Nigerian Times

2 Nov 2011 06:16 Africa/Lagos Task force on ECOWAS free movement protocol meets in Lagos ABUJA, November 2, 2011/African Press Organization (APO)/ -- A meeting of the National Task Force on the removal of impediments to the implementation of the ECOWAS Protocol on free movement of citizens, goods and services in Nigeria, opened in Lagos on Tuesday, 1st November 2011. "ECOWAS should be applauded for this laudable, overdue but nevertheless timely initiative which will facilitate the realization of the objectives of the founding fathers of the organization", retired Air Vice-Marshal Terry Okorodudu, chair of the task force, said while opening the week-long meeting, the second by members of the task force. He said that through the Protocol and the regional Standby Force arrangement, ECOWAS has become a model in regional integration, not only in Africa but also globally, particularly because of its regional security architecture. "These initiatives will further enhance the im...

President Goodluck Jonathan 11 Jul 2011 16:46 Africa/Lagos President Jonathan canvasses speedy ratification, domestication of AfricanCconvention on IDPS ABUJA, July 11, 2011/African Press Organization (APO)/ -- The current ECOWAS Chairman and President of Nigeria, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan has called on ECOWAS Member States to ratify and domesticate the African Union (AU) Convention on Humanitarian Assistance and Internal Displacement so as to strengthen their collective capacity to address the challenges of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in West Africa. Addressing the first Ministerial Conference on Humanitarian Assistance and Internal Displacement in West Africa at the ECOWAS Commission on Thursday, 7th July 2011, the President said although at the sub-regional level, ECOWAS Member States have a relief and support architecture, there was the need to strengthen existing mechanisms through the ratification of the AU convention. The AU text also known as the Kampala Convention was adop...

2 Jun 2011 15:22 Africa/Lagos ECOWAS, development partners review progress in regional integration process ABUJA, June 2, 2011/African Press Organization (APO)/ -- The 8th Annual Coordination Meeting between ECOWAS and Development Partners opens at the ECOWAS Commission's headquarters in Abuja, on Thursday, 2nd June 2011 focusing on major developments in the regional integration process, including achievements and challenges. The President of the Commission, His Excellency James Victor Gheho, the Resident Coordinator of the United Nations and the leader of the European Union Delegation are among key speakers at the two-day meeting. Representatives of development partners will be briefed on key activities and achievements of ECOWAS Departments over the past four years and also strategize with senior officials of the Commission's Directorates during thematic group sessions. The discussion topics will include Status of the Regional Integration Process in West Africa and Medium-Te...

15 Mar 2011 20:56 Africa/Lagos ECOWAS flags off campaign on elimination of malaria by 2015 ABUJA, March 15, 2011/African Press Organization (APO)/ -- ECOWAS Commission has flagged off its campaign for the elimination of malaria in the region by 2015, with the launching of the programme in Port Harcourt, the capital of Rivers State in South-South Nigeria. The campaign will focus on strengthening the vector control component of the fight against malaria in the region through the use of Cuban technology on bio-larvicides. Bio-larvicides are environmental-friendly substances that are applied to mosquito reservoirs and kill the larvae while the adults are eliminated through residual spraying of homes. The President of the ECOWAS Commission, Ambassador James Victor Gbeho, said the strategy of vector control using this technology was “adopted to tackle the menace of malaria and guarantee total annihilation of the disease in the subcontinent in the spirit of the agreement by ECOWAS Member Sta...