Echotitbits – Nigeria News

Tag: sovereignty

  • Nigerian Senate Demands Briefing on U.S. Airstrikes in Sokoto Territory

    Nigerian Senate Demands Briefing on U.S. Airstrikes in Sokoto Territory

    Reporting by The Nation indicates that the Nigerian Senate has resolved to conduct a high-level, closed-door security briefing regarding the United States military airstrikes carried out in Sokoto State. Senator Abdul Ningi, representing Bauchi Central, raised a point of order questioning the federal executive’s failure to consult the National Assembly before allowing foreign military intervention on sovereign soil. Senate leadership, headed by Godswill Akpabio, confirmed that an executive session has been scheduled to address these concerns and examine the legal framework surrounding foreign combat operations within Nigeria’s borders.

    The debate in the red chamber centers on the perceived violation of Nigeria’s territorial integrity and the exclusion of the legislative arm from sensitive security decisions. While the executive branch maintains that the strikes targeted specific terrorist hideouts to bolster regional stability, lawmakers are demanding transparency regarding the rules of engagement and decision-making protocols.

    The development was corroborated by Vanguard, which reported that the Senate summoned the nation’s security chiefs to explain the circumstances surrounding the U.S. air operations. Premium Times also followed the legislative tension, quoting Senator Ningi’s position that the National Assembly must not be sidelined in sovereignty-related decisions.

    Echotitbits take: This is a rare display of legislative pushback against executive security arrangements. While U.S. support can be tactically beneficial against insurgents, the Senate’s demand for a briefing signals a shift toward stricter oversight that could complicate future joint operations unless formal protocols are clarified.

    Source: The Punch – https://punchng.com/senate-moves-us-air-strikes-debate-behind-closed-doors/ 2026-01-29

    Photo Credit: The Punch

  • Greenland Leaders Reject Trump Takeover Talk: ‘We Don’t Want to Be Americans’

    Greenland Leaders Reject Trump Takeover Talk: ‘We Don’t Want to Be Americans’

    According to The Guardian (UK), Greenland’s party leaders jointly rejected takeover rhetoric linked to President Donald Trump, stating: “We don’t want to be Americans,” while emphasizing self-determination.

    The controversy sits at the intersection of Arctic strategy, security narratives, and sovereignty, raising tensions for Denmark and Greenland’s autonomy politics.

    Leaders used the moment to reaffirm unity on self-rule even as internal factions differ on the pace and pathway to independence.

    AP reported Greenland’s leaders “firmly rejected” the push for U.S. control, while Reuters noted parliament moved to address “U.S. threats” and party leaders reiterated opposition to pressure.

    Echotitbits take: Watch U.S.–Denmark–Greenland diplomacy and NATO reactions—this could reshape Arctic security posture and autonomy debates.

    Source: WFSB — https://www.wfsb.com/2026/01/10/greenlands-party-leaders-firmly-reject-trumps-push-us-control-island/ January 10, 2026

    WFSB 2026-01-10

    Photo Credit: ITVX

  • UN Security Council splits over US raid that captured Venezuela’s Maduro

    UN Security Council splits over US raid that captured Venezuela’s Maduro

    According to Premium Times, the UN Security Council session on the US operation that captured Venezuela’s President Nicolás Maduro exposed sharp divisions, with some delegations questioning legality and others framing it as a response to alleged criminal conduct.

    The dispute is about precedent: whether a powerful state can use force across borders for an arrest operation without multilateral authorization—and what that does to the post-1945 rules-based order.

    The backlash is already geopolitical, shaping alliance politics, regional responses in Latin America, and Venezuela’s internal transition dynamics.

    Even for states far from the theatre, the episode raises practical questions about sovereignty, reciprocity, and the credibility of international law when major powers act unilaterally.

    Reuters quoted UN concerns that the intervention “violates international law” and “sets a dangerous precedent.” AP reported the US envoy defended it as a “surgical law enforcement operation” at the UN.

    Echotitbits take: Watch three things: war-powers pressure inside the US, regional responses in Latin America, and any sanctions/asset moves tied to Venezuela’s oil and leadership transition. The bigger story is how “law enforcement” narratives collide with sovereignty norms at the UN.

    Source: Timesofisrael – https://www.timesofisrael.com/splits-emerge-over-venezuelas-future-as-un-security-council-meets-to-discuss-us-raid/ January 6, 2026
    Premium Times January 6, 2026

    Photo Credit: Timesofisrael

  • Trump Claims Maduro Was Seized After U.S. Strikes in Venezuela, as Legal Questions Mount

    Trump Claims Maduro Was Seized After U.S. Strikes in Venezuela, as Legal Questions Mount

    In a Truth Social post early Saturday, U.S. President Donald Trump said American forces carried out a “large-scale” strike in Venezuela and that Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and First Lady Cilia Flores were captured and flown out of the country. The claim has not been independently verified, and Venezuelan authorities have disputed Washington’s account while demanding clarity on the couple’s status.

    Maduro and wife

    Witnesses and local reports described explosions and low-flying aircraft over Caracas during the overnight operation, as Venezuelan officials condemned what they called an attack on national sovereignty and urged citizens to mobilize. U.S. officials have not publicly released operational details that would confirm where Maduro is being held or the legal basis for the action.

    A screenshot of President Donald Trump post on Truth Social
    A screenshot of President Donald Trump post on Truth Social

    The U.S. has, for years, accused Maduro’s inner circle of running a “narco-state.” Washington’s Justice Department previously announced federal charges in 2020 accusing Maduro of narco-terrorism and cocaine-trafficking conspiracies, allegations the Venezuelan government has repeatedly rejected.

    International-law scrutiny is expected to intensify. Legal experts typically assess cross-border capture operations under the UN Charter’s rules on sovereignty and the use of force, and under customary rules on the immunity of sitting heads of state. Without clear Security Council authorization or a recognized self-defense justification, critics argue such operations risk violating international law, even where domestic criminal charges exist.

    Reuters|Associated Press|CBS News 2026-01-03

    Photo Credit: Valter Campanato/ABr (Agência Brasil), CC BY 3.0 BR, via Wikimedia Commons

  • FIRS pushes back on sovereignty fears over France tax cooperation MoU

    FIRS pushes back on sovereignty fears over France tax cooperation MoU

    2025-12-15 08:00:00

    According to The Punch, the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) said a tax-cooperation MoU with France does not compromise Nigeria’s tax sovereignty amid public debate and calls from some groups to terminate the arrangement.

    The report says FIRS framed the agreement as technical cooperation and capacity support, rather than any transfer of authority over Nigeria’s tax administration.

    Punch notes the controversy underscores rising sensitivity around external partnerships as Nigeria pursues broader revenue and tax reforms.

    Analysis/Echotitbits take: Cross-border tax cooperation can improve enforcement against profit shifting and illicit flows, but trust and transparency are essential. Watch for publication of key MoU terms, parliamentary oversight, and how FIRS explains safeguards on taxpayer data and jurisdiction.

    Source: Business Insider Africa — December 2025

    Business Insider Africa https://africa.businessinsider.com/local/lifestyle/nigeria-signs-tax-data-mou-with-france-raising-sovereignty-concerns/db2qdg7 December 2025