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ECOWAS lawmakers issue crucial stance on Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger’s exit as debate deepens

Lawmakers of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) have expressed deep concerns over the withdrawal of Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger from the regional bloc.
Speaking at the 1st Extraordinary Session of 2025 in Lagos on Monday, March 3, parliamentarians debated the impact of the three Sahel nations’ departure and the future of regional integration.
Economic Integration vs. Political Differences
Nigerian lawmaker Hon. Awaji-Inombek Abiante lamented the exit, stressing that ECOWAS was founded primarily for economic integration.
“The economy does not respect anybody. When ECOWAS was formed, most of our countries were under military rule, and the focus was on economic growth. Over time, democracy became a factor, but the region lacks a unified democratic standard,” Abiante said.
He pointed out disparities in governance systems, term limits, and parliamentary structures and questioned the bloc’s insistence on democratic alignment.
He further criticised the ECOWAS Parliament for not effectively overseeing regional institutions.
“This Parliament has not done effective oversight. I have been here for almost six years, and we have not reviewed audited reports of our institutions. Parliament must up its game if we are to move forward,” he asserted.
A Sad Departure, But Not Final?
Senator Edwin Snowe of Liberia echoed Abiante’s sentiments, describing the exit as unfortunate.
“We are not happy. Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso have played key roles in the region. We hope that when they return to democratic rule, their citizens will petition their governments to rejoin ECOWAS. Leaving is no fun; it weakens us all,” Snowe said.
He called for proactive measures to prevent further exits and ensure unity within the bloc.

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Maintaining Cooperation Despite Withdrawal
Nigerian Senator Osita Izunaso noted that the transition period for the withdrawal extends until July 29, 2025, leaving a window for reconciliation.
“They have indicated interest to leave, and we cannot force them to stay. However, we must maintain bilateral and multilateral cooperation with them,” he advised.
Addressing concerns over ECOWAS sanctions on the departing nations, Izunaso dismissed the impact of past restrictions.
“The sanctions were never implemented. But the six-month transition period shows there is still a door open. Anything can happen before the deadline,” he noted.
On whether ECOWAS has fulfilled its founding purpose, Izunaso was blunt.“No, it has not. Progress has been too slow. The only real achievement is that we are together.
“But how are we together when we lack a single currency and security framework? In Europe, a common currency unites them. We need similar economic policies to strengthen weaker economies,” he argued.
Economic Setbacks and Market Shrinkage
Ghanaian MP Emmanuel Kwasi Bedzrah outlined the negative and positive impacts of the exit.
“ECOWAS was created to integrate our economies and societies. The free movement of people, goods, and services has allowed businesses to thrive across borders. Unfortunately, with these countries leaving, their citizens will struggle to do business with the rest of us,” Bedzrah warned.
He explained that the withdrawal weakens ECOWAS as a market force.
“Reducing our numbers from 15 to 12 is a setback. In a home of 15 children, if three pass on, the home is reduced. We must do everything to bring them back,” he said.
Bedzrah also revealed that he was part of the mediation team intended to engage the Sahel nations but was blocked by ECOWAS heads of state.
A Crossroads for ECOWAS
The withdrawal of Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger signals a major challenge for ECOWAS.
While some lawmakers see it as a wake-up call for better governance and economic integration, others remain hopeful that the nations may eventually return.
As the transition period continues, the question remains: Will ECOWAS find a way to strengthen its unity, or will more countries follow the Sahel nations out of the bloc?
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What we discovered in drug markets can destroy a nation – NAFDAC boss

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) says its discoveries at the three open drug markets could destroy the lives of millions of Nigerians.
Its Director-General, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, disclosed this during a news conference in Lagos on Friday.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that NAFDAC started enforcement operations at the Idumota Open Drug Market, Ariaria Drug Market in Aba and Bridge Market in Onitsha on Feb. 10.
Adeyeye said that 100 40-feet truckloads of fake, banned, unregistered drugs and narcotics were evacuated from the markets.
According to her, the enforcement operations at the markets, which serve as distribution hubs of over 80 per cent of medications, will rid the country of falsified and unregistered drugs.
Adeyeye said, “What we found during our enforcement operations in Idumota, Aba and Onitsha open drug markets can ruin a nation and reduce the quality of life of Nigerians.
“If a patient with diabetes or hypertension takes some of the drugs we evacuated, such a person or people can die easily with what we found.
“In Onitsha and Aba, we evacuated close to 80 40-feet truckloads of drugs from the markets and various warehouses where drugs were stored without windows.
“We discovered 12 truckloads of tramadol and four truckloads of codeine syrups that were banned for treatment some years ago in the plumbing line, fashion line and wood section in the market.

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“We have already destroyed 27 40-feet truckloads of drugs we evacuated from Idumota market.”
She said the agency would not relent in its efforts to checkmate market activities until they relocated to a coordinated wholesale centre.
Adeyeye said the enforcement operations at Idumota and Aba markets concluded on Feb. 28, while the exercise ended on March 5 in Onitsha.
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Nollywood actress Chika Ike shows off post-baby body

Nollywood actress, Chika Ike, has shown off her post-body weeks after giving birth to her daughter. The filmmaker announced the birth of her first child on March 6, 2025. Taking to her Instagram page on Friday, she shared photos of herself and her baby, all bundled up in from a snowy location. Doctors appointment on a snowy day! Thanks sweethearts for all the congratulatory messages. Love you and God bless, she captioned the post. The post Nollywood actress Chika Ike shows off post-baby body appeared first on Linda Ikeji Blog.
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Gold tops $3,000 for first time on Trump tariff threats

Gold surpassed $3,000 for the first time Friday as US President Donald Trump’s trade wars boost the safe-haven asset, while stock markets bounced on hopes US lawmakers will avert a government shutdown.
US shares rose in early deals after slumping in recent sessions while Asian equities ended the week on a positive note.
European stock markets were also given a lift in afternoon deals after Germany moved closed to approving a massive infrastructure and defence spending programme.
In Washington, with just hours until a deadline to push a Republican spending bill through, Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer dropped his threat to block it.
The package would keep government operating through September, but Democrats have come under pressure from their grassroots to defy the plan, which they say is full of harmful spending cuts.
Stocks gained support from “a burgeoning sense that a government shutdown will be averted after Senator Schumer said he will vote for House-passed continuing resolution,” said Patrick O’Hare, analyst at Briefing.com.
O’Hare said stocks were also getting a boost from speculation China will announce more stimulus measures, and from reports that meetings between Canadian and US officials may have made some progress towards easing trade tensions.
London’s FTSE 100 index rose as the pound dropped against the dollar, after data showed the UK economy unexpectedly shrank in January.
In the eurozone, Paris and Frankfurt both rebounded after losses the previous day on US tariff threats.
Germany’s likely next chancellor Friedrich Merz said his conservatives had struck a deal with the Greens on massively boosting defence and infrastructure spending, paving the way for the plan’s approval in parliament.

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– Times of uncertainty –
Gold, a safe haven in times of uncertainty, rose as much as $3,004 an ounce before paring back gains later in the day to trade under $3,000.
The precious metal was “boosted on increased haven demand amid trade war risks and recent stock market volatility”, said Fawad Razaqzada, analyst at City Index and Forex.com.
In the latest salvo, Trump threatened to impose 200 percent tariffs on wine, champagne and other alcoholic beverages from European Union countries.
His threat came after the bloc’s planned levies on American-made whiskey and other products in retaliation to US levies on steel and aluminium.
Trump said he would not row back on the metals duties, nor plans for sweeping tariffs on countries worldwide due to kick on April 2.
Wall Street has been hammered in recent sessions by trade tensions, with the S&P 500 slipping into a correction Thursday, having fallen more than 10 percent from its recent peak — a record high touched just last month.
In company news, shares in Gucci-owner Kering slumped more than 11 percent in Paris as the group appointed a new creative director to helm its struggling flagship brand.
Shares in BMW were in the red as the Germany automaker warned that trade tensions between the United States, Europe and China would cost the company $1 billion this year.
Major conglomerate CK Hutchison Holdings — owned by tycoon Li Ka-shing — tumbled in Hong Kong after Chinese officials in the city reposted an newspaper opinion piece attacking the firm over its sale of a controlling stake in Panama ports under pressure from Trump.
It had surged as much as 25 percent after the sale last week.
– Key figures around 1340 GMT –
New York – Dow: Up 0.6 percent at 41,037.37 points
New York – S&P 500: UP 1.1 percent at 5584.42
New York – Nasdaq Composite: UP 1.8 percent at 17,611.92
London – FTSE 100: UP 0.5 percent at 8,583.13 points
Paris – CAC 40: UP 0.9 percent at 8,012.07
Frankfurt – DAX: UP 1.6 percent at 22,940.17
Tokyo – Nikkei 225: UP 0.7 percent at 37,053.10 (close)
Hong Kong – Hang Seng Index: UP 2.1 percent at 23,959.98 (close)
Shanghai – Composite: UP 1.8 percent at 3,419.56 (close)
Euro/dollar: UP at $1.0893 from $1.0849 on Thursday
Pound/dollar: DOWN at $1.2939 from $1.2948
Dollar/yen: UP at 148.57 yen from 147.75 yen
Euro/pound: UP at 85.40 pence from 83.75 pence
Brent North Sea Crude: UP 0.3 percent at $70.14 per barrel
West Texas Intermediate: UP 0.3 percent at $66.81 per barrel
The post Gold tops $3,000 for first time on Trump tariff threats appeared first on Vanguard News.
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