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West Africa In Crisis: ECOWAS Issues Regional State of Emergency

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The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has declared a state of emergency across the region following mounting political instability and security threats in member states.

The announcement was made by ECOWAS Commission President, Omar Touray, during the 55th Session of the Mediation and Security Council in Abuja.

Addressing ministers, diplomats, and senior officials, Touray warned that the security and political situation in West Africa has reached a critical point.

ALSO READS: ECOWAS Condemns Benin Coup, Deploys Regional Force

“Events of the last few weeks have shown the imperative of serious introspection on the future of our democracy and the urgent need to invest in the security of our community,” he said.

Touray highlighted the main risk factors affecting the region:

  • Military interventions in Guinea-Bissau and Benin Republic.
  • Non-compliance with political transition norms, especially in Guinea.
  • Erosion of electoral inclusivity in multiple member states.
  • Growing influence of terrorists, armed groups, and criminal networks.
  • Increasing geopolitical pressures affecting member states’ diplomacy and cohesion.

He emphasized that recent elections have become major triggers of instability and stressed the urgent need for a coordinated regional response to terrorism and cross-border criminal activity.

The ECOWAS Commission President also raised concerns about the worsening humanitarian situation in the region. According to UNHCR data, as of October 2025, approximately 7.6 million individuals are forcibly displaced, including more than 6.5 million internally displaced persons.

The largest displaced populations are in Nigeria, Burkina Faso, Niger, and Mali, while Niger, Mali, Nigeria, Côte d’Ivoire, and Togo host the highest number of asylum seekers.

Declaring the situation “unprecedented,” Touray called for more frequent meetings of the Mediation and Security Council over the next year and urged member states to uphold constitutional norms and maintain regional unity.

“We must pool our resources to confront the threats of terrorism and banditry, which operate without respect for territorial boundaries,” he said.

Sierra Leone’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and Chair of the Council of Ministers, Timothy Kabba, described the recent political crises, including the coup in Guinea-Bissau and the foiled coup in Benin Republic, as a “sobering reminder of the fragility of our democratic gains.”

He called for decisive action to protect democratic governance and stressed that ECOWAS must generate decisions that offer real hope and strengthen institutional credibility.

The meeting of the Mediation and Security Council comes ahead of the gathering of ECOWAS Heads of State and Government, who are expected to deliberate on the Council’s recommendations and measures to restore stability in the region.

Touray reassured citizens that ECOWAS remains committed to promoting peace, stability, and unity across West Africa.

“We will continue to work harder to promote a peaceful, stable, and stronger region for the overall benefit of our citizens,” he said.

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‘Celebrate This Poor Man’ – Shettima Defends Tinubu Over Economic Crisis

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Vice President Kashim Shettima has urged Nigerians to celebrate President Bola Tinubu, saying his leadership saved the country from a potential implosion.

Shettima said Nigeria’s economy had been teetering on the edge of collapse before Tinubu’s intervention, adding that the country could have faced a different situation.

“The economy was teetering on the edge of collapse, we were on a cliff edge,” the Vice President said.

ALSO READ: Subsidy Removal, FX Reforms Driving Fresh Oil Sector Investment – Shettima

“So he literally saved the nation from an implosion. That could have been the scenario. So, instead of demonizing him, Nigerians ought to celebrate this poor man.”

Shettima also called for a return to the drawing board, expressing confidence in the leadership’s commitment and the prospects for the 2027 elections.

“I believe on the bottom of my heart that with this presentation I have seen, and with the commitment of our leadership, by the grace of God, we are going to win,” he said.

Speaking about the 2027 elections, the Vice President reminded his audience that social media platforms should not be mistaken for actual polling stations.

“There are no polling stations on Facebook or Instagram,” he said.

Shettima also expressed gratitude for the efforts made towards promoting the cause of the 2027 elections.

 

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FG Withdraws Charges Against ‘Fake Agency’ DG, Adeniyi Adeyemi

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Contempt: Four SANs to be Served by Courier

Following observed mis-steps, the Federal Government of Nigeria has withdrawn the eight-count criminal charge brought against the alleged fake Director General (DG) of the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC), Adeniyi Adeyemi.

Biztellers reports that the matter, in accordance with the counsel of the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Olasunkanmi Fagbemi, (SAN), the matter will be filed at the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), instead of the Federal High Court (FHC).

Consequently, upon an unopposed application for termination by the prosecution counsel and Director of the Public Prosecution of the Federation (DPPF), Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN), on Monday, Justice Mohammed Umar of a Federal High Court, Abuja on Monday, struck out the matter.

READ ALSO: Shell Identifies Keys to Nigeria’s Energy Future

In a motion for the termination of the charges, Oyedepo informed the court that the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice has carried out a review of the case file of Adeyemi and the charge filed by the Inspector General of Police (IGP) and found some loopholes.

The DPPF added that the documents allegedly forged by Adeyemi during his operations of the fake agency are those that can be prosecuted by the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

He also informed the court that a new charge has been filed at the High Court of the FCT and that Adeyemi would be expeditiously arraigned afresh.

He therefore urged the judge to strike out the charge as required by law.

Following no objections from Ibrahim Angulu (SAN), who stood in for Adeyemi, Justice Umar subsequently terminated the charge.

Adeniyi, 38, was being tried alongside two others whose whereabouts are unknown, on charges bordering on conspiracy and forgery.

The two others said to be at large were identified as Femi (surname unknown) and Anu (surname unknown).

The charge marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/25/2025, was entered against the defendant by the DPPF.

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Shell Identifies Keys to Nigeria’s Energy Future

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To secure a bright energy for her teeming population, Nigeria must sustain the momentum of reform, accelerate investment, and deepen partnerships.

This view was expressed by Managing Director, Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company of Nigeria Limited (SNEPCo) Ronald Adams in Lagos at the weekend.

Delivering a keynote address at the Africa Energy Conference (AEC) of the Lagos Business School (LBS), Adams called for regulatory certainty through efficient execution of reforms, sustained investment appeal to enable projects to move more swiftly from opportunity to production and partnership by operators, regulators, NNPC Limited and communities to unlock the full value of Nigeria’s resources.

Adams cited Nigeria’s huge oil and gas resources as an advantage but pointed out: “Resources alone do not guarantee prosperity. Prosperity comes when resources are matched with investment, technology, sound policy and disciplined execution. Success will be determined not by the size of our resources, but by our ability to convert them into investment and economic growth.”

Adams pledged the support of Shell towards a bright energy future of Nigerians. He said: “For more than six decades, Shell has been part of Nigeria’s energy journey. Together with our partners, we have helped develop major energy infrastructure, supported Nigerian businesses, invested in talent, and contributed to economic development. Bonga remains a powerful example of what technology, partnership and Nigerian capability can achieve in deepwater operations. Today, that story continues through Bonga North.”

READ ALSO: ADF Targets 5 Million Students, 2 Million Vulnerable Women

Issuing a clarion call for action by all stakeholders, he added: “The world is not standing still. Capital is moving, technology is advancing and competition is intensifying. The countries that attract investment tomorrow are those that improve competitiveness today. Nigeria has begun that journey. Our task is to sustain the momentum and translate reform into projects, projects into growth, and growth into shared prosperity.”

The conference, the 4th in the series had at its theme; “Securing Nigeria’s Energy Future: Policy Reform, Capital Mobilisation, and Pathways to a Sustainable Power and Energy Market” and was attended by top government officials, industry captains, energy professionals, and students.

Lagos State Deputy Governor Obafemi Hamzat represented Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu as the guest of honour. SNEPCo was a principal sponsor of the Africa Energy Conference (AEC) and mounted a well-received exhibition on its deepwater operations and social investments across Nigeria.

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