Nigeria’s Ambassador to Spain, Okezie Ikpeazu, has called for the revitalisation and review of existing bilateral agreements between Nigeria and Spain to reflect current economic and diplomatic priorities.

Ikpeazu made the call after presenting his Letters of Credence to King Felipe VI of Spain at the Royal Palace in Madrid on Monday, formally marking the commencement of his diplomatic assignment to the European country.

According to a statement issued on Tuesday by the spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Oluwafemi Adeniyi, the ambassador conveyed the greetings and best wishes of President Bola Tinubu to the Spanish monarch, government and people.

During the ceremony, Ikpeazu reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to strengthening its longstanding relationship with Spain, particularly in the areas of trade and investment, energy, infrastructure, agriculture, education, culture, tourism, security and people-to-people exchanges.

He said Nigeria was prepared to work closely with the Spanish government, institutions and private sector to create new opportunities for economic partnerships while increasing trade and investment between the two countries.

Speaking later at a reception organised by the Nigerian Embassy in Madrid in his honour, Ikpeazu stressed the need to review existing bilateral agreements so they could better respond to present-day economic and diplomatic realities.

One of the agreements he specifically highlighted was the Bilateral Air Service Agreement between Nigeria and Spain.

The envoy said the agreement should be revitalised to facilitate stronger and more direct air connectivity between both countries, noting that improved air links would contribute significantly to economic cooperation, tourism and people-to-people exchanges.

Ikpeazu also advocated a broader and more sustained bilateral partnership involving government institutions, private businesses, academic institutions, cultural organisations, civil society groups and communities.

According to him, stronger participation by stakeholders across different sectors would help transform the existing goodwill between Nigeria and Spain into practical and measurable outcomes.

“The relations between the two countries offer significant opportunities for expanded cooperation,” the ambassador said, while calling for wider stakeholder involvement in deepening the partnership.

Ikpeazu expressed appreciation to the Spanish government and people for the warm reception accorded him and pledged to advance Nigeria’s interests while consolidating the relationship between the two countries.

He further acknowledged the contributions of Nigerians living in Spain, describing the Nigerian community as an important bridge for promoting understanding, friendship and cooperation between the peoples of both nations.

The ambassador reaffirmed the commitment of the Nigerian Embassy in Madrid to promoting and protecting the interests of Nigerian nationals residing in Spain.

The reception, a vin d’honneur held in his honour, was attended by members of the diplomatic corps, representatives of the Spanish government, business and cultural stakeholders, members of the Nigerian community, as well as friends and associates of Nigeria.

Ikpeazu said the embassy would continue to work with the Spanish government, diplomatic community, private sector, development partners and the Nigerian community to translate the goodwill between both countries into concrete results.

Nigeria and Spain have maintained longstanding bilateral relations, with cooperation covering economic, diplomatic, cultural and people-to-people ties.

The ambassador’s call for the revitalisation of existing agreements comes as both countries seek to deepen economic cooperation and explore new opportunities in trade, investment, aviation, tourism and other strategic sectors.

The Kwara State Police Command has presented cheques worth N10.6 million to the families of 19 police officers who died in the line of duty.

The cheques, valued at N10,613,786.50, were presented on Monday at the command headquarters in Ilorin by the Commissioner of Police, Ojo Adekimi, on behalf of the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu.

The development was disclosed in a statement issued on Tuesday by the command’s Police Public Relations Officer, Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi.

According to the statement, the financial intervention was part of the Nigeria Police Force’s welfare initiatives aimed at supporting dependants of personnel who lost their lives while serving the country.

Presenting the cheques to the beneficiaries, Adekimi urged the families to use the funds judiciously, particularly towards the welfare and education of their dependants.

The commissioner acknowledged that no amount of money could replace the lives of the deceased officers, but said the gesture reflected the Force’s recognition of their sacrifices and its concern for the families they left behind.

He said, “While no financial assistance can replace a loved one, this gesture demonstrates that the sacrifices of our deceased officers and the welfare of their dependants remain important to the Nigeria Police Force.”

Adekimi commended the Inspector-General of Police for sustaining welfare programmes designed to assist families of officers who died in active service.

He noted that the intervention would provide some relief to the beneficiaries while also reassuring serving police personnel that the Force remained concerned about the wellbeing of their families.

The commissioner stressed the importance of supporting the dependants of fallen officers, describing such interventions as a demonstration of institutional responsibility towards personnel who paid the ultimate price in the course of their duties.

Speaking on behalf of the 19 beneficiaries, M.T. Moshood expressed appreciation to the IGP and the Nigeria Police Force for remembering the families of the deceased officers.

Moshood described the financial assistance as a meaningful gesture, saying it showed that the families of police personnel who died in service had not been forgotten.

The Kwara State Police Command reaffirmed its commitment to personnel welfare and to honouring the sacrifices of officers who lost their lives while serving the nation.

The intervention comes as part of broader efforts by the Nigeria Police Force to provide welfare support to the dependants of deceased personnel and recognise the sacrifices made by officers in the discharge of their responsibilities.

The Speaker of the Osun State House of Assembly, Adewale Egbedun, has directed the state Ministry of Environment to urgently clear heaps of refuse littering major roads and public spaces across the state.

Egbedun also ordered the ministry to address blocked and neglected drainages and waterways as part of measures to improve environmental sanitation and prevent flooding across the state.

The Speaker gave the directive on Tuesday during a meeting between members of the House of Assembly and the Commissioner for Environment, Mayowa Adejoorin, alongside top officials of the ministry.

The meeting was convened as part of the Assembly’s oversight responsibilities, with particular focus on environmental sanitation, waste management and the effectiveness of government interventions across the state.

Speaking at the meeting, Egbedun stressed the need for urgent and sustained action to remove refuse from major roads and clear blocked drainages.

He said effective drainage systems were essential to preventing flooding, protecting lives and property, and maintaining a healthy environment for residents.

The Speaker further directed the ministry and relevant agencies to ensure the proper evacuation and disposal of refuse, particularly in major towns and cities, markets, residential areas and other public spaces.

According to him, environmental sanitation should not be limited to occasional clean-up exercises but must become a continuous and properly coordinated responsibility of government agencies.

Egbedun also called for a comprehensive sanitation strategy that would provide for the regular cleaning of major streets, public spaces and other areas requiring government attention.

He assured residents that the Assembly would continue to exercise its oversight responsibilities to ensure that relevant government agencies remained responsive to the environmental needs of the people.

The Speaker noted that maintaining a clean environment was important not only for public health but also for economic activities and the overall well-being of citizens.

Responding to the lawmakers, the Commissioner for Environment, Adejoorin, and heads of relevant agencies briefed the Assembly on the ministry’s activities, challenges and ongoing interventions aimed at improving environmental sanitation and waste management in the state.

The directive comes as the Osun State Government continues to pursue broader environmental and climate-related initiatives.

The state government had earlier disclosed that work was progressing on its first Climate Action Plan, which is expected to provide guidance for government institutions, private businesses and households on measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and strengthen environmental protection.

The Consultant to the Osun State Governor on Climate Change, Renewable Energy and Sustainable Development, Chinwe Obuaku, disclosed this in a statement obtained in Osogbo.

Obuaku said the plan would also help protect the environment from the adverse effects of climate change.

According to her, work on the Climate Action Plan began in 2023 following the governor’s creation of an Advisory Council and the state’s participation at the COP28 climate conference.

She added that the plan was expected to be forwarded to the Osun State House of Assembly for adoption.

The latest directive by the Assembly leadership places renewed emphasis on the need for sustained waste management, functional drainage systems and regular environmental sanitation across Osun State.