News

BREAKING: Niger Coup Leader, Tchiani Agrees To Dialogue With ECOWAS

Published

2 years ago

August 13, 2023

Niger Republic coup leader, General Abdourahmane Tchiani has agreed to dialogue with the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) after his meeting with Nigerian Islamic Scholars led by the national leader of Jama’atu Izalatil Bid’ah Wa Iqamatus Sunnah (JIBWIS), Sheikh Abdullahi Bala Lau in Niger Republic.

According to Niger Republic’s Prime Minister, Ali Mahamane Lamine Zeine, General Tchiani gave the green light for talks with ECOWAS and was optimistic the talks with ECOWAS would take place in the next few days.

“We have agreed and the leader of our country has given the green light for dialogue. They will now go back and inform the Nigerian President what they have heard from us…. we hope in the coming days, they (ECOWAS) will come here to meet us to discuss how the sanctions imposed against us will be lifted,’’ he said.

Meanwhile, a report published in Voice of Nigeria (VON) stated how the Nigeria’s Intervention Team, which included notable Islamic scholars from the country, met with the coup leaders in Niger over the weekend, and all parties decided to strengthen the option of dialogue in resolving the country’s political problem.

The Islamic Ulammas led by Sheik Bala Lau was said to have met with General Abdourahmane Tchiani for several hours in Niger’s capital Niamey during which they deliberated on all the issues including the demand by ECOWAS leaders that former President Bazoum be reinstated.

Bala Lau, who is the National Chairman of Jamatul Izalatu Bida Waikamatu Sunnah, said the clerics were in Niger on behalf of President Bola Tinubu who accepted their request to intervene.

Sheik Lau said the team had earlier told President Tinubu who is also the Chairman of Authority of ECOWAS Heads of State and Government that their position is that the political impasse in Niger is resolved through dialogue.

He, therefore, told General Tchiani that the visit to Niger was to engage in constructive dialogue to encourage him and other military leaders behind the coup to toe the path of peace instead of war to resolve the crisis. Responding, General Tchiani who accorded the team warm reception welcomed their intervention. He said their doors were open to explore diplomacy and peace in resolving the matter.

General Tchiani, however, said it was painful to the coup leaders that the ECOWAS leaders did not hear their side of the matter before issuing ultimatum to them to quit office.

He claimed the coup was well intended, stating that they struck to starve off an imminent threat that would have affected not only Niger Republic but also Nigeria.

He also apologised for not according the team sent by President Tinubu led by former Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar (rtd) the required attention because they were angry about the ECOWAS ultimatum.

News

FULL LIST: 18 Nigerian States US Govt Warned Citizens Against Visiting

Published

3 hours ago

July 26, 2025

Editor

The United States government has warned its citizens against travelling to 18 Nigerian states, citing the high risk of terrorism, kidnapping, armed gangs, violent crime, and unreliable healthcare services.

In a statement issued by the US Mission in Nigeria and published on its website, the US advised Americans to reconsider any planned trip to Nigeria, noting that all parts of the country carry “significant security risks.”

“Reconsider travel to Nigeria due to crime, terrorism, civil unrest, kidnapping, armed gangs, and inconsistent availability of health care services. Some places in Nigeria have an increased risk. Overall, all locations carry significant security risks. Read the entire Travel Advisory,” the statement read.

The advisory placed 18 states on Level 4 – the highest threat level – and urged Americans not to travel to those states for any reason.

States Americans are advised not to travel to:

Due to terrorism and kidnapping:

Borno
Yobe
Kogi
Northern Adamawa

Due to kidnapping:

5. Bauchi

6. Gombe

7. Kaduna

8. Kano

9. Katsina

10. Sokoto

11. Zamfara

Due to crime, kidnapping, and armed gangs:

12. Abia

13. Anambra

14. Bayelsa

15. Delta

16. Enugu

17. Imo

18. Rivers (except Port Harcourt)

The advisory also warned of the poor state of Nigeria’s healthcare system. “U.S. citizens should not expect the same level of health care to be available in Nigeria as they do in the United States,” it said, noting a shortage of common medicines, unreliable emergency services, and the risk of counterfeit drugs.

Travellers were advised to bring all necessary medications, update their vaccinations, purchase medical evacuation insurance, and prepare backup plans in case of emergency.

The advisory, however, urged those who choose to travel to stay alert, carry proper identification, avoid large gatherings, and enrol in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive updates and enable their location to be tracked in emergencies.

News

Court Remands Tiktoker Who Claimed President Tinubu Died

Published

3 hours ago

July 26, 2025

Editor

A Chief magistrate court, on Friday, in Abuja, remanded at the Keffi Correctional Centre, a social media influencer, Ghali Isma’il, who posted online videos purporting that President Bola Tinubu died as a result of a serous illness.

Department of State Services (DSS) operatives arrested Isma’il days after he posted the fake videos on the TikTok handle @bola_asiwaju.

Count one of the two-count charge, titled “Publication of false news with intent to cause offence against public peace, ” read: “That you, Ghali Ismail, Male, twenty-nine (29) years of Jogana village, Gezawa LGA, Kano State, on or about the 20th Day of July, 2025 and within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court, did publish false information by uploading a video clip on your verified Tiktok handle (“bola-asiwaju”) wherein you falsely claimed that you reliably confirmed from official sources that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu was critically ill, having been poisoned through his meal, with intent to cause public alarm and disturb public peace.

“You thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 418 of the Penal Code Act, Cap P3, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.

Count two, “Inciting Disaffection to the Government,” read: “That you, Ghali Ismail, Male, twenty-nine (29) years, of Jogana village, Gezawa LGA, Kano State, on or about the 20th Day of July, 2025 and within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court, did publish false information by uploading a video clip on your verified Tiktok handle (“bola-asiwaju”) wherein you falsely claimed that you reliably confirmed from official sources that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu was critically ill, having been poisoned through his meal, with intent to bring contempt or incite feelings of disaffection against the person of the President. You thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 416 of the Penal Code Act, Cap P3, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.”

After taking arguments by both counsels to the DSS and that of the defendant, whose application for bail was denied, the presiding judge, Ekpeyong Iyang, ordered Ismail to be remanded in Keffi Correctional Centre. The matter was then adjourned till August 19.

News

Dangote Cement Gets New Chairman As Aliko Dangote Retires

Published

3 hours ago

July 26, 2025

Editor

Dangote Cement Plc has announced the appointment of Emmanuel Ikazoboh as the new Chairman of its Board of Directors, following the retirement of Alhaji Aliko Dangote from the position, effective July 25, 2025.

According to a statement issued on Friday by the Group Chief Branding & Communications Officer, Anthony Chiejina, Ikazoboh, an independent non-executive director, assumes the role as Dangote steps down to focus on the $20 billion refinery, petrochemicals, fertiliser and government relations.

This strategic move, the company said, is aimed at propelling the Dangote Group’s five-year business trajectory to greater heights.

“In the same vein, Hajiya Mariya Aliko Dangote was also appointed to the Board of Directors of the Company while Prof. Dorothy Ufot retired from the Board,” the statement added.

The company paid tribute to Dangote’s leadership, stating that he left “giant footprints” on the board.

“His vision and tenacity redefined not just a company, but the entire cement industry landscape by becoming Africa’s largest cement producer and largest exporter of cement and clinker in Sub-Saharan Africa.

“Aliko Dangote’s journey with cement began with a bold dream: to make Nigeria and Africa self-sufficient in cement production. Through strategic investments in state-of-the-art plants and a commitment to local content, he not only met that goal but exceeded it.”

According to the company, Dangote Cement Plc currently has a production capacity of 52.0Mta across Africa, with Nigeria accounting for 35.25Mta.

Additional greenfield plants under construction in Côte d’Ivoire (3.0Mta) and Itori, Nigeria (6.0Mta) will bring total capacity to 61.0Mta upon completion this year.

Under Dangote’s leadership, the company also recorded its highest ever revenue and earnings.

“According to the unaudited results for the six months ending 30th June 2025, the group revenue went up by 17.7 per cent, from N1.76tn at the same period in 2024 to N2.07tn, representing the highest revenue in the history of the company,” the statement read.

In his acceptance speech, Ikazoboh said he was honoured to take on the new role and pledged to uphold the highest standards of leadership and dedication.

He described Dangote Cement as a “beacon of African enterprise” that has consistently shown resilience, innovation, and a commitment to excellence.

“Emmanuel Ikazoboh was previously the Group Chairman of Ecobank Transnational Inc., the Pan-African banking group. He started his professional career at Akintola Williams Deloitte.

“He first became the Managing Partner for francophone offices in Cameroon and Côte d’Ivoire and later became the Managing Partner of the Deloitte firm in West and Central Africa until 2009.

“In 2010, he was appointed by the Securities and Exchange as an Interim Administrator to carry out capital market reforms of the Nigerian Stock Exchange and the Central Securities Clearing System Plc,” the statement added.