ECOWAS FACES CRISIS AS COUPS, POVERTY THREATEN WEST AFRICA’S UNITY
In Abuja, the Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD), in collaboration with the West Africa Democracy Solidarity Network (WADEMOS), hosted a high-level conference that brought to the fore the fragile state of democracy in West Africa amid resurging military coups and deepening poverty. Senior CDD Fellow Jibrin Ibrahim warned that ECOWAS, once hailed as a vanguard of regional unity and democratic integration, now faces serious existential threats.
Speaking candidly, Ibrahim lamented the reversal of democratic gains in Mali, Burkina Faso, Guinea, and Niger due to military takeovers. “ECOWAS has been instrumental in deepening democracy in our region. Yet, the emergence of unconstitutional regimes threatens the unity and progress we’ve achieved,” he said.
Ibrahim emphasized that economic despair, youth unemployment, and the erosion of public trust in democratic systems are stoking disillusionment and instability across the region. “The dream of independence—access to education, opportunity, and self-determination—has faded,” he warned, linking the betrayal of this dream to the rise of terrorism, internal displacement, and mass poverty.
The conference echoed a call for ECOWAS to reform its governance structures, dismantle colonial legacies, and prioritize the welfare of its people. Chairman of the CDD Board, Comrade John Odah, highlighted the regional bloc’s fifty-year history, urging civil society to defend the vision of integration. “Despite challenges, significant progress has been made,” he said, insisting that the legacy of ECOWAS must not be undermined.
TINUBU INAUGURATES HIGH-LEVEL COMMITTEE FOR CRUCIAL NATIONAL CENSUS
President Bola Tinubu on Wednesday launched a high-level committee to oversee Nigeria’s long-awaited national population and housing census, nearly two decades after the last count in 2006. Represented by his Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, the President stressed the census’s critical importance for data-driven governance.
“It’s impossible to budget properly without knowing how many we are,” Tinubu said, directing the committee to explore both domestic and international financing options and ensure that the census is fully technology-driven. Biometrics and digital tools will be central to the exercise.
Senator Atiku Bagudu, Minister of Budget and Economic Planning and chair of the new committee, promised delivery of an interim report within three weeks. Information Minister Mohammed Idris emphasized the foundational role of accurate data in all sectors, while National Population Commission Chairman Nasir Kwarra reassured Nigerians that the commission was committed to credible, tech-enabled enumeration. The committee includes top officials from the Ministry of Finance, FIRS, NIMC, and the Presidency.
RIVERS STATE EMERGENCY GOVERNANCE UNDER FIRE NPC
The National Patriotic Coalition (NPC) has issued a searing condemnation of the Sole Administrator of Rivers State, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas (Rtd), accusing him of exceeding his emergency mandate and eroding democratic norms. At a press conference in Lagos, NPC leaders Declan Ihekaire and Akintunde Adedeji described Ibas’s governance style as vindictive and divisive.
The group criticized the ongoing probe of suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his deputy as politically motivated and outside the Administrator’s remit. “What we see is not governance—it’s a witch-hunt disguised as law and order,” the group declared. They warned that Ibas was inflaming ethnic and political tensions and operating as “a stooge of self-serving politicians.”
The Coalition called on President Tinubu to urgently check the Administrator’s overreach and insisted that all concerns should go through the House of Representatives’ 11-member oversight committee. “Mr. President has made a grave mistake appointing him,” they concluded, demanding that the probe be halted immediately.
YAHAYA BELLO PETITIONS IGP OVER ALLEGED ASSASSINATION CLAIM BY SENATOR AKPOTI-UDUAGHAN
Former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello has petitioned the Inspector General of Police to investigate Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan over explosive allegations she made during a political rally, including claims of an assassination plot involving him and Senate President Godswill Akpabio.
Bello’s lawyer, N.A. Abubakar, said the statements—captured on video and widely shared online—amount to criminal defamation and incitement. “These are not just reckless words. They’re dangerous, false, and intended to destroy our client’s reputation,” the petition stated.
In a separate letter, Bello’s legal team gave the senator 14 days to publicly retract her statements and issue apologies in two national dailies, or face both civil and criminal lawsuits. The lawyers accused her of consistently spreading harmful lies and alleged she may be mentally unstable, citing past incidents.
Bello, now a private citizen, said he no longer feels bound to exercise restraint. “The time for indulgence is over. We demand justice,” his team declared, warning that failure to act could set a dangerous precedent in Nigerian politics.
SULTAN OF SOKOTO CALLS SOCIAL MEDIA A ‘TERRORIST ORGANIZATION’ AMID RISING VIOLENCE AND MISINFORMATION
In a striking and controversial statement, the Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar III, described social media as a “terrorist organisation” during the Northern Traditional Rulers’ Council meeting in Maiduguri. Lamenting its role in spreading fake news and inciting unrest, the Sultan called on security agencies to clamp down on what he termed an “unchecked force fueling instability.”
“What they do—somebody will sit in his comfort zone and formulate stories—and you will think it is true,” the Sultan said, referencing the power of misinformation in triggering panic and violence.
The statement comes amid escalating insecurity, particularly in Plateau State, where Amnesty International recently confirmed that over 50 people were killed in recent attacks. The Sultan urged traditional rulers and security institutions to work together in restoring peace and trust in the country.
WORLD BANK WARNS OF TRADE WAR FALLOUT FOR NIGERIA
World Bank President Ajay Banga has cautioned that ongoing global trade wars are increasing uncertainty and may trigger fiscal distress in commodity-exporting nations like Nigeria. Speaking ahead of the World Bank/IMF Spring Meetings, Banga pointed out that disruptions in global trade flows could drive down commodity prices, straining national budgets across Sub-Saharan Africa.
“If the prices of commodities come down because of a reduction in global growth, then you will have a challenge with the budget of that country,” Banga explained. His remarks underscore the economic vulnerability of countries heavily dependent on exports amid a fragile global economy.
PLATEAU STATE BANS NIGHT GRAZING, MOTORCYCLE MOVEMENT AMID FRESH KILLINGS
Following a spate of coordinated attacks that left over 50 dead and thousands displaced in Plateau State, Governor Caleb Mutfwang has rolled out a series of aggressive security measures, including a statewide ban on night grazing and restrictions on motorcycle movement.
In a solemn statewide broadcast, Mutfwang stated that the violence in Zike and Bokkos was not coincidental but part of a calculated attempt to destabilize and displace communities. “This is not a clash—it is a campaign of destruction,” he declared, vowing to restore security and bring perpetrators to justice.
He praised President Tinubu for his support and directed immediate deployments of security personnel to volatile zones. The state’s internal security force, Operation Rainbow, is being reinforced with 600 newly trained recruits.
Humanitarian assistance has begun, with NEMA and SEMA providing food and shelter for displaced persons. The governor also announced the activation of a peace envoy, a fact-finding committee, and an inter-religious council to foster long-term reconciliation.
“To the killers and those who send them, know this: your time is up,” Mutfwang warned. “The Plateau will rise. The Plateau will not fall. The Plateau will stand tall again—by the grace of God.”
