Index to Nigerian Newspapers

The Nigerian Air Force has announced the appointment of New Branch Chiefs and Air Officers Commanding (AOCs) and other senior officers. These include Air Vice Marshal (AVM) Ayoola Jolasinmi, Air Training Command (ATC), Musa Muktar, AVM Charles Ohwo, AVM Jackson Yusuf, AVM Abubakar Liman, AVM Emmanuel Wonah, AVM Raimi Salami, AVM Olatokunbo Adesanya, AVM Aliyu Bello, AVM Nelson Calmday, and AVM Paul Jemitola. The appointment was a routine exercise intended to reinvigorate the service for greater performance, enhanced productivity, operational efficiency, and effective service delivery. The Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Oladayo Amao, has appointed new appointees to various positions in the Nigerian Air Force. These include AVM John Ochomma, AVM Idi Lubo, AVM Anthony Tuwase, AVM Mohammed Yakubu, AVM Sayo Olatunde, AVM Abraham Adole, AOC TAC, Makurdi, AVM Tajudeen Yusuf, AOC SOC, Bauchi, AVM Iboro Etukudo, AOC MC, Yenagoa, AVM Nanjul Kumzhi, AOC ATC, Kaduna, AVM Emmanuel Eze, Air Commodore Esen Efanga, and Group Captain Dogari Apyeyak.

President Bola Tinubu met with governors of five Nigerian states sharing the border with the Niger Republic at State House, Abuja, to discuss options to restore democratic governance in the troubled republic. The meeting was held at the expiration of the one-week ultimatum handed to the Nigerien coup plotters by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). Senior security officials criticised the senate for undermining Tinubu's diplomacy by not supporting military action in Niger. ECOWAS' Chiefs of Defence Staff announced that a military action plan for the restoration of democracy in Niger Republic was ready and awaiting approval from the heads of states and government. However, some foreign affairs experts maintain that the planned invasion of Niger remains unpopular and urge key players in the ECOWAS plan to rethink. Eight leading civil society organizations in northern Nigeria cautioned the ECOWAS leadership against economic sanctions and military action in the effort to fix the political impasse in Niger Republic.

The Authority of Heads of State and Government of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) will meet in Abuja to discuss the situation following the expiration of a seven-day ultimatum issued to the Niger Republic's military junta. The closure of Niger's airspace was cited for security reasons, including a planned invasion by a foreign power. The junta received support from Nigerians and fellow military leaders in Mali and Burkina Faso. Air France has suspended flight service to Mali and Burkina Faso, and flights to Nigeria from Europe and the US may be affected by longer hours. The closure of Niger's airspace has added to African airspace disruptions, including Libya and Sudan. The US government has suspended aids for Niger pending President Mohamed Bazoum's reinstatement.