Nigeria News (Standard)
Federal Government Pledges Stronger Protection, Economic Support for Widows Nationwide
Officials announce new measures to address widowhood challenges as part of broader social welfare reforms
Officials announce new measures to address widowhood challenges as part of broader social welfare reforms
The federal government has announced plans to intensify protection and economic assistance for widows across Nigeria, promising renewed efforts to address the unique challenges faced by this vulnerable group. The commitment was disclosed on Wednesday, 24 June, during a policy update from Abuja.
Authorities outlined that the new initiative will prioritise both legal safeguards and targeted financial support for widows in all states. According to officials, the move forms part of ongoing national social welfare reforms aimed at reducing poverty and advancing gender equity, particularly for women who have lost their spouses and often face social exclusion or economic hardship.
Widowhood remains a significant issue in Nigeria, with many affected women confronting discrimination, limited access to resources, and sometimes harmful traditional practices. The federal government’s renewed attention comes amid calls from advocacy groups and international partners urging stronger legal protections and inclusive support mechanisms.
While details of the new measures were not fully disclosed as at Wednesday, officials emphasised the administration’s resolve to collaborate with state governments, civil society organisations, and traditional leaders. “We are committed to ensuring that no widow is left behind in our social protection agenda,” one senior official said.
Implementation of the planned reforms is expected to begin before year end, with monitoring structures set up at both federal and state levels. Stakeholders have welcomed the announcement but called for concrete action to translate policy promises into real benefits for widows nationwide.
Nigeria News (Standard)
Lagos State Orders Alaba Rago Traders to Vacate Roadside Market Within 72 Hours
Taskforce cites illegal structures and environmental hazards; no relocation plan announced for affected traders
Taskforce cites illegal structures and environmental hazards; no relocation plan announced for affected traders
Lagos State Government has issued a 72-hour quit notice to traders operating along the Alaba Rago corridor on the Mile 2–Badagry Expressway, warning that enforcement action will commence against anyone still trading on the site after the deadline. The directive was delivered on Monday by the Lagos State Taskforce, citing illegal structures, roadside trading, and environmental concerns as primary reasons for the eviction.
According to CSP Adetayo Akerele, Chairman of the Lagos State Taskforce, officials conducted sensitisation meetings with traders before issuing the notice. Akerele said that makeshift shops, unauthorised structures and what he described as ‘mini brothels’ are incompatible with Lagos’s status as a modern megacity and its position as an international gateway. The corridor in question forms part of the ECOWAS Road linking Lagos to Seme border, heavily used by cross-border traders and international travellers.
The situation has stirred apprehension among traders, who were told during an official briefing to ‘find a place to rent and be living there and go to market and sell your market.’ As at press time, government has not announced any relocation site or alternative market for those affected. This lack of a transition plan mirrors recent events in Lagos: just last week, Oshodi Resettlement Market—originally established for earlier evictees—was itself shut down after alleged attacks on sanitation officials by traders. The market remains closed indefinitely.
Eviction exercises in Lagos have repeatedly led to mass displacement without clear resettlement arrangements. In Makoko, residents reported that a clearance zone initially set at 30 metres from power lines was later expanded up to 500 metres, affecting tens of thousands. Similarly, over 10,000 residents of Ilaje-Otumara were displaced without prior notice last year.
With Lagos authorities insisting that an unregulated market cannot coexist with an international route, many observers fear enforcement will again outpace meaningful support for those displaced. Traders at Alaba Rago have until the deadline to leave voluntarily; what follows may resemble recent flashpoints seen at Oshodi.
LASG Gives 3 Days To Alaba Rago Roadside Traders To Vacate Corridor
Source: https://www.pulse.ng/story/lagos-gives-alaba-rago-traders-72-hours-to-leave-2026062416144635907
Nigeria News (Standard)
Federal Government Sanctions Six Nigerians, Three Firms Over Terrorism Financing Allegations
Move marks major step in Nigeria’s anti-terror fight as authorities target individuals and entities linked to insurgent funding
Move marks major step in Nigeria’s anti-terror fight as authorities target individuals and entities linked to insurgent funding
The federal government has officially sanctioned six individuals and three entities in Nigeria for their alleged roles in financing terrorism, according to an announcement made on Wednesday. The action, which authorities say is part of ongoing efforts to disrupt funding for terrorist activities, follows months of intelligence gathering and inter-agency collaboration.
The newly released sanctions list identifies the persons and companies whose assets are now frozen, pending further investigation and prosecution under Nigeria’s counter-terrorism laws. Security officials revealed that the decision was reached after a detailed probe into financial transactions suspected to be aiding terrorist groups operating within and outside Nigeria’s borders.
This development comes at a time when the country continues to battle with insurgency in the North-East and increasing security threats across several regions. Analysts note that curbing the flow of funds remains a critical challenge for security agencies, as terrorist organisations often rely on complex networks involving local collaborators and international partners.
A senior official involved in the process described the sanctions as “a strong message to those who support terrorism directly or indirectly.” He added that all affected accounts have been flagged for immediate action by relevant financial institutions. There has been no immediate response from those named on the sanctions list or their legal representatives.
Government has stated that more names may be added as investigations continue, while urging citizens to report any suspicious financial activity. Security experts say this move could help dismantle key support structures for armed groups, but stress that sustained vigilance and enforcement will be necessary to achieve lasting impact.
Nigeria News (Standard)
ECOWAS Court Orders Nigeria to Pay ₦10 Million to Abuja Journalist Over Police Assault
Judgement cites violation of rights after police detained and assaulted Jide Oyekunle during protest coverage in FCT
Judgement cites violation of rights after police detained and assaulted Jide Oyekunle during protest coverage in FCT
The ECOWAS Community Court of Justice has directed the Federal Republic of Nigeria to pay ₦10 million in damages to Mr. Jide Oyekunle, a journalist with Independent Newspaper, over his unlawful arrest and assault by police officers at Eagle Square, Abuja. The ruling was delivered on June 22, following a suit brought under the eRIGHTS project led by Avocats Sans Frontières France, with support from the European Union.
According to court documents, Oyekunle—who previously served as Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), FCT Correspondents’ Chapel—was covering the #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria protests on August 1, 2024, when armed police officers acting on the instruction of then-FCT Commissioner of Police, Benneth Igweh, physically assaulted him. His camera was destroyed and his mobile phone seized before he was detained without legal justification.
The ECOWAS Court found that the actions of the Nigerian police constituted an excessive and unjustified use of force, violating Oyekunle’s rights to freedom of expression, personal liberty, dignity, and property as enshrined in the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights. In its judgement on Suit No. ECW/CCJ/APP/29/25, the court accepted submissions from Oyekunle’s counsel, Collins I. Maidoh-Anene, Esq., who argued that such police conduct undermines press freedom and contravenes international legal standards.
Avocats Sans Frontières France welcomed the decision as a victory for journalists’ rights in Nigeria. In a statement released after the judgement, representatives of the group said: “This ruling sends a clear message that journalists must be protected against all forms of abuse in the course of their duties.”
Nigerian authorities have not yet issued an official response to the court’s order. The judgement is expected to spur renewed debate around police accountability and protection for journalists nationwide.
Source: https://guardian.ng/news/nigeria/national/ecowas-court-awards-nigerian-journalist-n10m-damages/
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