Entire Staff of NIMC Undergo Capacity Building

By: Michael Mike

All 3,780 staff members of the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) have embarked on capacity building aimed at top service delivery.

According to a statement by the spokesman of the Commission, Dr. Kayode Adegoke, the

training, which is across all departments and units of the Commission, in line with the directive of President Bola Tinubu, on staff capacity building across Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs).

Adegoke said it is on record that since the inception of NIMC, staff training and capacity building have been at their lowest ebb. However, the arrival of Engr. (Dr.) Abisoye Coker-Odusote, as the DG/CEO of NIMC, has changed the trajectory of events.

He added that across the country, in states and local government areas, all NIMC staff, irrespective of cadre, have undergone or are still undergoing capacity building to deliver on the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Tinubu’s administration. Adegoke said staff nationwide, elated at this new era of enhanced capacity building, could not hide their joy as they sincerely appreciated Engr. (Dr.) Abisoye Coker-Odusote for her sterling, transformational, and visionary leadership.

He said since assuming office, Engr. Coker-Odusote has not only transformed NIMC but has also initiated several welfare initiatives that have boosted staff morale. These include the distribution of over 2,500 enrollment devices to aid data capturing, securing Federal Government approval and implementation for a 25%–35% salary increment for staff of the Commission, payment of extra transport allowance and providing free buses to cushion transport challenges for staff in the Headquarters, among many other staff welfare-oriented initiatives.

He noted that staff from the States and local government offices deeply appreciated Engr. (Dr.) Abisoye Coker-Odusote, for driving inclusive staff capacity building, promoting staff welfare, providing work tools and resources, providing modern furniture, boosting staff morale with unprecedented welfare packages, and building a workforce that delivers on the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu

Entire Staff of NIMC Undergo Capacity Building

Indian businessman, 3 others arrested over N3.9bn tramadol intercepted at Lagos airport

By: Michael Mike

An Indian businessman Gupta Ravi Kumar and three Nigerian accomplices: Ogunlana Noah Olanrewaju, Olushola Idrees Kayode and Bakare Korede Muheeb have been arrested by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in connection with the seizure of 2,248,000 pills of tramadol 200mg/225mg intercepted at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos.

The spokesman of the anti-narcotics agency, Femi Babafemi in a statement on Sunday, said the tramadol shipment worth N3,990,000,000 in street value was imported from Delhi, India, disguised as multi-vitamins in 114 cartons and arrived the import shed of the Lagos airport on Ethiopian Airline flight last Monday.

He said a team of NDLEA officers who had put the consignment under surveillance however swooped on a clearing agent and two drivers who were trying to move the shipment out of the airport in two trucks last Thursday, adding that a follow up operation the following day led to the arrest of the Indian businessman Gupta Ravi Kumar, when he was trying to take delivery of the consignment.

Babafemi said at the terminal 2 departure gate of the airport, NDLEA operatives on Sunday 7th September intercepted a passenger Onyeganochi Ifeanyi travelling on a Qatar Airline flight to Doha, stating that a search of his bag led to the recovery of 900 grammes of skunk, a strain of cannabis concealed in crayfish.

Onyeganochi, a first-time traveler, claimed the bag was given to him to help take to Doha by a Qatar-based Nigerian Ohadiegwu Uchenna who followed him to the airport.

He said his confession led to the arrest of Uchenna who was still within view. Operatives, who later conducted a search of Uchenna’s hotel room in Ajao estate discovered additional 200 grammes of the same psychoactive substance, and he claimed he was to return to Doha days later and pick the bag from the unsuspecting Onyeganochi if he had succeeded escaping security checks.

Babafemi said at the Tincan port in Lagos, a total of 161 parcels of Canadian Loud, a strain of cannabis weighing 81.7 kilogrammes and 1.2 kilogrammes hashish oil were recovered from a 40ft container of vehicle spare parts and used vehicles imported from Montreal Canada during a joint examination of the shipment last Tuesday. He disclosed that two suspects: John Ochigbo, 53, and Okeke Kingsley, 26, have been taken into custody in connection with the seizure.

Another shipment of Canadian Loud with a total weight of 65 kilogrammes was tracked from the port to Third Mainland bridge where NDLEA operatives intercepted a Toyota Sienna vehicle conveying the consignment, recovered it and arrested the driver Abubakar Ibrahim, 42 on Thursday 11th September.

Two separate shipments of methamphetamine concealed in picture frame and Loud, hidden in video players were seized at two courier companies in Lagos on Monday 8th and Thursday 11th September respectively by NDLEA operatives. While 6 grammes of meth recovered from the picture frame were meant for delivery in Gabon, 1.1 kilogrammes Loud in the decoder machines was heading to the United Arab Emirate.

In Ikorodu area of Lagos, NDLEA operatives acting on intelligence last Thursday raided a factory producing skuchies, a blend of cannabis and black currant drink. No less than 6,029 bottles of the new psychoactive substance and 4,232 kilogrammes of cannabis were recovered from the factory located in Caritas, Ibeshe area of Ikorodu while the factory manager Joy Awosika was arrested. Another suspect, Akeem Oriola was same day arrested in Mushin area of Lagos with 26 kilogrammes skunk.

In Abuja, NDLEA operatives on a stop and search operation at Utako area of the FCT last Thursday arrested a dispatch rider Godsplan Vincent, 29, while on a mission to distribute 50.7 grammes of cocaine and 66 grammes of Loud. Three female suspects: Faidat Azeez, 25; Alanu Fatimoh, 40, and Mojeed Taiwo, 25, were arrested in Lagbondoko and Akitan areas of Oyo town, Oyo State in connection with the seizure of 17 kilogrammes skunk found in their possession.

No fewer than 100,000 pills of tramadol 200mg/225mg were seized from a suspect Musa Shuaibu, 38, at Gadar Tamburawa, along Zaria – Kano road last Monday while

196 litres of Akuskura, a new psychoactive substance, were recovered from Abubakar Adamu, 35, at Na’ibawa area of Kano by NDLEA operatives who also seized 34.1 kilogrammes skunk, 493 tubes of rubber solution and 25 litres of ‘suck and die’, an NPS, from Basiru Umar, 18,

at Wailari area, Kumbotso LGA, Kano state last Thursday.

In Anambra state, a couple: Nzube Onyedika, 41, and Ebele Onyedika, 42, were arrested during a raid operation at Obosi where 13.9 kilogrammes Methamphetamine and 5.3 kilogrammes skunk were recovered from them while various quantities of meth, tramadol, swinol, heroin and skunk were seized from another suspect Nnamchi Tochukwu, 36.

In Yobe, a suspect Mohammed Auwal was arrested after 36 blocks of cannabis sativa weighing 22.1 kilogrammes were recovered from his residence at Gidan Talakawa area of Potiskum, while three trans-border drug traffickers: Kunyadi Ogbungbun, 24; Olalekan Adewale, 20; and Sanya Joshua,22, were nabbed with 394 kilogrammes skunk at Imeko area of Ogun State during a joint operation by NDLEA operatives with the police and local vigilante on Sunday 7th September. Three motorcycles used in conveying the illicit consignment were also recovered.

In Edo state, a total of 16,966.633 kilogrammes of skunk were destroyed on a cannabis plantation measuring 6.786653 hectares at Ugbogyi forest, Ovia South West local government area while 112 bags of processed cannabis weighing 1,176 kilogrammes were also recovered at the farm where four suspects: Ebenezer Ewang; Oshore John; Emmanuel Monday and David Sunday were arrested.

In like manner, Commands and formations of the agency across the country continued their War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitization activities to schools, worship centres, work places and communities among others in the past week.

Meanwhile, while commending the officers and men of MMIA, DOGI, Tincan, Lagos, Oyo, Edo, Kano, FCT, Anambra, Yobe, and Ogun commands for the arrests, and seizures, Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (Rtd) enjoined them and their colleagues across the country to continue with the ongoing balanced approach to the drug control efforts of the agency.

Indian businessman, 3 others arrested over N3.9bn tramadol intercepted at Lagos airport

UN Women Supports Musical Drama Addressing Gender, Social Issues

By: Michael Mike

The United Nations Women (UN Women) has supported the staging of a

musical stage play, “Bunk Talk: The Musical” in Abuja to raise awareness on sexual and gender-based violence, disability inclusion, mental health, and climate justice.

The production, put together by the Girl Child Value Support Initiative with support frrom the UN Women used drama, music, and dance to spotlight social issues through the nostalgic setting of Nigerian boarding school life.

The performance also employed the interactive Touch Tag method, encouraging audience members to actively engage and co-create solutions.

The Producer and Executive Director of the Girl Child Value Support Initiative, Precious Wakili, explained that her inspiration for using drama came from personal experiences.

According to her, drama remains a powerful tool to “transform minds, build people, and educate society.”

Wakili expressed optimism that the performance left a strong impression on the audience.

She said she expects everyone who watched to return home as advocates for the rights of women and girls.

On his part, the Director of the play, Sola Oyeniyi, described the production as a blend of avant-garde and Brechtian techniques, noting that his creative approach drew heavily on faith and inspiration.

For UN Women Programme Officer, Ibrahim Nurudeen, the play successfully challenged harmful cultural narratives, stressing that gender equality is not about women taking the place of men but about women and girls enjoying the same rights, dignity, and opportunities as their male counterparts.

He urged Nigerians to “become feminists” in order to reshape societal narratives and create a better future.

Programme Manager of the Girl Child Value Support Initiative, Owa Zuriel, said the production was not just entertainment but “a call to reflection, to action, and to justice.”

Zuriel emphasised that empowering girls with the space to dream and learn changes not only their lives but also the future of their families, communities, and the nation.

The cast highlighted key issues faced by young people in secondary schools, including bullying, early child marriage, gender-based abuse, and discrimination against persons with albinism.

The organisers say they expect the play to inspire the audience to become advocates for the rights of women, girls, and marginalized groups, as well as to challenge harmful norms across society.

UN Women Supports Musical Drama Addressing Gender, Social Issues