NAF Pilots, Crew’s Detention in Burkina Faso Resolved — FG

The Federal Government has announced the resolution of the diplomatic issue surrounding the detention of Nigerian Air Force (NAF) pilots and crew members in Burkina Faso.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, disclosed this in a statement, confirming that the detained NAF personnel are expected to return to Nigeria soon.

According to Tuggar, the breakthrough followed a high-level visit by a Federal Government delegation, which he led, to the Burkinabe leader, Captain Ibrahim Traoré. During the engagement, both countries addressed the circumstances surrounding the detention and reached a mutual understanding that led to its resolution.

Beyond resolving the incident, Tuggar said discussions also focused on strengthening bilateral relations between Nigeria and Burkina Faso, as well as deepening regional integration within the sub-region.

The development underscores ongoing diplomatic efforts by Nigeria to protect its citizens abroad while maintaining constructive ties with neighbouring countries.

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ECOWAS Slashes Air Travel Taxes and Charges to Boost Regional Connectivity

West African leaders have taken a major step to make flying within the region significantly cheaper, adopting measures that will abolish multiple air transport taxes and cut passenger and security charges by 25 percent starting 1 January 2026.

The decision was reached at the ECOWAS Heads of State and Government Summit held in Abuja in December 2024, where leaders signed a Supplementary Act on Aviation Charges, Taxes and Fees aimed at tackling one of the biggest barriers to regional integration: the high cost of intra-African air travel.

For years, West Africa has had some of the world’s most expensive airfares relative to distance, largely due to a web of taxes, fuel surcharges, security fees and other levies imposed by individual countries.

The new policy requires all 15 ECOWAS member states to eliminate designated air transport taxes entirely and reduce remaining passenger service and security charges by a quarter.

The move is expected to lower ticket prices, stimulate tourism and business travel, strengthen local airlines and support trade, and advance the free movement of people and goods – a core objective of the ECOWAS Treaty.

To ensure compliance, the ECOWAS Commission will oversee implementation through a newly established Regional Air Transport Economic Oversight Mechanism.

Regional aviation stakeholders have welcomed the decision, describing it as a game-changer for West Africa’s Africa’s chronically under-served air transport market.

The reforms will take effect on 1 January 2026, giving airlines and national authorities one year to adjust systems and regulations.

NORTH WILL REMEMBER: Tinubu's Govt Pushes for Completion of Mubi-Maiduguri Road, a Key North-East Corridor

For years, the road's poor condition hindered trade and movement, but no more! President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's administration is racing against time to complete the crucial Mubi-Maiduguri Road Reconstruction project, initially awarded by the previous government.

The project, a vital link between Adamawa and Borno states, is receiving priority attention. Minister of Works, Senator Engineer David Nweze Umahi, is overseeing the project, leveraging concrete technology for durability.

"The Mubi-Maiduguri Road is a game-changer for the North East," Umahi said. "We're committed to completing it swiftly, boosting trade, security, and regional integration."

Completion of this 104km road will significantly improve transportation, enhance economic growth, and foster regional connectivity. The North is poised to remember this administration for transforming its infrastructure landscape.

Nigeria News‘We Are Not Criminals’ – FG Fires Ghanaians Protesting ‘Nigeria Must Go.

The Federal Government, through the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), has condemned the protest by Ghanaians calling on Nigerians to be deported from the West African country.

Naija News earlier reported that some Ghanaian citizens staged a protest against Nigerians, accusing them of engaging in mass prostitution, ritual killings, kidnapping, and violent crimes in their country.

In a viral video seen on Tuesday, the protesters, numbering in their hundreds, carried placards with inscriptions such as “Armed robbery and violent attacks must stop,” “Our health at stake due to mass prostitution,” “Nigerians are kidnapping and using people for rituals,” and “Our kids are getting missing because of Igbos.”

Reacting in a statement to Naija News, Director of Media, Public Relations and Protocols, NIDCOM, Abdur-Rahman Balogun, disclosed that Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Chairman/CEO NIDCOM, said the blanket outrage against Nigerians living in Ghana and branding them as criminals should be condemned by all.

She said: “Nigerians are not criminals. They are good ambassadors wherever they find themselves while those bad ones should be fish out and face the necessary sanctions.


“Ghana and Nigeria are like siamese twins. They are brothers and such in the spirit of ECOWAS and regional integration should continue to live in peace like brothers.”

The NIDCOM Boss appealed for calm and urged Nigerians living in Ghana not to be provoked or go into violence with anyone as the issue is being handled at the diplomatic level.

She advised anyone using inciteful words to desist henceforth both from Nigerians and Ghanaians as that is capable of escalating the matter.

Dabiri-Erewa also advised Nigerians to disregard the videos circulating that Nigerians’ shops and properties are destroyed by Ghanaians.

“There is no evidence to that and we must at all cost prevent any reprisal attacks,” she said.

She praised Ghanaian and Nigeria High Commissioners for their efforts to control the situation, adding that the Minister of State, Foreign Affairs, has also been in touch with Ghanaian authorities and had taken some pro- active measures.

FG won’t stop building needed infrastructure for economic development – Tinubu

President Bola Tinubu has said that the Federal Government will not stop building the needed infrastructure for the economic development of Nigeria.

Tinubu said this in Lagos on Thursday when he commissioned a number of strategic roads designed to open up key corridors for trade, agriculture, and regional integration.

These include the reinforced concrete access road to the Lekki Deep Sea Port, the Kano–Kongolam Road (Section II: Kano–Kanwar–Danja–Hadejia), the Yakasai–Zalli Road, and several others across Northern Nigeria.

“These roads are more than concrete, steel, and asphalt. They are investments by your government in mobility, jobs, and Nigeria’s long-term economic competitiveness,” Tinubu said.

“David Umahi (Minister of Works), I like the remarks of the Blue Economy Minister where he said that they will always support your rescoping nationwide, well, we have seen the results of rescoping.

“We are not in pain, we are in joy, we are truly ready to reengineer our finances towards infrastructural development, which is the backbone of any industrialisation, economic development and job creation of any nation.