News
ECOWAS force to battle terrorism in Nigeria, others
Nigeria and other West African countries battling terrorism will receive support from a standby force to be formed by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
The regional economic block expressed worries about the deepening terrorism in the Sahel region.
It unveiled plans yesterday to raise $2.4 billion for the establishment of the standby force.
ECOWAS Commissioner in charge of Political Affairs, Peace and Security, Ambassador Abdel-Fatau Musah, broke the news in Abuja yesterday.
He said: “If you look at our region, it is being ravaged by terrorists. Today, Burkina Faso has overtaken Afghanistan as the most-terrorised state on earth and Africa has become home to terrorist organisations.
“Elsewhere in the world, there are opportunistic terrorists attacks like we saw in some countries not too long ago.
“We are faced with the nightmare of having one of our member states being completely occupied by terrorist groups.
“If they set up a front base in one country then no country is safe, and we have already seen the impact of that on some of the coastal countries – Benin, Togo, Ghana and Cote d’voire– over the past few years.”
The ECOWAS commissioner, however, said Nigeria has been able to degrade the Boko Haram terrorists.
“In Nigeria, thanks to the efforts of the Nigerian Government, Boko Haram has been degraded to the extent that they do not post a sustainable threat to the peace and security of Nigeria,” he said.
Musah spoke at the opening of a three-day consultative meeting of Commandants of the three designated ECOWAS Training Centres of Excellence.
The three centres of excellence are the National Defence College (Nigeria); Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre (Ghana) and Ecole de Maintien de la Paix Alioune Blondin Beye (Mali).
The consultative engagement is a bi-annual event coordinated by the Directorate of Peacekeeping and Regional Security of ECOWAS.
It is to support training, capacity building, research and development of the ECOWAS Standby Force and the general peace and security within the sub-region.
But Mali, which is housing one of the training centres of excellence, was not at the meeting yesterday.
Mali’s absence may not be unconnected with its recent decision alongside Niger and Burkina Faso to pull out of the ECOWAS community.
Musah said that terrorism was cascading across the region and there was need to have counter-terrorism forces to contain its spread.
Musah added: “This is the decision, and in the coming weeks, ECOWAS has already, with the Chiefs of Defence Staff, developed operational modalities, the concept of operations and everything for us to aggregate.
“It will be something like an advance and rapid reaction force of a battalion that will be able to confront terrorists’ bases.”
He explained that as part of the resolution of the authority of Heads of States, 2.4 billion dollars would be raised to fund the ECOWAS standby force to tackle the security challenges headlong.
“The Heads of States have decided that on the first year, we must raise about $2.4 billion to support the operation of this force in order to face the terrorist.”
Musah said that out of the amount, the Heads of States had directed member-states to contribute $1 billion to begin the operation of the standby force.
He also explained that Ministers of Defence and Finance from the sub-region would be meeting to fashion out funding modalities for the force.
The Commandant, National Defence College, Rear Admiral Olumuyiwa Olotu, said West Africa remained the only region that assigned training centres with special mandate.
He urged participants to take advantage of the opportunity to exchange useful ideas to step up the counter-terrorist campaign.
News
FG Launches Nationwide Training to Boost Livestock Extension Capacity
The Federal Ministry of Livestock Development has begun a three-day national capacity-building programme aimed at upgrading the technical skills of Livestock Extension Officers from all 36 states and the FCT.

The workshop focuses on strengthening field advisory services and harmonising extension communication across the country.
Declaring the event open in Abuja, the Permanent Secretary, Dr. Chinyere Ijeoma Akujobi, represented by the Director of Livestock Extension and Business Development, Mr. Joseph Ako, reaffirmed the Ministry’s commitment to building a modern and commercially viable livestock sector capable of driving food security and economic diversification.

She described livestock extension officers as central to the sector’s transformation agenda, noting that they serve as the crucial link between research institutions and rural farmers.

Earlier in his welcome remarks, Mr. Ako encouraged participants to take full advantage of the intensive training sessions and emphasised that improved professional capacity among extension workers will translate into better support for livestock farmers nationwide.

The programme is anchored on the National Livestock Growth Acceleration Strategy, which places strong emphasis on effective extension services as a core pillar for boosting productivity, expanding modern production systems and promoting sustainable livestock management practices.

Meanwhile, participants will receive training in key thematic areas such as Good Animal Husbandry Practices, animal welfare, feed and nutrition, disease management, biosecurity, waste management, One Health principles, breeding and reproduction, humane handling, housing, record keeping and participatory extension methods.

Entertainment
Shocking Video: 2Baba’s Alleged Detention in London Over Domestic Dispute Surfaces
New developments have surfaced regarding the earlier rumour that Nigerian music icon 2Baba was arrested in London following a domestic altercation with his wife, Annie Idibia.
Although the singer’s management publicly denied the report at the time, new video clips—obtained during the initial wave of allegations but held back pending verification—have now emerged.
According to sources, the couple allegedly became involved in a heated confrontation on the said day, during which both parties were reportedly injured.
Neighbours who claimed to have witnessed the disturbance are said to have alerted the police, resulting in officers arriving at the scene.
2Baba’s management has maintained its position that the earlier reports were false, urging fans to disregard any unverified claims.
watch video below:
News
Osun PDP Congress: Thugs Arrested, Alleged Governor Makinde Mobilised Them
Scores of Hoodlums Arrested, confessed Governor Makinde mobilised them. Members of the Oyo state chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) dominated today’s governorship primaries of the PDP held at Osogbo, investigation and eyewitness accounts at the venue have revealed.
Buses filled with PDP members were seen entering from both Iwo and Ikire end of Osun state last night and early this morning with many of the buses stopping at Adolak hotel, the venue of the congress.
A check through the hall revealed that Osun PDP members were not in attendance even though the Ibadan based zonal youth leader of the PDP was identified as the anchor mobilised of the Oyo state PDP members for the Osun Congress.
A chat with some of the individuals at the Congress confirmed that they were mostly from Oyo state with some of them actually confirming that they were recruited to attend.
The presence of Police men and women from Oyo state who provided security cover for the mobilised party members.
Some political thugs were however arrested and they narrated how they were mobilised from the Government House in Oyo state.
On why Oyo PDP members had to be mobilised for the Osun Congress, a party chieftain from Oyo state who was also present said “Osun PDP did not conduct the mandatory three adhoc delegates to vote at the Congress.
“ So we fill the vacancies with our people from Oyo state. We cannot allow PDP to die here. That is why we have to so mobilise”, the source noted.
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