NDLEA, NARTO Collaborate on War Against Drug Trafficking

By: Michael Mike

Leaders of the Nigerian Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO) on Thursday pledged to collaborate with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) to fight the scourge of drug trafficking in the country by ensuring that their members’ truck and passenger vehicles are no longer available for conveyance of illicit drugs across the country.

The commitment was made when the National President of NARTO, Alhaji Yusuf Lawal Othman led other leaders of the transport union on a courtesy visit to the Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (Rtd) at the agency National Headquarters in Abuja.

Othman, while commending the NDLEA’s helmsman courage, vision, and patriotism in the leadership of the agency, said “this visit today is not just ceremonial; it is purposeful and timely. It reflects our deep appreciation of NDLEA’s efforts and our readiness as a key stakeholder in the road transport sector to align with your mission.

“NARTO is acutely aware of the burden we carry. Our truck and passenger vehicles traverse every region of the country, serving as the arteries of commerce and connectivity. However, we also recognize that these same routes are occasionally exploited by criminal elements to traffic illicit substances. We at NARTO are committed to reversing that narrative. We believe that collaboration between our association and the NDLEA is both necessary and urgent, and we are ready to play our part.”

Othman said to achieve the success of the collaboration, there is need for “sensitization and training of NARTO drivers and transport operators on identifying and reporting suspicious cargo or behavior; establishment of joint intelligence-sharing mechanisms to monitor drug trafficking routes and tactics; deployment of NDLEA liaison officers at major NARTO parks and depots across the federation, and public awareness campaigns, using our national footprint to educate drivers and passengers on the dangers of drug trafficking and abuse.”

While reaffirming NARTO’s unwavering stand on the drug scourge, he said “our highways must not be used to harm our nation. We want to see a transport industry that supports security, safety, and the health of our communities.”

In his response, Marwa assured them of the preparedness of NDLEA to work with NARTO.

He said: “I have had good relationship with NARTO since my days in Lagos and I’m glad you’re concerned about the drug problem in Nigeria. We are more than ready to collaborate with at your parks and depots”

He however urged road transport owners to always conduct background checks on drivers they give their vehicles to ensure they are not linked to any drug trafficking syndicate or hooked on illicit substances. This he said will save the transport vehicles owners the risk of losing their vehicles in avoidable crashes or to the government in case they’re caught being used as instruments of illicit drug trafficking.
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Troops neutralise several armed bandits in Niger State, lose one soldier

By: Zagazola Makama

Troops of the Nigerian Army have recorded a major success in the ongoing fight against armed banditry in Niger State, neutralising several bandits during a fierce gun battle in Warari village, Rijau Local Government Area.

Zagazola Makama learnt that the operation, which took place on July 22 at about 7:20 p.m., was confirmed in a report received from the Area Commander of Police, Kontagora, detailing a decisive military engagement in the troubled axis.

According to sources, the bandits, believed to be part of a notorious group operating along the Niger–Kebbi axis, were confronted by the military in a coordinated offensive that lasted for hours.

“A reasonable number of the armed bandits were neutralised during the encounter. The operation recorded significant success on the part of the troops,” the sources said.

Unfortunately, the military also suffered one casualty during the operation.

Security forces have been placed on red alert in the aftermath of the confrontation, while intelligence gathering and surveillance operations continue in the general area to forestall reprisal attacks and flush out fleeing criminals.

Troops neutralise several armed bandits in Niger State, lose one soldier

Nigerians in Diaspora Rally in Abuja for Voting Right

By: Michael Mike

Some Nigerians living in the Diaspora took to the streets of Abuja on Thursday to rally for support for Diaspora Voting.

The group which numbered about 50 persons came out despite the rainfall to walk through Abuja streets to the National Assembly.

They started their walk from the Unity Fountain, walked to the Eagle Square where they address the media and subsequently walked to the gate of the National Assembly where they dispatched representatives to present their position to the federal lawmakers

The inscriptions on the placards they carried showed: “Nigerians in Diaspora urges NASS to legislate diaspora voting,”
“Nigeria is home, let us vote,” “Diaspora votes matter,” “We should vote, let our voice count,” among others.

The Coordinating Chairman of Nigerians in Diaspora Organisation (NiDO)-Worldwide, Mr Chibuzo Ubochi, who addressed the media, urged the Tenth Session of the National Assembly to live a lasting legacy in Nigeria’s democratic process by legislating the Diaspora Voting.

He also appealed to President Bola Tinubu to be the first president of the country to advance inclusive governance of Nigerians at home and abroad through assent to the Bill.

He said the Constitution of Nigeria recognised Diaspora Voting, that every Nigeria, home and abroad of voting age, has the right to register and vote.

Ubochi said: “We are Nigerians living abroad. We bear names like Chibuzor, Ibrahim and Ade, eat Nigerian food and run Nigerian businesses wherever we are.

“So, why can’t we vote? We hold our green passport wherever we go and we are proud of our fatherland.

“One important thing from our past leaders in the country is that they support Diaspora Voting, so what is holding them back?

“This is because the National Assembly had yet to legislate it. This is why we are here to tell them to do the right thing.

“To tell them Nigerians living abroad deserve to be part of electoral process,Patti at the prime of the ongoing Constitutional Review.”

Former Coordinating Chairman of NiDO-Worldwide, Dr Victor Ubani,, underscored the need for President Tinubu to set the pace for the future of Nigeria’s democracy by assenting the Bill when presented to him.

He said: “We are calling on President Tinubu to listen to us. We appeal to the National Assembly to do the needful.

He noted that the only way that they could be told that they remain Nigerians is when they are allowed a chance to determine who makes policy decisions in the country that affects them.

Ubani said: “We are here to work closely with the National Assembly to build our nation to benefit our fatherland.”

For his part, the Global President, National Association of Nigerian Students in Diaspora (NANS-Diaspora), Chris Fayomi, commended the Federal Government’s efforts towards sustaining Nigeria’s democracy.

He noted that more could be done to bolster the nation’s democratic progress through inclusion of Nigerians living abroad in electoral process.

He said: “We have come from across several continents of the world to place demand on government towards legislation of Diaspora Voting.

“This is because no Nigerian will make the most democratic impact in fostering inclusivity of a 17million population than the one who legislates Diaspora Voting,” Fayomi said.

Nigerians in Diaspora Rally in Abuja for Voting Right