Index to Nigerian Newspapers

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.

President Bola Tinubu has promised to involve Nigerians in the Diaspora in the designing, implementation and review of public policies as well as plans and programmes. Tinubu, disclosed this yesterday, while giving his remark at the 2023 Diaspora Day celebration in Abuja, with the theme, “Consolidating Diaspora engagement for national development.” The president, who was represented at the event by his Chief of Staff, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, said the government was not unmindful of the contribution of the Nigerians in Diaspora to the economy. The Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, on his part, advised all Nigerians to key into the federal government development agenda. He stressed that all Nigerians, “both at home and Diaspora should key into our development agenda as only Nigerians can develop Nigeria. This includes both those at home and those in the Diaspora.”