Author: kajarbi54

The Plateau State Government in north-central Nigeria has convened an emergency security council meeting following a series of violent attacks in the state capital, Jos, and other parts of the state. The meeting, chaired by Governor Caleb Mutfwang, was attended by the Deputy Governor, senior government officials, and heads of security agencies. Officials reviewed recent security developments, including a mining-related incident in Wase Local Government Area and multiple attacks that resulted in fatalities across various communities. “We have just concluded a high-level security council meeting where we examined all that has occurred in Plateau in recent days,” Governor Mutfwang said,…

Nigerian Afrobeats singer Tiwa Savage has launched the Tiwa Savage Music Foundation, a fully funded scholarship programme aimed at providing music education and industry access to aspiring artists across Africa. Established in partnership with the United States-based Berklee College of Music, the non-governmental initiative will deliver world-class training directly in Lagos, Nigeria’s commercial hub. The four-day intensive boot camp, scheduled for April 23-26, 2026, will offer 100 selected participants mentorship, hands-on training, and access to industry professionals. Organizers describe the programme as the first initiative of its scale in the West African sub-region. In a recent interview with CNN, Savage…

As the 2026 first ordinary session of the ECOWAS Parliament concludes, several key recommendations were presented to Member States to harmonize policies and ensure effective implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Agreement. On 23 February 2026, Abuja, Nigeria, hosted parliamentarians from across ECOWAS member states to deliberate on actionable measures to make the AfCFTA a tangible reality for the region. Introduced in 2015 and signed by all ECOWAS Member States in March 2018 in Kigali, Rwanda, the AfCFTA aims not only to facilitate trade among African nations but also to strengthen existing regional economic communities. The agreement…

President John Dramani Mahama has lauded a series of economic reforms that he says have repositioned Ghana’s economy as stronger and more competitive on the global stage. The President made the remarks while addressing Members of Parliament during his State of the Nation Address on Friday. According to him, a thriving economy is shaped by sound economic judgment and the courage to make difficult but necessary decisions. He announced plans to introduce legislative reforms aimed at tightening procurement processes. Under the proposed measures, parliamentary approval would be mandatory before any government asset or property is leased or sold, including state…

President John Dramani Mahama has called on Ghanaians to uphold the principles of Pan-Africanism and demonstrate national pride, even when facing misinterpretation or ridicule. He made the appeal on Friday while delivering the State of the Nation Address in Parliament, reflecting on controversies surrounding the historic “fugu attire” he wore during a state visit to Zambia. President Mahama praised Ghanaians for turning a potentially negative moment into a positive one, emphasizing the unity and resilience shown during the episode. “We turned what could have been ridicule into reach, confusion into connection, and a negative social media trend into a handshake…

Senegalese Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko has sharply criticised the International Monetary Fund (IMF), accusing the institution of prioritising its own interests over Africa’s development. Speaking on Tuesday during a question session in the National Assembly, Sonko argued that the IMF’s policies do not support the continent’s long-term growth. “What interests the IMF is not your development. What interests the IMF is that you remain poor and docile,” the prime minister told lawmakers, as he denounced what he described as “odious debt” weighing heavily on African countries. Referring to a recent meeting in Addis Ababa with American economist Jeffrey Sachs, Sonko…

Over 10,000 armed bandits have reportedly stormed multiple communities in Alkaleri Local Government Area, Bauchi State, North-East Nigeria, displacing more than 100,000 residents and overwhelming local vigilantes. Governor Bala Mohammed made the disclosure during a visit to displaced persons sheltering at Kashere Central Primary School, aided by community groups and the local government council. The governor, who expressed alarm over ‘ungoverned spaces’ in the Dajin Madam forest, said bandits were fleeing North-West military operations to regroup and recruit locals and outsiders, including former illegal miners. He announced a joint security summit with Bauchi, Gombe, Taraba, and Benue governors to coordinate…

The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) has raised concerns over new agreements the United States is pursuing with African countries to govern the future delivery of U.S. global health funding. Director-General Jean Kaseya voiced the concerns during a virtual press conference on Thursday. “There are huge concerns regarding data and pathogen sharing,” he said. Kaseya explained that he had initially welcomed the strategy with enthusiasm, noting that it would allow African countries to receive funding more directly while requiring them to co-invest in their health systems. However, he said he declined an opportunity for Africa CDC…

The ECOWAS Parliament has urged member states to accelerate the incorporation of AfCFTA protocols into national laws. Lawmakers also emphasized the need to align tax policies across countries to lower transaction costs and promote smoother trade within the region. These recommendations, highlighted by Nigerian parliamentarian Hon. Sulaiman Gumi Abubakar, are documented in the report from the ECOWAS Parliament’s first extraordinary session of the 2026 legislative year. The call to fast-track AfCFTA domestication reflects a broader effort by Nigerian policymakers to fully leverage the African Continental Free Trade Area. In particular, Nigeria is prioritizing the reinforcement of its legal and regulatory…

The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and the United States have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with a combined commitment of $1.2 billion to protect Congolese citizens and Americans from infectious disease threats. In a statement issued by U.S. Principal Deputy Spokesperson Tommy Pigott, the new bilateral health cooperation is expected to bolster disease surveillance and strengthen outbreak response systems. Under the MoU, the U.S. government will provide up to $900 million over the next five years to accelerate the introduction and scale-up of health innovations supporting the DRC’s efforts to combat HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria, maternal and child mortality,…