Connect with us

News

What we know about Thursday’s ‘Coalition of the Willing’ summit for Ukraine in Paris

Published

on

FILE - Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer, front center, hosted the European leaders' summit to discuss Ukraine, at Lancaster House, London, 2 March 2025 © Justin Tallis/AP

World leaders will gather in Paris on Thursday for a high-stakes summit on Ukraine and to lay the groundwork for long-term security guarantees.

According to the Élysée Palace, 31 countries, including NATO allies, EU member states, and non-EU countries such as the United Kingdom, Canada and Norway are expected to attend.

On Wednesday evening, Macron will host Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Paris for a working dinner ahead of the summit.

“France will make the pursuit and reinforcement of military and financial support for Ukraine its top priority,” said the Élysée Palace in a statement sent to the press.

What is the ‘Coalition of the Willing?’

The summit’s primary goal is to finalise what security guarantees European nations are willing to offer — including whether they will consider deploying peacekeeping troops on the ground in Ukraine, still embroiled in Russia’s full-scale invasion, now in its fourth year.

France, the UK and Ukraine are also reportedly working on presenting a peace treaty to the US, which will likely be discussed on Thursday.

The countries that agree to this deal would form a “coalition of the willing”.

Thursday’s summit comes at a pivotal moment as the United States announced it had brokered a ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine in the Black Sea.

French officials, however, remain cautious. “There’s still a long way to go,” the Élysée Palace warned, describing the agreement as a “first step” but insufficient for a lasting ceasefire.

Paris insists that all efforts are being conducted in full coordination with Washington. “All this is being done in complete transparency with our American partners,” the Élysée stated, with Macron set to brief US President Donald Trump on the summit’s outcomes.

Tensions have been escalating between the US and the EU. On Tuesday, Trump’s top national security officials laid bare their disdain for Europe in a top-secret group chat that was leaked when a journalist was mistakenly added to the conversation.

“I fully share your loathing of European free-loading. It’s pathetic,” said US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, leaving EU officials fuming.

What are the key discussion points?

One of the summit’s primary goals is to bolster aid to Ukraine, with each participating country expected to outline what it is prepared to do.

Another focus will be securing a “complete ceasefire,” accepted by Ukraine, but on which Russia has yet to state its position.

But France remains sceptical of any Russian promises. “We know what kind of cheating and manipulation Russia has already shown itself capable of,” an Élysée source remarked.

Thirdly, to provide long-term support for the Ukrainian army as Europe’s “first line of defence… to prevent further Russian aggression,” said Macron’s entourage.

The most sensitive issue, however, will be the possible establishment of a “reassurance force.”

This could involve deploying peacekeeping troops, an option strongly backed by France and the UK.

The question of whether to send peacekeeping troops is a thorny subject among the 27-nation bloc, with countries such as Italy and Poland opposing this outcome.

News

Nigeria has achieved 79.65% tele-density, 48.81 broadband penetration – NCC

Published

on

The Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC, has said that Nigeria has witnessed tremendous transformation in the telecoms sector leading to the achievement of over 79.65% tele-density and a Broadband Penetration of 48.81 as at May 2025.

NCC EVC, Aminu Maida spoke during the Stakeholders Forum on General Authorisation Framework for the Nigerian telecoms industry on Thursday.

According to him, this transformation, which followed the liberalization of the sector, has been on the rise in the last 24 years.

Maida pointed out that the progress has been driven by the rapid uptake of mobile technologies, surging data consumption, and an increasing appetite for digital services.

He noted that the recorded progress cannot be sustainable and beneficial to the people if a regulatory paradigm that is not only responsive but enabling is not embarked upon.

“Today, we are at a significant juncture, where disruptive innovations are accelerating the evolution of the communications ecosystem.

“We are now at a turning point, where the nature of innovation demands a regulatory paradigm that is not only responsive but enabling,” he said.

Maida maintained that modern regulation must be designed to enable innovation rather than hinder it.

“This is an objective that lies at the core of NCC, latest initiative: the General Authorisation Framework.

“This reform introduces a flexible and responsive regulatory licensing approach that is structured to embrace new and emerging services that fall outside the existing License Structure,” he added.

However, the EVC further noted that regulation alone is not enough, “You—our stakeholders—are central to the success of this framework.

“Mobile Network Operators, Service Providers, Infrastructure Companies, OEMs, startups, civil society, and academia all have a role to play.

“Your insights, your ideas, and your partnership are critical in refining this
approach and making sure that it works for Nigeria.

“As we look to the future, we must ensure that no one is left behind. That means expanding access, closing connectivity gaps, and empowering our youth, women, and The future of Nigeria’s digital economy is no longer distant.

“It is unfolding right before
us. And at the heart of this future is the communications sector—our shared infrastructure for innovation, inclusion, and economic advancement.

“To sustain momentum, we must be bold, collaborative, and committed to building a resilient and innovative ecosystem. Through the General Authorisation Framework, we are unlocking new pathways for experimentation, market entry, and growth.”

Continue Reading

News

Higher fertilizer cost threatenening wet season farming – Jigawa farmers cry out

Published

on

Farmers in Jigawa State have expressed fear of inability to go back to farm due to the higher cost of fertilizer and losses recorded during dry season farming.

Some of the rice farmers disclosed this in an interview with Ekwutosblog ahead of their preparation for the wet season farming.

They explained that many farmers will not go back to farm for the wet season farming because they are unable to recover from the huge losses suffered during the last dry season farming.

 

According to Malam Musa, a farmer, “without government intervention, it will be difficult for most of us to return to our farms for the rainy season.

“The fertilizer we used to buy at N40,000 is now being sold at N60,000 and what we used to buy at N35,000 is now being sold at cost of over N45,000.

“We are therefore appealing to Governor Umar Namadi to come to our aid for timely provision of agricultural inputs,” he said.

They also urged the state government to use the previous section and distribution procedure used under the Fadama office to ensure that fertiliser and other inputs reached genuine farmers at the grassroots.

Another farmer, named Auwalu Kaci said, “It’s only through Fadama lll office our farmers at the grassroots level get access to the government’s inputs directly without any hindrance.”

Continue Reading

News

Buhari showed little respect for my grandfather – Shehu Shagari’s grandson

Published

on

Nura Muhammad Mahe, a grandson of Nigeria’s former President Shehu Shagari, has accused late former president Muhammadu Buhari of showing little respect for his grandfather even in death.
Mahe said this in a statement on Wednesday, publicly expressing dissatisfaction with the way the late Buhari handled Shagari’s death.

He, however, lauded President Bola Tinubu for what he described as a show of honour and statesmanship in organising a state burial for Buhari, who died on Sunday and was laid to rest on Tuesday in Daura with full military honours.

He described Tinubu’s attendance at the funeral as a symbol of national unity and dignity.

“This is in stark contrast to how the late President Shehu Shagari was treated during the administration of Muhammadu Buhari,” Mahe said.

According to him, when his grandfather died in 2018, Buhari neither attended the funeral nor arranged a state burial in his honour despite being in Nigeria at that time .

“Instead, a government delegation led by the then Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, who is notably a non-Muslim, was dispatched to represent him,” he said.

Mahe said the actions were a slight to Shagari’s legacy, stressing that the late leader deserved more recognition for his service as Nigeria’s first democratically elected Executive President.

Continue Reading

Trending