Nigerian Pro-Democracy Campaigner Plans 50-Day Road Journey Across West Africa: ECOWAS@50

Nigerian pro-democracy campaigner plans 50-day road journey across West Africa: ECOWAS@50. A40-year-old Nigerian, Bishir Dauda, plans a 50-day advocacy and solidarity journey across West African countries to celebrate the 50th anniversary of ECOWAS.

Mr Dauda announced his initiative during a visit to the agency’s headquarters in Abuja.

Mr Dauda is a pro-democracy activist, human rights defender, pan-Africanist, and executive director of Citizens Participation Against Corruption Initiatives, a non-governmental organisation.

He described the journey as his unique way of honouring ECOWAS’ golden jubilee. The pan-Africanist highlighted ECOWAS’ remarkable achievements over the past five decades, emphasising the organisation’s resilience and unity  in spite of significant challenges.

According to him, any institution that has endured for 50 years while positively impacting nearly 400 million people deserves recognition.

“Over the past 50 years, ECOWAS has transformed from a mere international organisation into a dynamic community with strong institutions and tangible achievements that continue to benefit the region. One major milestone worth celebrating is the removal of visa restrictions, which has facilitated free movement across member states.

“This has boosted trade, education, tourism, and other activities. As a citizen of the ECOWAS community, I see this advocacy journey as an opportunity to express my appreciation for the organisation’s contributions over the past five decades,” he said.

Mr Dauda, who hails from the Katsina State and a graduate of history from the Umaru Yar’Adua University, disclosed that he would begin the journey on April 1 from Lagos State.

The activist said that during his journey, he would engage with ordinary citizens in the countries he visits, gathering their thoughts on ECOWAS and its achievements.

“I will also use this opportunity to debunk the false narrative being spread by some that ECOWAS is merely a puppet of Western powers,” he said.

Mr Dauda added that he would visit key ECOWAS projects, including the ECOWAS Bank for Investment and Development (EBID) in Lomé and the West African Power Pool (WAPP) in Cotonou.

He hopes to also visit the Abidjan-Lagos Highway project and the African Development Bank (AfDB) in Abidjan.

As a committed pan-Africanist, Mr Dauda noted that he would also urge fellow West Africans to appeal to Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger to reconsider their recent withdrawal from ECOWAS.

“I will use this advocacy journey to call on Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger to rethink and reverse their decision to leave ECOWAS. Anyone who is truly passionate about African unity and integration will hope to see these countries return to the bloc.

ECOWAS

“Part of my mission is to send a message to their military governments, urging them to reconsider because regional integration is crucial for our collective progress,” he said.

Mr Dauda also said that the journey was entirely self-funded, with no financial support from any individual or organisation.

According to him, he plans to document his experiences and insights from the trip in a book, aiming to contribute to the advancement of pan-Africanism.

ECOWAS, founded on May 28, 1975, to promote economic integration and political unity in the subregion, has lined up various activities ahead of its 50th-anniversary celebrations in May.

Police, SSS Rescue Kidnapped Naval Officer, 2 Others; Arrest 4 Suspected Kidnappers In FCT

Police, SSS, rescue kidnapped naval officer, 2 others; arrest 4 suspected kidnappers in FCT. A joint operation among the Nigerian military, State Security Services, members of the Hunters’ Group, and led by the FCT Police Command’s Anti-Kidnapping Unit, has led to the rescue of a naval

Ajoint operation among the Nigerian military, State Security Services, members of the Hunters’ Group, and led by the FCT Police Command’s Anti-Kidnapping Unit, has led to the rescue of a naval officer and two civilians, including the arrest of four suspected kidnappers.

The FCT Command’s spokesperson, Josephine Adeh, in a statement on X, on Sunday, said the trio were kidnapped at about 07:35 p.m., on Friday, by heavily armed assailants who attacked Mamman Vatsa Estate Gate, blocked Mpape Road, and opened fire at moving vehicles.

Mrs Adeh said, “Shortly after the attack, the kidnappers contacted the victims’ families, demanding a ransom of ₦500 million for the naval officer and ₦200 million each for the two civilians.”

The spokesperson said the command’s Deputy Commissioner of Police (Operations), Isyaku Sharu, upon receiving the distress report, collaborated with the other security outfits to conduct an intense search-and-rescue operation across Mpape, Gidan Bawa, Anguwan Mu’azu, and Yelwa Hills, covering areas in the FCT and Nasarawa State.

She said, “Acting on credible intelligence, between 2:00 am and 5:30 am on March 23, 2025, operatives traced the suspects to a Fulani resettlement in Anguwan Mu’azu and Yelwa Hills, Nasarawa State, where four (4) suspects were arrested, and the victims were rescued unharmed. Additionally, the sum of ₦3.2 million, suspected to be ransom money from previous kidnapping operations, was recovered from the suspects.”

SSS Rescue Kidnapped Naval Officer

Stating that the victims were in stable condition and receiving medical attention at the Nigerian Army Clinic, Mrs Adeh noted that efforts were ongoing to track and apprehend the remaining suspects currently at large. She assured that security deployments had also been reinforced in Mpape and surrounding areas to prevent future occurrences.

She therefore advised members of the public to go about their daily activities without any apprehension, urging them to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activities to the police via the following emergency numbers: 08032003913, 08028940883, 07057337653; Complaint Response Unit:

Governor Abba Yusuf Grants Automatic Employment To 54 Postgraduate Students Sponsored To India

Governor Abba Yusuf grants automatic employment to 54 postgraduate students sponsored to India. Kano State Governor, Abba Yusuf, has granted automatic employment to 54 postgraduate students who benefitted from a foreign scholarship programme to study health-related courses in India.

Kano governor grants automatic employment to 54 postgraduate students sponsored to India

Mr Abubakar expressed heartfelt appreciation to the Kano State Government.

Kano State Governor, Abba Yusuf, has granted automatic employment to 54 postgraduate students who benefitted from a foreign scholarship programme to study health-related courses in India.

This was disclosed in a statement on Sunday by the governor’s spokesperson, Sunusi Tofa, in Kano.

The statement stated that Mr Yusuf made the announcement during a reception and Iftar (Ramadan breaking of fast) organised for the students, who studied at Symbiosis International University in Pune, India, and returned to the state on Friday.

He said, “We have made all necessary arrangements to offer you automatic employment within the Kano State Civil Service. Your appointment letters will be issued shortly through the Ministry of Health in collaboration with the Head of Service.

“You will also benefit from the newly implemented minimum wage of ₦71,000 in the state. We have improved allowances for healthcare workers to ensure a conducive working environment.’’

The governor expressed concern over individuals who received government-sponsored education but later left the state for employment elsewhere.

“I am surprised to see beneficiaries of government scholarships working outside Kano instead of contributing to the state’s development. We appeal to you to use your knowledge and expertise to improve the lives of our people, especially women, and address critical health issues such as maternal mortality and sickle cell anaemia,” he said.

According to him, the state’s investment in education and healthcare aims to strengthen service delivery within Kano, and retaining skilled professionals is key to achieving that goal.

Mr Yusuf reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to continuing the foreign scholarship programme initiated by former Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso.

“When we assumed office, we promised to sustain this initiative. Out of the 1,000 beneficiaries, 418 were sent to India and Uganda last year. All have graduated, while the remaining 68 students in India are expected to return by April,” he said.

Abba Kabir Yusuf

Among the 54 returning scholar are 36 medical doctors, 11 pharmacists, two anatomists and a radiographer

According to the Executive Secretary of the Kano State Scholarship Board, Kabiru Getso, some of the specialised courses studied by the students were the first of their kind in Kano and Northern Nigeria.

“Achieving this milestone puts the state in a strong position to improve healthcare services. All the students excelled academically, completing their programmes with impressive grades and no carryovers,” Mr Getso noted.

Speaking on behalf of the graduates, the group’s captain, Yusuf Abubakar, expressed heartfelt appreciation to the Kano State Government.

“Words are not enough to convey our gratitude. We are deeply thankful for this life-changing opportunity,” he said.