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New EU support to increase security in the Central African region

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BRUSSELS – Today, the EU announced that it would provide close to €2 million to support the fight to eliminate the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA), a militant movement in the Central African region.

The new contribution will support the “Regional Cooperation Initiative for the elimination of the Lord’s Resistance Army” (RCI-LRA), led by the African Union, in Uganda, the Democratic Republic of Congo, South Sudan and the Central African Republic, for a period of 17 months. It will cover, among other things, staff allowances, communication equipment and operational costs of this initiative.

Andris Piebalgs, EU Commissioner for Development, said: “The Regional Cooperation Initiative has been instrumental in creating a peaceful and secure environment for development in the LRA-affected countries and this is why the EU has been supporting it since 2011. It has degraded the LRA and increased pressure on its combatants to defect. It is essential to sustain the initiative’s operations to eliminate the threat of LRA once and for all”.

The LRA remains a destabilising factor in the Central African region, and in particular in South Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo and the Central African Republic; this has dire security and humanitarian consequences. The military movement has been causing fear, panic and displacement with brutal actions including killings, rapes and abductions. It is estimated that 353,000 people are still displaced in LRA-affected areas. The LRA leaders were the first individuals indicted by the International Criminal Court in 2005 for war crimes and crimes against humanity, including murder, rape and forced enlistment of children.

In response to the atrocities committed by the LRA, the African Union decided in 2011 to establish the RCI-LRA in order to defeat the LRA in Uganda, South Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo and the Central African Republic. The initiative comprises a Joint Coordination Mechanism (JCM) which coordinates the initiative at political and strategic level, involving the African Union Commissioner for Peace and Security and the ministers of defence of the countries mentioned above. It also operates a ‘Regional Task Force (RTF)’ composed of currently 3,085 military troops from the affected countries.

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LASTMA Alerts Motorists to Traffic Delays on Ogunnusi Road

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The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) has alerted motorists to traffic delays along Ogunnusi Road towards Ojodu-Berger due to ongoing rehabilitation work.

LASTMA disclosed this in a post on its official X account on Sunday, stating that the road rehabilitation was being carried out by the Lagos State Public Works Corporation (LSPWC).

According to the agency, “The ongoing work is affecting traffic flow, with vehicles moving at a slower pace in both directions.”

ALSO READ: Chaos On Lagos-Ibadan Expressway As LASTMA Shuts Otedola Bridge

To ease the situation, LASTMA said a contraflow arrangement had been introduced for motorists travelling from Omole Junction towards Vis Junction.

“A contraflow arrangement is in place for vehicles coming from Omole Junction towards Vis Junction to facilitate the movement of traffic,” the agency stated.

LASTMA added that its personnel had been deployed to manage traffic and ensure the continuous movement of vehicles around the affected area.

“Our personnel are on ground managing the traffic situation and ensuring the continuous flow of vehicular movement,” the agency said.

The traffic management authority advised motorists to remain patient and exercise caution while the rehabilitation work continues.

“Motorists are advised to exercise patience and drive with caution while the rehabilitation work continues,” LASTMA stated.

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Dangote Investments are Catalysts for Africa’s Economic Growth – AFC

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Leading economists, financial experts and industry stakeholders have described the Dangote Group’s investments as major drivers of industrialisation and economic transformation across Nigeria and Africa.

The experts cited the Group’s impact on job creation, import substitution, foreign exchange conservation and economic competitiveness.

They voiced their thoughts at the Lagos Economic Summit themed “The Real Deal: Africa’s Greatest Investment Opportunity,” where they urged governments to implement policies that strengthen local industries and accelerate economic diversification.

President and Chief Executive Officer of the Africa Finance Corporation (AFC), Samaila Zubairu, commended the Dangote Group’s sustained investments across Africa, describing them as critical to unlocking the continent’s economic potential.

He noted that while recent economic reforms have improved foreign exchange stability, strengthened reserves and eased inflationary pressures, the focus must now shift to growth in industry, productivity and employment.

READ ALSO: NMDPRA Shares July Domestic Cooking Gas Supply Details

Also speaking, Chief Executive Officer of the Centre for the Promotion of Private Enterprise (CPPE), Muda Yusuf, said industrialisation remains the most effective path to sustainable economic development.

He called for better alignment of trade and industrial policies, stressing that local manufacturers require strategic support to compete effectively and drive broader economic benefits.

Founder and CEO of Nairametrics, Ugodre Obi-Chukwu, said Africa’s growing population presents a significant industrial opportunity, noting that investments such as the Dangote Refinery are helping to retain capital within the continent while strengthening local production capacity.

In his keynote address, Managing Director of Financial Derivatives Company Limited, Bismarck Rewane, said Nigeria is gradually transitioning from a consumption-led economy to one driven by investment and production.

He added that sustained investments in productive sectors will continue to stimulate growth, create jobs and improve living standards.

Participants at the summit also advocated stronger credit infrastructure, improved national identification systems and increased investment in skills development to enhance the productivity and global competitiveness of Africa’s growing youth population.

Photo Caption: From Left – Chief Economist, Dangote Industries Limited, Dr. Hassan Mahmud; Lady Maiden Alex-Ibru; Chairman of Occasion/Special Guest of Honour, Samaila Zubairu; Key Note Speaker Session 1, Bismarck Rewane; during the Real Deal: Africa’s Greatest Investment Opportunity, Sponsored by Dangote Industry Limited in Lagos on Thursday 3, September 2026.

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VDM Fires Back at Police, Releases First ‘Evidence’ Over Kidnap Claims

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#Nigeria Decides: 10,000 Security Personnel Deployed In Plateau

Social media critic Martins Vincent Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan (VDM), has released what he described as his first piece of evidence after the Nigeria Police Force challenged him to substantiate his allegations that some police officers allegedly collaborate with kidnappers.

VDM released a video on his Instagram handle on Thursday, August 27, 2026, shortly after the police invited him to provide evidence supporting the claims he made at the 66th Annual General Conference of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) in Port Harcourt.

SEE MORE: ‘Provide Evidence’ — Police React to VDM’s Explosive Kidnap Allegation

The activist captioned the video: “My evidence number 1.”

Recalled that VDM, who was a panellist at the NBA conference on Tuesday, had alleged that some police officers manning checkpoints along major highways provide kidnappers and bandits with information about travellers.

According to him, the officers allegedly relay details about the identities and movements of travellers to criminal groups, thereby facilitating abductions for ransom.

The allegation triggered a response from the Nigeria Police Force, which denied the claim and challenged VDM to substantiate his allegations.

The police invitation came as the force sought evidence to support the serious claims made by the social media critic.

In response, VDM released the video, describing it as his “evidence number 1”, signalling that he may provide further material to support his allegations.

The development has continued to attract attention, with the controversy placing renewed focus on allegations of possible collaboration between security personnel and criminal groups involved in kidnapping and banditry.

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