Abdourahamane Tiani, Niger Republic’s military leader, says the people of Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso have “irrevocably turned their backs” on the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

Speaking on Saturday at the first summit of the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) held in Nigerien capital city Niamey, Tiani accused ECOWAS of not doing enough to combat jihadist violence.

The AES was set up after the three Sahel nations pulled out of ECOWAS in February.

The military-run states fell out with the West African regional bloc following the coup d’etat which brought Tiani to power in Niger in July 2023.

 

ECOWAS imposed sanctions — including border closure and halt of the export of electric power to Niger — against the junta-led countries as part of efforts to reverse the coups in the nations.

The sanctions were however lifted in February, and few days later, the countries pulled out of ECOWAS. 

“Our people have irrevocably turned their backs on ECOWAS,” Tiani said.

The AES also alleged that ECOWAS is being manipulated by former colonial ruler France, with Tiani calling for the AES to become a “community far removed from the stranglehold of foreign powers”.

The countries said they would instead turn towards Russia, Turkey and Iran — their “sincere partners”.

“The AES is the only effective sub-regional grouping in the fight against terrorism,” he said.

Meanwhile, ECOWAS is due to hold a summit of its heads of state in Abuja on Sunday.

Part of the agenda to be discussed at the summit is the issue of relations with the AES.

Afam Victor Ogene, the Leader of the Labour Party Caucus of the House of Representatives, has said the victory of opposition Labour Party in the United Kingdom, UK, is a sign that its Nigerian version would triumph in the 2027 general elections.

In a statement made available to journalists in Awka, Friday, Ogene said the election told vivid tales of hope for the opposition, and competence and integrity of the electoral umpires in the UK, in a manner that elicits public confidence and trust in the electoral process.

“Unlike what was witnessed in Nigeria in the last general elections, the process in UK was free of glitches, as about 40 million voters took part. Polls closed around 10 pm Thursday and by daybreak, the results were out.

“There was no judicial ambush, as immediate transition took place to the admiration of all lovers of democracy and free and fair elections.

“If we must practice democracy, we must also love, copy and abide by the transparency and accountability of democratic institutions in nations of the world that allow the rule of law and democratic principles to thrive.

“In deed, one of the potent lessons of the British elections is the fact that, the concept of ‘snatch it, grab it, and run away with it,’ has no place in modern democratic practice,” he said.

Relating the development in the UK to the 2027 election in Nigeria, Ogene said: “I urge the Nigerian Labour Party to draw inspiration from its British counterparts, close ranks, rally the people, and prepare to take the reins of power in 2027.

“Let us work together to build a better future for our nation, guided by the principles of democracy, transparency, and accountability.”

Ogene congratulated Keir Starmer, the leader of the Labour Party in Britain, for his party’s victory over the outgoing UK Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak and his Conservative Party, in what has been described as the most emphatic election victory by any British political party this century.

The opposition Labour Party won a huge parliamentary majority in the UK general election, unseating the incumbent Conservatives after 14 years.

While the Labour Party got 412 seats, the incumbent Conservatives got just 121

US President Joe Biden says he is not considering quitting the presidential race.

There has been mounting pressure from within the Democratic Party on Biden to step aside, after a shaky debate performance with Donald Trump, the presumptive nominee of the Republican Party.

Stakeholders have also expressed concerns over the president’s health and mental alertness after that June 27 night.

Speaking in an interview with ABC News, Biden said only the “Lord Almighty” would convince him to drop his re-election bid.

“I mean, if the Lord Almighty came down and said, ‘Joe, get outta the race’, I would get outta the race. The Lord Almighty’s not coming down. I mean, these hypotheticals,” Biden said.

“I don’t think anybody is more qualified to be president or win this race than me.

“Look, I’m running again because I think I understand best what has to be done to take this nation to a completely new level. We are on our way. We are on our way.”

Biden also dismissed criticisms that he is too old and feeble to run again.

“I see all these stories that say I am too old.. was I too old to create 15 million jobs? Was I too old to erase student debt for five million Americans? Do you think I’m too old to beat Donald Trump?” he asked.

On Wednesday, the White House said Biden is not backing down from the race despite growing concerns.

“The president is clear-eyed, and he is staying in the race,” Karine Jean-Pierre, White House press secretary, said.

“That is what the president is focused on, continuing to deliver for the American people. This is a president who is strong and resolute.”

President Bola Tinubu has initiated the Resettlement Scheme for Persons Impacted by Conflict (RSPIC) to address the humanitarian crisis caused by internal displacement.

Vice-President Kashim Shettima represented Tinubu at the launch of the pilot phase in Tudun Biri, Kaduna, on Friday.

The president stated that the scheme targets communities affected by conflicts in Kaduna, Katsina, Benue, Niger, Zamfara, Sokoto, and Kebbi, providing long-term rehabilitation and reintegration for displaced victims.

“The conflict we are forced to endure has not only torn communities apart in the past but also political leaders who ought to be unifying models for the people,” he said.

“This history should inspire us to be different, and my optimism thrives on the assurance by our state governors to treat our humanitarian crises as points of unity instead of divisions.

“To those who have been displaced by conflict, I say this: We see you, we hear you, and we stand with you.

“Your strength and resilience inspire us all, and under President Tinubu’s leadership, we commit to bolstering our nation’s security infrastructure and advancing peace.

“This resettlement scheme is a testament to your courage and signals an end to your pessimism. It is an opportunity for each of us to come together and rebuild.

“We are here to assure that the safety of each Nigerian shall be a priority, and we cannot claim to have achieved this until we restore dignity and security to those whose lives have been upended by conflict.

“Our journey to this point has been long and arduous. Today, we converge in this historic city to demonstrate our resolve to overcome adversity and build a future where each person and community sees the other as a friend and where peace and opportunity are the birthright of every citizen.”

The Caretaker Committee Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State, has said that the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike is the mentor of Governor Siminalayi Fubara.

He insisted that Fubara would not have become governor without the backing of the minister.

Okocha described the Rivers governor as the political investment of Wike.

The APC chieftain stated this during an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today.

Naija News reports that Fubara and Wike, the former governor of Rivers State, have been at loggerheads over the control of the oil-rich state.

Reacting to the situation, Okocha said, “The feud between the governor and his mentor, Governor Fubara is Wike’s political investment.

“From civil servant to the candidate of a party and delivering him in 23 local governments out of 23, the first in our history, all of these were Wike’s ability to manoeuvre. The former governor has said, ‘I am not asking you for anything. I am only saying that you are destroying the structure that produced you.’

“If you are a politician, no politician will allow his structure to be dismantled. When you do that, it means that you have no home to fall back to. That is the issue.”

Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), on Friday, gathered in Abuja to advance discussions on the launch of a single regional currency, the ECO.

This significant assembly underscores a collective ambition to drive economic growth and enhance integration across West Africa.

The meeting received a strong endorsement from Nigeria, the region’s largest economy.

In a statement released by the Ministry of Finance, Wale Edun, Nigeria’s Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, highlighted the pivotal role the ECO is expected to play in fostering economic development within the community.

“Nigeria is fully committed to the ECO and its potential to improve economic growth and development in the region,” Edun stated.

The Abuja meeting focused on detailed preparations for the introduction of the ECO, marking a crucial step toward the realization of this ambitious currency integration project.

The discussions aimed to lay a robust groundwork to ensure a smooth transition to a single currency system among the fifteen member states of ECOWAS.

The envisioned single currency extends beyond the simplification of monetary transactions—it seeks to become a cornerstone of economic integration.

By streamlining trade and enhancing monetary stability, the ECO aims to transform the economic landscape of West Africa, making it easier for countries to engage in cross-border commerce and investment.

The gathering saw the participation of key economic leaders from the region, including Mr Olavo Correia, Minister of Finance of Cape Verde; Mr Adama Coulibaly, Minister of Finance and Economic Affairs of Cote d’Ivoire; and Mr Mohammed Amin Adam, Minister of Finance of Ghana.

These figures, among others, form a collaborative effort dedicated to shaping a prosperous economic future for West Africa.

According to the statement, “The meeting culminated in a renewed sense of purpose surrounding the ECO’s introduction. Participants emerged with a shared belief that the single currency holds immense potential to reshape the economic landscape of the region, paving the way for a more prosperous future for all member states”.

Although Peter Obi had earlier disclosed details of his meeting with the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) Political Commission, nothing was said about his meeting with Joe Ajaero on Thursday.

Peter Obi visited the NLC President, Joe Ajaero, in line with his statement that he was committed to building the Labour Party and addressing concerns troubling members.

Obi, had in the early hours of Friday, said that there would soon be a meeting of all stakeholders of the Labour Party to address issues confronting factions.

“In the coming days, we will convene a more comprehensive stakeholders’ meeting, bringing together a broader representation of interests and perspectives.

“I am confident that through open communication, empathy, and a willingness to listen, we will successfully resolve our differences and emerge stronger and more united than ever. Our strength lies in greater unity for our common national good,” Obi said after his meeting with the NLC Political Commission.

He further stated that he had a meeting with the Governor of Abia State, Alex Otti, over plans on how to rebuild the party.

Naija News reports that Ajaero, on Friday, revealed that the former governor of Anambra State paid him a visit.

He said the meeting was strategic, adding that he and Peter Obi discussed a “wide range of issues” towards building a better Nigeria for all workers and citizens.

In a brief statement, Ajaero said, “Yesterday (Thursday), I had the honour of receiving his excellency, Mr. Peter Obi in my office.”

He added, “Wide-ranging issues were discussed towards building a better Nigeria for all workers and people.“

Adams Oshiomhole, senator representing Edo north, says the All Progressives Congress (APC) will win the forthcoming governorship election in Edo state.

Oshiomhole spoke in Abuja on Friday after he led Monday Okpebholo, the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), and Dennis Idahosa, his running mate, to meet with President Bola Tinubu at the State House.

The former governor of Edo said the crisis within the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state is an advantage for the APC to win the forthcoming election.

He denied allegations that the APC orchestrated the crisis that led to the invalidation of the PDP governorship primary.

Oshiomhole said the crisis was an internal affair of the PDP, which had nothing to do with the APC.

On Thursday, the federal high court Abuja nullified the primary election that nullified Asue Ighodalo as the PDP guber candidate in Edo

“I think you should dismiss that because this is PDP versus PDP, and you know that by law, another party cannot go into intra-party conflicts in court. So if it is convenient for them to explain that, you can dismiss it without asking me,” he said.

“The fact that there had been division in Edo before their primaries and after their primaries is an open secret, and the issues in dispute are also very open.

“The PDP legacy group complained that the man they gave their master bedroom to has completely chased them out of the building, and now they’re under the rain, and as we speak, they are still trying to settle.

“Those who couldn’t find accommodation, we picked them one by one, and don’t forget that those on Osadebe Avenue were my own creation in the sense that I supported Obeseki to become governor, and so I have people who still have affection for me.

“Edo people won’t forget in the hurry what I did when I was governor and those of them who didn’t quite readily appreciate it now compare the past with the present.

“So if they have disputes or disagreements that they cannot settle and they choose to settle them in court, the court will nullify the process.

“I mean, you read the judgment, not me. How can anybody say… if you know Dan Orbih, the leader of Legacy Group, he was my fierce critic when I was in government, so what power do I have? How can we, as a non-state group, have the power to influence a seasoned politician to move against themselves?

“So this is purely PDP intra-party, and I think the lesson is very clear, namely that parties must be encouraged to obey the laws that regulate the conduct of primaries and that rules are meant to be obeyed if you formulate your constitution.

“It is the basis of the contract between party members. Now, the Electoral Act is meant to ensure that everybody plays the game within the rules, so we have nothing to do.”

Oshiomhole told State House correspondents that he led the APC candidates to the president to update him on the campaign activities.

“He is the leader of the party, so we went to give him an update on the campaigns, on what we are doing, and on the fact that we are harvesting more and more people every day,” he said.

“I’m surprised that rather than speculating about who will face what, you are not a witness to the fact that the entire PDP in Egor decamped to the APC a month ago.

“Just last week in my local government, the remaining remnants of the PDP decamped to the APC and across Edo central, doing the same thing. People are jumping out because the umbrella is leaking and this is rainy season.”

Fresh queues for Premium Motor Spirit, popularly called petrol, surfaced in Abuja, parts of Niger and Nasarawa States on Friday, following the closure of many filling stations operated by independent marketers.

Dealers closed their retail outlets due to their inability to access petrol as a result of the hike in the ex-depot price of the commodity to N710/litre by private depot owners.

Motorists besieged the few stations that dispensed petrol on Friday, particularly those operated by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited and some major oil marketers in Abuja and neighbouring states.

This led to massive queues in outlets, such as the NNPC mega station on the Gwarimpa axis of the Zuba-Kubwa Expressway, Conoil and Total filling stations directly opposite the headquarters of NNPC in the Abuja city centre, and Salbas filling station at the Dei-Dei end of the Zuba-Kubwa expressway, among others.

Independent oil marketers, who own over 70 per cent of filling stations across the country, blamed the hike in the ex-depot price of petrol as dispensed by private depot owners.

The National President of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria, Abubakar Maigandi, told Saturday PUNCH that private depot owners had raised the ex-depot price of PMS to N710/litre, whereas the pump price of the commodity at NNPC retail stations was N617/litre.

Maigandi said, “The current situation is a result of how the private depot owners have been selling their products. It has been very difficult for independent petroleum marketers to get the product and sell it in Abuja and neighbouring states, as well as in other states in the North.

“So, the queues you are seeing now are because of the cost of PMS by private depots. The private depots are selling at N710/litre, but if you check the price of the same product at NNPC retail outlets, it is N617/litre.

“Therefore, by the time the independent marketers buy from private depots and bring it to our filling stations, we will not be able to sell our product because our cost price is already so high, while the cost at NNPC retail outlets is far lower.

“And you know that when we buy it at the rate of N710/litre, we have to add transportation cost again because there is no equalisation. And when we add the cost of transportation, the pump price is going to be higher than the N710/litre ex-depot price, whereas NNPC stations sell at N617/litre.”

Maigandi explained that because of the widespread number of stations operated by IPMAN, any distortion in the supply of products to members of the group would lead to fuel queues because major marketers and NNPC stations were fewer in number.

On whether IPMAN members cannot get direct PMS supply from NNPC, instead of buying the product from private depots, he replied, “That is what we have been negotiating with them (NNPC), and they promised us that they will start giving us our allocation.

“They have started, but the quantity is small compared to the number of retail outlets operated by IPMAN nationwide. We are getting products from NNPC, but the volume is too small for our members.

“So, we are requesting additional volumes because, in Abuja alone, we have over 250 retail outlets belonging to IPMAN members. This is just for Abuja. We have not talked about Niger, Kaduna, and other states in the North, not to mention the number nationwide.” 

Maigandi, however, stated that the queues for petrol were not pronounced in remote villages, adding that “when you go to the villages, you will see that there are no queues.”.

“But in the city centres, where you have NNPC stations selling very cheaper than the N710/litre price, you will see queues there, as well as in front of the few outlets that have products to dispense.”

The IPMAN president said petrol was not scarce, as there were enough volumes in-country concerning what was imported by NNPC – Nigeria’s sole importer of the commodity.

“There is no scarcity. There is the product. The queues are caused basically by the market challenge, as I have explained to you. But as soon as we get products from NNPC or at fairly good prices, we will dispense and the queues will vanish,” he stated.

Officials at the Federal Minister of Petroleum Resources confirmed that there was enough product in-country, and stated that the market had been deregulated.

“It is a deregulated downstream oil sector, so dealers buy and sell based on demand and supply. There is enough product from NNPC. There is no scarcity,” an official at the ministry, who requested not to be named due to a lack of authorisation to speak on the matter, stated.

Another official at NNPC assured motorists that the queues would clear out fast because the company had enough product in-country.

The United Nations has again predicted that 82 million Nigerians, may go hungry by 2030, calling on the government to tackle climate change, pest infestations, and other threats to agricultural productivity.

The prediction comes in the wake of a persistent hike in food prices in the country.

According to the National Bureau of Statistics, Nigeria’s food inflation rate hit a record high of 40.66 per cent in May 2024, surpassing the previous month’s 40.53 increase.

This surge represents the largest year-on-year increase in food prices since records began in 1996.

Historically, food inflation in Nigeria has averaged 13.42 per cent, with the lowest point of -17.50 per cent in January 2000.

In 2023, the Food and Agriculture Organisation predicted that no fewer than 2.6 million Nigerians in Borno, Sokoto and Zamfara states, and the FCT may face a food crisis between June and August 2024.

According to a government-led Cadre Harmonisé analysis released in March, 2024, approximately 4.8 million people in Borno, Adamawa and Yobe states are experiencing severe food insecurity, the highest level in seven years.

Also, as Nigerian workers commemorated the 2024 May Day, Organised Labour expressed concern about the country’s rising food prices and fuel scarcity, saying that the current situation threatened the survival of workers.

A Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Olisa Agbakoba, also recently warned that a hunger riot might soon break out in Nigeria, calling on the Federal Government to act fast.

Speaking recently at the launch of CropWatch in Abuja, the Resident Humanitarian Coordinator of the Food and Agriculture Organisation, represented by one of the UN officials, Taofiq Braimoh, said, “The government of Nigeria, in collaboration with others, conducts an annual food security survey. This year’s results are alarming: approximately 22 million Nigerians will face food insecurity in 2024, and around 80-82 million are at risk of severe food insecurity by 2030.

“Nigeria, like many countries, grapples with food insecurity, climate change, unreliable water patterns, pest infestations, and other threats to agricultural productivity. As an agrarian society, our farms’ success directly impacts food availability for our population. Leveraging technology is crucial to strengthening our agriculture sector and ensuring food security.”

He stressed that satellite-based crop monitoring provided real-time data on crop conditions, enabling farmers and policymakers to make informed decisions and optimise agricultural practices.

He noted that the technology could help expedite the accomplishment of sustainable development goals in food and agriculture.