Directors-General of national television stations across West Africa have gathered in Cotonou to strengthen collective action against misinformation about the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and enhance public media collaboration in promoting regional integration.

The two-day meeting, organised by the ECOWAS Commission’s Directorate of Communication with support from the German Government, brought together heads of national broadcasters and ECOWAS National Bureaus from 12 member states.

Participants underscored the importance of strengthening public television networks in countering misinformation and improving visibility of ECOWAS programmes, policies, and achievements across the sub-region.

The President of the ECOWAS Commission, Omar Alieu Touray, represented by his Senior Special Adviser, Mr. Abdoulie Gassama, highlighted the critical role national broadcasters play in shaping public understanding of regional initiatives.

He described public television stations as trusted institutions with the reach and credibility necessary to bridge communication gaps between ECOWAS institutions and citizens. He stressed that effective communication remains essential for sustaining confidence in the bloc’s peacebuilding, economic integration, and democratic governance efforts.

The meeting comes amid growing concerns over the rapid spread of false narratives on digital platforms, making coordinated media engagement more urgent. Stakeholders are expected to explore content-sharing frameworks, joint programming opportunities, and structured partnerships to ensure consistent and accurate reporting on ECOWAS activities.

Opening the session, the Chairman of the ECOWAS Administrative and Financial Committee, Komba Momoh, called for practical outcomes from the dialogue.

Represented by Ms. Laygbay Lilian Amadu, Deputy Director of the ECOWAS Country Office in Sierra Leone, she urged participants to move beyond discussions and focus on actionable strategies that would support sustained programming and broader coverage of regional initiatives.

She emphasized that stronger cooperation between ECOWAS and national broadcasters would promote transparency, counter misinformation, and encourage greater public ownership of regional policies.

The Cotonou deliberations are expected to produce concrete commitments aimed at institutionalising collaboration between the ECOWAS Commission and public television networks.

Officials said the initiative represents a strategic step toward strengthening the regional body’s communication ecosystem and ensuring that West Africa’s integration narrative is accurately projected across member states.

The Federal Government, through the Nigerian Christian Pilgrim Commission (NCPC), on Tuesday announced the immediate suspension of all pilgrimages to Israel due to the security situation in the Middle East. Bishop Stephen Adegbite, the Executive Secretary of the NCPC, made this known in a statement signed by Mr Celestine Toruka, the Deputy Director and Head, Media and Public Relations in the commission, on Tuesday in Abuja.

“The recent developments in the Middle East, including the imposition of a state of emergency in Israel, have led to the putting on hold of all pilgrimage exercises. This also includes the ones being conducted by the private pilgrimage operators until the situation normalises. The NCPC is monitoring the situation closely and appreciates the cooperation of stakeholders and the media,” he said.

Adegbite urged everyone to pray for peace in Jerusalem and the Middle East. He revealed that the Commission has successfully concluded the 2025 Main Pilgrimage exercise to Israel and Jordan. He said that the last batch of Christian pilgrims arrived safely at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, on March 3.

Mojtaba Khamenei, son of Iran’s slain Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, is alive and increasingly viewed as the frontrunner to succeed his father, according to two Iranian sources who spoke to Reuters on Wednesday.

The development comes amid heightened tensions in Tehran, where fresh explosions were reported even as large crowds of mourners were expected to gather later in the day to grieve the 86-year-old leader. Khamenei was killed in what officials describe as the first assassination of a sitting national leader carried out through an airstrike. The attack, reportedly conducted by Israeli forces, also claimed the lives of his wife, another son, and several senior military and political figures when his compound was destroyed.

The United States and Israel continued sustained military operations against Iran on Wednesday. A senior U.S. commander described the campaign as being “ahead of the game plan,” signalling ongoing strategic momentum.

However, the escalating conflict has sent shockwaves through global financial markets. After initial declines, markets in Asia plunged sharply, with Seoul experiencing a record-breaking crash. Investors appeared unconvinced by assurances from the U.S. President Donald Trump that Washington would swiftly reopen key global shipping routes and facilitate the release of blockaded Middle Eastern oil and gas supplies.

According to the Iranian sources, Mojtaba Khamenei, 56, was not in Tehran at the time of the strike. His absence has fueled speculation about succession dynamics within Iran’s leadership structure.

Iranian authorities stated that the Assembly of Experts; the clerical body responsible for appointing the Supreme Leader will soon announce its decision on the country’s next leader. This marks only the second time since the Islamic Republic was established in 1979 that the body will select a new Supreme Leader.

Further developments are expected as Iran navigates one of the most consequential leadership transitions in its modern history.