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West Africa: ECOWAS Gears up for Military Action in Niger

The regional block of the Economic Community of African States (ECOWAS) has given Niger military junta to give up power within one week or risk military intervention. ECOWAS has also ordered its military Chiefs to begin preparation ahead of the deadline given to the Niger Military junta if they refused to give up power. Niger’s […]

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Nigeria: Lagos Elections – We Have to Work With MC Oluomo-Led Parks Committee to Distribute Materials – INEC

INEC was responding to questions on controversies around the engagement of the Parks Management Committee led by Musiliu Akinsanya (aka MC Oluomo), a Lagos APC chieftain. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says it has no option but to engage Lagos State Parks Management Committee to distribute election materials and personnel in the state on […]

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West Africa: Niger Coup – Three Decisions for West Africa As Deadline Nears

As the seven-day ultimatum given by West African leaders for the military in Niger to reinstate President Mohamed Bazoum draws to a close, both sides have crucial decisions to make. Last Sunday evening, the regional bloc Ecowas, headed by President Bola Tinubu of neighbouring Nigeria, said the junta had a week to restore constitutional order […]

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West Africa: Niger Coup – Ecowas Court Asked to Stop Tinubu, Other West African Leaders From Deploying Military Troops

A Nigerian group filed the suit following fears that ECOWAS military intervention in Niger may have a spillover effect leading to violation of rights in northern Nigeria. A not-for-profit organisation, Egalitarian Mission for Africa (EMA), has urged the ECOWAS Court of Justice in Abuja to stop the planned deployment of military forces against putschists in […]

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Nigeria: Niger Coup – Defending Democracy or Combating French Neo-Colonialism

The ECOWAS emergency summit yesterday started well. Chairman Bola Tinubu in his opening remarks called for a focus on the use of diplomatic channels and negotiations. As I was writing this column to commend the new approach, news broke out that ECOWAS, has ordered its standby force to restore constitutional order in Niger Republic. The […]

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Uganda: Why World Bank Funding Freeze On Uganda Is a Mistake

Kampala, Uganda — In a surprising twist, some members of the gay community in Uganda have told The Independent they are not pleased by the recent decision of the World Bank to cut funding to new projects in Uganda because of the recently enacted Anti-homosexuality law. The World Bank said in a statement published on […]

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Nigeria: Naira Crisis – APC Urges Govt, CBN to Obey Supreme Court Order, Seeks Buhari’s Intervention

The ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, has asked the Federal Government and the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, to comply with the interim order of the Supreme Court which asked parties to maintain the status quo with regards to the naira redesign policy of the apex bank. This was the outcome of a meeting between […]

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Uganda: Govt Eyes Tough Options Amid World Bank Cuts

Less than two months since Uganda’s ministry of Finance released its annual budget, the government body is reviewing those plans after the World Bank – the country’s biggest development partner – decided to stop any further financial support to the country due to what they said was harsh legislation against homosexuals. In taking its decision, […]

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Nigeria: Steady Progress As Nigeria’s Oil Production Exceeds 1.6 Million Barrels Per Day, Says Kyari

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) has confirmed that the country’s oil production has risen to 1.67 million barrels per day, some millions short of the 1.8 million bpd quota allocated to Nigeria by the Organisation of Petroleum Countries (OPEC). This was just as the Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, declared that tackling crude […]

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Nigeria: Atiku, Kwankwaso, Obi, Tinubu Make Vague Promises On Rule of Law

Without an efficient justice administration system, rule of law and human rights falter and democracy begins to crumble. Owing to Nigeria’s long history of human rights violations and ineffective justice administration, the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), in January, invited the presidential candidates for a national dialogue. The NBA President, Yakubu Maikyau, said the essence of […]