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Gowon, Akinyemi Hopeful of Niger, Mali, Burkina Faso Return to ECOWAS
At the “ECOWAS at 50” international conference held in Lagos, former Nigerian Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon, and ex-Minister of Foreign Affairs, Professor Bolaji Akinyemi, expressed optimism that Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso will eventually return to the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
The event, hosted by the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA) in partnership with the Konrad Adenauer Stiftung, addressed the recent withdrawal of the three Sahel nations from ECOWAS following political tensions and their refusal to restore democratic governance. Their exit, formalised on January 29, 2025, is being reconsidered under a six-month grace period offered by the bloc.
General Gowon, one of ECOWAS’s founding figures, described the departure as a regrettable setback but commended the organisation’s continued diplomatic overtures. He voiced confidence in the bloc’s resilience and urged sustained dialogue to ensure reintegration.
“If necessary, we can even rename the organisation ‘ECOWASS’—adding an ‘S’ for Sahel—to reflect inclusivity,” Gowon suggested, underscoring the need for African unity.
Professor Akinyemi echoed Gowon’s sentiment, praising Nigeria’s silent diplomacy during a recent fuel crisis in Niger, where the government supplied 300 fuel tankers without fanfare. This, he argued, demonstrated mutual respect and rekindled trust.
Highlighting a recent diplomatic visit by Niger’s Foreign Minister to Nigeria, Akinyemi stated, “These signs show that bridges are being rebuilt. Dialogue and solidarity remain central to the African way.”
Also addressing the gathering, German Consul General Weert Börner urged African nations to maintain balanced international relations and cautioned against over-reliance on external powers like Russia. He called for intensified efforts against terrorism and greater intra-African trade.
Marija Peran, Resident Representative of Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung, stressed the importance of deeper economic and security integration across West Africa, while the Director-General of NIIA, Professor Eghosa Osaghae, expressed faith in ECOWAS’s ability to navigate current challenges and emerge stronger.
Dignitaries at the event included Lagos State’s Secretary to the Government, Mrs. Bimbola Salu-Hundeyin; 2023 SDP presidential candidate, Prince Adewole Adebayo; former Foreign Minister Maj. Gen. Ike Nwachukwu (retd.); Mrs. Erelu Dosumu-Abiola; NSCDC Commandant-General, Dr. Abubakar Audi; and renowned scholars such as Prof. Olawale Albert and Prof. Bola Akinterinwa.
The 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) began nationwide on Thursday, with over 2.2 million candidates expected to participate across accredited centres.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
The exam, conducted by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), will run from April 16 to April 22 in multiple daily sessions.
JAMB Registrar, Prof. Is-haq Oloyede, urged examination officials to remain highly committed and professional, noting that the success of the exercise depends largely on their dedication.
He gave the charge during a virtual final briefing for technical officers ahead of the examination, where he also praised staff, ad hoc personnel, service providers, and technical advisers for their roles in the successful conduct of the mock exam.
Oloyede said many of the issues recorded during the mock exercise were due to poor assessment of centres by some technical officials.
He further stated that incentive packages would be awarded to teams that perform exceptionally, particularly in handling exam materials and submitting timely reports.
Reiterating JAMB’s zero-tolerance stance on malpractice, he warned candidates against bringing prohibited items into examination halls.
He also disclosed that biometric verification and real-time monitoring systems have been deployed to protect the integrity of the exercise.
Candidates whose biometrics cannot be verified, he added, will be rescheduled to write the exam at approved centres.
Meanwhile, a NAN correspondent monitoring proceedings at Aduvie International School, Jahi, reported that the first session scheduled for 8:30 a.m. began slightly behind schedule at about 8:40 a.m.
The Commissioner of Police for the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), CP Ahmed Muhammed Sanusi, on Thursday inspected security deployments at Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) Computer-Based Test (CBT) centres across Abuja.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
According to the FCT Police Command spokesperson, SP Josephine Adeh, the inspection is part of proactive measures to ensure a smooth, peaceful, and hitch-free conduct of the ongoing examinations.
The UTME is scheduled to run nationwide from April 16 to 18, 2026.
During the exercise, CP Sanusi assessed security arrangements put in place to safeguard candidates, examination officials, and CBT facilities.
He also engaged with centre supervisors, assuring them of adequate security presence throughout the examination period.
Adeh added that the CP reaffirmed the command’s commitment to maintaining law and order, warning that any attempt to disrupt the examinations would be met with decisive action in line with the law.
Over 700 former terrorists who have undergone deradicalisation and rehabilitation are set to be reintegrated into their communities.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
The Nigerian military has also dismissed reports alleging that beneficiaries of Operation Safe Corridor are being recruited into military institutions.
According to African Independent Television, the Coordinator of Operation Safe Corridor, Brigadier-General Yusuf Ali, made this known during a media tour of the Deradicalisation, Rehabilitation and Reintegration Centre in Gombe, North-East Nigeria.
He said many Nigerians still misunderstand the Federal Government’s structured counter-terrorism initiative, which is designed to restore peace in communities affected by insurgency.
Brigadier-General Ali explained that the programme focuses on rehabilitation and peaceful reintegration of repentant individuals into society.
During the tour, some of the participants also shared accounts of their involvement in offences that led to their admission into the programme.
The facility inspection was part of preparations for the graduation of over 700 clients who have completed the deradicalisation and rehabilitation process and are set for reintegration.
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