The ECOWAS Parliament has concluded its first extraordinary session of 2026, reaffirming its commitment to deepening regional integration, strengthening democratic governance, and accelerating implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). The session, held in Nigeria, ended with calls for stronger collaboration among member states to address security threats, economic vulnerabilities, and climate-related challenges confronting West Africa. In her closing remarks, the Speaker of Parliament, Mémounatou Ibrahima, expressed gratitude to the Nigerian government and the Nigerian people for hosting the three-day legislative gathering. He specifically commended the administration of Bola Tinubu, President of the Nigeria, for providing a conducive…
Author: Abimbola Ogunaike
The United Kingdom has reinforced its strategic partnership with Bayelsa State following a high-level working visit by the British Deputy High Commissioner in Abuja, Gill Lever, underscoring deepening cooperation on security reform, youth resilience and women’s political empowerment. Lever’s three-day visit centred on consolidating gains recorded under the UK-funded Serious and Organised Crime (SOC) Prevent Programme—locally known as the Brighter Futures Programme—which targets vulnerable young people at risk of recruitment into criminal networks. Officials said the initiative has achieved an 80 per cent diversion rate, equipping participants with vocational skills, mentorship and psychosocial support designed to redirect them toward productive…
Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court, Abuja, on Friday, 27 February, 2026, adjourned till 18 March, 2026 for ruling in a trial-within-trial to determine the admissibility of the extrajudicial statements of Ali Bello, nephew of the former Kogi State governor, Yahaya Adoza Bello and Dauda Sulaiman. Ali Bello, who is also the Chief of Staff to the Governor of Kogi State and Sulaiman are being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC on an amended 16-count charge bordering on misappropriation and money laundering to the tune of ₦10.270 billion. While the prosecution insisted that the defendants…
The Ogun State Government has approved the award of a contract for the construction of a complex to house the Abeokuta Division of the Court of Appeal. The approval was granted at the State Executive Council meeting held today, Friday, 27 February, 2026, reports thegazellenews.com “The contract, valued at ₦6,118,098,154.70, provides for the development of the court complex on a 2.6-hectare parcel of land adjoining the existing State Judiciary Complex in Olipakala Village via Kobape area of Abeokuta, within the Judiciary Cluster along the Abeokuta–Sagamu Expressway. “This milestone represents a significant step in the State Government’s sustained efforts to deepen…
The draw for the 2025/26 UEFA Europa League Round of 16, quarter-finals and semi-finals was completed on Friday, 27 February 2026 in Nyon, Switzerland, setting up the knockout roadmap for Europe’s secondary club competition Sixteen clubs remain in the hunt for continental glory after the draw revealed the following ties: Ferencváros vs BragaPanathinaikos vs Real BetisGenk vs FreiburgCelta Vigo vs LyonStuttgart vs PortoNottingham Forest vs MidtjyllandBologna vs RomaLille vs Aston Villa This stage will be played over two legs, with first legs scheduled for 12 March and second legs on 19 March 2026. The draw also featured several intriguing matchups…
The Lagos4Lagos Movement has announced that its 8th Annual Ramadan Lecture, will take place on Saturday, 7 March, 2026, reports thegazellenews.com. Thegazellenews.com reports further that the event will take at LTV 8, Lateef Jakande Road, Agidingbi, Ikeja, Lagos, beginning from 10:00 a.m. The annual lecture, which has become a significant platform for spiritual reflection and socio-economic discourse during the holy month of Ramadan, will focus on the theme: “Economic Empowerment and Poverty Alleviation: The Islamic Perspective.” According to the organisers, “this year’s edition aims to deepen public conversation on sustainable economic inclusion, social responsibility, and faith-based approaches to addressing poverty and…
Adamawa State Governor, Umaru Fintiri, on Friday, 27 February, 2026 announced his defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC), reports thegazellenews.com. Fintiri, who announced this in a state broadcast on Friday, 26 February, 2026 said he moved with all his cabinet members, appointees, and elected local government chairmen. According to him, his decision was made in the interest of the people of Adamawa State and national unity, emphasising the need for stronger alignment with the Federal Government to advance development priorities. The Speaker of the Adamawa State House of Assembly, Wesley Bathiya, had on Wednesday,…
The UEFA Champions League knockout stage is officially mapped out, and the Premier League is staring down some of the continent’s most formidable opponents. The draw for this season’s quarter-finals and semi-finals was completed on Friday, following the conclusion of the Round of 16 draw. Six English clubs: Manchester City, Arsenal, Liverpool, Chelsea, Tottenham, and Newcastle United — now face high-stake battles in Europe’s premier club competition. Round of 16 Matchups Paris Saint-Germain vs Chelsea Galatasaray vs Liverpool Real Madrid vs Manchester City Atalanta vs Bayern Munich Bodø/Glimt vs Sporting CP Newcastle United vs Barcelona Atletico Madrid vs Tottenham Hotspur…
Borno State Governor, Prof. Babagana Zulum has declared that his administration will intensify efforts to eliminate residual security threats and fast-track the completion of critical infrastructure projects across Borno State in 2026, describing the year as decisive for consolidating hard-won gains. The Governor made the commitment on Thursday, 26 February, 2026, during the first State Executive Council meeting of the year at the Government House in Maiduguri, where he addressed commissioners and senior government officials on the administration’s priorities. Zulum said although relative stability has returned to many parts of the state after years of insurgency, the government would not…
Cargo operations are set to commence at the Gateway International Airport within the next 30 to 45 days, with the first cargo aircraft from Europe expected to land at the facility. Governor Dapo Abiodun made this known during an on-the-spot assessment of work at the Industrial Platform, Remo Free Trade Zone, located along the Sagamu–Ijebu-Ode Expressway on Thursday. The Industrial Platform, Remo, is the Special Agro-Processing Zone project situated between Iperu and Ilishan. Conceived toward the tail end of the COVID-19 pandemic, the initiative is designed to drive agro-industrial development and position Ogun State as a leading processing and export…