NIGERIA
NIGERIA: Président Muhammad Buhari receives Umaro Embalo.
STATE HOUSE PRESS RELEASE :
PRESIDENT BUHARI RECEIVES EMBALO, GUINEA-BISSAU PRESIDENT-ELECT; STRESSES COMMITMENT TO WEST AFRICAN STABILITY.
President Muhammadu Buhari on Sunday reiterated his desire for stability, peace, progress and prosperity in the entire West African sub-region.
Responding to Umaro Muhktar Sissoco Embalo, the President-elect of Guinea Bissau, who came to Nigeria on a “thank you visit” and to express his “good wishes” following his emergence as winner in the keenly contested, just-concluded elections in his country, President Buhari said, “Without stability, there can be no development. We will do whatever it will take to stabilize the sub-region.”
President Buhari commended the out-going President, José Mário Vaz, himself a candidate in the elections for supporting the emergence of Embalo in the second round of balloting “in the interest of peace and stability.”
He said history will remember President Mario Vaz for putting National interest above his own, emphasizing that he cared for peace within the region.
The Nigerian President expressed his desire for both countries to work together for the betterment of their peoples and reiterated his vision for peace, progress and prosperity in West Africa.
President-elect Embalo, a businessman-turned politician, was Prime Minister of Guinea Bissau under incumbent President Jose Mario Vaz between 2016 and 2018. He was a member of the ruling African Party of Independence of Guinea and Cape Verde (PAIGC) when he founded the Movement for Democratic Alternative (MADEM-G15) on which platform he won the elections.
He praised President Buhari for his support leading to his emergence as winner in the elections and expressed his appreciation for the warm and friendly disposition of Nigeria towards him and the people of his country.
He informed the Nigerian leader of his selection as the Guest of Honour at the Presidential inauguration coming up next month and for which he received assurances from President Buhari that he will make the best efforts to be present.
Garba Shehu
Senior Special Assistant to the President
(Media & Publicity)
January 5, 2020
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) celebrated its 50th anniversary on 28 May 2025 in Lagos, in the presence of several heads of state and government from the region. The organization’s current president, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, welcomed his counterparts to this highly symbolic ceremony.
The celebration was held at the historic site where, in 1975, the founding treaty of ECOWAS had been signed. A commemorative ceremony marked the link between past, present and future, underlining continued commitment to West African integration.
In a collective message, the organization praised “50 years of building bridges, crossing barriers and creating milestones”. It also reaffirmed its vision of a united, stable and forward-looking West Africa.
Photo credit: ECOWAS page
At least 24 people have died and dozens more are missing in the sinking on Sunday of a boat carrying peasants to their fields in central Nigeria on Sunday 10 September.
The boat was carrying more than a hundred peasants crossing the Niger River to go to their crops located on the other side, in the State of Niger, when the boat capsized, aindiqué in a statement Garba Salihu, the head of the Relief Management Agency of that State.
“At this point, 24 bodies were found and 30 people were rescued,” he said. More than 100 people were to be on board when the sinking occurred,’ he added. The causes of the accident were not specified.
Operations continued to find missing passengers, he said.
On Friday, ten people drowned and three were reported missing when a boat with 23 passengers
Amin Suleiman, the local head of the Relief Management Agency, told AFP that he had capsized on Lake Njuwa in Adamawa State (north).
Shipwrecks of boats in Nigeria on rivers, very borrowed, are frequent. They are usually due to overloaded boats, poor maintenance or non-compliance with safety rules.
It’s an open secret. ECOWAS gave the Nigerien putschists a week to restore constitutional order, and does not rule out using force if this ultimatum is not respected. In Nigeria, the army is already ready to intervene. Indeed, according to the chief of general staff of the armies of the country, his men are waiting only for the orders of ECOWAS to land in Niamey.
“This is unacceptable”
“You have heard what President (Bola Tinubu) said, if the problems continue, action will be taken. He said that no one would support a military takeover of power. That is unacceptable. We stand up for democracy and it must continue. And we will do exactly what the chair says. We are ready and as soon as we receive the order to intervene, we will,” Musa said, according to RFI.
He says he is absolutely sure to carry out the operation if it starts. “Everyone is retaliating and our president is in discussions with his counterparts in neighbouring countries. We are convinced that the putschists knew that what they were doing would not pass. We are sure to win over them,” he continued.
Threats from Mali and Burkina Faso
Needless to say, Mali and Burkina Faso have already warned ECOWAS against military intervention in Niger. This would lead to a withdrawal of Bamako and Ouagadougou from the sub-regional organization as well as «the adoption of self-defence measures in support of the armed forces and the people of Niger».
