Daily Digest Online

In an unusual move, Vice President Kashim Shettima represented Nigeria at a crucial ECOWAS summit in Abuja on Sunday, December 14, as President Bola Tinubu was notably absent from the gathering of West African leaders. The 68th Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government was convened to address pressing regional security challenges, primarily the aftermath of the December 7 coup attempt in the Republic of Benin. A Significant Absence The meeting marked the first time Vice President Shettima has headed Nigeria's delegation at an ECOWAS summit held within the country while the president remained in Nigeria. No official reason was provided for President Tinubu's absence. Tinubu, who served as the chairman of the regional bloc from July 2023 to July 2025, delegated the responsibility to his deputy for this session. Regional Leaders Convene on Instability The summit, chaired by the current ECOWAS chair, President Juli...