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NDLEA, Plateau to strengthen collaboration on drug war

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NDLEA, Plateau to strengthen collaboration on drug war

By: Michael Mike

Plateau state governor, Barr. Caleb Mutfwang and the Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (Rtd) have agreed to strengthen collaboration between the state government and the NDLEA with a view to curbing the scourge of substance abuse and illicit drug trafficking in the state.

The duo expressed their preparedness for the renewed partnership in their remarks on Thursday when Mutfwang paid Marwa a courtesy visit at the NDLEA National Headquarters in Abuja.

Marwa, while commending the governor for his commitment to ensuring peace, security of lives and property on the Plateau, noted that a total of 6,975.6 kilogrammes of illicit drugs such as cocaine, heroine, methamphetamine, cannabis and opioids were seized across the state in the last two years, leading to the arrest of 1,720 suspects and conviction of 156 while the trial of others are ongoing.

Marwa said to further strengthen the agency’s drug demand reduction efforts, the governor should support with a standard rehabilitation centre, activate drug control committees at the state, local government and community levels, in addition to adopting drug testing policy in schools, homes and communities across the state.

Speaking earlier, Mutfwang commended Marwa’s leadership skills in the turn around and performance of NDLEA since he assumed the chairmanship of the agency in 2021. “We’ve followed keenly your performance and we can say that since your coming on board, NDLEA has gone about its functions with more vigour, with more determination. And I know that quite a lot of the people who profit from trading illicit drugs have not found it easy since your coming on board”, he stated.

On the partnership, the governor said “for us on the Plateau, we’ve come because we are genuinely concerned about the impact that substance abuse and trading in illegal drugs is doing in our state and we want to seek better ways of collaboration. We continue to look for ways and means of trying to reduce the influence of substance abuse in our society. And one thing that is very critical, while we have paid a lot of attention to the demand side, to the user, we need to look again at the supply side.

“On our part as a state, we are willing to be able to collaborate more with you and make sure that we reduce this menace to the barest minimum. And so, we’ve come today just to reinvigorate that cooperation. So far, we have enjoyed the cooperation of your staff in our state and we want to continue to do more, share information, share intelligence and see how we can collaborate.”

NDLEA, Plateau to strengthen collaboration on drug war

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Investments in circular economy have the potential to increase forex earnings- NESREA DG

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Investments in circular economy have the potential to increase forex earnings- NESREA DG

By: Michael Mike

The Director General of National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA), Prof. Innocent Barikor has affirmed that investments in the circular economy value chain have the potential to increase the country’s foreign exchange earnings.

Barikor made this statement recently during a meeting with the management of a plastic packaging recycling (rPET) company, Sonnex in Lagos.

He assured the team that the Nigerian government prioritizes circular economy, noting that the draft National Environmental (Plastic Waste Control) Regulations soon to be gazetted is one of the efforts to strengthen the legal framework for circular economy implementation in Nigeria.

He said: “Circular Economy falls under the Presidential priorities for the Federal Ministry of Environment, and the Minister is very keen on the success. Apart from tackling the problem of waste, green jobs have been created .

“The pellets and flakes you produce and export also generate foreign exchange. The Plastic Waste Control Regulations are awaiting official gazette and once gazetted, we would have connected the dots of the framework to implement circular economy in the plastic sector. We are deeply committed to ensuring the success of Circular Economy.”

Earlier, the Managing Director, Anil Mohinani intimated the NESREA boss on the process for the production of recycled PET bottles (rPET), whilst also highlighting the challenges faced by investors in the sector .

He listed some of the setbacks to include lack of a legal instrument to compel manufacturers in the food and beverage sector to embrace food-grade rPET, unfriendly policies by some foreign companies, and insufficient awareness .

“Europe and America create barriers to protect their international recycling business. There is unfair competition. In some countries such as Kenya, there is encouragement to invest in rPET recycling because there is a regulation in place,” he added.

Investments in circular economy have the potential to increase forex earnings- NESREA DG

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ISWAP Terrorists Kill Hunters’ Leader in Borno

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ISWAP Terrorists Kill Hunters’ Leader in Borno

By: Zagazola Makama

Suspected ISWAP terrorists have killed the chairman of the hunters’ group in Garjang village, Damboa Local Government Area of Borno State.

Sources told Zagazola Makama that the incident occurred at about 5 a.m. on Sunday.

The victim, identified as Habu Dala, 53, was abducted from his home by the terrorists, who took him through Mulharam to Forfot villages in Damboa LGA.

Villagers mobilised in search of Dala and later found his corpse bearing gunshot wounds.

Troops of Operation HADIN KAI, members of the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF), and the hunters’ group visited the scene.

The remains were evacuated to the General Hospital, Damboa, where he was certified dead and later released to his family for burial in accordance with Islamic rites.

ISWAP Terrorists Kill Hunters’ Leader in Borno

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Nine Injured in Kwali Farmers–Herders Clash

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Nine Injured in Kwali Farmers–Herders Clash

By: Zagazola Makama

Nine persons sustained machete injuries in a clash between Bassa farmers and Fulani herders in Gomoni Village, Kwali Area Council of the FCT.

Sources told Zagazola Makama that the fight, which broke out on Aug. 9 at about 3:30 p.m., followed alleged destruction of melon and maize farms belonging to the Bassa community by cattle.

It was gathered that the Nigeria army troops
along with joint team of operatives, and vigilantes were deployed to the scene following a distress call.

Six Bassa and three Fulani victims with varying degrees of machete cuts were taken to Rhema Foundation Hospital, Kwali, for treatment.

Authorities confirmed that the situation had been brought under control and normalcy restored, while investigation was ongoing.

Nine Injured in Kwali Farmers–Herders Clash

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