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Category: Africa

  • Enugu Monarch, Igwe Agubuzu, Appeals to Tinubu for Nnamdi Kanu’s Release

    Enugu Monarch, Igwe Agubuzu, Appeals to Tinubu for Nnamdi Kanu’s Release

    ABUJA, NIGERIA: A prominent traditional ruler from Nigeria’s Southeast, HRM Igwe, Amb. Dr Lawrence Okolio Chikezie Agubuzu, has urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to order the release of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), currently held in Sokoto prison.

    Speaking on Tuesday at the National Traditional and Religious Leaders Summit on Health in Abuja, attended by President Tinubu and a delegation of royal fathers, Agubuzu made an emotional plea for justice and reconciliation. He expressed dismay at the continued detention of Kanu, drawing a comparison with Sunday Igboho, who is being honoured in the Southwest. “Bring this man out,” he told the president. “If we don’t want him in Nigeria, return him to Kenya or London, where they took him from.” He warned that silence from traditional rulers could be misinterpreted by Southeast youths as complicity with the government, adding that such perceptions risk alienating leaders from their communities.

    Kanu was arrested in Kenya in 2021 under controversial circumstances and subjected to what his lawyers described as “extraordinary rendition” back to Nigeria. His detention sparked widespread protests and debate over due process and international law. The Federal Government charged him with terrorism and treasonable felony, citing his Radio Biafra broadcasts and separatist mobilisation. After protracted legal proceedings, Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court in Abuja sentenced him to life imprisonment in November 2025 on seven counts of terrorism-related offences. While the government insists his actions endangered national security, his defence team argues the charges are politically motivated and his rendition violated international law.

    Agubuzu’s appeal adds to mounting pressure from lawmakers, civil society groups, and Southeast leaders who have repeatedly called on Tinubu to intervene. Observers warn that Kanu’s continued detention risks deepening unrest in the region and undermining efforts at national reconciliation.

  • Amaechi Warns of 25% Deductions Under New Tax Law

    Amaechi Warns of 25% Deductions Under New Tax Law

    ABUJA, NIGERIA: Opposition figure and 2027 presidential aspirant Rotimi Amaechi has cautioned Nigerians against re-electing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, warning that the administration intends to implement a controversial tax policy after the forthcoming elections. Speaking during a campaign event in Abuja over the weekend, the former Rivers State governor and ex-Minister of Transportation told traders that under the new law, “every payment made to you, 25% will be deducted by 2027.”

    Amaechi alleged that the ruling party had delayed implementation of the measure until after the polls, adding: “If you receive ₦100 million for goods you sold, ₦25 million will be deducted from your bank account immediately. By January–February next year, all of you will be in trouble if the APC wins.”

    Nigeria’s new tax laws, which came into effect on January 1, 2026, represent the most ambitious fiscal overhaul in the country’s history. The reforms consolidate multiple statutes—including the Companies Income Tax Act, Personal Income Tax Act, Value Added Tax Act, and Capital Gains Tax Act—into a single streamlined regime. While the legislation introduces significant exemptions for low-income earners and small businesses, Finance Minister Wale Edun has emphasised that the reforms are designed to broaden the tax base, stimulate economic activity, and support the federal government’s ambition of building a $1 trillion economy.

  • U.S. Sanctions Boko Haram Sponsors Amid Rising Violence in Nigeria

    U.S. Sanctions Boko Haram Sponsors Amid Rising Violence in Nigeria

    WASHINGTON, D.C. / ABUJA: The United States government has sanctioned eight individuals in Nigeria for alleged links to Boko Haram, the Islamist insurgent group responsible for widespread violence across Nigeria’s northeast, northwest, and north-central regions, as well as in the wider Lake Chad Basin covering Cameroon, Chad, and Niger. Boko Haram, designated a foreign terrorist organisation by the U.S. in 2013, has killed tens of thousands and displaced millions since its insurgency began in 2009.

    The sanctions were announced in a publication by the U.S. Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), which blocks the property and interests of designated persons. Among those listed is Salih Yusuf Adamu (a.k.a. Salihu Yusuf), born August 23, 1990, who was convicted in the United Arab Emirates in 2022 for establishing a Boko Haram cell to raise funds for insurgents in Nigeria. Others named include Babestan Oluwole Ademulero, Abu Abdullah ibn Umar Al-Barnawi, Abu Musab Al-Barnawi, Khaled Al-Barnawi, Ibrahim Ali Alhassan, and Abu Bakr ibn Muhammad ibn Ali Al-Mainuki.

    The U.S. indictment alleges that all sanctioned individuals actively participated in Boko Haram’s operations in Nigeria and neighbouring countries.

    This action follows the October 31, 2025, designation of Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern” (CPC) under the International Religious Freedom Act, after reports that jihadist groups killed more than 7,000 Christians and abducted 7,800 others in the first seven months of 2025.

    On December 25, 2025 (Christmas Day), the U.S. military launched Tomahawk missile strikes against suspected Islamic State (ISIS) camps in Sokoto State, northwest Nigeria. The operation, coordinated with the Nigerian government, targeted militants linked to the Islamic State–Sahel Province and its affiliate, Lakurawa. The U.S. Africa Command confirmed the strikes, describing them as aimed at “ISIS terrorists in Nigeria.”

    In early 2026, the U.S. deployed a small team of troops to Nigeria, marking the first official American military presence on the ground in support of counterterrorism operations.

  • Peter Obi Vows Votes Must Count in 2027 Elections

    Peter Obi Vows Votes Must Count in 2027 Elections

    ABUJA, NIGERIA: Nigeria’s leading opposition figure and presidential aspirant for the 2027 elections, Peter Obi, has vowed that the votes of Nigerians “must count” in the forthcoming polls. His remarks come amid heated debate over the ongoing amendments to the Electoral Act, particularly regarding the electronic transmission of results.

    Recall that opposition parties, civil society groups and demonstrators at the National Assembly are calling on the Nigerian Senate to pass a law mandating the electronic transmission of results. They blamed the manual transmission for creating the room for malpractices and election rigging, which they alleged has robbed the country of quality leadership.

    In a statement, Obi declared: “Unlike in the past, in 2027 our votes MUST count.” He warned that those who attempt to undermine the process would be “counted among those destroying Nigeria.” The aspirant, who commands the Obidient Movement, urged supporters and citizens to remain at polling units after casting their ballots to witness both the counting and transmission of results.

    Obi stressed that anyone who obstructs the proper counting of votes would face “the full weight of the law against rigging.” He added: “If you do not count our votes, we will count you among those who destroy our democracy, thereby destroying our future, and you must answer to the law.”

  • Dangote Group Unveils Vision 2030, Signs $400m Agreement with China’s XCMG

    Dangote Group Unveils Vision 2030, Signs $400m Agreement with China’s XCMG

    LAGOS, NIGERIA: The Dangote Group has unveiled its Vision 2030 strategy, outlining plans to transform into a $100 billion pan-African industrial powerhouse by the end of the decade. In a statement released Monday, the conglomerate emphasised its commitment to “deepening investments across the continent, strengthening human capital, reducing import dependence, creating jobs, and advancing sustainable industrialisation.”

    Demonstrating its resolve, the Group announced the signing of a $400 million agreement with China’s XCMG Construction Machinery Co., Ltd. to acquire advanced construction equipment. The deal is expected to accelerate the expansion of the Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals, which recently achieved recognition as the world’s largest oil refinery. The current output of 650,000 barrels per day is projected to rise to 1.4 million barrels per day under the expansion plan.

    Beyond crude refining, the agreement will boost production of key byproducts. Polypropylene output is expected to increase from 900,000 metric tonnes per year to 2.4 million, while Nigeria’s urea production capacity will scale from 3 million to 9 million metric tonnes annually. The Group described these milestones as central to its broader industrial vision, positioning Nigeria as a global hub for energy and petrochemicals.

  • Ohanaeze Accuses Asari Dokubo of Inciting Ethnic Violence Against Igbos

    Ohanaeze Accuses Asari Dokubo of Inciting Ethnic Violence Against Igbos

    PORT HARCOURT, NIGERIA — The Rivers State chapter of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide has accused former Niger Delta militant leader Asari Dokubo of attempting to incite ethnic violence through what it described as a “false and venomous video.”

    In a statement issued on Monday, January 16, and made available to Newpost Africa, the chapter president, Livingstone Wechie, criticised Dokubo’s claims that Igbo communities in Rivers State were behind attacks on Northern Muslims during recent clashes in Rumuokwurusi, Obio/Akpor Local Government Area. Wechie said the video was “inciting and malicious,” aimed at pitching Igbos against their northern neighbours. He clarified that the violence at the Oil Mill Fruit Market on January 14 stemmed from a dispute between Benue and Hausa traders, not Igbo communities.

    Wechie stressed that Igbos are neither anarchists nor destroyers, noting their significant population in Rivers State and across northern Nigeria, where they coexist peacefully with other ethnic and religious groups. He emphasised that both Christian and Muslim Igbos live in Rivers State and respect the religious rights of others.

    The Rivers State Police Command also confirmed that the incident was a clash between Hausa and Benue traders, not involving Igbos, and that the suspect in the killing had been arrested. Wechie urged the public to disregard Dokubo’s “emotional outburst and combustible propositions,” warning that such rhetoric could destabilise the state. He commended Governor Siminalayi Fubara for his swift intervention, which restored calm and prevented further escalation.

  • Lagos Governor Celebrates Esther Etiyemonu—Spelling Bee Champion and “One-Day Governor”

    Lagos Governor Celebrates Esther Etiyemonu—Spelling Bee Champion and “One-Day Governor”

    LAGOS, NIGERIA — Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Monday hosted Miss Esther Etiyemonu, the newly crowned One-Day Governor of Lagos State and overall winner of the 21st Lagos State Spelling Bee Competition, at Lagos House, Marina.

    In his remarks, Governor Sanwo-Olu praised Esther, a student of Lagos State Senior Model College, Igbokuta, describing her as “a brilliant student” whose confidence, focus, and hard work distinguished her in the statewide contest.

    “Today, I received Miss Etiyemonu Esther, the One-Day Governor and overall winner of the 21st Lagos Spelling Bee Competition, a brilliant student of Lagos State Senior Model College Igbokuta, at Lagos House, Marina. Her confidence, focus, and hard work stand out. She represents the very best of our youth, and I am incredibly proud of her achievements,” Sanwo-Olu said.

    He added: “Esther, all of Lagos is rooting for you and your bright future. Congratulations once again.”

    The Lagos State Spelling Bee Competition, inaugurated in 2001, produced its first One-Day Governor in Bisi Adeyemi. Since then, the tradition has continued, inspiring generations of Lagos students.

    Organized by the Lagos State Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education through the Office of Education Quality Assurance, the competition aims to promote literacy, language development, and academic excellence. Beyond spelling, it fosters confidence, leadership, and public speaking skills, with the highlight being the winner’s symbolic opportunity to serve as One-Day Governor of Lagos State — sitting in the Governor’s chair and experiencing leadership firsthand.

  • Customs Seize Four Live Pangolins in Ogun

    Customs Seize Four Live Pangolins in Ogun

    The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Ogun 1 Area Command, Idiroko, says it intercepted four live Pangolins, an endangered species, along the Yemoamota-Abule-Igboora axis of the state.

    The Deputy Superintendent of NCS, Chado Zakari, also the Command’s Spokesperson, disclosed this in a statement made available to newsmen on Saturday in Ota.

    Zakari explained that the seizure underscored the service’s unwavering commitment to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).

    According to him, at about 3.00 a.m. on Thursday, a patrol team acting on credible intelligence intercepted a motorcycle in the Yemoamota-Abule-Igboora, and Ebute Igboora axis of the command.

    “Upon inspection, officers discovered four pangolins confined in wire mesh cages and concealed within a sack.

    “The sophisticated nature of the packaging suggests the involvement of an organised smuggling syndicate.

    “To evade arrest, the suspects abandoned their motorcycle and the endangered species, vanishing into the thick terrain as the evening fog rolled in,” he said.

    Zakari said that prioritising the animals’ welfare after the seizure, the Command officially transferred the pangolins to the Wildlife Conservation Centre on Feb. 13, 2026.

    He said that the handover was conducted by Assistant Comptroller Tajjudeen Bello (Acting Deputy Comptroller for Administration), on behalf of the Acting Customs Area Comptroller, Oladapo Afeni.

    The area comptroller noted that the officers acted with remarkable courage and professionalism throughout the covert operations.

    The comptroller reiterated the command’s commitment to be steadfast in its vigilance against trans-border crime and to collaborate with its partners to eliminate the illegal trade in endangered species.

    Afeni issued a stern warning to smugglers and traffickers of endangered wildlife, urging them to desist from the act.

    He emphasised that the command remained ‘battle-ready’ and fully equipped to track down and apprehend anyone undermining the law.

  • African Union Welcomes DRC–AFC/M23 Peace Agreement, Urges Implementation

    African Union Welcomes DRC–AFC/M23 Peace Agreement, Urges Implementation

    ADDIS ABABA, ETHIOPIA — The African Union Commission has welcomed the peace agreement signed on 3 February 2025 in Doha between the Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and the Alliance Fleuve Congo/M23 (AFC/M23). AU Commission Chairperson H.E. Mahmoud Ali Youssouf described the accord as “an important step” toward de-escalating hostilities and restoring peace and security in eastern DRC.

    In a statement issued on 12 February 2026, the Chairperson commended the parties’ commitment to peace, urging them to respect the “mutually agreed ceasefire mechanism” as a means of building trust and protecting civilian populations. He emphasised that the establishment of a clear monitoring framework is essential to ensure compliance and foster confidence between the parties.

    The African Union expressed gratitude to the State of Qatar and the United States for their efforts in facilitating the agreement, noting that the initiative aligns with the AU-led mediation process under the leadership of H.E. Faure Essozimna Gnassingbé, President of the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Togo and AU-designated Lead Mediator on eastern DRC, supported by the AU Panel of Facilitators.

    The AU also acknowledged the role of regional organisations, including the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region, in operationalising the Expanded Joint Verification Mechanism (EJVM+) to support the permanent ceasefire.

    The conflict between the DRC and M23 rebels has persisted since 2009, rooted in ethnic tensions, unfulfilled peace agreements, and regional rivalries. M23, formed by former Congolese army members, accuses the government of failing to honour commitments related to political representation, protection of Tutsi communities, and reintegration benefits. The group demands greater autonomy, security guarantees, and political inclusion. The DRC government, however, views M23 as an illegitimate armed movement backed by external actors, particularly Rwanda, and seeks to reassert state authority, safeguard civilians, and preserve territorial integrity.

    The AU Chairperson underscored that the Doha agreement represents a significant confidence-building measure. He encouraged both parties to fully implement the agreed Terms of Reference and remain engaged in ongoing political and security processes. The African Union Commission reaffirmed its readiness to support the parties, in collaboration with regional mechanisms, to advance a permanent ceasefire, lasting peace, reconciliation, and stability in the region.

  • INEC Releases Timetable for 2027 General Elections, Vows Strict Enforcement of Electoral Laws

    INEC Releases Timetable for 2027 General Elections, Vows Strict Enforcement of Electoral Laws

    ABUJA, NIGERIA — The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Nigeria’s apex electoral body, has released the official timetable for the 2027 general elections. In a statement issued on Friday, the Commission announced that the presidential and National Assembly elections will take place on Saturday, February 20, 2027, marking the start of the electoral cycle in Africa’s largest democracy and leading oil producer.

    INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Ojo Amupitan, described the announcement as “a significant milestone in our democratic journey and a constitutional obligation aimed at consolidating Nigeria’s democracy.”

    According to the timetable, the Governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections are scheduled for Saturday, March 6, 2027. Prof. Amupitan emphasized that the notice was issued in line with constitutional provisions, which require publication of election dates not later than 360 days before polling.

    “The timely announcement of the election date allows political parties, civil society organisations, and the electorate to prepare adequately,” he said.

    The INEC Chairman also welcomed ongoing amendments to the Electoral Act, 2022, currently under consideration at the National Assembly, noting that such reforms would strengthen Nigeria’s electoral framework.

    Under the released timetable, political parties are expected to:

    • Conduct primaries within the statutory period.
    • Submit nomination forms within the approved window.
    • Commence campaigns as provided by law, ending 24 hours before Election Day.

    Prof. Amupitan warned that the Commission would strictly enforce compliance with electoral laws and timelines, reiterating INEC’s commitment to independence and neutrality.