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Nigeria, Cuba Strengthen Ties, Pledge Deeper Cooperation

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Nigeria, Cuba Strengthen Ties, Pledge Deeper Cooperation

** As VP Shettima hails Caribbean nation’s role in African liberation movements

By: Our Reporter

Nigeria and Cuba have taken a bold move to strengthen diplomatic and economic ties, with a renewed focus on healthcare, education and trade.

This is just as both nations mark 50 years of diplomatic relations which formally started in 1974, with Nigeria’s Vice President, Senator Kashim Shettima, describing Cuba as “a sacred land where every progressive will identify with.”

Senator Shettima spoke on Monday at the Presidential Villa in Abuja when he received the Cuban Foreign Minister, Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla, and Cuban Ambassador to Nigeria, Miriam Morales Palmero.

He said, “Cuba, though located in South America, has its heartbeat in Africa. Your country played a crucial role in Africa’s liberation movements, standing with us during the anti-apartheid struggles in Southern Africa. We are mightily proud of you because you represent resilience, unity, and selfless leadership.”

The Vice President noted that there were cultural and ancestral ties between Nigeria and Cuba, saying a significant percentage of Cuba’s population has African roots, many of whom trace their lineage to Nigeria.

“About seventy percent of Cuban Africans are from Nigeria. For us, Cuba is a sacred land where every progressive African identifies with,” he added.

He assured the Cuban delegation that Nigeria would continue to honour its commitments and seek ways to bolster partnerships, particularly in healthcare and vaccine development.

“Our hearts and souls are with you. No matter how long the night is, it will give way to the light of the dawn. We will support you in whatever way we can, especially in strengthening our partnership in healthcare and vaccination programmes,” VP Shettima stated.

Earlier, the Cuban Foreign Minister, Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla, outlined the enduring friendship between Nigeria and Cuba with events marking the milestone 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations.

“We are commemorating 50 years of diplomatic relations between Cuba and Nigeria. In the formation of our nations, our nationality, and culture, there is an important African and Nigerian descent. The contributions made by African persons in Cuba to our development are immense.

“Without the support of Africans and Nigeria from the very beginning of the Cuban revolution, we could hardly have survived. We shared common goals in our collective struggle against colonialism, apartheid, and racism,” he said.

Also speaking, Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar, emphasised the significance of the longstanding relationship and reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to deeper collaboration.

“He (Foreign Minister Parrilla) has visited us to strengthen the relationship between both countries, which has existed since 1974. We stood side-by-side with each other during the years of struggle to liberate African states from oppressive regimes.

“Today, we signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to further strengthen bilateral and multilateral ties. We discussed numerous subjects of mutual interest, including economic relations, tourism, science and technology, and many more,” Tuggar said.

Nigeria, Cuba Strengthen Ties, Pledge Deeper Cooperation

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CRIMINAL CONSPIRACY AND EXTORTION FOILED, FAKE DOLLAR NOTES AND VEHICLE RECOVERED

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CRIMINAL CONSPIRACY AND EXTORTION FOILED, FAKE DOLLAR NOTES AND VEHICLE RECOVERED

By: Our Reporter

The Yobe State Police Command, under the leadership of Commissioner of Police, CP Emmanuel Ado, psc, fdc, has made a significant breakthrough in the fight against crime, arresting three suspects involved in organized crime.

The Potiskum Divisional Police Headquarters successfully investigated and recovered a stolen vehicle in a case of alleged criminal conspiracy, breach of trust, misappropriation, and extortion.

On August 2, 2025, at about 1100hrs, a report was lodged by Maina Abdullahi, 37, of Old Army Barracks Area, Potiskum, claiming that a Toyota Venza vehicle valued at N17 million belonging to his elder brother was forcefully collected from him. However, investigations revealed that the complainant was deceived and lured to Azare by Mohammed Halilu Bello, 54, of Indabo Area, Damagum, Fune LGA, and Mohammed Usman, 35, of Kano State, under the pretext of arranging a money-making opportunity.

Through diligent investigation and intelligence tracking, the vehicle was recovered at Makurdi, Benue State. The police also recovered suspected fake dollar notes.

The CP has directed that the suspects be charged to court for prosecution, and commended the officers involved in the operation for their professionalism and dedication to duty.

CRIMINAL CONSPIRACY AND EXTORTION FOILED, FAKE DOLLAR NOTES AND VEHICLE RECOVERED

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CCDI, Swiss Embassy Commission Refurbished Toilets and Libraries in Abuja Schools

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CCDI, Swiss Embassy Commission Refurbished Toilets and Libraries in Abuja Schools

By: Michael Mike

In a significant step towards improving hygiene and learning conditions in public schools, Create That Change Development Initiative (CCDI), in collaboration with the Embassy of Switzerland, has commissioned newly refurbished facilities at two schools in Gwagwalada, Abuja.

The projects, unveiled at LEA Pilot Science Primary School and LEA Phase III Primary School, include a reconstructed 12-stall toilet block and two fully refurbished libraries.

They mark the first phase of CCDI’s Public-School Revival Initiative (PSRI), an intervention designed to restore dignity, enhance sanitation, and provide inclusive learning spaces for Nigerian children.

Speaking at the commissioning, the Executive Director of CCDI, Mrs. Sharon Ayeni, described access to clean toilets as a fundamental right rather than a privilege.

“Access to clean toilets is a basic right, not a luxury. We are grateful to our partners at the Swiss Embassy for supporting this project. Together, we are uplifting schools that need it most and investing in the brighter futures of children,” Ayeni said.

She explained that the project was inspired by CCDI’s earlier outreach programme, Start Smart September, where pupils at the schools identified toilet and library facilities as their most urgent needs.

According to her, one of the schools’ toilet blocks had been abandoned for nearly two decades, earning the nickname “haunted house” among pupils.

The Deputy Ambassador of Switzerland, Mr. Sayer Rouhani, who represented the Swiss Embassy, joined CCDI to officially commission the facilities.

For the Headteacher of LEA Primary School Phase III, Mr. Abdel Liza Njibri, the intervention was nothing short of a rescue.

“For more than 10 years, this school did not have a functional toilet. It is God that sent CCDI and the Swiss Embassy to us. They gave us a 12-stall toilet, refurbished our library, connected water, and even sponsored some of our less privileged pupils by paying their school fees and providing books and bags. We are sincerely grateful,” he said.

Also reflecting on the project, Ms. Oluwamu Mirayo Ame, a CCDI volunteer who was once a pupil of the school, said the initiative was deeply personal.

“Over 20 years ago, when I was in this school, the toilet was an eyesore that we all believed was haunted. Returning here and seeing it transformed into a clean, safe facility is a dream come true. Now children, especially girls, will not have to leave school during the day to relieve themselves,” she said.

The initiative aligns with Nigeria’s Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) agenda, which seeks to improve child health, learning outcomes, and dignity in underserved communities.

It also builds on CCDI’s earlier efforts in July 2025, when the organisation delivered two eight-stall toilet facilities to LEA Primary School, Kabusa, and LEA Nomadic Primary School, Apo Dutse.

Create That Change Development Initiative (CCDI) is a Nigerian registered non-governmental organisation committed to transforming the lives of children through interventions in education, health, and community development.

CCDI, Swiss Embassy Commission Refurbished Toilets and Libraries in Abuja Schools

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Drug kingpin, 5 others in NDLEA custody for smuggling drugs into bags of 3 Nigerians facing charges in Saudi Arabia

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Drug kingpin, 5 others in NDLEA custody for smuggling drugs into bags of 3 Nigerians facing charges in Saudi Arabia

By: Michael Mike

A 55-year-old drug kingpin Mohammed Abubakar, alias Bello Karama and five members of a syndicate operating at Kano international airport have been taken into custody by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) following the discovery that they are behind the shipment of illicit substances for which three innocent Nigerians who went on lesser hajj pilgrimage to the holy land were being detained in Jeddah for alleged drug trafficking.

This was disclosed at a press conference addressed by the NDLEA’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi along with the Director of Assets and Financial Investigation, Dr. Abdul Ibrahim and Director of Prosecution and Legal Services, Theresa Asuquo, in Abuja on Monday.

The NDLEA while explaining how the syndicate implicated three unsuspecting pilgrims in drug trafficking allegations in Saudi, said following receipt of complaints by its Chairman/Chief Executive, Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (Rtd) from three Nigerian families over the detention of their family members in Saudi Arabia after the completion of their lesser hajj pilgrimage on an allegation of trafficking in illicit substances into Saudi Arabia, an investigation was launched to unravel what happened.

The agency said the three Nigerians detained in Saudi Arabia: Mrs. Maryam Abdullahi; Mrs. Abdullahi Aminu; and Mr. Abdulhamid Saddiq boarded an Ethiopian Airline flight ET940 which departed Kano on 6th August 2025 to Jeddah enroute Addis-Ababa were unfortunate to be tagged with six additional bags not belonging to them, three of which were found to contain illicit drugs.

The agency said: “Mrs. Maryam Hussain Abdullahi while embarking on this flight, only checked in one luggage weighing 9 kilograms on the 6th day of August, 2025 which incidentally did not arrive with her to her destination. Her husband was only informed of the arrival of their luggage on 16th August, a day before the date of their departure from Jeddah which was to be on the 17th day of August, 2025. Following this allegation, she was detained in Jeddah and is still in detention till date. The case of the other two persons followed the same pattern and were reported to the Agency shortly after Maryam Hussain’s complaint.”

The agency revealed its swift investigation revealed that “the bags containing illicit drug substances intercepted in Saudi Arabia were checked in against the complainants’ names by members of a criminal syndicate operating in Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport without the knowledge of the three complainants.

“All the bags were traced to one Ali Abubakar Mohammed (aka Bello Karama), the leader of the syndicate who checked them into the Ethiopian Airline on the 6th day of August 2025, the same day the three complainants travelled on board the same airline from Kano enroute Addis-Ababa to Jeddah. It is interesting to note that the said Ali Abubakar Mohammed who also travelled to Jeddah on the same date boarded Egypt Air rather than Ethiopian Airline where he checked in his contaminated bags.

“The bags were tagged and checked in by members of staff of Skyway Aviation Handling Company who are also members of the criminal syndicate, to the names of the three complainants secretly and without their knowledge or consent. The bags illegally tagged against the complainants’ names are the ones intercepted in Saudi Arabia and found to contain the illicit drug substances.

“For the above reasons, the three complainants were arrested and detained for crimes they had no knowledge of. In the light of the forgoing, and the evidence gathered by the agency in the course of our investigation, it is clear that Mrs. Maryam Abdullahi and two others who are being detained in Saudi are victims of circumstance, implicated by the activities of a criminal syndicate operating at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport.”

The agency revealed that six members of the syndicate are already in its custody with four already charged to court awaiting arraignment including Ali Mohammed (aka Bello Karama); Abdulbasit Adamu, Murtala Olalekan and Celestina Yayock, adding that: “They have all made confessional statements. While Ali had admitted bringing in seven luggage, Celestina confessed checking in two of them for a fee of N100,000 and another suspect Jazuli Kabir who checked in two other bags admitted collecting N100,000 for the dirty job, while Ali travelled with the other three bags on Egypt Air. We have the receipts for the transfer of N200,000 from Ali to Celestina who in turn transferred N100,000 to Jazuli.”

The agency said based on the outcome of its investigations it is spearheading a dialogue with the authority of the General Directorate of Narcotics Control (GDNC) in Saudi Arabia to see that the three innocent Nigerians are exonerated.

“As a result, the Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the Agency is presently on his way to attend an International Drug Conference which will be attended by a delegation from the General Directorate of Narcotics Control (GDNC), who he intends to meet one on one, to present our findings and seek the cooperation of our Saudi counterparts in ensuring that Mrs. Maryam Hussain Abdullahi, and the two others who remain stranded in the Kingdom, get the justice they deserve. If required, the CCEO is also prepared to travel to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia personally to pursue this matter to its conclusion”, Babafemi stated, while assuring that Nigeria will never abandon its citizens, especially when the facts clearly show that they are victims of criminal conspiracies.

The agency however assured the public of its commitment to fight the scourge of substance abuse and illicit drug trafficking in the country adding that “while there are no sacred cows in our enforcement duties which can be attested to by the number of high-profile arrests, seizures, convictions and forfeitures recorded, it will not support the innocent being punished for crimes they did not commit.”

“While investigations continue, the CCEO will like to appreciate the Hon. Min of Aviation and Aerospace Development, the Managing Director of FAAN, the AVSEC and the DSS for their collaboration on this case and for the interim measures that have been approved in MAKIA to prevent a reoccurrence of this type of situation”, Babafemi said.

Drug kingpin, 5 others in NDLEA custody for smuggling drugs into bags of 3 Nigerians facing charges in Saudi Arabia

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