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INEC Chairman Yakubu Calls For stronger Regional Ties At ECONEC General Assembly In Gambia

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INEC

INEC Chairman Yakubu Calls For stronger Regional Ties At ECONEC General Assembly In Gambia

INEC chairman Yakubu calls for stronger regional ties at ECONEC General Assembly in Gambia. Chairman of Nigeria’s Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Mahmood Yakubu, has urged Election Management Bodies (EMBs) across West Africa to deepen collaboration and foster stronger partnerships in a bid to strengthen democratic governance in the region. Prof. Yakubu made the call on Thursday while addressing participants at the Extraordinary General Assembly of the ECOWAS Network of Electoral Commissions (ECONEC) currently holding in Banjul, the capital of The Gambia.

The high-level meeting brings together heads of electoral bodies from across the sub-region, with a key focus on adopting a revised draft of ECONEC’s statutes.

One of the major highlights of the agenda is the proposal to establish Africa’s first electoral resource-sharing database a landmark initiative aimed at boosting collaboration and capacity building among EMBs on the continent.

Addressing the gathering, Prof. Yakubu, who is a former president of the ECONEC Steering Committee, expressed appreciation for the support he received during his tenure and paid tribute to past and present members of the Network. He commended their collective efforts in advancing democratic values and maintaining ECONEC’s relevance.

Reflecting on the 2017 ECONEC meeting in Sierra Leone, the INEC Chairman recalled announcing that all countries in the region were under democratic rule. However, he expressed regret that the democratic landscape has since deteriorated, with four nations currently under non-democratic regimes. Despite this, he remained hopeful that democracy would be restored in those countries.

INEC

INEC

Prof. Yakubu also revealed that this would be his final ECONEC engagement as INEC Chairman, with his tenure set to end later this year. He thanked the regional body and his counterparts for their years of cooperation and urged them to continue promoting electoral integrity and regional solidarity. Other EMB heads echoed similar sentiments, praising ECONEC’s technical support and its instrumental role in promoting credible elections and democratic governance throughout West Africa.

The Extraordinary General Assembly has drawn participants from Benin, Cape Verde, Côte d’Ivoire, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, and Togo. During his stay in Banjul, Prof. Yakubu is also expected to accompany current ECONEC President, Mr. Konneh Mohamed Kenewui of Sierra Leone, on key stakeholder engagements with Gambian authorities. These visits form part of ECONEC’s Needs Assessment Mission ahead of The Gambia’s 2026 presidential elections.

Economy

Lagos Assembly Strongly Seeks Suspension Of Makoko Demolition

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Lagos Assembly

Lagos Assembly Strongly Seeks Suspension Of Makoko Demolition

Lagos assembly strongly seeks suspension of Makoko demolition. The Lagos state house of assembly has called for the suspension of demolition activities in Makoko, Oko-Agbon and Shogunro waterfront communities following protests by displaced residents and growing public concern over the exercise.

The call was announced on Tuesday by Noheem Adams, chairman of an ad hoc committee set up by Mudashiru Obasa, speaker of the house, during a stakeholders’ meeting held at the Lateef Jakande auditorium.

Adams called on all state ministries to cease demolition work and promised compensation to the affected residents.
“On behalf of the speaker and all 40 members of the house, we are directing that all demolitions in Makoko, Oko-Agbon, and Shogunro communities should stop from today until further notice,” New Telegraph quoted Adams as saying.

He called for transparency by demanding the full list of taskforce members and the criteria used for engagement, insisting that residents must be actively involved in the process.

“That the taskforce that was constituted, we want to see the list of the taskforce because we want the residents to be duly involved and to be carried along. So we want to have the schedule of those task forces and the criteria for those that we are inviting,” Adams added.

Lagos Assembly

Lagos Assembly

“To the residents of Makoko, Oko-Agbon and Shogunro communities, as your representatives, we are giving you all assurances that they will stop demolitions henceforth and there will be compensations for all those whose properties have been demolished.”

Stephen Ogundipe, member of the ad-hoc, said there is need for clear communication, adding that residents targeted for relocation or redevelopment must be informed of the government’s plans in advance.

Babatunde Olajide, special adviser to governor of Lagos on E-GIS and urban renewal, confirmed that $2 million had been earmarked since 2021 to transform Makoko into a modern, internationally compliant water city.

He said enumeration of affected properties is underway and reiterated the administration’s commitment to handling the situation with a human face, prioritizing resident safety and fair compensation.

Yusuf Sagra, baale of Makoko, described the assembly’s decision as a “word of peace,” while Orioye Ogungbure, another leader of the community, praised the “democratic responsiveness” of the government.

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Crime

EFCC Arrests Kannywood Star, Samha Inuwa for Alleged Naira Mutilation In Viral Video

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EFCC Probes Man

EFCC Arrests Kannywood Star, Samha Inuwa for Alleged Naira Mutilation In Viral Video

EFCC arrests Kannywood Star, Samha Inuwa for alleged naira mutilation in viral video. The Kano Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC,   on Tuesday, February 3, 2026  arrested a Kannywood Star, Samha Inuwa over alleged Naira mutilation.

Inuwa was arrested following a viral video circulated on social media platforms where she was seen conspicuously cleaning mucus from her nose using Naira notes.

EFCC Probes Man

EFCC

Following the release of the viral video, the Commission swung into action by tracing and subsequently arrested her to answer questions.
She is currently being held at the Commission’s detention facility while investigation is ongoing.

The suspect will be charged to court upon conclusion of investigations.

Dele Oyewale
Head,  Media & Publicity
February 3, 2026

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Economy

Access Bank Gets New Board Chair Ifeyinwa Osime

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National Bank Of Kenya

Access Bank Gets New Board Chair Ifeyinwa Osime

Access Bank gets new board chair Ifeyinwa Osime. Access Bank Plc has appointed Ifeyinwa Osime as chair of the board of directors, following the retirement of Paul Usoro, on January 29.

Access Bank Plc has appointed Ifeyinwa Osime as chair of the board of directors, following the retirement of Paul Usoro, on January 29, according to a statement to the Nigerian Exchange Ltd. on Monday.

Ms Osime, a legal practitioner, joined Access Bank’s board in November 2019 as an independent non-executive director and had chaired its Human Resources and Sustainability Committee and the Governance, Nomination, and Remuneration Committee. This role made her contribute significantly to the bank’s corporate governance, leadership development, and sustainability initiatives.

Additionally, Ms Osime is a director at Ebudo Trust Ltd. and a partner at McPherson Legal Practitioners, where she advises on corporate and commercial matters and contributes to strategic leadership.

She is also a member of the Nigerian Bar Association, the Women Corporate Directors, Nigeria Chapter, and the Chartered Institute of Directors, Nigeria, where she serves on the Executive Committee of the Women Sectoral Group.

National Bank Of Kenya

Access Bank Gets New Board Chair Ifeyinwa Osime

Beyond her professional responsibilities, Ms Osime is committed to mentoring youths and is actively involved in the Autism and Developmental Delays Support Community, reflecting her dedication to inclusion and social impact.
Speaking on her appointment, the group chairman, Aigboje Aig-lmoukhuede, said, “Mrs Osime is a principled and experienced leader with a deep understanding of the Bank’s strategy and values.

“She has demonstrated strong commitment to the bank’s vision and mission, and I am confident that, under her leadership, the bank will continue to advance its strategic objectives of delivering sustainable value to shareholders and other stakeholders in the pursuit of its vision to become the world’s most respected African bank.”

Mr Aig-lmoukhuede also congratulated Mr Usoro on the completion of his tenure and on his exemplary leadership, dedication, and significant contributions to the group, saying he remains a valued member of the Access family.

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