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Marwa Insists Drug Law Enforcement Needs to Keep Up with Dynamics of Crime

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Marwa Insists Drug Law Enforcement Needs to Keep Up with Dynamics of Crime

By: Michael Mike

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (Retd) said that the illicit drug landscape was a rapidly changing scene, and modern drug law enforcement had to keep up with the dynamics.

He gave the verdict at the training of journalists to scale up the fight against crimes of drug trafficking and wildlife in Nigeria, organized by the United Nations Office on Drug and Crimes (UNODC), and the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, (NDLEA).

Marwa said the media as a pivotal partner must be well informed on these changing trends.

Marwa at the training organized by the two agencies in partnership with the MacArthur Foundation, noted that: “There has been recent calls for training of journalists in various activities targeted at curbing abuse and trafficking of illicit substances.

“This also means is that such training should not only enhance the capacity of anti-drug agencies. It should also reform their systems and processes and instill in them the essence of best practices.”

He said that: “At NDLEA, we yearn for training and UNODC has been forthcoming, providing various capacity development trainings in the past three years.”

While reiterating the importance of journalists understanding key issues of public impact and reporting them in the proper context with regards to data interpretation, Country Representative of UNODC, Oliver Stolpe said data is essential to understanding the prevalence and frequency of science of issues of concern.

Stolpe while lamenting the impact of organized Wildlife Crime, said “I also would like to draw your attention to a much less cited study, which was on cannabis cultivation in Nigeria. It covered six states, it was published about two years ago, and it clearly established among many of the other things that there is a connection, a direct connection between deforestation and drug cultivation.

“We need to get better at reporting wildlife and forest crime. I’m really pleased to see that there is such a great interest in the topic.

“This is a topic that is very critical for Nigeria. It is a huge challenge much bigger than I think that we were aware of, even a few years ago when nobody was talking really about wildlife and forest crime.

Stolpe said UNODC’s principal collaboration with the media has been to ensure effective information through meaningful press releases, interviews and other media events.

He said: “We have always made sure that we are clearly distinguishing between crimes of drug trafficking, as opposed to the issue of drug use, which we consider primarily to be a health issue and that should be dealt with as such.

“Addiction is a health condition it is not a choice. And therefore, people that suffer addiction also can be in possession of drugs.

“They should be principally dealt with as as patients and should have access to the necessary treatment and counseling services that they require in order to overcome their respective drug use condition,” he said.

Marwa Insists Drug Law Enforcement Needs to Keep Up with Dynamics of Crime

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Coalition Of APC Youths  Groups Harps On Ambassador Musa Tsoken’s Contribution To APC

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Coalition Of APC Youths  Groups Harps On Ambassador Musa Tsoken’s Contribution To APC

By JABIRU A HASSAN

APC Youth Groups  Across Six-Geo Political Zones have commended the national president of the APC Initiative For Good Governance, (APC-IGG), Ambassador Musa Muhammed Tsoken for his utmost contribution towards the  APC victory during the 2023 general elections.

The groups made the commendation in a joint press statement issued to our correspondent by the APC Youths groups secretary general Alhaji Murtala Adamu at the end of their routine strategic meeting held Thursday in Kano.

“APC Youths Groups from the Six-Geo Political zones have found  Ambassador Musa Tsoken as a great contributor who worked with determination towards the success of the ruling party during the 2023 general elections and how he worked day and night to ensure that APC Remained in power for the actualization of genuine con tu unity” said the statement.

The groups coalition called on president Bola Ahmed Tinubu to reward Ambassador Musa Tsoken for his sacrifices and working for the promotion of All Progressive Congress at the time when the party is in need, and assured that Mr. Tsoken would certainly make more impacts to APC  especially at present when the gang up against the party  before the 2027 general elections is looming.

In conclusion, the APC Youths groups remind all bonafide members of the APC that Ambassador Musa Muhammed Tsoken together with some patriotic Party faithfuls mobilize the people to support and vote APC at wards, local governments states and at the National levels which has been a challenging task he carried despite many odds.

Coalition Of APC Youths  Groups Harps On Ambassador Musa Tsoken’s Contribution To APC

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UN Set to Host Peace Building Programme to Tackle Insecurity

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UN Set to Host Peace Building Programme to Tackle Insecurity

By: Michael Mike

The United Nations (UN) in Nigeria on Wednesday said its maiden peace-building programme tagged: “Summit of the future-new agenda for peace” is aimed at advancing measures at tackling security related issues.

UN Resident Humanitarian Coordinator in Nigeria, Mohamed Fall disclosed this during national stakeholders consultation in Abuja to map out strategies for the upcoming summit scheduled to hold from Sept.22 to 23, 2024 in New York.

The event organised by the UN in collaboration with Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution (IPCR) seeks to promote the use of dialogue as tool in tackling security challenges.

Fall said although Nigeria is Africa’s most populous nation, it has role to play as regional power in shaping regional and global agenda on peace and security.

He said: “There are a number of idioms that notes how crucial Nigeria is to the subcontinent and the world, the most notable is the following “when Nigeria sneezes, the whole continent fall sick”.

He noted that the promotion of peace and security is central to the UN and enshrined in the organisation’s Charter to save generations from the scourge of conflict.

According to him, dialogue has become important toward supporting Nigeria capture and articulate efforts in tackling peace and security challenges.

He added that: “The new agenda for peace is a fresh look at the changing security landscape and a call to reinvigorate collective security system based on principles of trust, solidarity and universality.

“The agenda stresses importance of preventive diplomacy to tackle poverty, inequalities, climate change and closing development gaps that lead to conflict in the first place.

“This would strengthen both the regional peace architecture and the global framework for addressing contemporary threats to peace and security across Africa.

“By assertively participating in these high-level deliberations, Nigerian stakeholders can amplify their nation’s voice and advocate tailored solutions that better reflects realities on the ground,” Fall said.

On his part, the Director-General of IPCR, Dr Joseph Ochogwu, underscored the need for stronger international cooperation among institutions and relevant stakeholders to tackle spate of violent conflicts.

According to him, it has become imperative to tackle root causes of conflict, prevent crises before they escalate and build equitable world for all.

“As we reflect on the profound challenges that confront us, we must recognise the critical role of solidarity in fostering sense of shared responsibility and mutual support.

“As we embark on new agenda for peace, let us heed the call for unity, compassion and collective action, the challenges we face may be daunting but they are not insurmountable.

“Only by embracing this paradigm shift where peacebuilding is viewed as everybody’s business, can we truly create the conditions for lasting peace and security.

“The time to act is now before these threats escalate and engulf us, let us rise to the occasion and fulfill our responsibility as stewards of peace and security for all,”

UN Set to Host Peace Building Programme to Tackle Insecurity

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Nigeria Currently Working on Deepening Bilateral Relations with US, Says Tuggar

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Nigeria Currently Working on Deepening Bilateral Relations with US, Says Tuggar

By: Michael Mike

Minister of Foreign Affairs, Amb. Yusuf Tuggar has revealed that Nigeria is currently working to deepen bilateral relations with the United States in line President Bola Tinubu’s Nigeria’s foreign policy thrust and initiatives.

Tuggar, made the revelation at the 248th U.S. independence anniversary dinner organized by the U.S. Embassy in Abuja on Tuesday.

The Minister who was represented by the Director of Regions in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Amb. Janet Olisa, said deepening Nigeria-U.S. ties would further cement their many years of cooperation and friendship.

The minister noted that the signing of the Nigeria-U.S. Binational Cooperation was one of the major foreign policy initiatives of the Tinubu administration that would be strengthened, while others would be explored.

He noted that Nigeria-U.S. bilateral relations had been nurtured over the years with various cooperations that have strengthened their ties.

He said: “Since our independence, we have been two nations that have continued to watch our friendship, our bond, and cooperation very tightly.

“One of the major things that happened this year was the Nigeria-U.S. Binational Cooperation agreement, and it is a testament of how important and cordial our relationship is.

“The Secretary of State just left Nigeria not too long ago. And to ensure that we had a smooth running, the Deputy Secretary of State, who had just been confirmed, hurried up to Nigeria to ensure that we had a very successful by Binational.”

The minister said that there were several other agreements and cooperations with the U.S. that Nigeria was looking into with a view to deepening and strengthening them.
“We are also looking into security, which is key to the African nation and very key to Nigeria. We are looking at strengthening the security bond between us we are thankful for all the security cooperation that we receive,” he said.

The Minister also expressed Nigeria’s gratitude to the U.S. for the various interventions in the country’s health sector challenges.

He said: “We are also grateful that in the Ministry of Health, we’ve been able to get some collaborations as well in all the AIDS programmes that have been going on.

“That is the bond of friendship, as we welcome also the incoming ambassador. We know he’s going to have a wonderful time here. I must say that we Nigerians are a people that have always understood the importance of nationhood.

“Nationhood is key to us and for that our security cannot be taken for granted. So I wish you all a very fruitful celebration and we join you to say Happy Independence.”

Speaking earlier, Amb. Richard Mills, the newly appointed U.S. Ambassador to Nigeria, said the two countries were two proud federal republics that shared a commitment to democracy and freedom.

He said that they both shared the belief that was expressed in the US Declaration of Independence 248 years ago, adding that every Nigerian and U.S. citizen shared in the right to life to liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

“As I settle into Abuja and into my role as the 22nd U.S. Ambassador to Nigeria, I look forward to meeting with many of you and how we will work together to strengthen our ties.”

Also speaking, Amb. David Greene, U.S. Embassy’s Deputy Head of Mission and Charge d’Affairs, said that the occasion was an opportunity to take a quick look at the state of the two nations’ ties, particularly given the incredible momentum in their relationship.

The U.S. envoy disclosed that there are 700,000 Nigerians living and working in the U.S., saying it underscored the significance of the U.S.-Nigeria people-to-people ties, which is the bedrock of the relationship.

Greene added that: “Our bond has always been strong. But lately it feels like we’re really sprinting forward together to make Nigerians and Americans more secure, more healthy, more prosperous.”

Nigeria Currently Working on Deepening Bilateral Relations with US, Says Tuggar

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