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Madagascar protests fan anti-France sentiment amid political crisis

Placards and slogans against France that surfaced in demonstrations against impeached President Andry Rajoelina this week exposed deep resentment against the former colonial power.

“France out,” “Rajoelina and Macron out,” said banners after French media reported that the president had fled on a French military plane as an army unit threw its weight behind protesters calling for his resignation.

“They are still colonising us even though we are supposed to be independent,” said Koloina Andrianina Rakotomavonirina, a 26-year-old engineer.

“It’s unfair that they intervene in such a matter,” she told AFP at a demonstration in central Antananarivo.

With the whereabouts of the 51-year-old president unknown, the national assembly impeached him on Tuesday for desertion of duty, paving the way for a military unit called CAPSAT to seize power.

Negative perception about France was not surprising considering its history, Paris-based political scientist Christiane Rafidinarivo told AFP.

Its colonisation of the Indian Ocean island until independence in 1960 was marked by several atrocities, including the bloody repression by French forces of a 1947 uprising which claimed tens of thousands of lives.

“France represents colonialism,” Rafidinarivo said. “This perception runs through public opinion and is triggered depending on current events.”

While President Emmanuel Macron refused to confirm French involvement in Rajoelina’s evacuation, a presidential pardon for two French nationals jailed in Madagascar on coup charges—announced as the reports of his departure broke—raised suspicions of a deal.

Citizenship revelation

Rajoelina’s apparently chummy ties with Paris have long been criticised at home, but media reports in 2023 that he had obtained French nationality nine years before deepened the mistrust.

The revelation came just before the 2023 presidential race and led to calls for him to be disqualified, as the opposition claimed he should have lost his Madagascan nationality as a result, according to local law.

Rajoelina went on to win reelection, but the polls were boycotted by most opposition parties and marked by a low turnout.

That sparked new criticism against France “because the opposition accused him of being a French agent,” said Adrien Ratsimbaharison, author of a book on the 2009 coup that brought Rajoelina to power but denied him international recognition.

French president at the time, Nicolas Sarkozy, was the first foreign head of state to recognise Rajoelina as president during a state visit to France in 2011.

“People did not forgive in France for that, because that gave Rajoelina some kind of legitimacy,” Ratsimbaharison said.

There were also suspicions that Sarkozy sent financial aid to Rajoelina to engineer the 2009 protests and secure the support of military personnel to overthrow then-president Marc Ravalomanana, he said.

Rumours, resentment

In Madagascar’s social media mix of disinformation and rumour, a widely shared but out-of-context image that claimed to show the deployment of French gendarmes to support the embattled Rajoelina outraged those who believed it.

The photo showed a Malagasy gendarme wearing French colours, but this was only because he had undergone training in France, the gendarmerie told AFP.

Resentment towards the former colonial power is also fuelled by the awarding of major contracts to French companies and open French sex tourism on the impoverished island.

Some French businesses, such as call centres, meanwhile, use French-speaking Malagasy workers at a fraction of the wages they would earn in Europe.

At one demonstration, 27-year-old Mampionona Razafinjoelina said he quit his call-centre job because: “I was tired of being insulted by the French.”

Amid the long-running animosity, Macron said on a visit to the island in April he wanted to create the conditions for “forgiveness” for France’s colonisation, which has also left a bitter taste in its other former colonies such as Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger and Gabon.

This included returning the remains of a Malagasy king killed by the French army in an 1897 massacre that were taken to France as trophies, which happened in September, as well as the establishment of a Franco-Malagasy commission to look into atrocities of the time.

AFP

Why I isolated for four years – Singer Seyi Shay

Singer, Seyi Shay, has revealed the reasons for her isolation for over four years, citing the need to reflect on her life and personal growth.

In an interview with Chude Jideonwo seen by PUNCH Online on Thursday, the singer said the isolation helped her operate on a different level and has also helped her change the perception she had of men.

The interview marks one of the first in-depth public reflections from Seyi Shay in years, offering her fans and the public a clearer understanding of why she stepped back and what she gained in the process.

“I have done so much work over these past four years. The transformation of my mind started before I had my child. I started a journey of isolation. There is something really good about isolation, but I know some people say it is not good, but one thing for me is that I was blessed with hindsight and I could just reflect and I was also blessed with insight which in turn, gave me foresight and I think that is the biggest gift beside my daughter that God has given me these few years that I have been away.

“My spirituality has also transformed, and I am vibrating on such a different level now that I actually feel very comfortable with men. I love all the men. It is a man’s world,” she said.

She, however, revealed why she is not married to the father of her daughter, despite maintaining a close and respectful relationship with him.

She said, “It’s a technical issue, you understand? But he’s great, he’s cool, he’s around. He’s Nigerian, he’s in the UK at the moment, and he’s also in the music industry on the corporate side of things. We just work together, raising our child, and we are great friends.”

PUNCH Online had reported earlier that Nigerian singer Tiwa Savage revisited her long-standing rift with fellow artiste Seyi Shay, clarifying her side of the story regarding the infamous salon confrontation that went viral years ago.

Inflation drops to 18.02% in six-month streak

Nigeria’s headline inflation rate eased to 18.02 per cent in September compared to 20.12 per cent in August 2025, indicating the sixth consecutive month of deceleration in inflation.

This was disclosed by the National Bureau of Statistics in the latest Consumer Price Index published on Wednesday. This also marked the first time in three years that inflation had fallen below the 20 per cent threshold.

The rebasing of the CPI has been a driver of the decline in inflation this year, which has resulted in the first rate cut by the Monetary Policy Committee of the Central Bank of Nigeria in years. The sustained dip in inflation supports the projection by economists that the MPC may still cut the benchmark rate.

According to NBS, the September 2025 headline inflation rate decreased by 2.1 per cent compared to the previous month. On a year-on-year basis, the headline inflation rate was 14.68 per cent lower than the rate recorded in September 2024 (32.70 per cent), marking a decrease compared to the same month in the preceding year.

However, on a month-on-month basis, the food inflation rate in September 2025 was -1.57 per cent, down by 3.22 per cent compared to August 2025 (1.65 per cent). The decrease can be attributed to the rate of decrease in the average prices of maize (corn) grains, garri, beans, millet, potatoes, onions, eggs, tomatoes, fresh pepper, etc.”

Core inflation, which is all items less farm produce and energy, stood at 19.53 per cent in September 2025. On a year-on-year basis, it declined by 7.9 per cent when compared to the 27.43 per cent recorded in September 2024.

On a month-on-month basis, the core inflation rate was 1.42 per cent in September 2025, down by 0.01 per cent compared to August 2025 (1.43 per cent). The average 12-month annual inflation rate was 22.39 per cent for the 12 months ending September 2025, which was 3.25 percentage points lower than the 25.64 per cent recorded in September 2024.

Urban inflation inched up month-on-month by 0.25 per cent to 0.74 per cent from 0.49 per cent in August. However, on a year-on-year basis, it stood at 17.50 per cent, which is about 17.63 percentage points lower compared to September 2024.

The rural inflation rate in September 2025 dipped on a yearly and monthly basis. It stood at 18.26 per cent (yearly) and 0.67 per cent (monthly).

At the state level, the headline inflation rate on a year-on-year basis was highest in Adamawa (23.69 per cent), Katsina (23.53 per cent), and Nasarawa (22.29 per cent), while Anambra (9.28 per cent), Niger (11.79 per cent), and Bauchi (12.36 per cent) recorded the lowest rise in headline inflation on a year-on-year basis. On a month-on-month basis, however, NBS said the highest increases were recorded in Zamfara (9.36 per cent), Adamawa (8.15 per cent) and Nasarawa (7.49 per cent), while Niger (-8.14 per cent), Oyo (-5.56 per cent) and Bayelsa (-4.61 per cent) recorded a decline.

Year-on-year, food inflation was highest in Ekiti (28.68 per cent), Rivers (24.18 per cent), and Nasarawa (22.74 per cent), while Bauchi (2.81 per cent), Niger (8.38 per cent), and Anambra (8.41 per cent) recorded the slowest rise. On a month-on-month basis, food inflation was highest in Zamfara (15.62 per cent), Ekiti (12.77 per cent), and Sokoto (12.55 per cent) and lowest in Akwa Ibom (-12.97 per cent), Borno (-12.95 per cent), and Cross River (-10.36 per cent).

Ahead of the release of the inflation data, the Senior Research Analyst at FXTM, Lukman Otunuga, had projected an easing in the inflation to 18.8 per cent.

He had pegged his projection on “A combination of softer food prices and a strengthening naira may have tamed price pressures. Further signs of cooling price pressures may pave the way for further rate cuts by the CBN in November to stimulate economic growth.”

The experts at Arthur Steven Asset Management also affirmed the sentiments that the MPC may cut rates at its last meeting of the year, saying, “Nigeria’s inflation eased to 18.02 per cent in September, marking the sixth consecutive month of decline following the 50 bps MPR rate cut in September. The sustained disinflation trend strengthens expectations of a possible further rate reduction at the next MPC meeting in November.”

AIICO Capital, in their Inflation Watch, said that the decline in inflation reflects the positive impact of recent government policy reforms.

“Notably, the Consumer Price Index was rebased earlier in the year to a new 2024 base year with an updated basket of goods, contributing to the sustained moderation in inflation. In addition, energy prices and the FX rate have remained stable, with the naira appreciating by 2.9 per cent in September 2025, its strongest level in 15 months. Encouragingly, both annual and monthly inflation have trended downward, easing immediate price pressures.

“Furthermore, following the Monetary Policy Committee’s decision to cut the benchmark interest rate by 50 basis points to 27 per cent in September, the sharp decline in inflation, now approaching the 15 per cent budget benchmark, signals the possibility of further rate cuts in the Monetary Policy Rate before year-end. However, sustaining lasting price stability will require consistent policy discipline, strengthened food security measures, and continued stability in energy prices to guard against renewed volatility.”

– Punch

Senate Set to Screen new INEC Chairman, Amupitan Today

The Senate will today (Thursday) screen Prof. Joash Ojo Amupitan for the position of Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The announcement was contained in a circular issued on Wednesday by the Director of Information for the Senate, Bullah Audu Bi-Allah, and made available to journalists in Abuja.

The development comes barely 24 hours after President Bola Tinubu’s letter seeking the speedy confirmation of Amupitan was read on the Senate floor by the President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio.

The circular read in part: “The Office of the Secretary, Research and Information wishes to notify members of the press and the general public that the Senate will on Thursday, 16th October, 2025, conduct the screening of the nominee of President Bola Tinubu, Prof. Joash Ojo Amupitan, as INEC Chairman.

“The exercise is scheduled to hold at the Senate Chamber, National Assembly Complex. Members of the Senate Press Corps are kindly requested to provide their usual media coverage and support to ensure adequate dissemination of information to the public. Similarly, television stations are expected to extend the usual courtesies of providing live coverage of the event.”

Amupitan’s nomination, which followed last week’s endorsement by the National Council of State, marks a significant transition for the electoral body following the exit of Prof. Mahmood Yakubu after a decade at the helm of INEC.

In his letter to the Senate, Tinubu stated that the appointment was made “in line with Section 154 (1) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended)” and urged lawmakers to grant it their “usual expeditious consideration.”

“I am pleased to present for confirmation by the Senate the appointment of Professor Joash Amupitan, Senior Advocate of Nigeria, as Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission,” the President wrote.

Amupitan’s nomination comes at a politically sensitive time, with renewed debates over INEC’s independence and credibility following contentious post-election reviews.

While the Presidency described him as “an apolitical figure of impeccable integrity,” opposition parties and civil society groups have urged the Senate to ensure a transparent and rigorous confirmation process.

Today’s screening is expected to be closely watched nationwide, as it will set the tone for electoral reforms and test the administration’s commitment to credible polls ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Meanwhile, the Northern Nigeria Minorities Group has warned against attempts by individuals and interest groups to ethnicise Amupitan’s appointment.

In a strongly worded statement issued in Kaduna on Tuesday and signed by its Convener, Chief Jacob Edi, the group expressed concern over what it described as “divisive commentaries and social media tirades” questioning President Tinubu’s choice of the Kogi-born scholar.

Edi noted that Amupitan, an indigene of the Okun ethnic group in Kogi State, represents one of the minority nationalities in northern Nigeria and that his appointment should be celebrated rather than politicised.

“We view with consternation the ongoing attempts by certain individuals and interest groups to ethnicise the nomination of Professor Joash Ojo Amupitan, SAN, as Chairman of the INEC,” Edi said.

“For the avoidance of doubt, Professor Amupitan is an Okun man from Kogi State, one of the minority ethnic nationalities in Northern Nigeria. There are 19 states in the North, each richly diverse and unique, none superior to another by tribe, tongue, or faith.”

He expressed concern that “some self-styled northern voices” were portraying the President’s decision as an act of ethnic preference, describing such a narrative as “false, dangerous, and inimical to national unity.”

Edi, who also holds the title of Kakaki Basanghe, noted that this is the first time in 65 years—since the establishment of a statutory electoral commission in 1959—that someone from a northern minority group has been appointed to lead the nation’s electoral body.

“In all these decades, no northern minority group has ever questioned the decisions of successive Heads of State or Presidents to appoint individuals they felt comfortable working with, even when the North-West and North-East held the position consecutively for 15 years,” the statement added.

The NNMG urged Nigerians to recognise northern minorities as equal stakeholders in the Nigerian project and to desist from questioning their appointments to national offices.

Edi lamented that the “unfortunate trend” of delegitimising northern minority appointments began during the administration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, when such appointments were derisively dismissed as “not northern enough.”

“The current ethnicisation of Professor Amupitan’s appointment is a direct continuation of that ugly and retrogressive trend, and it must stop,” he declared.

The group stressed that the North should not be defined by ethnicity but by inclusiveness and diversity, warning that those peddling divisive narratives were “the real enemies of national unity and progress.”

It further outlined four key points, asserting that the backlash over Amupitan’s appointment exposes a long-standing prejudice against northern minorities.

“This jejune narrative underscores our growing concern that some of our northern colleagues continue to perceive northern minorities merely as fillers of demography, unworthy of the privileges and recognition that come with our place in the federation,” it stated.

“Such thinking is antiquated, divisive, and inimical to the spirit of modern governance.”

According to the NNMG, 65 years after independence, Nigeria should be guided by competence, integrity, and capacity rather than ethnic considerations.

“The appointment of Professor Amupitan should be celebrated as a bold step toward inclusivity, equity, and meritocracy. These are values that must be internalised if we are to strengthen our democracy,” the statement added.

While commending President Tinubu for “recognising the diversity of the North,” the group said the President deserves credit for giving all constituent groups in the region a sense of belonging through his recent appointments.

Edi cautioned that further attempts to polarise the country along ethnic or sectional lines would only undermine democratic development.

“We urge political actors, commentators, and citizens alike to rise above petty identity politics and focus on building institutions that work, irrespective of who heads them. The time for ethnic arithmetic is over. The era of competence, fairness, and national responsibility must begin in earnest,” he said.

The group also maintained that northern minorities play a crucial role in stabilising the Nigerian federation, noting that collectively they represent “the real majority” that continues to believe in the unity and progress of the nation.

“We must reiterate, without ambiguity, that northern minorities collectively constitute the true stabilising force of this federation — and when placed together, we are not just minorities; we are the real majority that believes in the unity and progress of Nigeria,” Edi said.

He concluded by calling for an end to the politicisation of national appointments and urged Nigerians to rally behind Professor Amupitan as he prepares to lead the electoral commission.

“Let competence and fairness, not ethnicity, define our national discourse. The success of Nigeria’s democracy depends on it,” Edi added.

– Punch

NAMDA denies strike claim, reaffirms autonomy of medical lecturers’ union

The Nigerian Association of Medical and Dental Academics has debunked rumours that its members are on strike.

The association clarified its position in a statement jointly signed by its President, Dr Nosa Lancy-Orhue; Secretary-General, Dr Abdulrahman Shehu; and National Liaison Officer/Organising Secretary, Dr Muhammad Askira, on Wednesday in Abuja.

NAMDA is the trade union for medical lecturers in universities, tertiary health, and research institutions.

It is responsible for undergraduate and postgraduate medical education, including the training of medical doctors and dentists in Nigeria.

The association reaffirmed that it remains an independent union with the capacity to negotiate its interests and uphold mutual respect.

“NAMDA is not on strike, and we will not be blackmailed, coaxed, or lured away from the interest of our members,” the statement read.

It said the clarification became necessary following persistent enquiries from members, the press and the public regarding its stance on the ongoing withdrawal of services by another academic union in the university system.

NAMDA said its members had been neglected for long but would continue to support legitimate demands that do not adversely affect their interests.

The association acknowledged ongoing engagements with the Federal Government through the Ministries of Labour and Education, which it described as “very encouraging”

It said the Minister of Education, through a meeting facilitated by the Minister of Labour and Employment, had promised to address key issues affecting medical lecturers.

“These demands include the implementation of the Consolidated Medical Workers Salary Structure (CONMESS) and the withdrawal of the compulsory PhD requirement for medical lecturers with postgraduate fellowship for academic promotion and eligibility to vie for the position of Vice-Chancellor,” the statement said.

NAMDA also called for the approval by the Federal Executive Council of the scheme of service contained in memorandum CM(90)92 of its 11th meeting in 1990, based on the recommendations of the committee chaired by the late Chief Justice Atanda Fatai Williams.

It said the issue of Earned Academic Allowances was also discussed.

The association noted that the minister apologised for the error in a letter from the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation, which appeared to limit the benefit to members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities.

NAMDA alleged that some university managements, supported by a sister union, attempted to exclude its members from the EAA payment.

It cited the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi, where the Governing Council had responded that medical lecturers were not entitled to the allowance.

The association said it had requested the Department of State Services to investigate how two conflicting letters on the same matter emanated from the AGF’s office.

NAMDA said it would continue to engage the Federal Government through the committee set up to negotiate with university unions to emphasise its long-standing demands.

“The conditions of service for medical and dental lecturers cannot be satisfactorily negotiated by anyone but medical academics under NAMDA,” it said.

The association urged the Federal Government to fast-track the circularisation of CONMESS and direct the National Universities Commission to reaffirm the withdrawal of the circular making a PhD compulsory for medical academics with postgraduate fellowships.

NAMDA said it reserved the right to adopt legitimate means, including legal actions, in pursuing its demands, adding that any withdrawal of service by the union would be guided by its constitution.

It warned that such an action, if ever taken, would have serious implications for the education and health sectors.

(NAN)

Madagascar president dissolves parliament amid protests, coup fears

Madagascar’s President Andry Rajoelina on Tuesday dissolved the national assembly, pre-empting an opposition-led vote to force him out of office over the island nation’s spiralling political crisis.

Rajoelina has faced over two weeks of deadly street clashes, led largely by young demonstrators furious with the ruling elite, forcing the 51-year-old leader into hiding.

The decree to dissolve the assembly “shall enter into force immediately upon its publication by radio and/or television broadcast”, the presidency said in a statement published on Facebook.

Rajoelina, who has defied mounting calls to resign, defended the move in a separate social media post as necessary to “restore order within our nation and strengthen democracy.”

“The People must be heard again. Make way for the youth,” he said in a post on social media.

Opposition leader Siteny Randrianasoloniaiko said Monday they would vote to impeach Rajoelina for desertion of duty following reports he had fled the country.

Rajoelina, a former mayor of the capital Antananarivo, said late Monday he was sheltering in a “safe space” after attempts on his life, without revealing his location.

The protests began on September 25 and reached a pivotal point at the weekend when mutinous soldiers and security forces joined the demonstrators and called for the president and other government ministers to step down.

Among them was the elite CAPSAT unit, which played a major role in the 2009 coup that first brought Rajoelina to power.

To try to defuse the protests, the president last month sacked his entire government.

Radio France Internationale reported that Rajoelina departed Madagascar aboard a French military plane at the weekend but French officials have yet to respond to AFP’s request for confirmation.

AFP

JTF dismisses clergyman’s video on ‘Fulani mobilisation’ in Plateau

The Joint Task Force Operation Enduring Peace has dismissed as “propaganda” a viral video in which a clergyman, identified as Rev. Dachomo, alleged a mass mobilisation of Fulani fighters through Nyerwai village in Barkin Ladi Local Government Area, Plateau State, and accused security forces of collusion.

PUNCH Online reports that in the video making rounds, a clergyman claimed a herder was killed and 36 cows were rustled, while another 49 animals were allegedly stolen in the area.

He also accused the Nigerian Armed Forces of complicity and accused Christians in positions of authority in the LG of betrayal.

But in a statement issued on Tuesday by its Media Information Officer, Major Samson Nantip Zhakom, JTF OPEP said the video was designed to inflame public sentiment and erode confidence in security agencies.

The statement read, “A viral online video has surfaced in which one Reverend (Rev) Dachomo makes alarming claims about potential Fulani terrorist attacks in the Dorowa area of Barkin Ladi LGA, Plateau State.

“He alleges an insider source revealed a mass mobilisation through Nyerwai and asserts that recent deaths in the community were linked. Furthermore, he claims that a visit to the headquarters yielded no confirmation of these reports and that troops had been withdrawn, leaving the community vulnerable.

“The Reverend’s accusations extend to claims of a Fulani leader influencing security forces to shield Fulani suspects from arrest. He also criticises Christian authorities for alleged inaction, suggesting a link to ISWAP. Dachomo’s statements culminate in a call to arms for local youths to defend themselves and a plea for prayer, painting a dire picture of the security situation in the region.”

In the video, the task force said the reverend’s “alleging mobilisation of Fulani terrorists through Nyerwai in Barkin Ladi LGA and accusing security agencies of collusion is a clear case of propaganda intended to inflame public sentiment and erode confidence in security agencies.

“The video emerged in the wake of heightened tension following the killing of a herder and 36 cows as well as the rustling of 49 others in the area, creating a volatile environment easily exploited by misinformation and invoking the name of the Fulani leader, referring to a court judgment in Adamawa State and accusing Christians in positions of authority of betrayal, the speaker deliberately employed emotionally charged and divisive narratives to whip up ethno-religious sentiments and curry favour from the local populace.”

The statement described the claims as baseless and warned the propagator to desist or face the full wrath of the law.

“Rev Dachomo’s accusation is baseless and aimed at causing unnecessary tension. The JTF OPEP condemns the misleading narratives and hereby warns the propagator to desist from causing panic and discord among the peace-loving people of the state, to abstain from such acts or face the full wrath of the law,” JTF OPEP noted.

Major Zhakom reiterated the task force’s commitment to protecting civilians and prosecuting those who spread misinformation that could jeopardise public safety.

“Troops of Operation ENDURING PEACE deployed within Sector 4 Areas of Responsibility (AOR) will continue to upscale their operational activities around Nyerwai and Dorowa to reassure residents of their safety.

“Also, the command of JTF OPEP condemns the incitement and remains fully committed to its mandate to restore peace and order in the Joint Operations Area (JOA).

“We call on all stakeholders – traditional leaders, religious leaders and civil society to avoid inflammatory rhetoric statements, instead rally around our common goal of a peaceful, united, and secure Plateau,” the statement concluded

117 northern students depart for Algeria on medicine, engineering scholarship

No fewer than 117 beneficiaries from northern Nigeria have departed for Algeria to pursue various academic programmes under a fully funded study scholarship facilitated by the Sheikh Dahiru Usman Bauchi Foundation.

Speaking during a send-forth and orientation ceremony organised for the beneficiaries in Bauchi, the Chairman of the Foundation, Sayyadi Aliyu, explained that the scholarship was secured through the Darika Tijjaniyya Islamic Sect in collaboration with the Algerian Government.

According to him, “We were able to secure 140 slots, but only 117 met the complete requirements. The remaining ones will join them later.”

Aliyu noted that Bauchi State, being the host of the foundation, produced the highest number of beneficiaries, while others were drawn from Gombe, Taraba, Yobe, and other northern states.

He disclosed that 50 of the slots were allocated for Medicine, while the remaining were distributed among other disciplines such as Computer Science, Engineering, and Islamic Studies.

The chairman added that the scholarship covers feeding, accommodation, healthcare, and other essential needs, urging the students to remain law-abiding and disciplined throughout their studies.

“You must be good ambassadors of Nigeria and of those who facilitated this opportunity.”

“You have already been introduced to Arabic and French to help you settle in quickly. Islam is a religion of knowledge, and whoever neglects to seek it is going against its teachings, ”Aliyu charged.

He cautioned the students against distractions, urging them to remain united and focused on their purpose of acquiring knowledge for the benefit of Islam and humanity.

In his remarks, the Emir of Bauchi, Dr Rilwanu Sulaimanu Adamu, advised the beneficiaries to uphold Nigeria’s image abroad and avoid any act capable of tarnishing the country’s reputation.

Expressing concern over negative reports involving Nigerians abroad, the Emir said:

“The Nigerian flag has in many instances been blackened abroad, contrary to its true green-white-green identity. Green, as we know, is the colour associated with the house of Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him).

“You must uphold this symbol with dignity and commit yourselves to the pursuit of knowledge.”

Air France to extend suspension of Madagascar flights

Air France said Tuesday it would extend the suspension of its flights to Madagascar at least until Friday because of unrest in the African country.

“The resumption of operations will remain subject to a daily assessment of the situation on the ground,” the French national airline told AFP, as Malagasy President Andry Rajoelina ruled out resigning in the face of protests that have shaken the country.

Air France initially suspended flights over the weekend for two days.

Air Austral, another French airline that serves Madagascar from its base in the Indian Ocean island of La Reunion, told AFP that it was maintaining services while watching the situation.

Rajoelina on Tuesday dissolved the national assembly, pre-empting a planned opposition-led vote to force him out of office over the island nation’s spiralling political crisis.

Trump arrives in Israel as hostages freed from Gaza

US President Donald Trump landed in Israel aboard Air Force One on Monday as a first group of Israeli hostages returned home from Gaza after two years’ captivity.

The US leader was greeted on a red carpet at Ben Gurion airport by Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Isaac Herzog.