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Chinese Envoy Advised West Africa Leaders to Resist External Interference

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Chinese Envoy Advised West Africa Leaders to Resist External Interference#

By; Michael Mike

The Chinese envoy to Nigeria, Ambassador Yu Dunhai has called on political leaders in West Africa to resist all forms of external interference.

Yu, speaking on Friday in Abuja at an exchange programme between students from Tsinghua University of China and University of Abuja, with theme “Civilizational Exchange and Mutual Learning between China and Nigeria.”

He said: “I looked at the security situation now in West Africa. I know that many people are very much concerned. But one principle I believe that is very important is that we should object to any foreign interference in the region.

“But particularly by any major powers. I think, you know, for civilisation, exchange, and mutual learning, there are two principles that we need to follow. Because it’s very important.

“I think we should respect equality, equity, and peace. All civilisation is equal. We don’t believe that there is any civilisation that is secure and empowered. Because each civilisation grows from its own national condition. For instance, the civilisation of the United States. It grows from the real condition of this country.”

Yu also called for improved communication and exchange between his country and Nigeria.

He said: “The first partnership action is the people-to-people exchange and mutual learning. That’s why I believe that today we have to build and improve our communication and exchange in combination to this very important topic. Why is the people-to-people exchange so important? Because countries’ relations eventually boil down to people-to-people exchanges.

“Nigeria is very much blessed with rich resources, huge development potential.
So, I see there is great potential for the development of Nigeria.

“I believe that people-to-people exchange creates the foundation for our bilateral relations. Because while China and Europe are bilateral relations, it’s not only about government-to-government relations. It’s not only about business.
But eventually, it’s people-to-people relations. Over the years, China and Nigeria have carried out a lot of cultural exchanges. For instance, we co-hosted the Cultural Week of China and Nigeria.

“We hosted the Chinese Festival event. And we invited Chinese artists to come to Nigeria to work together with Nigerian artists. And we established a cultural centre in our respective countries.

“And we know the Chinese cultural centre is very active here in our region. And, of course, the universities of our two countries jointly established two cultural centres in Nigeria.”

He stated that China and Nigeria share a lot of similarities, saying “We have a lot of common values. The first one is that I find that in Nigeria and China, we are both disarming countries.

“We do not believe in war. For instance, I have studied the history of Nigeria. Since the founding of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Nigeria has never been involved in a war. And if you look at China, it’s the same. Since the founding of the People’s Republic of China, we have never initiated a war with the other countries.

“Both China and Nigeria believe in peace for several decades. 2,000 years ago, there was a Chinese philosopher. You know, who wrote the article? And he believed that the war should always be peaceful and non-violent.

“Security is best when you can thwart your enemies through tele-machines. For instance, if you look at the map of China, it’s very much different compared to the map of Nigeria. Because China, the boundaries exist.

##“You know, because we have 2,000 years of history, we have a lot of issues with our neighbouring countries. So when the People’s Republic of China was founded, we had border issues with each and every neighbouring country we have borders with on the land. And over the past 70 years, we have resolved all these border issues.That’s one level. First, peaceful means.”
“And that actually really reflects that China is a country, a naturalised country, that we love. We don’t believe in war. We don’t believe in conflict.

“And the second similarity is that both China and Nigeria are peaceful. And we have splendid cultures. Nigeria is the region, the culture, the civilisation, the region of Africa.

“And the third point is, both China and Nigeria have very much multi-ethnic cultures. Nigeria has the most ethnic groups in the world. Over 250, I would say.
And China, we have 56 ethnic groups. And these people live together peacefully. People respect this diversity.And we live together in harmony.

“And of course, the fourth one, the similarity I identified is, both Nigeria and China, we won our national independence partly.

“Because both China and Nigeria were invaded, colonised, even divided by the Western powers. And we won our independence with a lot of struggle and fight. That’s why we cherish our sovereignty.”

The envoy also spoke about the gains of diversity, saying respect for diversity is tue beckon upon which unity is built.

“The first one, I believe that we should respect diversity as our nation. The world is diversified. I mean, the beauty of the world actually lies in its diversity.

“Each country is unique. As a diplomat, I have been privileged to travel to over 70 countries all over the world. And being in a travel group in so many places, I always find that each country is unique.

“And each country, the civilisation of each country is inherently tied with the global civilisation. And also make contributions to human civilisation, to the development and progress of humanity. Imagine that if there is only one language, if there is only one music, if there is only one culture in the whole world, what could, you know, how poor could it be? You know, you couldn’t imagine.

“We believe that we live in a global environment. That we live in a world of independence. That’s why the Chinese presidency wants to push forward the idea of building a community with a shared future for all mankind.”

Chinese Envoy Advised West Africa Leaders to Resist External Interference

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Why we rehabilitate over 100 moribund boreholes, other projects in Hawul LGA…… Says Chair

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One of the over 100 broken down boreholes hitherto rehabilitated by Chairman Hawul LGA, Hon. Hussaini Malgwi

Why we rehabilitate over 100 moribund boreholes, other projects in Hawul LGA…… Says Chair

By Ndahi Marama

The Executive Chairman of Hawul local government area in Borno state, Hon. Hussaini Malgwi has said, his administration in the last two years embarked on rehabilitation of over 100 malfunctional and abandoned boreholes in order to provide citizenry with portable drinking water.

Malgwi disclosed this Yesterday in an interview with Journalists about his stewardship in office.

He said, when he assumed the mantle of leadership as Chairman, he realized that portable water supply remained one of the major challenges affecting his people at the grassroots, therefore, his administration embarked on massive rehabilitation of existing but malfunctional boreholes.

“Clean water is wealth and good for healthy living, unfortunately, when i took over the mantle of leadership, most of the existing public boreholes across the 12 Wards of the Council were broken down or neglected, which prompted my attention to quickly declare state of emergency by rehabilitating most of the motorized and hand pump boreholes in Kida, Kinging, Sakwa, Horva, Gumshim Marama, Shaffa, Hema, Ghuma, Yimirshika, Sabon Kasuwa among other Wards too numerous to mention”. Malgwi said.

He said apart from rehabilitating boreholes, several blocks of classrooms with offices stores, toilets and other educational projects were carried out and completed visibly located at Sakwa Central Primary School and Wadar community of Bulumgwi Ward, while others are still ongoing.

The Chairman also explained that, construction of blocks of seven shops, space open stalls, 3 compartment and men/female toilets were executed each in Marama/Pakilama town Market, Mbulatawiwi, Whitambaya, Sabon Kasuwa communities, in addition to the Construction of a befitting Male.and Female Ward, Nurses Office, Labour Room and toilets at Domchaba, Grim Domchaba Ward to enhance public Health at the primary level.

On security and safety, Malgwi revealed that, his administration has procured and distributed new motorcycles to members of the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF), hunters, and other security agencies in the council, which according to him aided in restoration of peace, safety of lives and property in Hawul.

Other areas of intervention he added, include provision of agricultural inputs such as pesticides and fertilizers at subsidized rate, provision of access rural roads linking new grain market and Azare Fulani at Mbulatawiwi, Gongzang/Chata Ward, and the ongoing construction of Directors and Supervisory Councillors offices at the Council Secretariat in Azare town as well as execution of Mini Fire Service Station, construction of 620 Metre perimeter fence and security room at New Governor’s lodge were carried out.

The Chairman noted that most of these achievements were inline with Governor Babagana Zulum’s 10- Pact Transformation Agenda (PTA) and 25- Year Development Plan.

He then called on the people of the area to give their maximum support and cooperation to the present administration which is poised to ensure inclusivity and provision of social infrastructures to its people devoid of political or religious inclination.

Why we rehabilitate over 100 moribund boreholes, other projects in Hawul LGA…… Says Chair

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Entire Staff of NIMC Undergo Capacity Building

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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

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

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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

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