West Africa News Agency - Agence de Presse Ouest-Africaine Skip to content

West Africa News Agency

Agence de Presse Ouest-Africaine

West Africa News Agency

Agence de Presse Ouest-Africaine

Search news

Type to search stories, topics and pages.

Latest

Latest stories

West African Politics

Labour Party Leadership Crisis Deepens: Julius Abure Rejects Appeal Court Ruling, Vows Supreme Court Challenge

By Kabir Isa

The Labour Party (LP) leadership crisis has escalated, with factional chairman Julius Abure vowing to appeal to the Supreme Court after the Court of Appeal upheld his removal and affirmed Nenadi Usman as the legitimate leader. The appellate court dismissed Abure’s appeal as meritless and an abuse of process, imposing a N10 million fine, while Abure rejects the ruling as contrary to legal principles, insisting his tenure remains valid. The core dispute hinges on whether the party’s leadership

Social Impact & Development

SIEM 2026: Addressing Child Labor in Mali’s Mining Sector – A Comprehensive Analysis

By Kabir Isa

The SIEM 2026 conference in Mali revealed a critical paradox: while mining (both industrial and artisanal) significantly boosts public revenue and employment, it simultaneously exploits 2.5 million children (35% of the 5-17 age group) in hazardous tasks like stone crushing and handling toxic substances. The core failure identified is weak Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), which leaves local populations vulnerable despite the nation's mineral wealth. The actionable solution proposed is not just awareness, but the strict

Business & Economy

CBN Issues Urgent Warning: How to Identify and Avoid Sophisticated Cyber Fraud Impersonating the Central Bank

By Kabir Isa

The Central Bank of Nigeria is actively combating a sophisticated cyber-fraud campaign using fake messages and emails that impersonate the Bank to steal personal data and spread misinformation. The public must exclusively use the official CBN website (www.cbn.gov.ng) and verified media channels to confirm any communications, avoiding all suspicious links. This alert underscores the critical need for heightened digital vigilance, as these scams are designed to compromise financial accounts. The CBN is reinforcing its cybersecurity measures, signaling that protecting the financial system

Agriculture & Food Security

Liberia’s Digital Leap: How e-Phyto Certification is Transforming Agricultural Exports and Economic Growth

By Kabir Isa

Liberia's launch of the e-Phyto system is a strategic digital transformation that replaces a cumbersome, paper-based certification process, directly addressing long-standing trade inefficiencies and fraud risks. This move transcends a simple technological upgrade, representing a critical step toward integrating Liberian agriculture into global markets by drastically reducing delays and transaction costs. Crucially, the system is designed to democratize market access, empowering smaller farmers and exporters who were previously hindered by bureaucratic barriers. Backed by key international partners, this initiative

West African Politics

Appeal Court Affirms Nenadi Usman as LP Chairman: A Deep Dive into the Legal and Political Implications

By Kabir Isa

The Court of Appeal has definitively affirmed Nenadi Usman as the legitimate National Chairman of the Labour Party, dismissing Julius Abure's appeal and upholding a lower court's ruling. This judgment, which orders INEC to recognize Usman's leadership, is rooted in a prior Supreme Court decision that Abure's tenure had expired, making his continued claims an abuse of process. The court validated the caretaker committee as a necessary measure to fill a leadership vacuum, solidifying a conclusive legal end to

West African Diaspora

Visa Restrictions: How Global Barriers Are Reshaping Nigeria’s Diaspora Economy and National Stability

By Kabir Isa

A global tightening of visa policies, led by the U.S., is severing a critical economic lifeline for Nigeria by systematically restricting the mobility of its professional class. This shift disrupts not only individual aspirations but also threatens the billions in diaspora remittances that stabilize families, fund education, and support the national currency. The result is a forced recalibration for thousands, turning predictable pathways into uncertainty and jeopardizing a key pillar of Nigeria's economy. This trend signals a profound structural change in global migration

Sports & Entertainment

Beyond the Prize: How BBNaija Victory Became a Lifeline for Laycon’s Family

By Kabir Isa

Winning BBNaija provided Laycon with the critical financial resources and fame necessary to secure life-saving medical treatment for his critically ill mother, which he states she would not have survived without. His experience underscores how reality TV success can transcend entertainment, serving as an unexpected and vital economic lifeline in regions with limited social safety nets. This reveals the profound, real-world stakes often hidden behind such competitions, where the grand prize can directly determine survival. Laycon's story is a powerful case study in

Defense and Security

Edo State Police Launch Intensive Rescue Operation Following Fatal Kidnapping Attack on Lagos-Benin Expressway

By Kabir Isa

A coordinated kidnapping attack on a Lagos-Benin expressway bus resulted in the driver's death, three abductions, and one rescued passenger with gunshot wounds. The Edo State Police Command has launched a rigorous, multi-agency rescue operation involving tactical units, local hunters, and vigilantes to comb the nearby forests. This incident underscores the persistent and severe security threat along this critical transportation corridor, demanding immediate and sustained intervention.

West African Politics

Accra High Court Grants Abu Trica GH¢30 Million Bail: A Deep Dive into the Extradition Case and Its Implications

By Kabir Isa

Ghana's Accra High Court has granted Frederick "Abu Trica" Kumi bail set at GH¢30 million with two sureties, a significant development in his protracted extradition case. This ruling provides him temporary freedom while the complex legal proceedings continue, indicating the court's current assessment of the case's status. The high bail amount underscores the seriousness of the charges and the court's measures to ensure his appearance for future hearings. His legal team, led by Oliver Barker-Vormaw

West African Politics

Accord Party Crisis Deepens: Protest at INEC Demands Enforcement of Court Order for Imumolen

By Kabir Isa

Accord Party members are protesting INEC's failure to recognize a court-ordered leadership change, highlighting a critical inconsistency in the electoral body's application of the law. The core allegation is that INEC selectively enforces judicial decisions, complying with orders against other parties while ignoring those favoring the Imumolen faction within Accord. This situation undermines INEC's mandated neutrality and the rule of law, creating internal party instability through the continued recognition of an unauthorized faction. The protestors' ultimate demand is for