News
FG Commences Drafting of Nigeria’s Circular Economy Roadmap Framework

FG Commences Drafting of Nigeria’s Circular Economy Roadmap Framework
By: Michael Mike
The federal government has commenced important step towards drafting the nation’s Circular Economy Roadmap Framework to guide Nigeria’s transition to a more circular economy in the short, medium and long terms (2023-2050).
Speaking during the Stakeholders Validation Workshop of Nigeria Circular Economy Roadmap in Abuja, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Environment, Ibrahim Idris noted that Nigeria with a population of over 200 million people generates about 32 million tons of solid waste per year, with little or no segregation is illegally dumped in open spaces or co disposed off with hazardous wastes in dumpsites and burnt openly.
He decried that: “These unwholesome practices have been linked to perennial flash floods across the country, increased respiratory and cardiovascular diseases, increased incidences of cancer, loss of aquatic life, loss in agricultural productivity, etc.”
He however said the large volume of waste being generated in the country presents circular economy business opportunities across the waste management value chain which should be properly harnessed for job/wealth creation, establishment of micro, small and medium scale enterprises, private sector investment including foreign direct investment.
The Permanent Secretary who was represented by Director, Human Resources in the Ministry, Lawrence Adigwe revealed that in order for Nigeria to benefit from it circular economy potentials,, a study on ‘Nigeria’s Transition to Green Economy: Linking Circular Economy and Natural Capital for Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Investment’ was commissioned with support from African Development Bank (AfDB), the Government of Netherlands and the African Green Growth & Development Forum (AGDF) as part of the process for the development of the Nigerian Circular Economy Programme (NCEP).
He said the scope of the study is basically to carry out feasibility studies of all Circular Economy and Natural Capital Accounting Activities in the country and develop a Circular Economy Roadmap Framework to guide Nigeria’s transition to a more circular economy in the short, medium and long terms (2023-2050).
He disclosed that the European Union through the Switch to Green facility is providing support for the development of the Nigeria Circular Roadmap and the stakeholders inception workshop was held on 17th August, 2023 during which the draft Roadmap was presented to stakeholders for their comments and contribution.
He told the participants at the workshop that “it is on this note that you are here today to validate the Nigeria Circular Economy Roadmap as part of the process for its Development to support Nigeria’s transition to circular economy.
He added that “this workshop is apt and coming at time when the global community including Nigeria is making concerted efforts in innovative resource management through circular economy practices.
“As you aware, the Federal Ministry of Environment in collaboration with critical stakeholders has established the Nigeria Circular Economy Programme as part of its efforts to promote the adoption of circular economy in Nigeria as a model of sustainable development in which the productive use of resources is enhanced overtime, wastes reduced and jobs created.”
Nigeria’s population is currently growing at 2.59% annually. This makes Nigeria the fastest growing population of any country and is estimated to reach 400 million people by 2050, which will make it the world’s third most populous country. The demographics of Nigeria’s population show that 63% of the population is currently 24 years or younger.
Although categorized as a middle-income country, Nigeria’s poverty and human development indicators, as well as its current performance with respect to implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) is deteriorating. Nigeria’s massive population growth exceeded its GDP growth, and that divide will likely widen. Diversifying the economy beyond oil, creating opportunities and empowering young people, women and girls will be vital to overcome these challenges. Nigeria has a population of over 200 million with a median age of 18.1 years old and more than 60% of the population is under the age of 25. Thus, the political, economic and social development of Nigeria will largely depend on the ability to provide young Nigerians with opportunities for employment, education and health, and access to the decision-making processes.
FG Commences Drafting of Nigeria’s Circular Economy Roadmap Framework
News
Tipper truck kills several traders in Jalingo market crash

Tipper truck kills several traders in Jalingo market crash
By: Zagazola Makama
A tragic road accident occurred on Saturday at the popular Mile 6 Market in Jalingo, Taraba State, when a tipper truck loaded with shaft sand lost control and rammed into a crowd of traders and shoppers.

Zagazola learnt the incident, which happened around midday, resulted in multiple fatalities and left several others injured. The exact number of casualties is yet to be confirmed as emergency responders continue rescue operations and assessment of the scene.

Sourcessaid the truck was speeding when one of its front tyres suddenly burst, causing the driver to lose control. The vehicle veered into the busy market area, knocking down people and structures along its path.

“It happened so fast,” said Musa Ibrahim, a local vendor. “The truck was on speed and after the tyre burst, the driver couldn’t control it. It just rammed into the crowd.”
Security operatives and medical personnel arrived swiftly at the scene to evacuate the injured to nearby hospitals. The body of the deceased has also been recovered, while efforts are ongoing to identify victims and notify their families.

The driver of the truck has been apprehended and is currently in custody as investigations continue into the cause of the crash.
End
Crime
Former Footballer, 4 Others Arrested, Over 22.6kg Cocaine, Meth Seized at Lagos, Enugu Airports

Former Footballer, 4 Others Arrested, Over 22.6kg Cocaine, Meth Seized at Lagos, Enugu Airports
…72-year-old Grandma, Beninese, Ithers Nabbed in NDLEA Raids in Delta, Kwara, Lagos
By: Michael Mike
Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have arrested a former football player Segun George Hunkarin along with his businessman partner Ntoruka Chinedu over attempt to smuggle a consignment of cocaine into Nigeria through the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos.
According to a statement on Sunday by the spokesman of the NDLEA, Femi Babafemi, Chinedu who is a frequent flyer known for conveying clothes from Turkey to Nigeria and foodstuffs from Nigeria to Turkey, was the first to be arrested upon his arrival at the Lagos airport last Tuesday, when his carry-on bag was searched, 37 wraps of cocaine weighing 800 grammes were seen to be concealed therein.

Babafemi said investigation showed that the suspect was coming from Turkey on Ethiopian Airlines flight but transited through Addis Ababa, Ethiopia where he collected the luggage from another person before heading to Nigeria.
He said further checks revealed that an accomplice who turned out to be the former professional footballer, Segun Hunkarin, was waiting for Chinedu at the airport carpark to collect the consignment from him. Hunkarin who had stayed years in Brazil playing for football clubs was promptly tracked and arrested at the carpark.

In his statement, Hunkarin was said to have claimed that while playing professional football in the South American country, he had only trafficked drugs twice from Brazil to Ethiopia but has never brought any to Nigeria.
Another Europe based businessman Amen Okoro was last Friday arrested by NDLEA operatives at the Lagos airport while attempting to traffic 5,000 pills of tramadol 225mg packaged as known malaria drugs such as Lonart, Amatem and Aluktem to Spain.
He was intercepted at the departure hall of terminal 2 of the airport during the outward clearance of passengers on Royal Air Maroc flight to Spain through Casablanca.

Babafemi said Okoro, who is into freight and logistics business between Europe and Nigeria, claimed that on his arrival in Spain, he would have taken a train to France where he resides and from there send the tramadol consignment to Italy for retailing.
At the Akanu Ibiam International Airport (AIIA) Enugu, Babafemi said NDLEA operatives last Friday intercepted a Maputo, Mozambique based bar attendant Ezenwaka Chibuzor. A search of his luggage led to the discovery of 17 cardboard size parcels of methamphetamine weighing 17.500 kilogrammes and three parcels of cocaine weighing 3.05 kilogrammes.
He revealed that the 38-year-old suspect was coming from Johannesburg, South Africa via Addis Ababa, Ethiopia on Ethiopian Airlines flight when he was interdicted and subjected to a search during which the illicit drugs concealed in bedsheets packed in his bags were discovered.
He noted that another passenger on board the same Ethiopian Airlines flight, 54-year-old Azu Kpodar was also intercepted at the Enugu airport by NDLEA operatives. When Azu, who arrived from Sao Paulo, Brazil, was searched, a liquid soap plastic container marked YPE, was discovered in his luggage. The substance was promptly taken for analysis at the NDLEA forensic and chemical laboratory, Enugu where the substance tested positive to cocaine.

The substance which turned out to be liquid cocaine weighed 1.250 kilogrammes, the
suspect who is a toy seller in Brinquedo, Sao Paulo, Brazil, claimed he purchased while shopping for his wedding ceremony in Nigeria.
NDLEA operatives at the Seme border area of Badagry in Lagos last Tuesday intercepted a 26-year-old Beninese Vode Jean-Luck while trying to smuggle 69 balls of skunk, a strain of cannabis with a gross weight of 29.5 kilogrammes from Benin Republic into Nigeria.
In Kwara state, a notorious drug dealer Mary Oladele (a.k.a Iya Nafi) was arrested last Wednesday when NDLEA operatives raided her base in Omu-Aran in Irepodun local government area of the state where various quantities of skunk, tramadol and flunitrazepam were recovered from her.
Babafemi said a 72-year-old grandma Mrs. Christy Ejaro was last Tuesday arrested by NDLEA operatives at Niger CAT area of Warri, Delta state, with several sachets of skunk packaged in retail size recovered from her.
The spokesman said the War Against Drug Abuse, WADA, social advocacy activities by NDLEA commands equally continued across the country in the past week.
Meanwhile, the Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (Rtd), while commending the officers and men of MMIA, AIIA, Delta, Kwara, and Seme commands of the agency for the arrests and seizures of the past week, equally praised their counterparts in all the commands across the country for ensuring a fair balance between their drug supply reduction and drug demand reduction efforts.
Former Footballer, 4 Others Arrested, Over 22.6kg Cocaine, Meth Seized at Lagos, Enugu Airports
News
Armed bandits abduct resident in Bature Daji, in Niger narrowly miss vigilante target

Armed bandits abduct resident in Bature Daji, in Niger narrowly miss vigilante target
By: Zagazola Makama
Armed bandits in large numbers stormed Bature Daji community in Niger in the early hours of Saturday, abducting a resident while narrowly missing their original target, a local vigilante member.
Zagazola Makama gathered that the incident occurred around 5:30 a.m. when the attackers invaded the residence of one Dani, a known vigilante operative in the area. He was reportedly the primary target of the assault but managed to escape.
However, the gunmen kidnapped one Attahiru Ibrahim, popularly known as Sarki Daji, from the same neighborhood and whisked him away to an unknown destination.
Local sources revealed that the assailants later moved toward Gorogawu Village, a border community near the Republic of Benin, raising concerns of cross-border movement and security challenges.
A joint team of security forces, including military and other operatives, has launched a pursuit operation to rescue the victim and apprehend the attackers.
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