Category: Africa

Lagos, Nigeria (NPA) — March 11, 2026 — Nigerian politician and 2027 presidential aspirant under the All Democratic Congress (ADC), Mr Peter Obi, has called for greater inclusion of women and youth in national development strategies. He made the appeal on Tuesday while addressing participants at the REFELA National Conference in Banjul, The Gambia, themed “Accelerating Representation, Safeguarding, and Strengthening Women’s Rights.”

Serving as both Guest Speaker and Chief Guest of the occasion, Obi aligned his remarks with this year’s International Women’s Day theme, “Give to Gain.” 

He stressed that the prosperity of nations is directly linked to how seriously they invest in their people, particularly women. “When women are given equal access to education, finance, and leadership opportunities, they become not just participants but critical drivers of national development,” he said.

In a statement issued Wednesday, Obi emphasised that for countries like Nigeria, The Gambia, and other African nations, sustainable prosperity requires deliberate investment in human capital. He highlighted education, healthcare, skills development, and economic inclusion for women and youth as the foundation for growth.

Obi, widely recognised as the leader of the Obidient Movement with strong youth support, noted that empowering women, fostering accountability, and prioritising education would enable Africa to transform potential into tangible progress. “This is development as freedom,” he declared, urging governments to embrace inclusive policies that build shared opportunities for all.

Abuja, Nigeria (NPA) — March 10, 2026 — The Nigerian Army has pledged to strengthen military cooperation with the South African Army, following a visit by the Chief of the South African Army, Lieutenant General Lawrence Khulekani Mbatha, to the Army Headquarters in Abuja on Tuesday.

Colonel Appolonia Anele, Acting Director of Army Public Relations, said Nigeria’s Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, emphasised that closer collaboration among African militaries is critical to addressing terrorism and insurgency. He noted that shared training and operational knowledge would enhance regional security and professional capacity.

Shaibu highlighted Nigeria’s counter‑terrorism efforts in the North‑East under Operation HADIN KAI, stressing the importance of specialised training in detecting and neutralising Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs). He said cooperation with South Africa would strengthen these programs and improve battlefield survivability.

The army chief also pointed to ongoing collaboration in military education. Nigerian officers attend courses at the South African Defence College, while South African officers serve as instructors in Nigerian institutions such as the Army War College and the Armed Forces Command and Staff College. These exchanges, he said, build institutional ties and leadership capacity.

Mbatha, for his part, praised Nigeria’s extensive battlefield experience and expressed interest in learning from its operational strategies against asymmetric threats. He noted that South Africa’s expertise in aviation maintenance and pilot training could support Nigeria’s efforts to expand its air capabilities.

Both leaders concluded with a commitment to sustain joint training, operational exchanges, and technical cooperation. They agreed that stronger collaboration between Nigeria and South Africa would enhance the effectiveness of their forces and contribute to stability and collective defense across Africa.

Abuja, Nigeria (NPA) — March 9, 2026 — Presidential hopeful and leader of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Peter Obi, has condemned what he described as Nigeria’s descent into a dangerous era of political thuggery aimed at suppressing democracy and stifling political participation.

Obi’s remarks followed reports of an attack on fellow presidential aspirant Rotimi Amaechi on Friday, March 6, 2026. Gunmen ambushed his convoy along the Omuanwa–Ubima road in Ikwerre Local Government Area during a political engagement in Rivers State.

Amaechi’s convoy was allegedly assaulted by politically sponsored thugs, while offices of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in the area were set ablaze, sparking widespread condemnation and raising concerns about escalating political violence.

In a statement on Monday, Obi warned: “The failure to arrest and prosecute those responsible for these heinous acts signals a grave danger—the steady erosion of the very foundation of democracy and the entrenchment of lawlessness by those entrusted to enforce the law.”

He cautioned that unchecked violence could push citizens to take matters into their own hands: “If we do not confront this troubling trend with unwavering resolve, citizens will feel compelled to take matters into their own hands simply to exercise their democratic rights.”

Obi further stressed that Nigeria cannot claim to be a democracy while political actors are endangered for expressing themselves. “A nation where thugs dictate who can gather, speak, or campaign is not practising democracy; it is careening toward a brutal regime of political thuggery, aided and abetted by those in power.”

He concluded: “We must unequivocally reject this descent into a democracy of thuggery. Nigerians deserve a political environment organised through competency, capacity, compassion, and commitment to the good of society, not one controlled by incompetence and thuggery. Democracy must be defined by the rule of law, accountability, competence, and the unrestricted participation of citizens in shaping their nation’s future through political actions.”

Abuja, Nigeria — March 9, 2026 — Peter Obi, leader of Nigeria’s opposition African Democratic Congress (ADC), has accused President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s All Progressives Congress (APC) government of engaging in what he described as “blatant persecution of political opponents disguised as criminal prosecution.”

In a statement issued Monday, Obi cited the arrests and continued detention of former Attorney General of the Federation Abubakar Malami and former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, both senior figures in the ADC. He questioned the timing of their arrests, noting that they coincided with their public commitment to challenge the current administration in the 2027 elections.

Obi criticised the methods used in their apprehension, arguing that they contravened the principles of the rule of law. He said prosecutorial decisions must be based on credible evidence and probable cause, presented transparently and without political motives. “The undue denial of bail or unjustly stringent conditions imposed on bail leave little doubt that the government is wielding criminal prosecution as a weapon against its political opponents,” he stated.

He further expressed concern over the repeated transfers of El-Rufai between the EFCC, ICPC, and DSS, describing the moves as “a desperate search for any charge that might stick, straying dangerously close to a fishing expedition rather than a credible investigation.”

Obi emphasised the need for a justice system that instils confidence in citizens, ensuring that no one is persecuted for political beliefs. “As we approach a critical election period, the government must cease its efforts to undermine political opponents under the pretence of battling corruption and wrongdoing,” he said.

While reaffirming his support for the fight against corruption, Obi insisted that such efforts must begin with those currently in power and be conducted with integrity and transparency. “A credible anti-corruption and anti-wrongdoing campaign cannot afford to be selective,” he added.