Nigeria urges ECOWAS to unite against terrorism and engage Sahel states
via Punch Nigeria2 min read
Nigeria's Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Sola Enikanolaiye, called on the Economic Community of West African States ECOWAS to strengthen regional cooperation against terrorism and transnational crimes. Speaking at the 56th Session of the ECOWAS Mediation and Security Council in Freetown, Sierra Leone, Enikanolaiye emphasized the need for sustained dialogue with Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger to address security and governance challenges. He urged member states to promptly pay the ECOWAS Community Levy, highlighting Nigeria's consistent fulfillment of its obligations despite domestic challenges. The minister stressed a reinvigorated regional response to terrorism, piracy, banditry, and transnational organized crime, noting Nigeria's intensified military operations. On democracy, Enikanolaiye reaffirmed Nigeria's commitment to credible elections, assuring the council of free and fair 2027 general elections and inviting observers. He also condemned rising Afrophobic violence in South Africa, urging ECOWAS to adopt a firm position for submission to the African Union. Furthermore, he advocated for sustained engagement with the Alliance of Sahelian States Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger and Guinea-Bissau, stressing dialogue and inclusive approaches for regional peace and stability.
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This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by Punch Nigeria.
The Corporate Affairs Commission CAC has initiated the process to remove 100,000 companies from its register due to their failure to file outstanding annual returns and other statutory documents. This action, referred to as Batch 6, is being taken under Section 692 3 and 4 of the Companies and Allied Matters Act, 2020. The CAC has published the list of affected companies on its website and advises them to regularize their records, including Persons with Significant Control/Beneficial Ownership information, within 90 days of the notice. Companies are instructed to send evidence of compliance to struckoffcompanies@cac.gov.ng. The Commission emphasized that companies failing to comply within the specified timeframe will be struck off the register without further notice.
The Federal Government of Nigeria has announced plans to establish the Nigeria Genomic City, an initiative designed to transform the country into a knowledge- and innovation-driven economy. This project aims to leverage Nigeria's genomic resources to advance scientific research, improve healthcare, strengthen food security, and accelerate economic growth. The Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, stated that the initiative is a strategic national investment intended to position Nigeria as a leading African hub for genomics, biotechnology, and precision medicine. He emphasized that the project, conceived over 20 months ago, is a multi-agency and multi-ministerial effort, reflecting its national significance. The Minister highlighted that the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration is committed to transitioning Nigeria from a resource-based economy to one driven by knowledge, research, technology, and innovation. The Nigeria Genomic City will be hosted by the University of Abuja, with support from the National Information Technology Development Agency and the National Board for Technology Incubation. The Federal Ministry of Education will coordinate its implementation. The Minister of State for Education, Prof. Suwaiba Ahmad, described the project as a unique opportunity for Nigeria to become a global leader in scientific innovation. Prof. Mayowa Ojo Owolabi, Pioneer Director of the Centre for Genomic and Precision Medicine at the University of Ibadan, presented the techn
England goalkeeper Jordan Pickford's detailed penalty notes for Argentina players were discovered by Lionel Messi and his teammates after their 2-1 victory in the World Cup semi-final. Pickford had prepared instructions for each Argentine player, including faking dives or delaying movement, in anticipation of a penalty shootout that ultimately did not occur. For instance, his notes for Messi suggested diving one way after initially feigning to go the other, while for Enzo Fernandez, he expected a shot down the middle. Tottenham defender Marcos Senesi was seen explaining the English notes to Messi. The notes were taped to Pickford's water bottle and found as Argentina celebrated their comeback win. The image of the bottle was reportedly shared on Instagram by Argentina fitness coach Luis Martin and widely circulated by journalist Fabrizio Romano. While goalkeepers routinely study penalty takers, Pickford's preparations were not utilized as Argentina secured their win in normal time. The leaked notes could potentially aid Spain's goalkeeper Unai Simon in the upcoming final against Argentina, as Argentina's penalty routines are now public.