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Nigeria, Benin Sign Integration Pact
In a historic move aimed at redefining regional integration in West Africa, Nigeria and the Republic of Benin on Saturday signed a landmark agreement to deepen bilateral cooperation and set a precedent for broader collaboration across the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
The signing ceremony, held during the inaugural West Africa Economic Summit (WAES) in Abuja, was witnessed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of Nigeria and his Beninois counterpart, President Patrice Talon.
The agreement, officials say, will serve as a template for actionable economic and political integration in the sub-region.
Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Jumoke Oduwole and Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, signed on behalf of Nigeria.
Representing Benin were the Minister of Industry and Trade, Shadiya Alimatou Assouman, and the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, Shegun Adjadi Bakari.
According to a statement by Special Adviser to President Tinubu on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, Talon, while speaking at the event, hailed the agreement as a bold step forward.
“President Tinubu and I have agreed on full integration between Benin and Nigeria. The responsibility now lies with our ministers to implement it. Benin and Nigeria are more than twins—we are the same people. Let us show the region that integration is possible,” he said.

Talon called for urgent reforms within ECOWAS, warning that the regional bloc was facing a crisis of credibility and functionality.
“ECOWAS is a perfect example of regional integration. Unfortunately, our ECOWAS is in crisis right now,” he declared.
He cited the failure of key regional infrastructure projects, including the West African Gas Pipeline, which he said had been rendered ineffective due to bureaucratic inertia.
“It is ridiculous. This failure of regional cooperation wastes resources and undermines integration,” Talon said, revealing that Benin was now importing gas from Qatar via a floating storage and regasification unit.
Similarly, he lamented the poor performance of the West African Power Pool.
“We invested heavily in this infrastructure. But it is not functioning as expected. Unless we act decisively, I’m not confident it ever will,” he added.
Turning his focus to logistical bottlenecks along the Lagos–Abidjan Corridor, Talon criticised the persistent border harassment and delays that plague cross-border travel.
“The road exists. But a businessman should be able to travel from Lagos to Abidjan in hours—not days—without facing harassment at multiple checkpoints. That is not integration,” he stressed.
The Beninois leader warned that poverty remained the most potent threat to democracy and stability in the region.
“Poverty is the main threat to democracy, security, and stability. If we do not address poverty through integration, our values will remain hollow,” he said.
Invoking global trade tensions, Talon cited the United States’ protectionist shift under President Donald Trump as a wake-up call for African nations.
“The trade war should remind us that nations act in their interest, and so should we. At some point, we may even have to thank President Trump for that reminder,” he said.
Talon urged his fellow West African leaders to abandon lip service and take concrete steps to deliver economic opportunity for their people.
“If we cannot create wealth and opportunity, all our other values—democracy, liberty—cannot be sustained. Integration must be real. Integration must be delivered,” he concluded.
The summit, a precursor to the 67th Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government scheduled for Sunday at the State House Conference Centre in Abuja, featured remarks from several West African leaders and global officials.
Liberian President Joseph Boakai reaffirmed his country’s support for ECOWAS and regional bodies like the Mano River Union in reducing trade barriers and harmonising economic policies.
He commended President Tinubu, Chair of the ECOWAS Authority, for what he described as a “timely, strategic summit.”
“This summit offers a vital platform for reflection, coordination, and renewed commitment to the economic transformation of our subregion. While the challenges in the region are complex, they are not insurmountable”, Boakai said.
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Sierra Leone’s President Julius Maada Bio called for a deeper, more strategic push for economic integration amid global uncertainty and domestic vulnerabilities.
“This potential must be unlocked through strategic integration, particularly amid rising public debt, climate vulnerability, food insecurity, and geopolitical uncertainty,” he said.
Bio emphasised the need for political will to drive regional trade initiatives such as the ECOWAS Trade Liberalisation Scheme and the Common External Tariff.
“Trade integration must start with a strong political commitment,” he noted.
He also expressed Sierra Leone’s support for a regional single currency to improve business confidence and reduce transaction costs.
“To deepen intra-regional competitiveness, we must accelerate progress toward monetary union. A single currency would reduce exchange rate costs, support price stability, and improve the business environment”, Bio said.
The summit also featured recorded messages from UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed and World Trade Organisation Director-General Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala.
Thenationonlineng.net
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BREAKING: Popular Nigerian Gospel Singer Reportedly Dies [PHOTO]

Nigerian gospel singer, Toluwanisings is reportedly dead
His death was announced by the Convener of the Coalition of Public Interests Lawyers and Advocates, COPA, Pelumi Olajengbesi on Wednesday.
Expressing concern over the death of young Nigerians, Olajengbesi, in a post on Instagram, pleaded for God’s mercy.
Concerns mount over reports of Toluwanisings’ death
While noting that the death of Toluwanisings is not God’s plan, he wrote, “We say no to untimely death.”
Sharing the singer’s picture, Pelumi said, “My God! What a life! No, Lord! We plead for Your mercy upon Toluwanisings.

“I am deeply troubled by the deaths of young men and women. This is not God’s plan for us.”
Reacting to the sad news, comedian Woli Agba said they are still praying for a miracle.
He wrote on his page, “Please hold on. Please don’t conclude. We are trusting God. Please.”
Responding in the comments section, singer Boyebest wrote, “Yes yes yes. Yeah I have faith in God. I do. God you’ll do this one.”
This came about two hours after the rumour first surfaced on social media.
DAILY POST reports that the circumstances surrounding the singer’s death have not been revealed as of the time of this report
News
NAFDAC Uncovers Fake Alcohol, Energy Drinks Factory In Lagos
The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has arrested two men over alleged production and repackaging of counterfeit alcoholic and energy drinks at a facility in Ojo, Lagos State.
The suspects, identified as Chibuzor Okafor and William John, were arrested during a raid on a two-storey building at Zamfara Plaza, BBA Trade Fair Complex, along the Badagry Expressway.
NAFDAC said its officers recovered drums, filters, packaging materials, a heating device and other equipment allegedly used in the illegal operation.
The agency disclosed that the raid followed intelligence gathering and surveillance on suspected counterfeiters operating within the Trade Fair International Market.
Speaking during the operation, the Assistant Director of NAFDAC’s Investigation and Enforcement Directorate, Kunle Ojo, said some of the suspects were caught in the act.
“Gentlemen of the press, as you can see today, when we came, we caught some red-handed people producing all kinds of alcoholic drinks,” Ojo said.
He described the discovery as alarming, adding that the operation was part of efforts to protect Nigerians from potentially dangerous products.

Ojo said NAFDAC had intensified enforcement activities ahead of the festive season, when demand for alcoholic beverages and other drinks usually increases.
He warned that counterfeit drinks could pose serious health risks and urged those involved in the trade to stop.
“You are killing Nigerians in order to make money, which is not good,” he said.
The NAFDAC official added that the agency would investigate the sources of the products and raw materials, as well as identify those allegedly financing or directing the operation.
He said the recovered products and materials would be moved to the agency’s warehouse for further action, including destruction in line with established procedures.
Ojo warned that those arrested would face administrative action and prosecution in accordance with the law.
One of the arrested suspects, Chibuzor Okafor, who identified himself as a drinks dealer in the market, said he changed the bottles of some drinks because the original containers were damaged.
Speaking to Vanguard at the scene, Okafor said, “I deal in drinks. I change the bottle of the drink. It’s not that the bottle is not good. It’s the drink in there, because the other one is already damaged. So that’s why we are putting it in the next bottle.”
NAFDAC has yet to establish publicly the full details of the products involved or the extent of the suspected operation.
The agency’s Deputy Director of Public Relations, Christiana Obiazikwor, said NAFDAC continued to carry out surveillance, seize unregistered and counterfeit products, arrest suspects and destroy offending goods.
She dismissed claims that the agency was not doing enough to tackle counterfeit products, saying its officers regularly visited markets and suspected production sites.
“NAFDAC is still at work. We are on the streets. We are in the markets. We are everywhere,” she said.
Obiazikwor explained that some enforcement operations were not publicized to avoid alerting suspected offenders or creating unnecessary tension.
She said journalists were invited to observe the latest operation to show the public the agency’s efforts to protect consumers.
The official urged Nigerians to report suspected counterfeit production and distribution directly to NAFDAC instead of relying on social media posts that could spread unverified information.
“There’s no point going to social media to create fear. Report to NAFDAC, and we’ll do the needful,” she said.
She assured members of the public that the identities of people who provide credible information would be protected.
The Assistant Director and Head of Public Relations at the Investigation and Enforcement Directorate, Victoria Jennifer Akudu, said the raid formed part of the agency’s routine operations against illegal manufacturing and distribution.
Akudu said enforcement officers regularly confiscated suspected counterfeit products and shut down facilities linked to illegal activities.
She disclosed that the suspected operators had allegedly moved from an earlier location following enforcement action, prompting officials to continue tracking their activities.
“We have confiscated and sealed off the place. They moved to another place. This time around, we passed through the back door. And that is how we are able to get them,” she said.
Akudu urged Nigerians to report suspected counterfeit products directly to the agency and avoid spreading unverified claims that could cause unnecessary public concern.
“I will ask Nigerians not to fear. We are alert, and we are alive. We are doing our statutory function the way it should be,” she said.
NAFDAC said the operation was part of its ongoing efforts to remove counterfeit, adulterated and unregistered products from the Nigerian market.
The agency warned that repackaging drinks in the bottles of established brands without proper quality checks could expose consumers to serious health risks, particularly when the contents and production conditions have not been verified.
News
Sowore Drags DSS DG, AGF, Others To Court, Demands ₦5 Billion
Human rights activist and presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), Omoyele Sowore, has filed a ₦5 billion fundamental rights enforcement suit against the Department of State Services (DSS) over an alleged assault and forcible removal from the Federal High Court in Abuja.
Daily Voice reports that the suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/2480/2026, was instituted on Tuesday, October 13, 2026, against the DSS, its Director-General, Tosin Ajayi, the Attorney-General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi and a deputy director of the security agency, Benjamin Bulus.
Sowore alleged that DSS operatives assaulted and forcibly removed him from the court premises on June 22, 2026, despite an existing judicial order directing that he be remanded at the Kuje Correctional Centre.
He disclosed that the alleged assault occurred after Justice Mohammed Garba Umar of the Federal High Court, Abuja, ordered his remand at the Kuje Correctional Centre pending the hearing and determination of his application seeking a stay of the order revoking his bail and the bench warrant issued against him.
According to him, armed DSS operatives, including men and women wearing hoods, stormed the fourth floor of the court building while he was waiting for correctional officers to arrive and implement the remand order.
The activist alleged that the operatives physically assaulted him, forcibly removed him from the area and transported him against his will to the basement of the court complex using elevators reserved for Federal High Court judges, thereby resulting in physical injuries.
He maintains that the remand order did not authorise the security operatives to assault him, forcibly remove him or subject him to degrading treatment within the court premises.

Sowore is asking the court to determine whether the DSS operatives acted outside the scope of the judicial order and whether their conduct violated his fundamental rights.
The presidential candidate is seeking ₦5 billion in aggravated damages for alleged violations of his constitutional rights to dignity and personal liberty.
A significant part of the case concerns video footage allegedly recorded during the incident using Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses.
According to the court processes, the recording forms part of the evidence Sowore intends to rely on to establish the circumstances of the alleged assault and the conduct of the operatives involved.
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