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Nigeria, South Africa Forge Ties to Enhance Fight Against Drug

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Nigeria, South Africa Forge Ties to Enhance Fight Against Drug

By: Michael Mike

Nigerian and South African anti narcotics agencies have met to forge stronger operational ties that will enhance the war on drug syndicates operating between the two countries.

A signed press statement on Tuesday by the spokesman of the Nigerian anti-narcotics agency, Femi Babafemi read that as part of efforts to combat illicit drug trafficking between Nigeria and South Africa, senior officials of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA have held a two-day meeting with their South African counterparts in the Directorate of Priority Crime Investigation popularly known as HAWKS to forge stronger operational ties that will herald tough times for drug syndicates operating between the two countries.

Speaking during the start of the meeting at the NDLEA national headquarters in Abuja last Monday, Chairman/Chief Executive Officer, Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (Retd), who was represented by the Agency’s Secretary, Mr. Shadrach Haruna, said the deliberation which is a follow up to a virtual one held in April 2022, will “bridge the gap and rekindle our efforts by deepening collaboration in line with the principle of common and shared responsibility in tackling the global drug problem.”

According to him: “Among other expected outcomes of this visit is the need to have a collaborative Memorandum of Understanding to combat drug trafficking and related crimes between the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) of Nigeria and the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (DPCI) HAWKS, of South Africa. This will provide a framework for enhanced information exchange, and Joint Operations/Joint Airport Interdiction; all promising dividends that will benefit our two organizations and countries greatly.”

Marwa, while emphasising the increasing sophistication of drug trafficking cartels, particularly the proliferation of methamphetamine laboratories and the emergence of fentanyl production facilities, which pose grave threats to the safety and well-being of citizens in both countries, said this demands swift action through the seamless exchange of intelligence and technical expertise.

He added that: “This will not only help to halt the spread of illicit production of these deadly illicit drugs but also prevent locally produced ones from being smuggled between both countries. The need for collaboration became urgent given the volume of trade and social interactions between the two countries leading to a corresponding trade in illicit drugs. Another expected outcome of this visit is the expectation of an agreed mechanism that would lead to the dislodgement and disruption of major drug trafficking syndicates operating between the two jurisdictions.”

In his response, leader of the South African delegation, Lt. Gen. Senaba Mosipi stressed that the collaboration between the two countries was necessary because criminals operating in the drug trade recognise no borders, or geographical boundaries, noting that to effectively combat their criminality, proactive measures within the arm of the law are imperative.

He said: “We have the capacity to work together no matter the distance between our countries. The operational collaboration between NDLEA and HAWKS is important to combat the operations of criminal syndicates in our two countries.”

Nigeria, South Africa Forge Ties to Enhance Fight Against Drug

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Chairman Potiskum LG commended on providing a water point to herders

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Chairman Potiskum LG commended on providing a water point to herders

By: Yahaya Wakili

The executive chairman of the Potiskum local government area of Yobe state, Hon. Salisu Muktari, has been commended for providing herders of the Potiskum local government area with a water point.

The commendation was made by the National President of the Kulen Allah Cattle Rearers Association of Nigeria (KACRAN), Hon. Khalil Mohammed Bello, when he and his entourage paid him a courtesy call in his office, in continuation of the association’s community-to-community peace sensitization campaign in the state.

In addition to his previous excellent performances with regards to providing his pastoralists with water points. The executive chairman also promised to provide more water points for Potiskum local government herders in the 2025 fiscal year.

The national president called on the pastoralists in the Potiskum local government area and its environs to continue to live in peace with one another by avoiding the destruction of anybody’s farmlands.

According to Khalil Bello, the sensitization is part of the proactive measures taken by the association to prevent herder and farmer conflicts in the state and the nation in general.

The national president reinstated the need for harders not to destroy farmlands during the ongoing harvesting period and noted that pastoralists and farmers are partners in progress.

Khalil Mohammed Bello acknowledges the government’s commitment under the able leadership of His Excellency, the Executive Governor Hon. Mai Mala Buni CON, towards ending the premium crises between farmers and cattle rearers in the state.

He appreciates the warm reception and the hospitality accorded to him and members of his entourage by the executive chairman of the council, Hon. Salisu Muktari, and the people of the Potiskum local government area.

Speaking earlier, the Executive Chairman of Potiskum local government area, Hon. Salisu Muktari, assured the readiness of the local government council towards supporting the association to achieve its desired objectives.

The chairman pledged to construct more water points for pastoralists in the area and call on the leadership of the Kulen Allah Cattle Rearers Association of Nigeria (KACRAN) to identify the point where the water facilities will be constructed.

Chairman Potiskum LG commended on providing a water point to herders

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Governor Buni vows to complete all projects in Yobe

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Governor Buni vows to complete all projects in Yobe

By: Yahaya Wakili

Governor Mai Mala Buni CON of Yobe state has vowed that the government would hasten the completion of all ongoing projects, initiate new ones, and ensure the timely completion of all, in fulfillment of our campaign promises.

The governor disclosed this today while signing the finance and appropriation bills into law at the Banquet Hall, Government House, Damaturu.

He assured the people of the state that this administration is committed to judicious use and investment of our resources in people-oriented programs and projects, especially education, healthcare delivery, agriculture, infrastructural development, wealth creation, and empowerment to stimulate economic growth.

“We have identified and mapped out some rich agricultural, livestock, and other natural potentials for international investment to generate employment opportunities and wealth creation, he said.

The governor drew the attention of supervising engineers attached to government projects, adding that your attachment to these projects is to protect government interests.

He revealed that the state government is implementing the #70,000 minimum wage salary structure; this means there is an increase in the wage bill and a decrease in our balance. In addition, the government employed 15 graduates from each of the 178 political wards, totaling 2,670, and provided cash support to flood victims and small- and medium-scale entrepreneurs to stimulate economic growth online with our policy of employment generation.

“This administration has instituted a strong policy of accountability and transparency in governance. Yobe state was scored as the best-performing state in transparency and accountability in Nigeria to clinch the prestigious World Bank-assisted State Fiscal Transparency, Accountability, and Sustainability (SIFTAS) award.

For the newly sworn-in Board Chairmen, the governor said you are appointed based on merit. You should, therefore, bring your wealth of experience to bear to add value in your respective organizations and the government of Yobe State in general.

The 500 beneficiaries who were trained in the production of soaps, detergents, charcoal, shoes, and disinfectants mark a significant milestone in our administration’s commitments to our recovery program by rebuilding livelihoods, strengthening economic resilience, and fostering stability for a brighter future for these communities.

He maintained that the participants equipped with skills to promote self-reliance and local entrepreneurship, and each beneficiary will receive a cash grant of #100,000 and a start-up kit to launch their business for sustainable income generation. This program empowers women and youth, who constitute 70% of beneficiaries, respectively.

Governor Buni urges the beneficiaries to make good use of this opportunity and to inspire others with your success.

Governor Buni vows to complete all projects in Yobe

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I Am Pained Over Loss of Lives in Maitama, Okija Stampedes, says Women Affairs Minister

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I Am Pained Over Loss of Lives in Maitama, Okija Stampedes, says Women Affairs Minister

*says incidences avoidable

By: Michael Mike

Minister of Women Affairs, Hajiya Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, has lamented the losses of lives in Maitama, Abuja and at Okija, in Anambra State during food distribution drives by private institutions aimed at supporting the people as they celebrate the festive season.

The minister expressed deep grief describing the gestures of the donors as laudable, but condemned the crowd management approaches adopted.

In a statement on Saturday by her media team, Sulaiman-Ibrahim stated that they were avoidable incidences, and prayed for the repose of their lives, and speedy recovery for those injured.

While condoling with with the FCT Minister, His Excellency Nyesom Wike and the Anambra State Governor, Professor Charles Soludo, the minister called for thorough investigations into the incidences in order to forestall future occurrences.

The minister emphasized the need for crowd assessment which involves estimating the number of recipients and planning accordingly as a pre-event measure.

She also admonished Nigerians who are planning similar distributions to choose spacious, open areas with minimal obstacles, adding that distributions should be scheduled at a time when the crowd is likely to be smaller.

The statement reads in parts : “I am deeply pained by the news of stampedes in Abuja and Okija in Anambra State today. As a mother, I understand the pain of loosing anyone in death under such horrible circumstances. I join the families and governments of the FCT and Anambra State in this distressing moments, and feels the pains of those directly affected.

“These incidences are avoidable if adequate safety measures are put in place. I hereby call on security agencies to investigate these cases in order to forestall future occurrences.

“By implementing the above measures, the risk of stampedes during food distribution would be minimized.

I Am Pained Over Loss of Lives in Maitama, Okija Stampedes, says Women Affairs Minister

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