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A non-governmental organisation, Zarephath Aid, has called for a nationwide audit of correctional facilities to identify inmates and ascertain the status of their cases.

Zarephath said such exercise would help decongest prisons and promote transparency in the justice system.

The founder of the group, Mr. Ben Abraham, made the call at a press conference with the theme ‘The New Legal Year and the Lingering Justice Question’ held at the Ikeja High Court, Lagos.

Abraham lamented that despite ongoing interventions by civil society groups and judiciary-backed measures, correctional facilities across Nigeria remain overcrowded, with many inmates spending years awaiting trial.

He urged all tiers of the judiciary to work with the Administration of Criminal Justice Monitoring Committee at the federal level and state Criminal Justice Sector Reform Committees to ensure proper oversight and timely case resolution.

He argued that key provisions of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015 and state laws mandate judicial officers to conduct monthly visits to detention facilities and law enforcement cells, followed by oversight reports to the Chief Judge and Attorney-General.

‘The oversight responsibility has been lacking in many states and at the federal level, resulting in the continued illegal detention of persons and abuse of suspects’ rights,’ Abraham said.

Speaking on the conference theme, Abraham said it was time for stakeholders in the justice sector to set clear expectations and performance benchmarks for the next legal year.

He said that while new legal year ceremonies are often marked with speeches, many Nigerians in some parts of the country failed to relate to their significance because, to them, ‘justice is beyond long speeches.’

‘They eagerly await the day when they can touch justice or, put differently, when justice can touch them,’ he said.

‘It is for these Nigerians that we make this call on our courts and judiciary heads,’ he added.

Abraham also condemned the rising cases of police brutality, torture, and extortion, saying the police’s internal disciplinary mechanisms have failed to curb the trend.

‘If the courts fail to leash this errancy, another uprising will be upon us sooner than later,’ he warned. ‘The civil space is shrinking daily, and the police, sometimes acting at the behest of the executive, have targeted rights activists, critics, and journalists.’

He criticised the Cybercrimes Act 2024, saying it is being ‘inordinately applied to muzzle dissent and silence critics of the government.

‘Many of the charges under the Act are politically instigated. As long as our courts tolerate this interference and fail to defend citizens’ constitutional rights to free expression, the Act will remain a tool of harassment,’ he said.

Abraham urged the judiciary to move beyond rhetoric and take concrete action in defending the rule of law and democracy.

‘We respectfully invite the media to join us in setting this agenda for the judiciary and monitoring its performance over the next one year,’ he added.

The group emphasised the need for digital tools to track case progress and improve accountability, noting that an audit of correctional centres would provide accurate data on the number of inmates, including those awaiting trial and those already convicted.

Zarephath Aid’s Executive Director, Mr. Joseph Ameh, called for collaboration among justice sector agencies and urged the Minister of Interior to extend his reform efforts to the correctional system.

Also speaking on same issue ,the Gender Rights and Child Officer, Miss Kaylah Abraham, stressed the need to enforce the Child Rights Act and protect minors in detention.

She called for expedited handling of children’s cases, stronger independent police oversight, and expanded access to legal aid for minors in conflict with the law.

Oba Oluyemi Falae has described President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s floating of the naira and scrapping of multiple exchange rates as one of the most courageous and necessary economic policies ever taken by any government.

Oba Falae, the Olu of Ilu Abo in AKure North Local Government Area in Ondo State, added the President’s exchange rate reforms have repositioned the economy for greatness.

The one-time Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), stated this yesterday when a delegation from the North under the Arewa Think Tank visited the Akure home of the National Leader of Afenifere, Pa Reuben Fasoranti.

According to the economist, who was also Finance Minister, no country with multiple exchange rates can attract sustainable foreign investment or achieve meaningful economic growth.

‘No country with multiple exchange rates is ever going to make it or attract investments from abroad because investors want to be certain what the exchange rate will be – first, when they’re investing, and second, when they’re repatriating’.

Oba Falae, a former banker, who served in the military government of Gen. Ibrahim Babangida between 1985 and 1993, admitted that although the currency devaluation initially caused hardship, it was a bold and necessary step.

‘No government had the courage to touch those exchange rates and remove subsidy on petrol. But Tinubu came on board and had the courage, and he removed them. When he did so, many people screamed because it was painful.

‘The price of petrol went up from N800 to N1,200, and the price of everything went up. It was terrible, but what he did was absolutely necessary,’ he stated.

He, however, noted that he would have implemented certain mitigating measures beforehand to reduce the negative impact on citizens.

Falae also affirmed that the economy is now improving under Tinubu’s leadership, with food prices stabilising as a result of government interventions.

‘The price of food is now coming down, and I am a farmer. This time last year, a truckload of cassava tubers was N450,000; today, it’s N150,000.

‘A congo of garri that was N1,500 is now N700, while rice has dropped from N3,500 to N1,500. Nigerians should know that things are getting better under President Tinubu. This is not a theory,’ he said.

Falae stressed that basic food items, which constitute the most critical aspect of household expenditure, are becoming more affordable, signaling gradual recovery in the economy.

‘Despite the very drastic decisions, the economy is getting better,’ he added.

2027: ‘North ‘ll stand by president’s re-election

At the meeting, the North’s leaders declared their support for President Tinubu ahead of the 2027 general election. They pledged that the North will stand firmly behind his administration and re-election bid.

The leaders said their decision was informed by President Tinubu’s ongoing efforts to promote national unity, economic recovery, and security reforms. They noted that his policies have begun yielding positive results across the country.

The delegation , led by Muhammad Alhaji Yakubu, Muhammad Ibrahim, Ahmed Tijani Hamisu, Wasila Abdul Hamid, and Adamu Sani, emphasized the unity of the country and the need for the President to complete the eight-year tenure for the South.

The Convener of the Arewa Think Tank, Muhammad Alhaji Yakubu, said it was important for the northern group to renew its relationship with the Southwest in support of Tinubu’s re-election.

Yakubu, who represented former Kaduna State Governor Mukhtar Ramalan Yero, a leader of the group, lauded what he described as the ‘impressive scorecard’ of President Tinubu since assuming office. He stressed that the administration has made Nigerians proud after over two years in office.

‘We are here today to renew our relationship with the Southwest and reassure the region that the North will stand by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

”We want to thank you, sir, for the Southwest’s role in giving us a President who has a vision, a mission, and who has performed well in the last two years.

‘We are also here to present to you the impressive mid-term scorecard of President Bola Tinubu. We are confident and hopeful that he will take Nigeria to the promised land. We have seen, in the last two years, what inter-regional collaboration and support can do to move this country forward,’ Yakubu said.

Oba Falae hailed the group for their support In a communiqué issued after the visit by the National Organising Secretary, Otunba Kole Omololu, Afenifere reaffirmed its commitment to national unity and urged Nigerians to support President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

Omololu said the Yoruba socio-political organisation praised the Arewa leadership for their steadfast commitment to fostering genuine partnership grounded in truth, fairness, and inclusivity.

He added that the renewed collaboration builds upon the historic unity of Nigeria’s founding fathers in pursuit of a just and prosperous federation.

Both parties, he said, resolved to establish a joint framework to advance meaningful discussions on constitutional reform, national security, and economic cooperation.

Community leaders and stakeholders have commended the incoming executives of the AERA for their impressive turnout and active participation at the pre-inauguration strategic session held on Saturday, describing the event as a strong signal of their readiness to serve and deliver meaningful change.

The strategic session, which attracted newly elected executives and key stakeholders, focused on laying a solid foundation for transparent leadership, accountability, and sustainable community development.

In a message of appreciation, the leadership acknowledged the team’s ‘insightful contributions, collective enthusiasm, and shared vision’ for the estate, noting that their preparedness to ‘hit the ground running’ is crucial to transforming AERA into a model residential community.

Addressing the new executives, Elder Ogundimu Oduntan, a former President of AERA and the current Chairman of Greenland CDA, offered words of encouragement to the incoming executives.

He urged them to prioritise teamwork, effective communication, and resident engagement to build trust and drive impactful projects.

‘This session was more than just a meeting; it was the foundation upon which a legacy of transparency, innovation, and community development will be built,’ Ogundimu stated, while expressing confidence in the team’s ability to deliver.

Another respected community leader, Mr Olurotimi Turton, emphasised the need for unity of purpose and shared responsibility among the incoming executives.

He noted that the success of the administration would depend on how well each member contributes to the collective vision.

‘Leadership is not a solo effort. Every executive must see themselves as a key pillar in building the kind of community we all desire,’ he said.

‘When everyone plays their part diligently, achieving our strategic goals becomes not just possible but inevitable.’

Addressing the executives, the excited incoming president, Shina Dare, stated that the impressive turnout, insightful contributions, and collective enthusiasm clearly demonstrated the readiness of the incoming executives to serve and shared commitment to the progress and transformation of our beloved estate.

‘The discussions, ideas, and strategies developed during the session reflect a team that is prepared to hit the ground running, united by a common vision of making AERA a model residential community.

With the inauguration approaching, expectations are high among residents, who see the new leadership as a beacon of renewed hope for improved infrastructure, security, and communal harmony.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Caucus in the House of Representatives yesterday urged the National Judicial Council (NJC) to warn judges against being used to disrupt Nigeria’s democratic process.

In a statement in Abuja by the Leader of the Caucus, Fred Agbedi, the PDP lawmakers expressed concern over what they called a growing trend of judicial interference in the internal affairs of political parties.

They expressed concern that such a development poses a grave threat to the country’s democratic stability.

The caucus was reacting to the ruling of the Federal High Court in Abuja, which declined to grant an interim injunction seeking to stop the PDP convention scheduled for November 15 and 16 in Ibadan, while also making orders they perceived to negate the benefits of his ruling refusing the interim injunction.

The suit was filed by Austine Nwachukwu, the PDP Chairman in Imo State; Amah Abraham Nnanna, Chairman of the party in Abia State, and Turnah George, the Southsouth Secretary of the party, asking the court to compel the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to prevent the PDP from holding any meetings, congresses, or conventions pending the determination of their substantive suit.

The statement said that while Justice James Omotosho declined to grant the ex parte order, he ordered that any steps taken by the party during the pendency of the suit would be null and void.

The lawmakers noted that the judgment could be interpreted as indirectly enabling those seeking to disrupt the party’s activities.

The PDP Caucus said: ‘We are deeply concerned that despite repeated Supreme Court pronouncements against judicial interference in the internal affairs of political parties, some judges continue to make themselves available as instruments in the hands of desperate politicians seeking to subvert democracy and impose a one-party on Africa’s largest democracy.

‘We are worried that while Justice James Omotosho refused the grant of the restraining order asked by the plaintiffs in this case, he still went ahead to declare that any action taken by party in preparation for its National convention during the pendency of the suit shall be null and void, might embolden anti-democratic elements determined to truncate the democratic process in Nigeria.

‘These pronouncements clearly provide an enabler for those who do not want the PDP National convention to hold so that the main opposition political party in Nigeria will not be able to present candidates in the presidential and other elections in 2027.

‘It is worrisome that while the court refused to grant the restraining order requested by the plaintiffs, it still made pronouncements that could be interpreted as providing legal cover for those intent on halting the PDP’s democratic processes. This, in our view, amounts to judicial overreach,’ the lawmakers said.

The lawmakers said the principal actors in the desperate move wanted to manipulate the judicial process.

They said such people were known to have done similar things in the past, which the NJC frowned at, while the damage had already been done.

The lawmakers urged the National Judicial Council to act decisively to prevent any abuse of the judicial process that could undermine multi-party democracy in Nigeria.

‘The survival of our democracy depends on the independence, integrity, and impartiality of the judiciary. The NJC must ensure that no court becomes a willing tool for the subversion of the will of the people or the destabilization of political institutions,’ the statement said.

The Labour Party (LP) candidate, Dr. George Moghalu, has promised to end insecurity in Anambra State within three months if elected governor.

Moghalu gave the assurance during his community-to-community campaign visits to Nnobi and Umuoji, where he addressed residents on his plans to restore peace and stability.

‘Within three months of my administration, insecurity will be brought under control,’ he declared.

He said his government would restore the dignity of the ordinary citizen by prioritising social welfare, infrastructure, and education, adding that good governance must have a human face.

‘We will reintroduce scholarships for our intelligent children up to university level.

Our elderly citizens from 65 years and above will enjoy free medical care, while those from 70 years will receive monthly stipends,’ Moghalu said.

The LP flagbearer also assured that the era of multiple taxation, insensitivity, and poor governance would come to an end under his leadership.

Acknowledging the cries of Okada and Keke riders, who expressed frustration over the heavy taxes imposed on them daily, he promised to drastically reduce levies to ease their burden.

Moghalu further condemned the poor state of roads across the state, describing it as a reflection of failed leadership.

‘Most of the roads being constructed don’t last one season. Funds meant for local governments are hijacked, leaving them with only ten percent. That will stop under my watch,’ he added.

Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq has presented N80 million cheques to families of slain forest guards and vigilantes killed during encounters with kidnappers at Babanla, Oke Ode and Eleyin in Ifelodun and Isin local governments.

The governor also approved N100 million support for the families of brave men in Edu and Patigi, who died in an ambush in July by kidnappers, as they set out to confront the abductors in the wake of kidnappings in the area.

The governor saluted the bravery and patriotism of the victims and prayed to God for the repose of their souls.

‘We pray for the repose of the souls of the deceased. It was an unfortunate incident. They died in active service. Government cannot but sympathise with the bereaved families,’ the governor said in Ilorin while presenting cheques to the families.

He added: ‘We will do the needful by supporting them and making sure the state is safe, and our country is safe.

‘As you can see, the military has moved in with full force. We look forward to supporting Nigerian Army and other security agencies as they chase the criminals out of the state.’

The governor said his administration had supplied new logistics support, including fighting equipment and motorcycles, for the forest guards and vigilantes maintained by communities at flash points.

‘The new logistics have positioned the forest guards and vigilantes to better hunt down the kidnappers and defend their communities – a practical complement to the efforts of the conventional security forces,’ he said.

Deputy Senate Leader Oyelola Ashiru has said insecurity in Kwara South could be reduced through coordinated local government action, adding that local councils had a constitutional duty to safeguard lives and property in their areas.

He spoke with reporters at Omu-Aran in Irepodun Local Government at an event organised by a group known as Kwara South G7.

Ashiru called on the state government to adopt a more hands-on approach, saying ‘security is everyone’s business. The state must empower local authorities and vigilante networks to strengthen grassroots intelligence and protection.’

‘Kwara South G7’ comprises seven local governments, including Ekiti, Oke-Ero, Offa, Ifelodun, Irepodun, Oyun and Insin.

Chairman of the Senate Committee on South-East Development Commission, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, had said the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) will not rely on defections or sitting Governors to win the 2027 presidential election, stressing that the party’s growing strength in the South-East is the product of consistency, sacrifice, and hard work.

Speaking during TVC News Journalists’ Hangout anchored by Babajide Otitoju on Monday, Kalu, according to a statement by his media aide, Kenneth Udeh, recounted how he was ridiculed and called names when he joined the APC in 2016 as the only political leader from the South-East to identify with the party.

‘When I joined the APC in 2016, I was the only South-East leader in the party. People mocked me, called me names, and thought I was mad to have joined a party that had no governor or lawmaker from our region,’ Kalu said.

‘But I stood my ground and kept assuring the party leadership that it would be well. In 2019, I became the first senator elected on the APC platform from the South-East, and today the story has changed. We now have APC governors, senators, and House members across the zone.’

The former Abia Governor said the party will not depend on political defections or the influence of Governors to secure victory in the 2027 elections.

‘We are not relying on Governors or defections to win. We are relying on hard work. Politics is about commitment and results, not noise.

‘We are on the ground and determined to ensure that President Tinubu and all APC candidates perform well in 2027, especially in Abia and across the South-East,’ he stated.

Kalu expressed optimism that President Bola Tinubu will record significant success in the South-East during the next general elections, citing growing public confidence in the APC-led government and visible development projects across the region.

‘In 2019, President Buhari got over 60% of the votes in my constituency, Abia North. Tinubu didn’t do well in 2023 because we didn’t mobilise enough, but this time, we are ready. Our people are beginning to see the progress in roads and infrastructure. The President has opened up roads long abandoned, and he’s doing more,’ Kalu noted.

When asked if he still maintained his position he South-East has been marginalised, Kalu said the region has been ‘put out of the scheme of things’ since after the civil war.

‘I can always tell you that the South-East is not really marginalised, but we were put out of the scheme of things since after the civil war,’ he said. ‘I didn’t start the war, I didn’t fight in it, neither did I end it. What we need is sincerity and equity so that we can all move together and develop the country.’

On the detained IPOB leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, Kalu urged Nigerians to respect the judicial process.

‘Nnamdi Kanu’s case is before a competent court, and it would be unfair for me to comment on his release,’ he said. ‘Justice Omotosho is handling the matter, and we should allow the courts to do their work. Nigerians must learn to respect the judiciary.’

The former Senate Chief Whip expressed confidence in President Tinubu’s reform agenda, describing it as a necessary process that will yield positive results despite current hardships.

‘Reforms come with the good, the bad, and the ugly. Nigerians are feeling pain, yes, but these pains will lead to long-term gain. I’ve already sponsored a bill on social welfare and investment to reduce poverty, and I’ll meet the President to fast-track it. We must show Nigerians that we have them in our hearts,’ he said.

Kalu also highlighted ongoing infrastructure improvements in the South-East, including federal road projects linking Enugu, Lokpanta, Aba, Port Harcourt, Bende, and Arochukwu.

‘Before now, those roads were impassable. Today, they are being rebuilt. The President is doing a lot in our region, and I’m confident that the 2026 budget will reflect even more development for our people,’ he added.

A total of 1.3 million Nigerians were displaced in 2024 due to flooding out of 7.5 million displaced persons across 16 West African countries, the Commissioner for Insurance, National Insurance Commission (NAICOM), Mr. Olusegun Omosehin has said.

He spoke yesterday at the ongoing 2025 WAICA Conference holding at the Eko Hotels and Suites Lagos. The theme of this year’s conference is, ‘The West African Insurer in the Face of Climate Change’.

Omosehin disclosed that in 2025, over 33,000 Nigerians were displaced, 3,800 homes destroyed, and 5,300 hectares of farmland submerged-threatening food security and economic stability.

Describing the evidence as sobering, he stated that the figures are not just statistics; they are stories of disruption, loss, and delayed development across the continent.

Yet, he said, within this crisis lies an opportunity to redefine the role of insurance as a force for resilience and sustainable development.

He however said that the Federal Government of Nigeria has responded decisively through the Nigerian Insurance Industry Reform Act (NIIRA) 2025.

This landmark legislation according to him, modernizes their regulatory framework, enhances consumer protection, and reinforces the financial resilience of insurers.

Emphasising on the key provisions of NIIRA 2025 include, he said it provides a stronger capital base for operators; expands compulsory insurance classes, including agriculture and environmental risks; deeper integration of insurance into public-private partnerships for infrastructure and climate resilience; and strengthens public confidence in the insurance industry.

The commissioner called on West African Insurers across WAICA member states, reinsurers, and industry leaders to innovate boldly, developing parametric and microinsurance products tailored to our region’s climate realities; Invest in data and technology to improve climate modelling, risk assessment, and product delivery; Collaborate across borders, pooling risks and resources to build regional resilience; Expand inclusion, ensuring insurance reaches farmers, market women, artisans, and micro-entrepreneurs-the backbone of our economies; and Prioritize capacity building, investing in the next generation of insurance professionals

As a regulator, NAICOM is committed to enabling policies that foster collaboration between operators, regulators, and development partners, he said.

He stressed that strengthening climate resilience across West Africa demands a unified approach, one that blends sound regulation, market innovation, and strategic partnerships.

He urged the West African operators to ensure the conference mark as a turning point where insurance becomes central to their climate response and a driver of inclusive, sustainable development.

In a keynote address by the Minister of State for Finance, Dr. Doris Uzoka-Anite the theme, ‘The West African Insurer in the Face of Climate Change,’ highlights a critical truth, noting that climate risk is now a financial and developmental risk.

The Minister who was represented by the Director, Home Finance, Ministry of Finance, Dr. Ali Mohammed added that for insurers and governments alike, it directly influences fiscal policy, national budgets, and the stability of our financial systems.

She said: ‘Across West Africa, floods, droughts, and coastal erosion are already destroying livelihoods, straining public finances, and threatening food security. Each disaster brings not only human tragedy but also heavy fiscal burdens. This reality makes climate risk a macroeconomic concern requiring proactive financial planning. Insurance therefore becomes indispensable, a mechanism to share and absorb shocks that governments alone cannot shoulder.

‘The Federal Government recognizes insurance as a pillar of our financial architecture – alongside banking, capital markets, and pensions. The Nigerian Insurance Industry Reform Act (NIIRA 2025) represents a bold step toward modernization. We must treat climate change not only as an environmental challenge but also as a financial imperative. Africa already loses billions annually to climate-related disasters. Traditional budgets can no longer cope.

‘Hence, Nigeria is advancing frameworks that combine sovereign risk insurance, regional disaster-risk pools, and public-private climate-finance mechanisms to ensure rapid response and fiscal stability. These tools strengthen preparedness and prevent disruptions to essential development programme’, she posited.

Hamas has freed the last living Israeli hostages under a ceasefire deal, a big step towards ending two years of ruinous war in Gaza as U.S. President Donald Trump addressed Israel’s parliament, urging it to turn military success into peace.

The Israeli military said it had received all hostages confirmed to be alive after their transfer from Gaza by the Red Cross, prompting cheering, hugging and weeping among thousands waiting at ‘Hostage Square’ in Tel Aviv.

Some of the nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners and detainees freed by Israel as part of the accord, ahead of a summit in Egypt to cement the ceasefire, began arriving in the Gaza Strip and the Israeli-occupied West Bank, some hoisted on the shoulders of delighted relatives.

‘The skies are calm, the guns are silent, the sirens are still and the sun rises on a Holy Land that is finally at peace,’ Trump told the Knesset, Israel’s parliament, saying a ‘long nightmare’ for both Israelis and Palestinians was over.

‘Now, it is time to translate these victories against terrorists on the battlefield into the ultimate prize of peace and prosperity for the entire Middle East,’ he said before his planned trip to Egypt for the summit.

Also yesterday, world leaders gathered in Egypt for a summit aimed at supporting the ceasefire reached in Gaza.

Before the summit co-chaired by Egyptian President Abdel Fatah el-Sissi and Trump began, el-Sissi hailed Trump as the ‘only one’ able to bring peace to the region.

The 20 world leaders, who attended the summit, include King Abdullah of Jordan, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, the French president and the British prime minister.

However, formidable obstacles remain even to a resolution of the Gaza conflagration, let alone to the wider, generations-old Israeli-Palestinian conflict or other longstanding schisms running through the Middle East.

The release of hostages and Palestinian detainees was pivotal to the first phase of the Gaza accord concluded last week in the Egyptian seaside resort of Sharm el-Sheikh, where Monday’s summit will take place.

Over 20 world leaders will weigh how to carry out the next steps under Trump’s 20-point blueprint for an end to the war.

The deal came two years after the October 7, 2023 cross-border Hamas assault that killed 1,200 people with 251 taken hostage, the deadliest day for Jews since the Holocaust.

Israeli airstrikes, bombardments and ground offensives have since killed over 67,000 Palestinians, the enclave’s health officials say, and laid waste to much of the enclave.

A global hunger monitor said Gaza City and surrounding areas are suffering from a famine afflicting over half a million Palestinians, and most of Gaza’s 2.2 million people are homeless.

Aid supplies are meant to flow more smoothly into the enclave under Trump’s plan. U.N. aid chief Tom Fletcher underlined the need to ‘get shelter and fuel to people who desperately need it and to massively scale up the food and medicine and other supplies going in.’

The war has also reshaped the Middle East through spillover Israeli conflicts with Iran, Lebanon’s Tehran-backed Hezbollah and Yemen’s Houthis.

Bodies of some of the 26 confirmed dead hostages, and another two whose fate was unknown, will also be released on Monday. A committee has been established to locate some bodies likely lost in the wreckage of Gaza.

But major questions remain over what happens next, raising the risk of a slide back into war. The gathering reflects the international will to follow through on the deal.

Israel has rejected any role in Gaza for the internationally backed Palestinian Authority, whose leader, Mahmoud Abbas, arrived in the Egyptian Red Sea resort town of Sharm el-Sheikh before the gathering.

El-Sissi’s office said the leaders’ summit aimed to ‘end the war’ in Gaza and ‘usher in a new page of peace and regional stability’ in line with Trump’s vision.

Egyptian Air Force jets escorted Trump’s Air Force One for a spin above the resort before he landed and was received by el-Sissi at the airport.

In Israel, Trump urged the country’s lawmakers to work toward peace. To the Palestinians, he said it was time to concentrate on building.

Under the first phase, Israeli troops pulled back from some parts of Gaza, allowing hundreds of thousands of Palestinians in Gaza to return home from areas they were forced to evacuate. Aid groups are preparing to bring in large quantities of aid kept out of the territory for months.

The next phase of the deal will have to tackle disarming Hamas, creating a post-war government for Gaza and handling the extent of Israel’s withdrawal from the territory. Trump’s plan also stipulates that regional and international partners will work to develop the core of a new Palestinian security force.

Abdelatty said the international force needs a U.N. Security Council resolution to endorse its deployment.

Turkey, which hosted Hamas political leaders for years, played a key role in bringing about the ceasefire agreement.

Jordan, alongside Egypt, will train the new Palestinian security force.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer pledged 20 million British pounds ($27 million) to help provide water and sanitation for Gaza and that Britain will host a three-day conference on Gaza’s reconstruction and recovery.

Speaking in Egypt, Starmer said Britain was ready to ‘play its full part’ in ensuring that the current ceasefire results in a lasting peace.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres, European Union President António Costa and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni also attended the summit.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has called on governments worldwide to build stronger institutions and ensure the independence of their central banks.

At the IMF Annual Meetings in Washington, DC, IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva spoke yesterday at the Civil Society Town Hall Programme, part of the pre-opening events at the ongoing World Bank/IMF Annual Meetings.

The IMF chief also played down the impact of US tariffs on many world economies, saying the effect of the tariffs has decreased compared with the position at the April 2025 meetings.

She added that the private sector is currently much stronger than it was in April, signalling improvement in global economic performance.

She further acknowledged the devastating impact of high debt levels on world economies, urging countries to pursue more growth to reduce the burden of debt on their economies.

‘The impact of tariffs is not as dramatic as we feared. US tariffs are lower today than they were last April.

‘Many countries have chosen not to retaliate and are avoiding tit-for-tat actions, which is protecting world trade.

‘There should be concerted efforts to bring debts down and support global economic recoveries, even as there is a need to identify pathways to resolving the debt crisis,’ she said.

Georgieva called on countries to grow out of debt and create more development opportunities.

Reflecting on global progress over the decades, she said: ‘The average person today is much better off than, say, 30 years ago, but the averages conceal deep undercurrents of marginalisation, discontent, and hardship.

‘Many people in many places-especially the young-are taking their disappointment to the streets: from Lima to Rabat, from Paris to Nairobi, and from Kathmandu to Jakarta, all are demanding better opportunities.’

She noted that the most important discussions at the Annual Meetings will focus on the global economic impact of these transformative forces and the policy turbulence we are experiencing.

‘How is the world economy coping? Short answer: better than feared, but worse than we need.

‘When we met in April, many experts-not us-predicted a U.S. recession in the near term, with negative spillovers to the rest of the world.

‘Instead, the U.S. economy, as well as many other advanced and emerging markets and some developing countries, have held up.

‘As our World Economic Outlook will explain next week, we see global growth slowing only slightly this year and next. All signs point to a world economy that has generally withstood acute strains from multiple shocks,’ she said.

According to her, the resilience of global economies is attributable to improved policy fundamentals, private sector adaptability, less severe tariff outcomes than initially feared-for now-and supportive financial conditions-as long as they hold.