Edo Economy & Infrastructure: Nigeria’s NEC Implementation Monitoring Committee praised Gov. Monday Okpebholo’s push to improve livelihoods, citing progress on legacy projects like the Ramat Park Flyover aimed at easing traffic and boosting business activity. Regional Security Talks: Nigeria’s Defence Minister Christopher Musa urged a unified ECOWAS–AES security alliance to curb terrorism, dismantle cross-border criminal networks, and strengthen Gulf of Guinea maritime security—discussed during a working visit in Cotonou. Health & Maternal Care: Africa CDC and the African Union stepped up efforts to cut preventable maternal and newborn deaths, focusing on stronger primary healthcare, more domestic financing, digital health, and local production of medicines and diagnostics. Benin Digital Cooperation: Benin’s Digital Transformation Minister Mahuna Akplogan began a five-day official visit to Ethiopia to deepen ties on digital transformation, innovation ecosystems, and public-sector modernization. Power Sector Safety & Reliability: BEDC launched an investigation after an electrical incident injured a linesman during maintenance in Ado-Ekiti, while Nigeria’s NERC reported May 2026 electricity collections of N208.15bn as DisCos improved revenue collection efficiency. Trade & Border Management: Ghana launched an EU-funded €7.3m SHIFT project to harmonise integrated border management across Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, and Togo, targeting terrorism spillover and transnational crime. SME Finance: EBID signed an €80m deal with Coris Holding to expand lending to SMEs and SMIs across West Africa, including Benin, with support for agriculture and energy value chains. Human-Centered Financial Inclusion: AfricaNenda trained journalists to report digital financial inclusion through people’s lived experiences, not just policy announcements.