By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa

The ECOWAS Commission has ordered the deployment of elements of the ECOWAS standby force to the Republic of Benin following consultations at the level of heads of state and government.

The commission said the decision was taken in line with relevant ECOWAS instruments, particularly Article 25(e) of the 1999 protocol on conflict prevention, management, resolution, peacekeeping and security.

In a statement issued in Abuja on Sunday, the commission said the decision followed consultations of the mediation and security council.

“The chair of ECOWAS authority of heads of state and government has ordered the deployment of elements of the ECOWAS standby force to the Republic of Benin with immediate effect,” the statement reads.

It added that the regional force would be made up of troops from Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana.

“The force shall support the government and the republican army of Benin to preserve constitutional order and the territorial integrity of the Republic of Benin,” the commission said.

By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa

Vice President Kashim Shettima has arrived in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, where he will represent President Bola Tinubu at the swearing-in of President Alassane Ouattara for his fourth term in office.

This was disclosed by Stanley Nkwocha, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Communications(office of the Vice President).

Mr Shettima will join other African leaders and international dignitaries at Monday’s inauguration ceremony, to be held at the Presidential Palace in Abidjan on December 8, 2025.

Mr Ouattara won re-election on 25 October 2025, securing another term to lead the West African nation, which maintains strong diplomatic relationships with Nigeria.

Nigeria has maintained a longstanding commitment to supporting sister nations in West Africa and upholding the principles of constitutional governance. At this inauguration, VP Shettima will again reaffirm Nigeria’s dedication to promoting democratic values, respecting the will of the people, and ensuring that constitutional processes remain the foundation of leadership transitions across the region.

Nigeria and Côte d’Ivoire work closely together on multiple fronts. The two countries partner through ECOWAS and the African Union on issues ranging from security to trade and development. Their cooperation is backed by a Bi-National Commission and several agreements covering everything from fighting human trafficking to boosting agriculture and growing the digital economy. A large Nigerian community living in Côte d’Ivoire has also helped strengthen business ties and social connections between both nations.

He was received on arrival at the airport by Côte d’Ivoire’s Prime Minister, Robert Mambe; the Chargé d’Affaires of the Nigerian Embassy in Côte d’Ivoire, Item Akpama; and other senior government officials.

By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa

France President Emmanuel Macron has expressed the readiness and willingness of his country to assist Nigeria as the nation confronts a range of security challenges, particularly the persistent threat of terrorism in the North.

In a statement on his X handle on Sunday after speaking with President Bola Tinubu on television, Macron said he reaffirmed France’s preparedness to intensify cooperation with Nigeria in response to the rising security concerns.

“I spoke with President Tinubu of Nigeria, @officialABAT. I conveyed France’s solidarity in the face of the various security challenges, particularly the terrorist threat in the North,” Macron said.

The French President disclosed that at Tinubu’s request, France will strengthen its partnership with Nigeria’s authorities and increase support for communities affected by insecurity.

“At his request, we will strengthen our partnership with the authorities and our support for the affected populations,” he wrote.

Calling for broader international engagement, Macron urged global partners to step up their involvement, insisting that the situation demands collective action.

“We call on all our partners to step up their engagement. No one can remain a spectator,” he said.

The conversation comes as Nigeria continued to battle terrorism, banditry, and other forms of violent extremism, with international collaboration seen as critical to restoring stability in affected regions.