International
Foreign cash fuelling illegal mining, terrorism in Africa, says Tinubu
President Bola Tinubu has highlighted the issue of foreign funding for illegal mining and terrorism in Africa, stating that it poses a significant threat to peace, security, and development on the continent. He made these remarks at the opening ceremony of a two-day African High-Level Meeting on Counter-Terrorism organized by the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) and the UN Office for Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT) in Abuja.
Tinubu emphasized that terrorism is evolving, continuously finding ways to finance, re-equip, and re-supply itself for its sinister missions. He pointed out that billions of dollars, which could have been used by legitimate governments for societal development, are instead being diverted to fund terrorism. He particularly highlighted the connection between illegal mining and terrorism, stating that international intervention is necessary as it is outside money, not African money, that fuels illegal operations.
In combating terrorism, Tinubu stressed the need to address its root causes, such as poverty, marginalization, and social injustice. He called for concrete actions rather than empty rhetoric. Additionally, he advocated for the strengthening of existing counter-terrorism structures, such as the Regional Intelligence Fusion Unit (RIFU), the African Centre for the Study and Research on Terrorism (ACSRT), and the Committee of Intelligence and Security Services of Africa (CISSA). He also emphasized the importance of a Regional Standby Force with a mandate to tackle terrorism.
Furthermore, the National Security Adviser (NSA), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, emphasized the need for integrated security strategies to combat terrorism in Africa. He highlighted various factors driving terrorism, including organized crime, foreign terrorism financing, poverty, inequality, and prolonged conflicts. Ribadu mentioned Nigeria’s efforts in addressing the drivers of violent extremism and enhancing intelligence gathering.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar, underscored the unprecedented threats faced by Africa due to terrorism. He mentioned Nigeria’s push for greater cooperation on counter-terrorism and efforts to tackle the proliferation of small arms in Africa.
UN Deputy Secretary General, Amina Mohammed, called for addressing the underlying causes of terrorism and rebuilding affected communities. She emphasized the role of social exclusion, inequality, and human rights violations in creating terrorists.
UNOCT Under-Secretary-General, Mr. Vladimir Voronkov, praised Africa’s efforts in countering terrorism and emphasized the importance of international support for African-led solutions. He stressed that no single actor could resolve the continent’s challenges alone.
International
Nestle Sacks Global CEO Over Office Romance
In a statement, Nestle said Freixe’s departure on Monday, September 1, 2025, follows an investigation overseen by Chairman Paul Bulcke and Lead Independent Director Pablo Isla into an undisclosed romantic relationship with a direct subordinate, which breached the company’s code of business conduct.
•Laurent Freixe
Nestlé has sacked its global Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Laurent Freixe, for an office romantic relationship with a subordinate, which breached the company’s code of business conduct.
Nestle said that it had appointed veteran insider Philipp Navratil, who had headed the Nespresso coffee unit, as Freixe’s successor with immediate effect.
In a statement, Nestle said Freixe’s departure on Monday, September 1, 2025, follows an investigation overseen by Chairman Paul Bulcke and Lead Independent Director Pablo Isla into an undisclosed romantic relationship with a direct subordinate, which breached the company’s code of business conduct.
“This was a necessary decision. Nestle’s values and governance are strong foundations of our company. I thank Laurent for his years of service,” Bulcke said in a statement.
According to Reuters , the shock departure threatens more volatility for Nestle amid a tough consumer environment and the disruptive United States trade tariffs.
The Päijät-Häme district court in Finland has sentenced Simon Ekpa, pro-Biafra agitator, to six years in prison for terrorism offences.
In a ruling delivered on Monday, the court found Ekpa guilty of inciting terrorism and participating in the activities of a terrorist group.
According to a Finnish newspaper, the court said Ekpa had used his “significant social media following” to stoke tensions in Nigeria’s south-east region between August 2021 and November 2024.
In a unanimous ruling, the three-member panel of judges also stated that Ekpa was an influential member of a militant separatist movement whose goal was to actualise the carving out of a Biafra state from Nigeria.
The district court also noted that Ekpa had supplied certain groups with weapons, explosives, and ammunition “through his network of contacts in the region, and he was also found to have encouraged his followers on social media platform X to commit crimes in Nigeria”.
The court also convicted Ekpa of aggravated tax fraud and violating the provisions of the Attorneys Act.
The US Embassy in Abuja and the Consulate General in Lagos will be closed on Monday, September 1, 2025, in observance of the US Labour Day holiday.
The US Mission announced this in a statement on its X account on Sunday morning.
“The U.S. Embassy in Abuja and Consulate General in Lagos will be closed on Monday, September 1, 2025, in observance of the U.S. Labour Day,” the Mission said.
It noted that the closure was a tribute to the contributions of American workers, a tradition dating back to 1882 when Matthew Maguire first proposed the holiday.
While essential services will remain accessible through emergency contact channels, routine consular services will resume after the holiday.
Nigerians seeking US visas or consular assistance are advised to plan their visits accordingly.
US Labour Day is a federal holiday observed on the first Monday of September every year.
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