Tag: ECOWAS

President Buhari in Paris, France for Peace Forum

Aminu Imam

…As VP Osinbajo attends ECOWAS extraordinary summit in Ghana President Muhammadu Buhari has arrived in Paris, France, where he will be participating in the first edition of the Paris Peace Forum, taking place between November 11 and 13, 2018. According to a statement issued on Friday by the President’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, President Buhari is expected to join the United Nations Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres and other world leaders in discussing contributions towards global peace while underscoring the imperative of collective action. He will also join…

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Four coup d’etat in ECOWAS, a dangerous trend – Vice-President Osinbajo  

Aminu Imam

Vice-President, Yemi Osinbajo, has said the Economic Community of West African States, (ECOWAS), must take pro-active steps to prevent coups d’etat in the sub-region, and even on the continent, because the unconstitutional seizure of power in any shape or form is simply unacceptable and has no place in the 21st century. According to a statement by presidential spokesman, Laolu Akande, Prof. Osinbajo stated this while representing President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday at a virtual Extraordinary Session of the Authority of Heads of State and Government of ECOWAS member-states on the…

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ECOWAS Court bars Nigerian govt from sanctioning, prosecuting Twitter users

Aminu Imam

In a landmark ruling, the ECOWAS Court of Justice in Abuja yesterday “restrained the government of President Muhammadu Buhari and its agents from unlawfully imposing sanctions or doing anything whatsoever to harass, intimidate, arrest or prosecute Twitter and/or any other social media service provider(s), media houses, radio and television broadcast stations, the Plaintiffs and other Nigerians who are Twitter users, pending the hearing and determination of this suit”. The ground-breaking ruling was sequel to the suit filed against the government by Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) and 176 concerned…

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ECOWAS to launch single currency in 2027

Aminu Imam

A group of fifteen West African countries have adopted a new Road Map to launch a single currency in 2027 after its previous plans were derailed by the Covid-19 pandemic. The new Road Map was agreed by Heads of States of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). The president of the ECOWAS Commission, Jean-Claude Kassi Brou, announced this at a news conference after a summit of the leaders in Ghana yesterday. The countries are hoping that a single currency will help to boost trade and economic growth. According…

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Buhari departs Nigeria today to attend ECOWAS mid-year summit in Accra

Aminu Imam

President Muhammadu Buhari will today, Saturday, depart Abuja to participate in the 59th Ordinary Session of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Authority of Heads of State and Government, in Accra, Ghana. According to a statement issued by the President’s Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, yesterday, President Buhari will be accompanied by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyema, Minister of State, Foreign Affairs, Zubairu Dada, Minister of Defence, Maj.-Gen. Bashir Magashi (rtd), Minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire, Minister of Finance, Budget and…

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President Buhari to depart for Ghana today to attend ECOWAS Summit

Aminu Imam

President Muhammadu Buhari is expected to depart for Ghana today, Sunday, to attend an emergency Extraordinary Summit of the Economic Community of West African States, (ECOWAS). This was disclosed by one of the President’s media aides, Femi Adesina, via a statement issued yesterday. The meeting was convened to discuss recent political developments in Mali. According to the statement, the meeting was called at the instance of the Chairman of the Authority of Heads of State and Government of ECOWAS and President of Ghana, Nana Akufo-Addo. It stated, “Prior to the…

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Insecurity: ECOWAS issues security warning to staff

Aminu Imam

“Intelligence reports warn of plans by undesirable elements to infiltrate various parts of the country, particularly state capitals, including the Federal Capital Territory.”   The ECOWAS Commission has issued a security alert to its staff, urging them to reduce engagements that will require being outdoors and avoid casual outings after work hours. The advisory came against the backdrop of worsening insecurity in the nation.  The security alert is dated April 28, 2021, and signed by the ECOWAS Commissioner for General Administration and Conference, Vafolay M. Tulay. The ECOWAS Advisory was…

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ECOWAS Heads of Gov’t support Nigeria’s candidacy for AU position – Communique

Abdul-Azeez Ahmed Kadir

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Authority of Heads of State and Government says it is prioritising its support for Nigeria’s candidacy for the position of African Union (AU) Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace, and Security. The authority reached the decision at the end of its Feb. 2 virtual session which was chaired by the President of Ghana, Nana Akufo-Addo. The decision of the authority is contained in a communiqué issued by the ECOWAS Parliament on Wednesday in Abuja. “On the endorsement of member states’ application for international…

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ECOWAS halts single currency launch

Ishaku Yohanna

The Economic Community of West African States has postponed the planned launch of its single currency, the Eco. The body agreed to maintain a gradual approach for the launching of the currency. ECOWAS explained that a new date for the launch would be announced later. This was contained in a communiqué issued at the end of the 57th Summit of the Heads of State and Government of ECOWAS on Tuesday. The body said the postponement was in order to consolidate its achievements. Consequently, a new road map for the single…

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FG borrows 5,000MT of grains from ECOWAS to feed Nigerian citizens

Ishaku Yohanna

The Nigerian Government has disclosed that it borrowed over 5,000 metric tonnes of grain from ECOWAS to feed citizens. This was disclosed by the Minister of State for Agriculture and Rural Development, Mustapha Baba-Shehuri on Monday. He stated this while receiving the 3,999 tonnes of cereals donated to Nigeria by ECOWAS. According to Shehuri, “The Government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria loaned 5,000MT of assorted grains from ECOWAS Stock which was agreed to be paid back on grain for grain basis. “Modalities had been put in place to replace…

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