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NDLEA arrests 8 over Lagos, Abuja, Enugu airports Cocaine busts
NDLEA arrests 8 over Lagos, Abuja, Enugu airports Cocaine busts
By: Michael Mike
Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have arrested six men and two women over attempts to import hundreds of cocaine pellets into Nigeria and export thousands of tramadol 255mg tablets among other illicit drugs to Europe via the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja; Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu, and Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos.
According to the spokesman of the anti-narcotics agency, Femi Babafemi, the streaks of arrests and seizures began on Sunday 17th July when a 52-year-old father of three, Okwo Okechukwu, was arrested upon his arrival from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia via an Ethiopian airline flight at the Abuja airport for ingesting 76 pellets of cocaine.
Babafemi said during preliminary interrogation, Okechukwu said he was into selling women’s wigs and hair attachment before veering into the drug trade. Okechukwu excreted all the 76 wraps of the drug he swallowed while under observation at the NDLEA’s facility in Abuja.
In the same vein, another father of three, Lawrence Chijioke, 42, was arrested at the Abuja airport same day in an operational synergy between NDLEA and Nigeria Customs Service at the airport, Chijioke, was arrested during an inward clearance of Ethiopian Airline flight from Addis Ababa with 529 pellets of cocaine weighing 11.70 kilogrammes concealed in his bag.
Chijioke, in his statement to anti-narcotic officers, claimed he was promised N2 million, which he planned to use to boost his business, upon successful delivery of the cocaine consignment in Abuja.
Babafemi said the NDLEA operatives also last Saturday arrested 29-year-old Ms. Onuorah Onyinye at the Enugu airport upon arrival on Ethiopian airline flight from Addis Ababa, during a search of her luggage, it was discovered that 2.192 kilogrammes of cocaine was concealed in two designer’s women handbags with false linings.
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The spokesman also disclosed that attempts by drug traffickers to export different illicit drugs through the NAHCO export shed at the Lagos airport to Europe and United Arab Emirate were also frustrated by officers and men of the agency. He said operatives on Monday 18th July intercepted some illicit substances concealed in a consolidated cargo going to Dubai, UAE, noting that apart from 24 parcels of Loud, a variant of cannabis, which is largely grown in the United States and Canada, other substances recovered from the cargo include a precursor for methamphetamine, BMK glycidic acid; tablets of designer drug MDMA and another five parcels of cannabis.
He said no fewer than four freight agents were arrested in connection with the seizure. They include: Balogun Olamilekan; Sulaimon Yetunde; Benjamin Joel; and Omoniyi Abraham.
He disclosed that same day, Monday 18th July, the bid by an Italy-bound passenger Tony Osas to export 10,250 tablets of tramadol 255mg to Europe through the Lagos airport was foiled by NDLEA operatives who intercepted him at Gate B departure hall during outward clearance of passengers on a Turkish airline flight to Milan.
He said during a search of his luggage, Osas was found with the illicit substance that weighed 5.70 kilogrammes concealed inside gari, a local cassava product tucked in his black handbag.
In other clampdown across the country, in Kaduna, a driver Jamilu Lawal, was arrested on Sunday 17th July along Abuja-Kaduna express road, with 157,000 tablets of diazepam weighing 37.5 kilogrammes. A follow up operation same day led to the arrest of the actual owner of the consignment, Abubakar Isiyaku, in Katsina.
Another suspect, Isah Mohammed, was equally arrested same day in Kano during a follow up operation, after the interception of his consignment, 2,500 kilogrammes rubber solution (solvent) locally called Shalisha in Kaduna.
In Abuja, no fewer than four persons were arrested over 345.4 kilogrammes cannabis seizures in the FCT. While Mohammed Auwal, 37; Godspower John, 34, and Chukwuma Odeh, 35, were arrested in Jabi Park over a 77.7 kilogrammes drug consignment on Monday 18th July.
Isah Yusuf, 25, was nabbed with 267.7 kilogrammes cannabis when operatives raided DeiDei area of the FCT last Saturday
In Sokoto state, operatives on stop and search operation along Gusau-Sokoto road arrested one Tochukwu Oranusi with 20,100 tabs of Rohypnol inside a commercial bus coming from Onitsha, Anambra state. Bottles of Codeine Syrup weighing 15.2 litres and 400grams of Rohypnol tabs whose owner, Buhari Sambo was later arrested, were also recovered from the vehicle.
In Anambra state, a suspect Azubuike Ogbanu was arrested with 76 cups of Arizona, 172 sachets of skunk, 82 pinches of methamphetamine, 20 sachets of Loud, and 10 wraps of Colorado when his base, Loren hostel, Ifite, Awka, was raided by operatives on Thursday 21st July.
Meanwhile, the Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (Retd) while commending the officers and men of the MMIA, NAIA, AIIA, Kaduna, Sokoto, FCT and Anambra Commands for the arrests, seizures and their tenacity, urged them and their colleagues across the country to remain steadfast in pursuit of the agency’s goal of ridding all parts of Nigeria of illicit substances
NDLEA arrests 8 over Lagos, Abuja, Enugu airports Cocaine busts
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Borno: Primary School Teachers Jubilate as N70k Minimum Wage Hit Accounts
Borno: Primary School Teachers Jubilate as N70k Minimum Wage Hit Accounts
… Zulum pays the best wage in Northeast so far -NLC
By: Michael Mike
Thousands of primary school teachers in Borno State were thrown into excitement on Friday when Borno State Governor, Babagana Zulum, approved the implementation of N70,000 minimum wage.
This was one week after the N70k minimum wage was paid to civil servants working for Borno State Government for their October salaries.
The new salary hit the accounts of primary school teachers on Thursday as many posted screenshots of their alerts on different social media platforms.
Zulum announced the approval of the pay rise for workers in the state on October 10 in a meeting with the minimum wage implementation committee members. During this meeting, he also approved N3 billion for the payment of entitlements to families of civil servants that died in Borno State.
Meanwhile, the Nigerian Labour Congress, Borno State Chapter, has described the minimum wage paid by Borno State government as the best so far in the northeast region.
The Chairman of NLC, Comr Inuwa Yusuf, made the commendation last week in Maiduguri.
“Let me also join in commending the Executive Governor of Borno State, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum, for serving our people, especially the workers,” Comr Yusuf reiterated.
He added, “After a series of meetings, we harmonised the wage table which was applied in the last couple of days. Our members (civil servants ) have called in and expressed their gratitude. We felt it was a very nice one, and we believe other states in the northeast can not be better than us; we have seen what a few other States have paid, and we don’t know of other states that will pay later as now, our state is leading. We have to commend His Excellency for this giant stride.”
Borno: Primary School Teachers Jubilate as N70k Minimum Wage Hit Accounts
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China Reiterates Commitment to Promoting Cultural Exchange with Nigeria
China Reiterates Commitment to Promoting Cultural Exchange with Nigeria
By: Michael Mike
The Director of the China Cultural Center in Nigeria (CCCN), Mr Yang Jianxing has reiterated the interest of the Chinese government to promoting cultural exchange with Nigeria, noting that the cultural fiesta organised in the country by China is aimed at achieving this.
Yang, the Director of CCCN, said this at the opening of the 12th China-Nigeria Culture Fiesta 2024 Dancing Competition hosted by the center in Abuja.
The cultural fiesta was organised by the FCT Secondary Education Board (SEB) in conjunction with the CCCN to enhance people to people communication with both countries (China and Nigeria)
Yang said that culture is the foundation of national development and the driving force of social progress, adding that China and Nigeria are cultural giants with a long history.
He also noted that the fiesta aims to build understanding of Chinese culture and people and to promote China-Nigeria friendship.
He said culture plays an important role in the historical process of national independence and revitalisation, adding that the China Embassy in Nigeria, and the Cultural Centre have been working with FCT Secondary Education to jointly hold China-Nigeria Cultural Fiesta.
On his part, the Director/Secretary FCT SEB,
Dr Mohammed Ladan expressed his appreciation to the Cultural Counselor and the Chinese Embassy for sponsoring the event annually and providing prizes to the schools.
Ladan represented by Fatima Babba
Director Co-curricular, said that the event has been going on annually for more than a decade.
“The event showcases Nigerian and Chinese Arts in the form of dances, thereby promoting cultural exchange between the duo and the 12 Chinese Corner Students.
“This annual event is significant to our schools because it provides an avenue for the students to socialise and at the same time earn very good prizes that have been helpful to the schools.
“Our collaboration has been of mutual benefit and we look forward to more beneficial cooperation,” Ladan said.
She said SEB would continue to promote Chinese Culture in FCT schools and Nigeria as a whole, thereby improving cultural exchange in the 51 years of uninterrupted diplomatic relations,” Babba said.
China Reiterates Commitment to Promoting Cultural Exchange with Nigeria
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Saudi Arabia Ramps Up Humanitarian Efforts To Gaza, Lebanon, Sudan
Saudi Arabia Ramps Up Humanitarian Efforts To Gaza, Lebanon, Sudan
By: Michael Mike
Saudi Arabia has ramped up humanitarian efforts to Gaza, Lebanon and Sudan in order to bring succour to those affected by ongoing crises in the three areas.
A statement on Thursday by the Embassy of Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in Nigeria read that: “As conflict, economic hardship, and displacement continue to impact millions of people in Gaza, Lebanon and Sudan, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, through King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre (KSrelief), has intensified its humanitarian efforts, delivering critical aids to vulnerable populations in order to face challenges with renewed hope and resilience.
“In Gaza, where humanitarian needs have reached critical levels as a result of Israeli war, KSrelief has launched one of its most extensive relief campaigns to date. Over 54 aid planes and 8 ships have been dispatched, loaded with emergency food, medical supplies, shelter materials, and a wide range of logistical support items.
“Among the specific aid resources are 20 ambulances, 30 electricity generators, and 10 water tanks, all designed to provide immediate relief to those affected by ongoing Israel war on Gaza. Additionally, KSrelief has distributed 39,200 ready-to-eat meals to help meet immediate nutritional needs for families facing severe food shortages. This operation includes specialised provisions and support for displaced individuals, offering a comprehensive response to the urgent humanitarian crisis in Gaza.”
The statement added that: “Furthering its commitment, Saudi Arabia has allocated over $80 million to support long-term aid projects in Gaza. These funds, channeled through partnerships with major international organisations such as the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) for Palestinian Refugees, the World Food Programme (WFP), World Health Organisation (WHO), United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), Palestinian Red Crescent Society, and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), target critical sectors including food security, health, water and sanitation, shelter, and emergency response. This funding aims to create sustainable support systems that will continue to aid Gaza’s population even after immediate crisis relief has been delivered, laying the foundation for longer-term recovery.
“In Lebanon, where an economic collapse has placed immense pressure on innocent civilians, KSrelief has increased its humanitarian outreach to alleviate hardship. KSrelief’s twenty aid plane arrived in Beirut, carrying essential food, medical, and shelter supplies to provide relief to vulnerable communities across the country. Lebanon’s economic crisis due to Israel air strikes has led to widespread shortages in food, fuel, and healthcare services, impacting millions and worsening living conditions.
“Saudi Arabia’s aid to Lebanon, managed through KSrelief, also includes targeted support for medical facilities, with critical supplies directed towards hospitals and healthcare centers strained by resource shortages. KSrelief’s strategic efforts align with the Kingdom’s broader vision of fostering stability in the Middle East, addressing both immediate humanitarian needs and providing resources to bolster Lebanon’s health and food security systems.”
In Sudan with the country grapples with the effects of prolonged conflict and displacement, KSrelief has sent 13 planes and 31 relief vessels loaded with vital resources, including food supplies, health equipment, shelter materials, and other essential non-food items.
The statement said: “This aid, totaling over $118 million, underscores Saudi Arabia’s dedication to supporting Sudanese families affected by instability and ensuring that they have access to critical resources needed for survival and recovery.
“In addition to delivering emergency relief, KSrelief has implemented programmes designed to address Sudan’s food security and health infrastructure needs, supporting local healthcare facilities and nutrition programmes for vulnerable populations. Volunteer initiatives and logistical support programmes coordinated by KSrelief further strengthen the Kingdom’s response, as Saudi Arabia positions itself as a reliable partner in Sudan’s path to recovery.”
Saudi Arabia Ramps Up Humanitarian Efforts To Gaza, Lebanon, Sudan
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