ECOWAS Parliament Committee Proposes Abolition of Residence Permits

A Joint Committee of the ECOWAS Parliament has adopted a proposal to abolish the residence permit system across West African countries, aiming to enhance the free movement of citizens within the region.

The decision was included in a draft report produced after the committee’s delocalised meeting in Banjul, The Gambia, on Thursday. The committee comprises members from various parliamentary standing committees, including Trade, Customs, Free Movement, Social Affairs, and Legal Affairs, among others.

According to the report, the residence permit system has hindered the seamless movement of ECOWAS citizens, contradicting the spirit of the protocol that established free movement within the subregion. The committee, therefore, recommended the complete abolition of residence permits, pending approval by the ECOWAS plenary and member states.

The committee also suggested launching awareness campaigns to educate citizens and government officials on key regional agreements, particularly the ECOWAS Protocol on Free Movement. It emphasized the need for immigration and customs officers to be trained on these protocols to ensure proper implementation at border posts.

The report further proposed deploying officials to monitor and report cases of extortion and other illegal practices at borders that undermine free movement. It also called for full compliance by member states with the ECOWAS Biometric Identification Card system, and a review of existing regional and national legal frameworks to reduce inconsistencies.

The decision follows growing concerns and complaints from citizens about the lack of implementation of the free movement protocols across ECOWAS member states.

NAF Airstrikes Eliminate Terrorists Near Lake Chad Amid Heavy Rainfall

…Airstrikes near Lake Chad disrupt terrorist stronghold

The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has successfully executed targeted airstrikes in the Jubillaram area of southern Tumbuns, near Lake Chad, eliminating multiple terrorists, according to AVM Edward Gabkwet, the Director of Public Relations and Information, NAF.

The operation was made possible as persistent rainfall forced the terrorists into more exposed terrain. Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) missions revealed their location, where they had set up makeshift shelters with salvaged belongings.

NAF aircraft responded with precision airstrikes, destroying the terrorists’ structures and neutralizing several militants. Gabkwet emphasized that the operation dealt a significant blow to the terrorists’ ability to threaten civilian targets.

“The success of the airstrike demonstrates NAF’s ongoing commitment to safeguarding the nation from terrorist threats,” Gabkwet stated, noting that the excess rainfall had inadvertently aided the operation by forcing the militants out of hiding.

The Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Hasan Abubakar, had previously directed intensified air operations against terrorists, and the latest strike affirmed that the directives are yielding results.

Massive Fire Engulfs East London Apartment Building, Two Hospitalized

A major fire engulfed an apartment building in east London early Monday morning, sending thick plumes of black smoke into the air and leaving two people hospitalized.

The London Fire Brigade reported that the fire, which broke out at 2:44 am, affected the entire building, including scaffolding and the roof. Emergency services evacuated the premises as a large-scale search and rescue operation got underway.

Four people were treated at the scene by the London Ambulance Service, with two requiring hospitalization for further treatment.

Approximately 40 fire engines and 225 firefighters responded to the blaze, which impacted both residential and commercial units in the building. The cause of the fire is still under investigation.