President Julius Maada Bio of Sierra Leone has been elected as the new Chairman of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government, succeeding Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who held the position for two years.

The announcement was made at the 67th Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Authority held in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital, on Sunday, June 22, 2025..

In his inaugural address, President Bio outlined four core areas he intends to prioritise during his tenure: restoring constitutional order, enhancing democratic governance, revitalising regional security, promoting economic integration, and reinforcing the institutional credibility of ECOWAS.

“As Chair, I will prioritise four key areas: first, restoring constitutional order and deepening democracy,” Bio said. “We must engage transitional governments constructively and support member states in building stronger democratic institutions rooted in the rule of law.”

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He continued: “Second, revitalising regional security cooperation. We must overhaul our collective security architecture, from intelligence sharing to rapid response, to confront new threats with unity and resolve. “Third, unlocking economic integration.

“The ECOWAS liberalisation scheme, regional infrastructure, and cross-border value chains must become engines of jobs, trade, and resilience. “Fourth, building institutional credibility. ECOWAS must reform itself to become more transparent, efficient, and responsive to the needs of its people.”

President Tinubu officially handed over leadership during the high-level session attended by regional heads of state and other stakeholders. In his farewell remarks, Tinubu expressed pride in the work accomplished during his chairmanship and optimism for the future of the region under Bio’s leadership.

“As I now hand over the mantle of leadership to my great friend and dear brother, His Excellency President Julius Maada Bio of Sierra Leone, the new Chairman of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government, I do so with a deep sense of fulfilment and optimism for the future of West Africa,” Tinubu stated.

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“I remain confident that with the continued cooperation of all its members, ECOWAS will scale greater heights in our collective pursuit of peace, security, stability, and prosperity for our people and our region.”

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Tinubu was first elected ECOWAS Chairman on July 9, 2023, during a summit held in Guinea-Bissau. He was re-elected in 2024 in Abuja, as member states unanimously opted to maintain continuity amid regional challenges.

An aide to the Delta state governor,. Ossai Ovie Success, has berated Nigerians in the Diaspora for sending a small amount of money to their friends back home.  In a post shared on Facebook, Ossai said he finds it disappointing when people send N20, 000 ($12) to their friends who are about getting married or are preparing for a funeral back in Nigerian. Read his post below  The post That is disappointing- Delta state govs aide knocks Nigerians in the diaspora who send 20k ($12) to their friends getting married or preparing for a burial back home appeared first on Linda Ikeji Blog.

A 40-foot container truck suffered a brake failure and toppled onto a commercial minibus, leading to the death of the minibus driver in Lagos State.

Adebayo Taofiq, Director of the Public Affairs and Enlightenment Department of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), confirmed that the tragic incident occurred in the early hours of Sunday, June 22, 2025, along Old Ipaja Road near Agbotikuyo, towards Iyana Ipaja.

According to the statement, LASTMA officers rescued three uninjured passengers from the minibus and handed them over to medical emergency responders for further evaluation and care.

ALSO READ: Early morning accident claims 7 lives on Lagos-Ibadan expressway

“The catastrophic collision involved a fully-laden 40-foot Mack containerized truck (MUS 729 XY), which, reportedly due to catastrophic brake failure, toppled onto a commercial minibus — colloquially referred to as ‘Korope’,” the statement read.

“Tragically, the devastating impact led to the instantaneous death of the minibus driver, whose life was abruptly cut short in the line of duty.

“In a remarkable display of courage and promptitude, LASTMA Officers deployed along the corridor swiftly mobilized and rescued three passengers — two females and one male — unhurt but were immediately handed over to medical emergency responders for clinical attention.

“The fallen articulated truck obstructed over 50 percent of the arterial carriageway, precipitating a substantial traffic backlog that rippled across adjoining routes, notably Shofunde and Olufunlayo. LASTMA operatives immediately instituted comprehensive traffic diversion and control protocols to alleviate the congestion and maintain orderliness.

“It is worthy of note that the truck driver, in a failed attempt to abscond from the scene, was apprehended by vigilant LASTMA Officers and promptly transferred to security personnel from both the Elere and Area ‘G’ Police Divisions, who LASTMA officials had duly notified.

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ALSO READ: Man killed in lone accident on Lagos-Badagry Expressway

“Emergency response teams from the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) Response Unit, Lagos State Ambulance Services (LASAMBUS), and officers of the Nigeria Police Force collaborated efficiently with prompt coordination by LASTMA rescue team to secure the accident scene, recover the remains, and ensure traffic and civil normalcy were fully restored.”