Ukraine War: Zelensky Insists Country Will Win

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February 25, 2024

Ukraine’s President has issued a rallying cry, vowing that his country will prevail, as it marks two years since Russia’s full-scale invasion.

“None of us will allow our Ukraine to end,” Volodymyr Zelensky said in an address in the capital Kyiv.

He was joined by Western leaders in a show of solidarity.

The anniversary comes as Ukraine experiences a range of setbacks in its efforts to expel Russia from its territory.

Zelensky said in his speech on Saturday that while any normal person would want the war to end, it could only be on Ukraine’s terms.

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“That’s why, to the words ‘end of the war’, we always add ‘on our terms’. That’s why the word ‘peace’ always goes with ‘fair’.

“We are fighting for it. For 730 days of our lives already. And we will win on the best day of our life.”

Joining him in Kyiv were the leaders of Italy, Belgium and Canada as well as the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen.

They laid wreaths at a wall commemorating those who have lost their lives in the war.

However, there were some glaring omissions among the visitors. No senior US representatives were present, whereas last year President Joe Biden attended the anniversary.

However, Zelensky did meet a group of Democratic senators led by Majority Leader Chuck Schumer on Friday, though, which he said was a sign Washington backed Ukraine.

Pres. Tinubu Sets Up Economic Advisory Committee

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Rhoda Onuzulike

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February 25, 2024

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President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has set up an economic advisory committee comprising representatives of the Federal government, sub-nationals and the private sector.

This was the outcome of talks held on Sunday evening between the President and key stakeholders at the State House, in Abuja.

Speaking at the meeting, President Tinubu said the essence is to provide additional efforts in stabilising the economy and ensuring the “Best economic future,” for Nigerians.

Foreign Affairs Minister Confirms Tinubu’s Visit To Qatar

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Rhoda Onuzulike

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February 25, 2024

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The Federal Government says President Bola Tinubu will embark on a State Visit to Qatar from March 2 to 3, 2024 to further “cement the excellent relations existing between the two countries”.

The Spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Francisca Omayuli, in statement on Sunday, said during the visit, discussions will be held at the highest level, on a wide range of bilateral and economic issues.

“The President will be accompanied on the trip by the Honourable Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar (OON), among some other Ministers and top government officials,” the statement noted.

The ministry further stated it was “aware of the circulation of a diplomatic correspondence on the social media and wishes to state that it will not comment on leaks”.

There was some controversy over the President’s visit with some reports claiming Qatar had snubbed him. The Presidency issued a statement denying that. Presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga said the so-called leaked diplomatic paper was by mischief makers.

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Also, Tuggar’s aide Alkasim Abdulkadir, in a statement, said, “The Embassy of the State of Qatar in Abuja has clarified the line up of events regarding the upcoming State visit of H.E. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to Qatar from 2nd-3rd March 2024 regarding the hosting of a Business and Investment Forum (BIF) on the margins of Mr. President’s visit to Qatar on 2nd March 2024.

“In a diplomatic correspondence with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs the Embassy reiterated that the Qatar Chamber of Commerce will host the event on 3rd march 2024, as proposed by the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“The clarification has become necessary to clear deliberate misinformation and misrepresentations in the media on the purported cancellation of the event.”

Sanwo-Olu Inspects Red Line Rail Ahead of Opening

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Rhoda Onuzulike

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February 24, 2024

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Lagos State Governor, Babjide Sanwo-Olu, has conducted inspections and rode on the Lagos Red Line before its commissioning, scheduled for next week.

The Red Line is said to be commissioned by President Bola Tinubu.

Sanwo-Olu also inspected tracks, rail corridors, and comfort facilities like cooling systems, handrails, seats, and safety features.

The governor disclosed this on Saturday evening in a post on his official X handle.

He wrote, “Today, I was at the Ikeja Train Station for the pivotal test run of the brand-new trains dedicated to our transformative Red Line Rail Project.

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“The Red Line Rail Project which I performed the groundbreaking on April 15th, 2021 is a momentous step towards a connected and sustainable Lagos.

“Excitement is in the air as we gear up for the commissioning of the project by Mr President, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR, on February 29, 2024.

“This project is a testament to our commitment to progress and innovation. Together, we are on the right track to greatness.

In December 2023, the governor unveiled the Lagos Rail Mass Transit Red Line Ikeja Overpass alongside his Kwara State counterpart and Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, AbdulRahman Abdulrasaq.

He said it would be unveiled by Tinubu before the end of the first quarter of 2024, adding that when operational, the Red Line will convey about 500,000 passengers daily.

Angry Farmers Storms Agriculture Fair In Paris

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Rhoda Onuzulike

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February 24, 2024

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A group of French farmers stormed into a major Paris farm fair ahead of a planned visit by President Emmanuel Macron amid anger over costs, red tape, and green regulations.

Facing dozens of police officers inside the trade fair, the farmers were shouting and booing, calling for the resignation of Macron and using expletives aimed at the French leader.

“This is our home!”, they shouted, as lines of French CRS riot police sought to contain the demonstration. There were some clashes with demonstrators and the police arrested at least one of them, report says

Macron, who had breakfast with French farmers’ union leaders, was scheduled to walk within the alleys of the trade fair afterward.

“I’m saying this for all farmers: you’re not helping any of your colleagues by smashing up stands, you’re not helping any of your colleagues by making the show impossible, and in a way scaring families away from coming,” Macron told reporters after his meeting with union leaders.

Meanwhile, the Paris farm show a major event in France, attracting around 600,000 visitors over nine days which was scheduled to open at 9 a.m. (0800 GMT) couldn’t and were still closed at 0838 GMT, following the storming by angry farmers.

In a sign of tensions between French farmers and the government, Macron canceled a debate he wanted to hold at the fair with farmers, food processors, and retailers after farmers unions said they would not take part.

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Report says Farmers have been protesting across Europe, calling for better income, and less bureaucracy and denouncing unfair competition from cheap Ukrainian goods imported to help Kyiv’s war effort.

Farmers’ protests, which have spread across Europe, come as the far right, for which farmers represent a growing constituency, is expected to make gains in European Parliament elections in June.

French farmers earlier this month largely suspended protests that included blocking highways and dumping manure in front of public buildings after Prime Minister Gabriel Attal promised new measures worth 400 million euros ($433 million).

However, protests resumed this week to put pressure on the government to provide more help and deliver on promises, ahead of the Paris farm show.

Ecuador Calls Off Arms Exchange With United States

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Rhoda Onuzulike

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February 24, 2024

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Ecuador’s government has canceled a plan to trade outdated Soviet weapons for new arms from the United States, President Daniel Noboa said.

This comes after the president learned that the old weapons would have been sent to Ukraine.

Noboa, who is grappling with sharply deteriorated security and has declared 22 criminal gangs to be terrorist groups, said in January that Washington would give his country $200 million of new weaponry in exchange for ‘junk’ arms.

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“To our surprise, the United States has communicated publicly that it will take the arms for the armed conflict in Ukraine, in which we do not want to take part, nor do we want to triangulate weapons for it,” Noboa told newsmen in an interview clip shared on Thursday. “We can’t go ahead with it.”

Report says the spokeswoman for the foreign ministry of Russia, which invaded Ukraine two years ago, criticized the arms exchange earlier this month.

“Russia is our third-largest commercial partner, and in this particular case they were right, we would have been triangulating arms and we won’t do that,” Noboa said, giving no further details.

A spokesperson at the US Embassy in Quito said they had no information on the policy change.

Several high-ranking US officials have visited Ecuador in recent weeks to discuss cooperation on security issues.

Russia last week lifted a ban on banana imports from five Ecuadorean businesses. It had said there were sanitary issues with the shipments.

NLC Protest Faces Warning From Attorney-General

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Rhoda Onuzulike

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February 24, 2024

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Attorney-General and Minister of Justice of Nigeria, Lateef Fagbemi, has issued a warning to the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), advising them to cancel their scheduled countrywide protests for February 27 and February 28, 2024.

Fagbemi, who stated this in a letter to NLC counsel, Femi Falana, said that the Federal Government has reasonably complied with its memorandum of understanding with organised labour, even though certain areas of the terms of agreement have been inhibited by unforeseen circumstances.

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According to the AGF, the planned industrial action could amount to contempt given a restraining order from the National Industrial Court.

According to the letter, “Upon the submission of grievances to the court, parties in the suit cannot resort to public protests over the same issues, as such conduct amounts to gross contempt and an affront to the institution of our courts of law.

“Therefore, the proposed nationwide protest action in all ramifications is in clear violation of the pending interim injunctive order granted in SUIT NO: NICN/ABJ/158/2023- FEDERAL GOVERNMENT OF NIGERIA & ANOR V. NIGERIAN LABOUR CONGRESS & ANOR on 5th June 2023 restraining both NLC and TUC from embarking on any industrial action or strike of any nature.”

Fagbemi advised Falana to take into account that there is an ongoing case at the National Industrial Court concerning the matter.

The NLC leadership had previously claimed that the Federal Government was not implementing the MOU that included agreements related to workers’ welfare.

However, the TUC withdrew from the NLC’s stance, stating that they were not consulted.

42,000 MT Of Food In Final Stage For Distributions

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Rhoda Onuzulike

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February 24, 2024

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The Nigerian government says it is at the final stages of releasing 42,000 metric tonnes of assorted food commodities to support the vulnerable population across the country.

The government disclosed that through the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, a total number of 42,000 metric tonnes of assorted grains are currently being bagged across seven locations of strategic reserve in the nation.

In a statement, Special Adviser to the President on Information And Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, stated that the move is part of the efforts of Tinubu led administration to provide emergency solution to the food shortage crisis facing the country.

Onanuga who stated that “the grains are being bagged for onward delivery to the National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, added “the need to bag the grains, caused the delay as the bags were freshly ordered by government.”

The Presidential aide further said that Nigerians would not need to pay for the grain bags, as they are free.

He disclosed that, the 42000 metric tonnes would be complemented by the 60,000 metric tonnes of milled rice to be purchased by the Federal Government from the Mega Rice Millers.

“Already, with the announcement of the impending releases of food commodities from the Strategic Reserve, there is a noticeable reduction in commodity prices across major grains markets in the country,” he said.

Onanuga reiterated the positions of the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Abubakar Kyari revealing that “the Nigerian Government is also ramping up food production by boosting Dry Season Farming under the National Agricultural Growth Scheme Agro-Pocket (NAGS-AP) Project .

“The First Phase of the Dry Season Farming was launched in November, 2023.

“It focuses on the cultivation of wheat across 15 wheat-producing states, covering 118,657 hectares and involving 107,429 farmers.

“The fields are green now and harvest will commence in a matter of weeks..There are fantastic reports of growth of wheat from Jigawa State, which is now targeting harvest from about 50,000 hectares, 10,000 hectares more than initially allotted under the programme.”

The Minister of Agriculture, Abubakar Kyari had said that the Phase 2 of the Dry Season Farming will commence soon, across all 36 states of Nigeria and FCT.

Kyari also made known that this will cover rice, maize, and cassava.

ECOWAS Lift Sanctions On Niger Republic, Others

By

Rhoda Onuzulike

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February 24, 2024

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The Authority of Heads of State and Government of ECOWAS has lifted, with immediate effect, economic sanctions on the Niger Republic.

Reeling out the sanctions lifted, the President of the ECOWAS Commission, Omar Touray, said all political sanctions imposed on Niger are still in place.

Touray stated in the communiqué issued after the Extra Summit of the ECOWAS in Abuja that the closure of land and air borders between ECOWAS countries and Niger is now lifted.

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According to him, “But there are targeted sanctions as well as political sanctions. That remains in force. I think our sanctions regime should be assessed correctly. The list I have given relates mainly to Niger because all the other countries still have political sanctions on them.”

When asked if other sanctions were lifted, Touray added that individual sanctions as well as political sanctions remain in place in the Niger Republic.

Touray also said that the no-fly zone for all commercial flights to and from ECOWAS countries and Niger is to be lifted.

According to the ECOWAS President, “Suspension of all commercial and financial transactions between ECOWAS member states and Niger is to be lifted.

Freezing of all service transactions, including utility services, is to be lifted.

He further disclosed that the freezing of assets of the Republic of Niger in the ECOWAS Central Bank is to be lifted.

“Freezing of assets of Niger State and the state enterprises and parastatals in commercial banks is to be lifted.

Touray added that the suspension of Niger from all financial assistance and transactions with all financial institutions, particularly the ECOWAS Bank for Investment and Development, is to be lifted.

The ECOWAS Commission President also made it known that the travel ban on Niger government officials and their family members is also to be lifted.

According to Touray, these decisions on the lifting of sanctions on Niger are based on humanitarian considerations, especially as the month of Ramadan approaches.

He added that the authority has also resolved to lift the sanctions regarding the recruitment of Malian citizens in statutory and professional positions within ECOWAS.

On Guinea

Omar Touray said that ECOWAS resolved to lift financial and economic sanctions on the Republic of Guinea.

The Head of the ECOWAS Commission added that the Authority of the regional bloc has also instructed the President of the Commission to invite Burkina Faso, Niger, Mali, and Guinea, to attend the technical and consultative meetings of ECOWAS as well as all security-related meetings.

“So the border closures, the commercial sanctions and all that are all lifted and that is what the leaders have decided to do.

“Now for other countries, political sanctions remain and that means they have limited ability to attend the ECOWAS Summit as well as ministerial sessions.”

Pres. Tinubu Appeals For Re-Evaluation Of Sahel Alliance

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Rhoda Onuzulike

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February 24, 2024

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Chairman of the Economic Community of West African States and Head of State, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has called on Niger, Burkina Faso and Mali to exit their group, the Alliance of Sahel States and not perceive ECOWAS as a rival organisation.

In his opening remarks during the extraordinary summit on the peace, political and security situation in the ECOWAS sub-region held in the Nigerian State House on Saturday, the ECOWAS Chair, President Tinubu, urged the regional bloc to re-examine the current approach to the quest for constitutional order in the four member states of Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger and Guinea.

“We are garthered here to address pressing developments in our subregion and the political situation in Niger, Burkina Faso and Mali”.

President Tinubu expresses confidence that collective efforts and determination will address the challenges before the bloc and chart a new course in the military-ruled countries of West Africa.

The Nigerian leader, who also declared the summit open, called for people-centred, courageous decisions, saying that democracy remains the path to addressing the basic needs and aspirations of the people.

According to him, “Times like we currently face in our sub-region demand that we take difficult but courageous decisions that put the plight of our people at the centre of our deliberations. Democracy is nothing more than the political framework and the path to addressing the basic needs and aspirations of the people. This is why we must re-examine our current approach to the quest for constitutional order in four of our member states.

“I therefore urge them to reconsider the decision of the three of them to exit their homes and not to perceive our organisation as the enemy.

“I am confident that through our collective efforts and determination, we will navigate the challenges before us and chart a course towards a more peaceful, secure, and prosperous West Africa,” the ECOWAS Chair added.

President Tinubu underscored that the current challenges of military coups facing the West African region are daunting, hence presenting an opportunity for ECOWAS to re-affirm its commitment to the ideas of the founding fathers and the principles forming the basis of collective peace, security and regional integration.

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“Let me underscore that these challenges, though daunting, present an opportunity for ECOWAS to reaffirm its commitment to the vision of our founding fathers and the principles underpinning our commitment to peace, security, and regional integration.

President Tinubu encouraged the regional bloc to be united in their resolution to promote economic integration, democracy and human rights to foster sustainable development across member states.

Present at the extraordinary summit were the Presidents of Senegal, Macky Sall, President of Cote D’Ivoire, Alassane Ouattara, President of the ECOWAS Commission, Omar Touray, Chairman of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State; and the President of Nigeria, Bola Ahmed Tinubu; President Faure Gnassingbe of Togo, President Nana Akufo Addo of Ghana; Vice President of the Gambia, Muhammad Jallow; and President Umaro Sissoco Embalo of Guinea Bissau.

The summit is expected to present a memorandum on the current situation in the Republics of Burkina Faso, Guinea, Mali and Niger.

The ECOWAS Chair disclosed that this would inform the decision of the regional bloc. He stated that the decision of ECOWAS must then be guided by its commitment to safeguarding the constitutional order, upholding democratic principles and promoting the social and economic well-being of the citizens of the military-led countries.

Recall that the military junta-led Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger announced a plan to establish a confederation that will deepen their ties following their exit from the ECOWAS regional bloc on January 28, 2024.