Inform EFCC, Police If You Have Proof I Stole Government Funds, Akpowowo Tells Critics

The Deputy Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly, Olorogun Barr Arthur Akpowowo, has challenged critics accusing him of financial misconduct to produce evidence and report him to law enforcement agencies if they believe he diverted or misappropriated government funds.

Akpowowo made the statement in an exclusive interview with Oasis Magazine on Thursday in Eku, Ethiope East Local Government Area of the state, while responding to allegations and political attacks against him ahead of the 2027 State House of Assembly election.

The lawmaker said he would not be intimidated by allegations of financial misconduct, stressing that anyone with credible evidence that he diverted public funds should approach the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) or the Nigeria Police Force.

“Some people are already throwing mud at me, saying that I ate government money, that they have not stolen government money before, and I dare to challenge them: if you know of any government money that is missing and it’s traceable to me, please bring EFCC or bring the Nigerian Police to come and arrest me,” he said.

‘Government Money Is Traceable’

Akpowowo also sought to clarify what he described as misconceptions about how government finances are handled, particularly the belief that political office holders have direct access to government cash.

According to him, public funds are subject to official processes and must be traceable.

“Government money is traceable. That is why they don’t pay cash,” he said, explaining that funds are transferred through official channels to ensure accountability.

He said that as a former commissioner, he never handled the ministry’s cheques because the Permanent Secretary, as the accounting officer, was responsible for the financial administration of the ministry.

“I never saw the cheque of the ministry that I presided over for three years,” he said.

Akpowowo explained that his role as commissioner was primarily political and administrative leadership, while the Permanent Secretary and Director of Finance handled the ministry’s financial processes.

‘We Don’t See Government Money in the House’

The Deputy Speaker said the same principle applies to the State House of Assembly.

He explained that the Assembly exercises the constitutional power of the purse through appropriation, while the executive implements the approved budget.

According to him, the House’s oversight responsibility includes monitoring how appropriated funds are spent by Ministries, Departments and Agencies.

He cited the 2026 budget as an example, explaining that the Assembly follows approved allocations to determine how funds earmarked for various sectors are utilised.

“We have approved, for example, 2026, we approved ₦1.6 trillion for this year’s budget. So, we follow the ₦1.6 trillion. Where is the money we approved for agriculture? How have you spent it? The ministry will tell us,” he said.

He added that ministries are expected to account for their expenditure, including projects executed and funds remaining.

“That is oversight,” he said.

‘Government Money Is Spirit’

Akpowowo also dismissed claims that lawmakers routinely collect large amounts of cash from Government House.

He recalled an occasion when someone allegedly told him that lawmakers were given money at Government House on Fridays and carried it away in the boots of their official vehicles.

He said he challenged the person to open his vehicle boot and search for the alleged money.

According to him, the person found only shoes and clothes in the boot.

Akpowowo said such stories were based on misconceptions about the workings of government.

“Government money is spirit. Handless, that’s the fact,” he said jokingly.

‘My Salary Is Not a Secret’

The Deputy Speaker also rejected the perception that public office holders conceal their earnings.

He said he had never hidden his salary as a lawmaker and that people around him were aware of what he earns.

Akpowowo recalled his earlier experience as a commissioner, saying that during the COVID-19 period he disclosed to a journalist that his salary at the time was ₦404,000.

He said the other official fund available to his office was an imprest, which was shared among the commissioner, Permanent Secretary and directors in the ministry.

He maintained that the reality of public office finances was different from the assumptions held by some members of the public.

Calls for Evidence-Based Politics

Akpowowo urged political opponents to focus on issues and avoid what he described as mudslinging during the election season.

He said that if anyone genuinely believed a public officer had stolen or diverted government funds, the appropriate action was to report the matter to law enforcement agencies with evidence.

“If you know anybody that embezzled government funds or that diverted government funds, your duty as a citizen—good citizen—is to go to the law enforcement agents to complain,” he said.

The Deputy Speaker said he would continue to defend his reputation through lawful means, noting that his legal training had made him aware of his rights.

He warned that he would not hesitate to seek legal redress against individuals who deliberately defame or blackmail him.

‘Let the Campaign Be Issue-Based’

The lawmaker reiterated his commitment to an issue-based campaign ahead of the 2027 election.

He said political candidates should tell the electorate what they had achieved and what they intended to do, rather than resorting to personal attacks.

Akpowowo said the official campaign period for State House of Assembly candidates would commence on September 9, according to the timetable he referenced during the interview.

He expressed confidence in his record and urged his opponents to allow the people to judge candidates based on their performance, integrity and plans for the future.

He said he remained prepared to engage his opponents politically when the campaign officially begins, but would continue to focus on issues and his record of service to the people of Ethiope East.

Inform EFCC, Police If You Have Proof I Stole Government Funds, Akpowowo Tells Critics

NESREA Seals Four Nasarawa Facilities Over Pollution, EIA Violations

By: Michael Mike

The Federal Government has intensified its crackdown on environmentally harmful industrial activities, with the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA) sealing four facilities in Nasarawa State over alleged breaches of environmental regulations.

The latest enforcement action, carried out on Thursday by the agency’s Karu Operational Office, affected ABZAT Quarry, Hoafong Mining Trading Company Ltd, Emono Venture and Mivanyi Integrated Farms.

NESREA said the facilities were shut down for offences ranging from air pollution to failure to possess required environmental management documents, including Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA).

The operation was led by the Head of Operations of the Karu Operational Office, Mr Da’am Monday.

The agency’s action is significant given the environmental risks associated with quarrying, mining and other industrial activities, particularly their potential impact on air quality, land, water resources and the health of communities hosting such operations.

Nigeria’s environmental regulatory framework specifically provides for the control of pollution from quarrying and blasting operations. NESREA’s regulations on the sector are designed to control the effects of such activities on the environment and human health while promoting responsible exploitation of natural resources.

Similarly, the agency maintains specific regulations governing air quality, with the stated objective of improving air quality and protecting human health, flora, fauna and other resources from deterioration caused by air pollutants.

The Nasarawa enforcement comes against the backdrop of growing regulatory attention to pollution and environmental degradation associated with industrial and extractive activities across the country.

NESREA, established under the 2007 Act, is empowered to enforce Nigeria’s environmental laws, standards, guidelines and regulations and to prohibit activities and processes capable of undermining environmental quality.

In recent years, the agency has increasingly resorted to sealing non-compliant facilities rather than allowing operators to continue activities while disregarding environmental requirements.

In September 2025, for instance, NESREA sealed 29 facilities across Ekiti, Osun and Ogun States, citing environmental pollution and regulatory breaches. The agency said some of the affected recycling operations posed serious health risks because of hazardous waste generated from their processes.

The agency has also taken enforcement action against quarrying operations in the Federal Capital Territory. In February 2026, NESREA shut a quarry in Abuja following a fatal blasting incident involving a 10-year-old boy, with officials stressing that the quarry had previously been sealed as part of enforcement efforts.

The pattern has underscored a central challenge for environmental regulation in Nigeria: balancing economic activities such as mining, quarrying, construction and manufacturing with the obligation to prevent pollution and protect communities.

The issue of environmental documentation is particularly important in the latest Nasarawa action.

An Environmental Impact Assessment is intended to identify and evaluate the potential environmental consequences of projects before or during their implementation and to provide a framework for mitigating harmful effects.

NESREA has repeatedly cited failure to conduct or obtain the necessary environmental assessments among violations that have led to facility closures. In an earlier enforcement operation, the agency sanctioned construction facilities for lacking required environmental documents, including Environmental Impact Statements and Environmental Audit Reports.

For quarrying operations, environmental controls also cover issues such as air pollution, noise pollution, spills and leaks, environmental management plans and emissions associated with quarry operations.

Against this background, the sealing of the four Nasarawa facilities signals that regulatory compliance is being treated as an operational requirement rather than an optional administrative formality.

NESREA reiterated its commitment to enforcing environmental laws and regulations across the country, warning facilities to adopt environmentally responsible practices and deploy the best available technology in their operations.

The agency said the enforcement exercise demonstrated its resolve to safeguard the environment, protect public health and promote sustainable development.

The latest action therefore sends a wider message to operators in Nigeria’s mining, quarrying, agricultural and industrial sectors: economic activity will not be allowed to override environmental obligations, particularly where pollution or regulatory violations could expose surrounding communities to health and environmental risks.

NESREA’s continuing enforcement drive also places renewed focus on the need for industries to obtain the necessary environmental approvals, maintain proper environmental management systems and ensure that their operations meet prescribed national standards before and during production.

NESREA Seals Four Nasarawa Facilities Over Pollution, EIA Violations

NDLEA Moves to Standardise Drug Rehabilitation, Trains Over 100 Counsellors Nationwide

By: Michael Mike

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has commenced a nationwide capacity-building programme for its counsellors as part of efforts to standardise treatment and rehabilitation services for people affected by substance use disorders.

The first phase of the training, being held at the NDLEA Academy in Jos, Plateau State, has brought together more than 100 counsellors drawn from the agency’s formations across the country.

The exercise, coordinated by the Directorate of Counselling, Treatment and Rehabilitation (DCTR), is the first agency-driven training of its kind for NDLEA counsellors in several years.

Speaking at the commencement of the programme on Friday, NDLEA Chairman/Chief Executive Officer, Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (retd.), said the initiative was designed to strengthen the agency’s rehabilitation pillar and ensure that clients receive evidence-based and quality interventions.

Marwa, who was represented by the Director, Counselling, Treatment and Rehabilitation, Bashir Ibrahim, said the evolving nature of substance abuse required counsellors to continually update their knowledge and therapeutic skills.

He said the programme would harmonise counselling and rehabilitation practices across NDLEA facilities nationwide by introducing uniform operational protocols and improving clinical competencies.

According to him, the training will also equip counsellors to better respond to emerging psychoactive substances and cases involving co-occurring mental health disorders, while ensuring that the agency’s practices conform to national and international standards.

Marwa listed other objectives of the programme as strengthening professional ethics, confidentiality and quality assurance; improving data management for evidence-based policymaking; promoting continuous professional development through peer review and clinical supervision; and reducing inconsistencies in service delivery.

He said the initiative was also aimed at improving rehabilitation outcomes and reinforcing the integrity of Nigeria’s drug treatment and rehabilitation system.

“The training is critical to revitalising staff morale and equipping officers with modern therapeutic tools to tackle the evolving complexities of substance use disorders,” he said.

The NDLEA boss assured that the agency would continue to invest in the professional development of its personnel as part of its comprehensive strategy for reducing both the supply and demand for illicit drugs in Nigeria.

He said strengthening the counselling workforce remained essential to achieving sustainable outcomes in the agency’s drug demand reduction efforts.

Marwa added that the agency would continue to entrench global best practices in its interventions, with a view to ensuring that rehabilitation services provided in its facilities meet acceptable professional and clinical standards.

NDLEA Moves to Standardise Drug Rehabilitation, Trains Over 100 Counsellors Nationwide