West Africa Must Collaborate Internally To Unlock AfCFTA Gains, Says Natasha Akpoti

West Africa must collaborate internally to unlock AfCFTA gains, says Natasha Akpoti. Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, senator representing Kogi central, has called for deeper collaboration among member states of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to strengthen regional integration and expand intra-community trade.

The senator spoke in Abuja as regional lawmakers and stakeholders gathered for the ECOWAS’ first extraordinary session and the first 2026 parliamentary seminar.

The seminar, themed “Deepening regional integration through the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA): Opportunities and challenges for expanding intra-community trade within the ECOWAS region”, focused on unlocking economic opportunities under the AfCFTA framework.

Akpoti-Uduaghan said meaningful regional integration must be anchored on shared research, industrial integration, market linkages, and product development.

“In areas of industrial integration, research, market linkages, and product development, it will enhance and expand trade and commerce within the West African region,” she said.

She expressed concern over the region’s growing tendency to pursue partnerships outside the West Africa region while neglecting joint initiatives within member states.

“In my own perspective, I believe that West Africans lack cohesive collaboration amongst ourselves,” she said.

“And it’s very simple. Let’s ask how much research and innovation have been conducted amongst ourselves? How much technology developed in our countries have we willingly shared amongst ourselves?”

The lawmaker warned that without a strong foundation of internal cooperation, trade ambitions under AfCFTA could face trust deficits.

“If we have failed in this foundation, then how can we trust the products that we have produced in our countries to be willingly patronised amongst ourselves?” she asked.

Citing a publication on collaboration between Ghana and Germany on vaccine development, Akpoti-Uduaghan questioned why similar partnerships were not prioritised within West Africa.

“I saw a publication regarding collaboration between Ghana and Germany on vaccine development,” she said.

“It is a good deed, but wouldn’t it be better if Ghana’s ministry of health partnered with Nigeria’s ministry of health on such innovations? I think we need to look deeply into that.”

While acknowledging the importance of global partnerships, the lawmaker said intra-regional cooperation should take precedence.

“It is okay if we promote innovations with America, with the United Kingdom, and with France,” she said.

“But primarily, as a region, we should not neglect ourselves because we share heritage; we share problems.

“Our DNA is not far from one another. Would it not be better to focus on health, agriculture, science, and technology, and all the vast industries among ourselves first?”

Akpoti-Uduaghan advocated open research systems, inter-university partnerships, and improved access to innovation across the region.

“Let us foster relationships between our universities. Let us not hoard the products of our research,” she said.

“Let us have open research platforms, our technology hubs, and innovation hubs responding and relating better.

“As an individual, I should be able to log into a portal in Mali, Gambia, and Liberia and find out what innovations have been promoted.”

Senator Natasha

She urged parliamentarians to facilitate stronger communication between ministries across ECOWAS states to encourage transparency and trust.

“As parliamentarians, let us task our ministries to reach out to their counterparts across the region and trust that they will openly share the products of their research. That is the foundation we must not neglect,” she said.

The senator also highlighted emerging opportunities in the blue economy, referencing discussions by the World Bank on maritime and water-based economic development.

“In recent times, we have seen the World Bank emphasise the blue economy in relation to our waters,” she added.

“Wouldn’t it be good for West African countries and companies to jointly develop and maximise these opportunities? This would greatly jump-start trade volumes for the benefit of ECOWAS states.”

African Continental Free Trade Area (AFCFTA)
Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS)
Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan

Cyberbullying: Gabon Suspends Social Media Platforms For ‘Spreading False Information’

Cyberbullying: Gabon suspends social media platforms for ‘spreading false information’. Gabon has announced the suspension of social media platforms, citing the “spread of false information”, “cyberbullying” and the “unauthorised disclosure of personal data”.

Jean-Claude Mendome, spokesperson for the High Authority for Communication (HAC), said online content has fuelled conflict and deepened divisions in the country.

“These actions are likely, in the case of Gabon, to generate social conflict, destabilise the institutions of the Republic, and seriously jeopardise national unity, democratic progress, and achievements,” Mendome said in a statement on Tuesday evening.

He noted that the suspension would last “until further notice” but did not specify which platforms would be affected.

WhatsApp, Facebook, and TikTok are popular in the French-speaking Central African country.

Digital blackouts are frequently used in Gabon to control information.

The latest suspension comes as the Gabonese government faces growing protests over the high cost of living.

In December, school teachers began striking over pay and working conditions, with protests over similar grievances spreading to other public sectors, including health and education.

Gabon Suspends Social Media

Brice Nguema, former Gabon junta leader, won the presidential election last April, two years after his coup ended more than five decades of Bongo family rule.

He pledged to reform Gabon, and allowed foreign and independent media to film the ballot count.

NNPC Presents Safety By Design Award To Ørsted At International Energy Week 2026

NNPC presents safety by design award to Ørsted at International Energy Week 2026. Adesua Dozie, General Counsel/Secretary to the NNPC Ltd. Board, presented the Safety by Design Award to Ørsted at the International Energy Week, held in London from 10 to 12 February 2026.

The award went to Ørsted’s Cargo Drone Lifting project. This system uses automated drones to deliver tools and equipment to offshore wind turbine locations that are hard to reach.

It removes the need for workers to climb or handle loads manually, which cuts out high-risk cargo transfers at height.

NNPC

The International Energy Week brings together policymakers, industry leaders, investors, regulators, technology developers, and experts to discuss energy security, transition plans, investment, and sustainability.