Author: Kwara Reporters

The Commission of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS Commission) says it is yet to receive a formal notification from Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso about their intention to quit the regional bloc.It was reacting after the military juntas from the three Member-States withdrew from ECOWAS with immediate effect.The three countries, which mulled a counter force, Alliance of Sahel States, against the regional bloc after the overthrow of the democratically elected government in Niger, announced the development on Sunday.ECOWAS under the leadership of President Bola Tinubu had threatened military action if the Niger junta refused to transfer power.But…

Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State says it is too early to “judge” the performance of President Bola Tinubu in major sectors like security and economy.Uzodimma, who is the Chairman of the Progressives Governors’ Forum of the All Progressives Congress (APC), expressed confidence that his partyman would rescue Nigeria from economic doldrums.Uzodimma, who spoke on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics programme, said the results of Tinubu’s policies would be seen in the next couple of months and Nigerians would soon begin to praise the President for sweeping reforms.With 28.92% inflation rate, 33.93% food Inflation, 18.75% interest rate, over 133 million multidimensionally…

The military regimes in Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger announced Sunday their immediate withdrawal from the West African bloc ECOWAS.The leaders of the three Sahel nations issued a statement saying it was a “sovereign decision” to leave the Economic Community of West African States “without delay”.Struggling with jihadist violence and poverty, the regimes have had tense ties with ECOWAS since coups took place in Niger last July, Burkina Faso in 2022 and Mali in 2020.All three were suspended from ECOWAS with Niger and Mali facing heavy sanctions.They have hardened their positions in recent months and joined forces in an “Alliance…

At least six children were reportedly killed on Saturday after an improvised explosive device (IED) exploded near a Qur’anic school in Gubio LGA of Borno state.Zagazola Makama, a counter-insurgency publication focused on the Lake Chad region, said the incident occurred at about 2 p.m.The publication said an undetonated IED was collected among scraps stored in a building by a metal scavenger.“An improvised explosive device (IED) has detonated in Gubio town, Borno, resulting in the tragic deaths of six Quranic school pupils popularly known as Almajirai,” the publication said.“The incident took place on Saturday, January 27, when a metal scavenger unknowingly…

Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has urged the 36 state governors in Nigeria and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, Mr Nyesom Wike to “disclose details of federal allocations meant for local governments in your state and the FCT and the actual disbursement of the allocations to the local governments since the return of democracy in 1999.”SERAP also urged the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to investigate the actual disbursement and spending of federal allocations meant for local governments in your state and the FCT…

Troops of the Joint Task Force North West Operation Hadarin Daji (OPHD) have neutralised several terrorists, arrested a terrorist kingpin and recovered assorted weapons in a coordinated dry season clearance operation in the North-West.In a recent clearance operation conducted on Friday, OPHD troops cleared and destroyed terrorist enclaves at Pada, Matsomatso and Yurlumu villages at Batsari LGA of Katsina state, neutralising seven terrorists while others escaped with severe gunshot wounds.This was disclosed by the Information Officer of Operation Hadarin Daji, Captain Yahaya Ibrahim, in a statement on Saturday.He said that similarly, on the same day, OPHD troops in Zamfara state…

Ademola Lookman scored both goals as Nigeria defeated old rivals Cameroon 2-0 on Saturday to march on to the quarter-finals of the Africa Cup of Nations.The Nigerians had an early Semi Ajayi goal disallowed following a VAR review in this last-16 clash before the constant pressing and bullying of the Cameroon defence by Victor Osimhen led to Lookman finding the net in the 36th minute.A team that has become impermeable at this AFCON then kept the Indomitable Lions at bay before Lookman made sure of the victory in the 90th minute in front of 22,085 fans at the Felix Houphouet…

Vice President Kashim Shettima and northern governors said that corrupt governance has a direct bearing to the insecurity bedeviling the North and Nigeria as a whole.The leaders disclosed this while making presentations at the 10th Annual Sir Ahmadu Bello Foundation lecture and award hosted by Borno State governor, Prof Babagana Umara Zulum in Maiduguri Saturday.The vice president, represented by his special adviser on Political Affairs, Hakeem-Baba Ahmed, said Sardauna has left a legacy of accountability, fairness and probity, which the current leaders defied.He fingered corruption by leaders as one of the root causes of insecurity, noting, “The leader cannot engage…

Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has warned informants, kidnappers, bandits and criminals in the territory to repent or end up dying in the hands of security operatives.Wike gave the warning while rounding off his townhall meetings with relevant stakeholders in area councils across Abuja.The minister, who held similar meetings in Bwari, Gwagwalada, Kwali, AMAC and Abaji, concluded it in Kuje.The minister also urged residents of the area councils to play their role in providing relevant information that would help security agencies.He said, “We are going to tackle insecurity head-on. These bandits and criminals, their time is…

Usman Ododo has been sworn in as the governor of Kogi state.Ododo took the oath of office on Saturday at the inauguration ceremony in Lokoja, the state capital.Ododo, candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), won the November 2023 governorship election in the state.Ododo polled 446, 237 votes to defeat Murtala Ajaka of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), who came second with 259,052 votes.Dino Melaye, candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), scored 46,362 votes.Dignitaries including Vice-President Kashim Shettima; Abdullahi Ganduje, national chairman of the APC; Yahaya Bello, his predecessor, and other top members of the party were in attendance…