National News
NAFDAC will soon commission it’s ultra-modern structure in Damaturu
NAFDAC will soon commission it’s ultra-modern structure in Damaturu
By: Michael Mike
The National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC) will soon commission it’s brand new ultra-modern edifice in Damaturu, the Yobe state capital.
The building which has reached advanced stages of completion along Gujiba road axis of Damaturu would contain sophisticated laboratories for staff to work and several offices and stores.
The edifice is expected to be commissioned by the Director General of the agency Professor Mojisola Adeyeye before the end of the year.
Giving the hint while chatting with metrowatchonline in Damaturu, coordinator of the NAFDAC office in Yobe, Musa Lawan said that for the first time, the young state shall have a very conducive working atmosphere for all it’s scientists to be able to operate from by giving their best to the various demands of the job.
Reviewing activities of 2021, Lawan said that about N576.5 m worth of drugs were destroyed by the North East zone of NAFDAC of which Yobe state was a major contributor.
Musa who chatted with metrowatch in his office in Damaturu revealed that a large chunk of the destroyed drugs from the north east zone were seized in Potiskum which has remained a major supplier of fake drugs in the state.
He told metrowatch online that it was the duty of all residents to help in the exposure of drug cartels so that the prevalence of unwholesome drugs in the state will be reduced to the barest minimum.
The State coordinator stated that the most challenged areas of his agency in terms of operation is not the state capital but Potiskum because of its proximity to the metropolitan city of Kano where they get their supplies.
On fake and substandard drugs, the coordinator said that Yobe contributed a large chunk of the over N500m worth of drugs destroyed in the Gombe zone last year by NAFDAC operatives.
” I personally witnessed the destruction of the drugs which if consumed would have been harmful to our people. And most of our unwholesome drugs in Yobe sadly come from Potiskum.
” It has a high menace of sub-standard drugs. This is because 90 percent of unregistered chemist shops which sell such drugs are found in the town.”
To ameliorate this problem, NAFDAC Yobe office has two outposts apart from the head office in the Federal Secretariat and one of such posts has been perched in Potiskum.
“We were able to create 2 senatorial zones to cover the state effectively since I assumed duty. Gashua/Nguru and the Potiskum zone. That has enabled us to close down several unregistered outfits selling unwholesome drugs to the people.
Alhaji Musa said that for effective combat of the scourge, his agency had been working with the National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) to create easy solutions to daring cases formed by cartels which needs to be nipped in the bud quickly.
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He commended the media equally which he said has been giving them serious support in their drive to take down drugs like tramadol and others which have been banned by the government.
Speaking on challenges, the coordinator said ” our major challenge is the lingering insurgency. To avoid being attacked, we have to disguise as much as possible when going out on field assignments.
“This is the only way we can avoid being attacked by them. We need more vehicles to enable us to navigate through dangerous terrains like Gulani and environs to do the job.
“Most of the areas we have insurgency problems are Gujiba and Gaidam. We do use escorts whenever we are going to such dangerous areas.
” All our personnel are alive and doing well as we did not lose any of our staff during the heat of the insurgency which affected the state last year.”
He commended the Director General of his agency Professor Adeyeye and the Yobe state government for supporting them in building their permanent site along Gujiba road near the central bank of Nigeria (CBN).
On food and non food items, the coordinator revealed that they have been on top of their challenges taking each day as it comes.
NAFDAC will soon commission it’s ultra-modern structure in Damaturu
National News
Three chinese crew members rescued in Nigeria after pirate attack on fishing vessel in ghanaian waters
Three chinese crew members rescued in Nigeria after pirate attack on fishing vessel in ghanaian waters
By: Zagazola Makama
Three Chinese crew members who were abducted by pirates during an attack on a Ghanaian fishing vessel, MV Menhin-1, have been rescued in Nigeria, the Ghana Police Service has said.
At a press briefing held on Tuesday at the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) Headquarters in Accra, The Director-General of the CID, COP, Lydia Yaako Donkor, said pirates, armed with AK-47 rifles, attacked the vessel on March 27, 2025, at about 1930 hours off Yenyano Waters near Tema, using outboard motor powered wooden canoes.
The attackers destroyed the vessel’s communication system before taking three Chinese crew members hostage, the police said.
The Marine Police Command in Tema received the complaint from the fishing company the following morning, on March 28, and immediately launched an investigation in collaboration with the Ghana Maritime Authority, Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority, National Investigation Bureau, the Ghana Navy, and the Fisheries Observer.
According to the police, the pirates blindfolded the victims and transported them in speedboats for 24 hours to a marshy area later identified as the Delta region of Nigeria. From there, they were moved on motorcycles and taken on foot to a makeshift camp where they were held at gunpoint until April 25, when they were suddenly abandoned.
The victims managed to reach a nearby village where locals assisted them to make contact with the Chinese embassy in Lagos, Nigeria. The embassy confirmed the rescue on April 26 and handed them over to Ghanaian authorities at the Kotoka International Airport on April 27.
A debriefing was conducted at the Police Headquarters in Accra on April 28. While there were no visible signs of physical harm, the victims appeared traumatised and requested medical attention.
The Inspector General of Police engaged with the victims and expressed sympathy and support for their ordeal.
So far, the police have arrested eight individuals in connection with the case. Those arrested include Sueva Victor, Kojo Akweli, Eugene Chibuke, Mwonam, Chinese cook Zhao Lang Hao, and second engineer Zhao Hua. They have been arraigned before the Tema District Court as investigations continue.
Police commended all stakeholders involved in the multi-agency operation for their swift action and coordination that led to the rescue of the kidnapped crew members.
Three chinese crew members rescued in Nigeria after pirate attack on fishing vessel in ghanaian waters
Protesters demand release of social media influencer in abuja
By: Zagazola Makama
A group of protesters on Monday staged a peaceful demonstration in Abuja demanding the release of social media influencer, Mr Vincent Martins Otse, popularly known as Verydarkman (VDM), who was arrested on May 2 by operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
It was gathered that the protest began around 9 a.m. at the GTBank branch located at Plot 1072 J.S. Tarka Street, off Faskari Street, Area 3 Garki, where VDM was arrested alongside one other individual.
The protest was sparked by public outcry on social media platforms, particularly TikTok, Instagram and Facebook, following the arrest.
Three men wearing T-shirts with the inscription ‘Free VDM’ were first seen at the bank premises before regrouping with over 100 individuals
The protesters, carrying placards with various inscriptions, demanded the immediate and unconditional release of the influencer.
Police operatives from the Command’s State Intelligence Department (SID) and patrol teams were promptly deployed to the scene to ensure law and order.
The crowd was peacefully dispersed from the bank premises and proceeded to the EFCC Headquarters in continuation of their demonstration, reiterating their demands before moving on to Dantata Bridge along Airport Road, where they finally dispersed.
Police sources said “No untoward incident was recorded during the protest. The situation is under close monitoring,” the police added.
Police sources further assured that the deployment of anti-riot units to flashpoints, strategic locations, and government infrastructure within the FCT remains intact.
Protesters demand release of social media influencer in abuja
National News
VP Shettima Departs Abuja To Represent Nigeria At Inauguration Of Gabon’s President-elect
VP Shettima Departs Abuja To Represent Nigeria At Inauguration Of Gabon’s President-elect
By: Our Reporter
Vice President Kashim Shettima has departed Abuja for Libreville, Gabon, to represent Nigeria at the inauguration of the country’s President-elect, Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema.
The Vice President left on Saturday, May 3, 2025, at the instance of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Oligui Nguema, who had served as Gabon’s interim leader since August 2023, secured a decisive victory in the country’s April 12 presidential election.
Nigeria remains supportive of the peaceful democratic transition in Gabon and reaffirms the government’s broader strategic interest in promoting democratic governance and regional stability in Central Africa.
The Vice President is expected to return to Nigeria after the inauguration.
VP Shettima Departs Abuja To Represent Nigeria At Inauguration Of Gabon’s President-elect
Three chinese crew members rescued in Nigeria after pirate attack on fishing vessel in ghanaian waters
Nigerian kidnappers posing as white lovers lure, abduct Ghanaian women in Port Harcourt
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