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Keeping modern societies safe from illicit drugs demands global commitment – Marwa

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Keeping modern societies safe from illicit drugs demands global commitment – Marwa

By: Michael Mike

Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (Retd) has said that the task to keep modern societies safe from the scourge of illicit drugs demands global commitment, even as he assured that Nigeria is doing everything possible to fulfil its own end of the bargain.

Marwa said this on Friday while addressing a gathering of academics, students, mental health professionals and Nigerians in diaspora at the Jayhawk Welcome Centre, University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas, US where he delivered a lecture on “War Against Substance Abuse and Illicit Drug Trafficking: The Nigerian Story” during the 2023 edition of the Marwa Africana Lecture Series established and organized annually since 2003 by the Department of African and African-American Studies of the University of Kansas.

Marwa, while reliving the Nigerian experience in the fight against the global drug scourge, said “we have been able to keep huge cache of drugs from getting into our streets by seizing them at the border or before distribution courtesy of intelligence sharing with our counterparts in source countries or along the transnational routes.”

According to him, “For some 33 months now, Nigeria has run an unflagging anti-illicit drug campaign based on global best practices for drug law enforcement and guided by UNODC’s Whole-of-Society approach to the drug conundrum.

“While we have achieved remarkable mileage, the Nigerian anti-drug campaign is nonetheless a work in progress. Be that as it may, our achievements of the past 30 months, relative to the past 30 years, have bolstered our hope of greater accomplishments going forward. The support from international partners, governments of friendly countries, the government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and the Nigerian people has strengthened our conviction that the objective we pursue is not unrealistic. Now we have before us an open vista where the objective of a drug-free society is a possibility.

“The task of keeping modern society safe from the scourge of illicit drugs requires a global commitment, and in NDLEA and Nigeria, we are doing everything possible to fulfil our end of the bargain.”

The NDLEA boss said the choice of words for the campaign against illicit drugs in Nigeria “is a metaphor that is reflective of the need for drastic steps against a brewing illicit drug apocalypse.”

He added that “War on drugs” within the Nigerian context connotes the severity of the situation as an existentialist threat to the Nigerian nation and the urgency and intensity of action required to bring the situation under control, noting that the campaign, is however, being conducted in accordance with global best practice.”

Marwa further told the gathering some of the strategic steps taken to get positive results by NDLEA. He said: “In every facet of our activities, we endeavoured to adopt innovation. We upgraded our Standard Operating Procedures. We innovated our methodologies, adopted sophisticated tools and systems, and embraced revolutionary paradigms in treatment.

“For instance, to break the jinx of barriers to treatment, NDLEA commissioned a drug abuse tele-therapy centre. This toll-free call centre has a round-the-clock helpdesk to which drug users, their families, and associates can call for assistance, and receive prompt attention from a team of counsellors and mental health professionals.

“The UN conventions encouraged law enforcement agencies in different countries to work in collaboration. We exploit the opportunities maximally by renewing and strengthening our ties with our international partners, such as INL and DEA here in the United States; Narcotics Control Bureau of India; the UK Border Force, and NCA; Germany’s Bundeskriminalamt, and the French Police, among others.”

The lecture was followed by an interactive session during which Marwa answered questions asked by members of the audience especially Nigerians who expressed happiness about efforts being made by the Nigerian government to curtail drug scourge.

Others who spoke at the event include: Dr. Shawn Leigh Alexander, Professor and Chair, Department of African and African-American Studies; Dr. Peter Ukpokodu, a Professor of African and African-American Studies; Dr. Dorthy Pennington, also a Professor of African and African-American Studies and Dr. Amal El Haimeur, Assistant Professor of African and African-American Studies, all of University of Kansas. They all commended Marwa for his leadership skills and commitment to Nigeria and humanity.

Keeping modern societies safe from illicit drugs demands global commitment – Marwa

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Nigerian Embassy in Kuwait Issues Safety Advisory to Citizens Amid Regional Tensions

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Nigerian Embassy in Kuwait Issues Safety Advisory to Citizens Amid Regional Tensions

By: Michael Mike

The Embassy of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in the State of Kuwait has urged Nigerian nationals in Kuwait and Bahrain to remain calm, vigilant, and compliant with host government ldirectives in light of prevailing regional developments.

In a circular dated March 1, 2026, and referenced NKT/GA/C/004/Vol. I, the Embassy — which holds concurrent accreditation to the Kingdom of Bahrain — advised citizens to strictly observe safety guidelines and official advisories issued by authorities in both countries.

The mission encouraged Nigerians to stay informed by monitoring credible local news outlets and official government announcements in Kuwait and Bahrain. It assured the community that it is closely tracking the situation and maintaining communication with leaders of Nigerian groups and associations in both countries.

To enhance real-time communication, the Embassy announced the creation of a dedicated mobile and WhatsApp line to ensure active engagement with nationals.

For further inquiries or assistance, Nigerians were advised to contact the Embassy via email at nigeriakuwait@yahoo.com or through the designated telephone and WhatsApp numbers provided by the mission.

The Embassy reaffirmed its commitment to the safety and welfare of all Nigerian citizens in its jurisdiction and pledged to continue providing timely updates as the situation evolves.

Nigerian Embassy in Kuwait Issues Safety Advisory to Citizens Amid Regional Tensions

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Gov. Fintiri’s defection will boost APC’s chances of winning in 2027 – Dr Girei

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Gov. Fintiri’s defection will boost APC’s chances of winning in 2027 – Dr Girei

Dr Salihu Bakari Girei, Gubernatorial aspirant under the platform All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2027 described the defection of Governor Ahmadu Fintiri to the ruling party as a welcome development for the APC in the state.

Girei said that his defection is coming at the right time to galvanise the party’s victory in 2027 General Elections at the national and sub national level.

Dr Girei who is one of the founding fathers of the APC in the state disclosed this in an interview with newsmen in Yola.

He said, Fintiri joined APC at the right time considering his outstanding performance in the state which he said was in line with President Tinubu’s transformation agenda.

He added that the defection would add value to the APC family and also help deliver dividends of democracy to the ordinary people that are yearning for good governance as well as to fast-track development.

He said Fintiri has performed credibly well, in line with his 10-point agenda for the state to justify the people’s trust in his leadership and administration.

Dr Girei further lauded President Bola Tinubu for his effort and strategy in addressing Nigeria’s challenges for and ensuring rapid development.

He said, “President Tinubu is very strategic in addressing Nigeria’s challenges and many now understood that Mr President meant well for this country and has turned the fortune of the country around for good.”

According to him, records have shown that the dollar has crashed, the economy stabilized, security improved, food is affordable and issues of strikes are no more among others.

Bakari-Girei said, all these are factors that naturally attract people joining the APC across the country for more development in the country.

He queried those saying that President Tinubu is turning the country into a one-party system, recalling that the PDP once had 30 governors and no one complained.

“Today people have decided to join APC because of many factors initiated by the President Tinubu administration that naturally attracted people to join APC and support Mr President.”

He pointed to President Tinubu’s history as governor of Lagos, where opposition platforms continued to function, as evidence of his commitment to multi-party democracy.

He also appreciated the foresight of the President for appointing Malam Nuhu Ribadu, National Security Adviser who has invested much in APC in the state.

He further urged unity and understanding of all APC stakeholders in the state for the progress and success of the party at all levels.

Gov. Fintiri’s defection will boost APC’s chances of winning in 2027 – Dr Girei

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Community Court of Justice, ECOWAS Moves to Boost Enforcement of Judgments with High-Level Talks in Republic of Guinea

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Community Court of Justice, ECOWAS Moves to Boost Enforcement of Judgments with High-Level Talks in Republic of Guinea

By: Michael Mike

The Community Court of Justice, ECOWAS will hold a high-level bilateral meeting in the Republic of Guinea from March 2 to 4, 2026, as part of efforts to strengthen the enforcement of its judgments across Member States.

The three-day engagement, organised in commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the Economic Community of West African States, is expected to bring together the Court’s delegation, Guinea’s Competent National Authority (CNA), senior government officials, and representatives of civil society to address persistent challenges in implementing the Court’s rulings.

At the heart of the meeting is the push to close the gap between judicial decisions and their execution at the national level. While the ECOWAS Court continues to deliver landmark judgments on human rights, governance, and community law, enforcement remains a critical concern in several jurisdictions. The Guinea dialogue is aimed at building a more effective, coordinated, and transparent enforcement framework.

Discussions will focus on practical strategies to improve compliance rates, streamline procedures, and strengthen collaboration between national institutions and the regional court. Participants are expected to review existing bottlenecks, share best practices, and identify sustainable solutions that can enhance uniformity in enforcement mechanisms across the sub-region.

The programme will include a dedicated forum examining the current status of enforcement of the Court’s judgments in Guinea, alongside presentations on the Court’s enforcement processes and the national legal landscape. Civil society organisations will also engage directly with the Court in a bilateral dialogue designed to promote accountability and inclusive participation.

Beyond the technical sessions, the Court’s delegation will pay courtesy visits to key government figures, including the Minister in charge of ECOWAS Affairs, the Minister of Justice, the Minister of Finance, the President of the Supreme Court, and the Speaker of Parliament. Meetings are also scheduled with the Chairperson of the Human Rights Commission and the President of the Bar Association.

The delegation will be led by the President of the Court, Ricardo Cláudio Monteiro Gonçalves, and will include Vice-President Sengu Mohamed Koroma, Honourable Justice Gberi-Bè Ouattara, as well as directors and other officials.

Similar bilateral meetings have previously taken place in the Republic of Sierra Leone and the Federal Republic of Nigeria, reflecting the Court’s broader strategy to institutionalise cooperation and reinforce the authority of its judgments throughout West Africa.

As ECOWAS marks five decades of regional integration, the Guinea engagement signals a renewed determination to ensure that the decisions of its judicial arm are not only pronounced but fully implemented—strengthening the rule of law and deepening trust in regional justice systems.

Community Court of Justice, ECOWAS Moves to Boost Enforcement of Judgments with High-Level Talks in Republic of Guinea

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