued to warn troops at all levels of the severe repercussions and sanctions of ammunition racketeering.

“Those found culpable have been dismissed and handed over to the police to serve as a deterrent.”

Sule Lamido, a former Minister of Foreign Affairs, has shed light on the behind-the-scenes developments that led to the eventual construction of the ministry’s permanent office complex during President Olusegun Obasanjo’s administration (1999–2007).

Lamido’s account of an incident involving the award, suspension and lifting of the suspension on the building contract is contained on pages 197- 202 of his autobiography, “Being True To Myself,” unveiled to the public on May 13.

He recalled that the Federal Executive Council (FEC) had at a meeting presided over by President Obasanjo, approved the contract for the building.

According to him, a firm – C. Cappa came highly recommended for the job by members of the council, including the then Minister of Defence, Lt. General TY Danjuma, and his Finance counterpart, Adamu Ciroma.

Both based their recommendations on the company’s solid reputation and the fact that it built the Federal Ministries of Defence and Foreign Affairs in Lagos. In fact, the defence building was rated the best edifice at the time.

However, when he left the country for a foreign assignment two days later, Obasanjo suspended the contract.

The then minister said he learnt of the President’s decision when he returned and was upset with what Obasanjo wrote on the council memo.

Lamido said, “Before I left the office to the Villa, I had gone home at the Ministers’ Hill in Maitama, where some of the ministers had their official houses. It was during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.

“The sun had set, yet I could not eat very well, because I was in pain. After the Isha prayer, as I was about to leave for the Villa, I performed two raka ‘at prayer and made a sincere plea to Allah, the Almighty God, saying:

‘Well, I am going out now to meet Obasanjo, the Nigerian President. I am leaving this house as a Minister in government, but do not know if I will come back still as a Minister after meeting the President.

‘Oh Allah, give me the strength and courage to stand up to whatever he says. Don’t allow me to fear losing my position and abandon my principles. Please, Ya Allah, strengthen my faith.

‘I’m leaving this house as a Minister; I may not come back as a Minister. I have no problem with that, but God guide me, save my faith. ‘ That was how I left home for the meeting with the President.’”

After registering his displeasure, Lamido told the President, “’…Something wrong must have happened. Sir, the Chairman of the company that awarded the contract is your friend, Shonekan. He is your townsman and also former Head of the Interim National Government. There is no way I could have accepted money from him.

‘So, sir, if you feel I am beginning to fail you, as a Minister, that you have lost faith and all confidence in me, please don’t disgrace me in public like that. Call me and tell me directly; and I will instantly leave your government.

‘But so long as I remain your Minister, I must in character and action be seen to be one, exercising the full functions of that office. I should have the full authority, because I cannot be just a shadow. I will not, sir. I must be able to serve as your Minister with full conviction and commitment, while commanding your trust and total respect. Otherwise, I shall not be there anymore, sir.

‘Whatever you might have heard about the contract, you should have called me to explain. Instead, you went to the same Council and announced that the contract had been suspended. How would you expect my other colleagues in council to see me now?'”

In response, President Obasanjo said, “’Okay, Sule, tomorrow at the Council meeting, I will lift the suspension on the contract. And it will go ahead. Are you happy now?’ I said, ‘I am happy.’

“Obasanjo, in his characteristic manner, replied, ‘Stupid boy, get out of my sight.’ I ran out laughing but full of gratitude to Allah for answering my supplication.”

The contract subsequently went ahead and was completed.

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has urged the National Assembly to turn down the Bola Tinubu administration’s $24 billion loan request, warning that approving it would further deepen Nigeria’s already critical debt burden.

In a statement posted on its official X account, the advocacy group said the new borrowing plan would raise Nigeria’s total debt stock to an estimated N183 trillion — a level it described as “clearly not sustainable and not in the public interest.”

“The National Assembly must immediately refuse to approve the Tinubu administration’s request to borrow $24bn,” SERAP said. “The growing national debt is not sustainable and not in the public interest.”

The organisation expressed concern that the burden of debt servicing was already consuming a substantial portion of government revenue and not sustainable.

Vanguard earlier reported that Nigeria’s total public debt is projected to exceed N180 trillion, following President Bola Tinubu’s fresh request to the National Assembly for approval to secure additional external and domestic loans amounting to N34.15 trillion.

In separate letters addressed to both chambers of the National Assembly, President Tinubu is seeking approval for an external borrowing plan of over $21.5 billion, equivalent to N33.39 trillion at the official exchange rate of N1,590 per dollar. He also requested the approval of a domestic bond issuance of N757.9 billion to offset outstanding pension liabilities.

The president said the 2025–2026 borrowing plan covers critical sectors such as infrastructure, health, agriculture, education, water supply, security, and employment generation, and is intended to cushion the economic impact of the fuel subsidy removal.

According to Tinubu, the loan package includes $21.5 billion, €2.19 billion, and 15 billion Japanese Yen, along with a €65 million grant. He assured lawmakers that the funds will be deployed toward nationwide development projects across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), with a focus on rail, healthcare, and poverty alleviation.

On pensions, the president said the proposed bond issuance aims to settle backlogs under the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS), citing years of non-compliance due to revenue constraints. The plan, he explained, has received Federal Executive Council (FEC) approval and is expected to boost retirees’ welfare, restore confidence in the pension system, and inject liquidity into the economy.

Nigeria’s public debt has grown significantly in recent years, rising by 48.6% in 2024 to N144.66 trillion, up from N97.34 trillion in 2023, with the Federal Government responsible for 95% of the total.

Nyesom Wike, the Minister of Federal Capital Territory, has stated that his greatest challenge are those who do not want to pay taxes in the nation’s capital.

He disclosed this on Wednesday while inspecting projects in Abuja.

Wike frowned at Nigerians who want to enjoy infrastructural development without paying taxes.

According to him, the Federal Capital Territory Administration plans to increase ground rent in the coming days.

“The challenges of people refusing to pay their taxes. People want facilities and infrastructure, but nobody wants to pay taxes.

“We have not increased the ground rent, but we are working toward that. We will do that. The president has given a window of two weeks.”

Recall that FCTA sealed the National Secretariat of the Peoples Democratic Party and other offices over non-payment of ground rent for years.