Chairman of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), Muhammadu Buhari has reminded his colleagues in the sub-regional body that despite some successes, there are still a lot of challenges ahead of it.

He listed such challenges as including difficulties in the economic, governance, peace, security and humanitarian fields.

The ECOWAS Chairman, who is also the President of Nigeria, in his welcome address today, Saturday, at the opening session of the 54^th Ordinary Session of ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government in Abuja, Nigeria, reminded members of the primary objective of body as set out in its Treaty.

According to President Buhari, the Treaty is to “promote cooperation and integration, leading to the establishment of an Economic and Monetary Union in West Africa, in order to raise the living standards of our people and contribute to the progress and development of the African continent”.

He stressed that as a Community, the aspiration should be to “create a borderless, peaceful, prosperous and cohesive region, based on good governance and where our people have the capacity to access and harness its resources through the creation of opportunities for sustainable development, job creation and environmental preservation.”

The Nigerian leader said that such lofty ideals cannot be attained without peace and security, which is why he said, he had decided to make the issue of peace and security the major focus of his Chairmanship.

“I am happy to inform this august assembly that our efforts have started yielding dividends as we have been able to douse tension and restore confidence in some potentially disruptive political situations, particularly in Guinea Bissau, Togo and Mali.”

President Buhari noted that the gathering of the ECOWAS leaders is a clear testimony of their continued collective resolve and commitment to the effective integration of the West African sub-region.

“We applaud the significant progress made by our Community in the recent past, particularly in the areas of political governance, peace and security as well as economic and social fields. These achievements have positioned ECOWAS as an example of a regional economic community on our continent.”

He commended the individual efforts of members not only for striving to promote peace, stability and development in their respective countries but also for their unwavering commitment to regional issues of interest and concern.

Buhari also expressed satisfaction with significant progress made through members’ collective efforts towards the resolution of the political and institutional crisis in Guinea Bissau, adding that within the framework of the regional solidarity, “we have assisted the  Governments of Togo and Mali in tackling political and security problems while also addressing food challenges in parts of the sub-region.

“We have also extended electoral support and assistance to several countries and acted pro-actively to neutralize some potential conflicts through preventive diplomacy before they exploded. In this connection, we welcome the successful elections held in Sierra Leone and Mali in 2018.”

“Our determination to create a safe and stable sub-region must be predicated on a strong and capable organization. You will all agree with me that no institution can function effectively without adequate funding.

“This would require that all hands are on deck and that all Member States ensure the payment of the Statutory Community Levy as and as when due. By so doing, we will empower and enable the Commission to implement the Integration Agenda, as we march towards the year 2020, and actualize our vision of building an ECOWAS of Peoples and not of States.

“In light of the continuing fragility of our economies linked closely to commodity prices, our nascent democracies, the negative effects of climate change on our farming systems, the globalisation of crime and terrorism, we are required on a daily basis, to join forces to eliminate  these factors that militate against a secure, conducive and prosperous environment for the benefit of our people. These realities remind us of the need for even stronger intra-ECOWAS solidarity in order to address emerging challenges.

“This is indeed the very sense of our Union. To that end, important decisions are taken in the course of our meetings, with the goal of impacting transforming positively on the lives of our citizens.”

The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has asked members of the National Assembly to apologize to Nigerians for booing President Muhammadu Buhari during the presentation of the 2019 budget estimate.

The Public Relations Officer of NANS, Azeez Adeyemi, who spoke today, Friday in Abeokuta, the Ogun State Capital, condemned the lawmakers’ behaviour, saying that it had further tarnished the external image of the country.

He asked the lawmakers to always promote the integrity of the country, advising the legislators to jettison personal and political interests while treating matters of national interest.

“Nigerian students believe that members of the National Assembly should be role models to Nigerian youths and students by displaying worthy and enviable character.

“It is important to place respect for the honour and integrity of our dear country above any personal or political interests.

“We, hereby, call on the leadership of the National Assembly to, as a matter of necessity, apologize to the entire people of Nigeria over the members’ unruly conduct during the president’s budget presentation.”

Police have announced the arrest of the leader of Boko Haram insurgents, 39 year old Umar Abdulmalik, a native of Idoji in Okene, Kogi State, and seven members of his gang, responsible for the Nyanya and Kuje bombings of 2015.

They were also responsible for the killings of seven police officers in Galadimawa roundabout, Abuja, on July 2, 2018 and the killings of two other police officers around Abaji in June, 2018 as well as one police officer in Lugbe, Abuja on November 4, 2018.

A statement today, Friday, by the Force Public Relations Officer, Jimoh Moshood said that Umar Abdulmalik and his gang were also responsible for the attack and jail break at Medium Security Prison, Minna, Niger State, on June 3, 2018 where 219 prisoners serving jail terms for capital offences and other crimes escaped from lawful custody.

“Two (2) Boko Haram members under Umar Abdulmalik in the Medium Security Prison, Minna, Niger State, were rescued by him during the jail break.”

The statement described Umar Abdulmalik as one of the most wanted Boko Haram terrorists leader and an explosive expert for the insurgence group.”

The police gave the names of others who were arrested along with the leader as 29 year old Abubakar Bello Sidi, from Obehira, 31 year old Yusuf Abdulazeez, a.k.a Fine Boy, from Enyinare all in Okene local government of Kogi State; 24 year old Suleman Zakariya, a.k.a cause trouble from Idah local government also in Kogi State; 25 year old  Lukman Abdulmalik, a.k.a Lampard from Idoji in Okene local government; 25 year old Haruna Lamidi from Ihima Okehi local government; 30 year old Abdullahi Mammanjimoh from Idogido in Okene local government and 34 year old Mustapha Adenoyi from Ihima in Okehi local government, all in Kogi State

The police listed the items recovered from the suspects are four Police AK47 rifles which they allegedly carted away after killing the Policemen; six magazines; 270 rounds of AK47 ammunition and two police walking talking radio, which they also allegedly carted away after killing the Policemen.

They were arrested, according to the statement yesterday, December 20 by the IGP Intelligence Response Team (IRT), led by DCP Abba Kyari in a location at Ibafo, Lagos while receiving treatment from the bullet wound he sustained on November 26, at Bassa village, off Airport road, Abuja during exchange of gun fire with the operatives of the Intelligence Response Team when four of his gang members were arrested and three  other suspects were subsequently arrested.

“Umar Abdulmalik and his gang confessed to be the mastermind and responsible for the Nyanya and Kuje bombings in Abuja in 2015, killings of seven Police Officer in Galadimawa roundabout on 2^nd July, 2018 and the killings of two other Police Officers around Abaji in June, 2018 and one Police Officer in Lugbe, Abuja on 4^th November, 2018.

“The Boko Haram terrorist gang during interrogation and investigation also confessed to several bank robberies in Edo and Ondo States, and other kidnappings, armed robberies and killings in different locations in Kogi and other contiguous States.”

The police said that investigation is being intensified to arrest other members of the Boko Haram cell under the control of Umar Abdulmalik and other suspects connected to the crimes the gang have committed.

“All the suspects confessed to the crime and admitted to their various criminal roles they played in the commission of the crimes. They will all be arraigned in Court on completion of investigation.”

Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed has made it clear that it is not in the character of the Executive arm of the government to engage in exchange of words with the legislature.

According to him, presentation of the national budgetary appropriation bill to the National Assembly, as President Muhammadu Buhari had done on Wednesday, is a constitutional matter which has been accomplished, saying that how that legislature reacts to it has nothing to do with the Executive.

Speaking to news men today after presenting a portrait of President Muhammadu Buhari in five major Nigeria attires; one is in Yoruba, Hausa, Igbo, Efik and one in suit, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, Lai Mohammed said: ”it is not the practice of the executive to be exchanging words with the legislative arm of government.

“They are independent, we are independent but to the best of our knowledge, we presented a budget given the circumstances of our resources this year, we feel that is the best we can. It is left for the National Assembly to consider it. “

The minister expressed confident that the labour unions in the country, whose members he described as patriotic, “will not do anything that will embarrass the government or do anything that is going to worsen the situation.”

He advocated continuous engagement, which he said is the key, adding “we will continue to engage them and I think they do also fully understand what the challenges are. And both parties are determined to ensure that a common ground is arrived at which it will be comfortable for all.”

Lai Mohammed insisted that Buhari government has been able to meet all the promises and obligations he, and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to Nigerians.

“And as the year rolls out, we are more determined to even deliver more to Nigerians. I wish to use this opportunity to wish everybody merry Christmas and a happy new year.”

Senator representing Kaduna central district in the National Assembly, Shehu Sani, has regretted that the beer parlour attitude of some members of the National Assembly had denied the parliamentarians the opportunity of asking President Muhammadu Buhari some questions regarding the performances of the 2018 budget performance.

Speaking as a guest on Channels TV’s Politics Today in Abuja, today, Thursday, Senator Sani emphasized that his colleagues missed the opportunity of allowing the leadership of the National Assembly dock the President and question the figures he reeled out before the lawmakers during his 2019 budget presentation.

“As far as I am concerned, the performance of the government has not made any significant progress with regards to 2017 and now.

“But booing the president is not the best way to challenge those facts. We could have had the opportunity of the leaders of both Houses (of Parliament) put the President in dock and challenge his figures but it was missed.

“Naturally, the parliament is not a graveyard or library where you want people to be silent. But it is also not a beer parlour or a bus station.

“As far as I am concerned, we could have put him (Buhari) to task and ask him questions and also challenge those figures that he presented before us.

“For me, even the figures he raised are questionable but the opportunity for one to put his figures to fact was missed actually.”