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Senate to Partner with NDLEA to Fight Drug Menace

Senate to Partner with NDLEA to Fight Drug Menace
By: Michael Mike
The Upper Chamber of the National Assembly has expressed willingness to partner and support the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), in the task of ridding Nigeria of drug menace.
The Senate Committee on Drugs and Narcotics while commending the leadership of NDLEA for its unrelenting war against substance abuse and illicit drug trafficking, said it was prepared and committed to partner and support the agency to succeed in its onerous task of ridding Nigeria of the drug menace.
The assurance was given after the Chairman/Chief Executive of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (Retd) briefed the Committee on the activities, challenges and achievements of the agency in the last 34 months at the National Assembly complex, Abuja.

Marwa, during the briefing on Tuesday, said the global supply and demand of illicit drugs, including opioids and synthetic drugs has exacerbated the world drug problem, with devastating impact on people and their well-being across borders and continents.
He said: “Families, communities, young people and old men and women and indeed the very fabric of our society is daily being destroyed by drug abuse.” He added that the scourge is at the basis of the security challenges facing not only Nigeria but other nations and as such, no effort must be spared in addressing the problem.”
Speaking on some of its achievements in the areas of drug demand reduction and drug supply reduction, Marwa said: “The agency re-ignited its intelligence-based enforcement capabilities, focusing on drug barons and cartels, with a view to cutting off supplies and taking illicit drugs away from our streets. This is yielding positive results with the arrest of 36,096 drug traffickers, among them 40 barons, between January 2021 and September 2023. The agency has recorded seizures of 6,668 tons of drugs, worth over N635 billion. About 957.319 hectares of cannabis farms have been destroyed across 12 states within the period under review, while we successfully prosecuted and got convictions in 6,043 cases.
“Presently, there are 11,166 pending cases in Federal High Court across the country. And between January 2021 and September 2023, over 27,432 drug-dependent individuals have been counselled and discharged from our counselling and treatment facilities across the country.”
He highlighted some of the challenges facing the agency to include: inadequate funding, dearth of standard rehabilitation centres, lack of operational boats and vehicles, forensic laboratories and poor salary structure for personnel among others.
Marwa said the modest achievements recorded by the agency in the past months couldn’t have been possible without the backing of the Executive, the Judiciary and the Legislature. “We are hopeful that we will get even more impactful support from the 10th Senate. We look forward to your assistance in taking care of some Gordian knots that can only be solved by legislative means”, he added.
In his remarks, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Drugs and Narcotics, Senator Ibrahim Dankwambo said: “I want to assure you that the newly inaugurated members of the committee are fully committed to working with the NDLEA. All the members have assured that they would contribute and do their best in working to eradicate the use of illicit drugs and narcotics in Nigeria. We will consider the possibility of having an emergency summit on drugs because of the seriousness of the issue.”
Also speaking, Vice Chairman of the Committee, Senator Osita Ngwu said: “We are so glad that the NDLEA is working and we are seeing the results. Over 6000 tons of drugs confiscated is not a joke. I use this medium to encourage you, and whatever support you need from our end, we will give. We are all passionate about reducing drug demand, if we don’t deal with it now, it will destroy us.
“Whatever support we can give we will provide for you to continue this fight, so that we can take drugs off our streets and make our youth useful. We are all going to work together by all means to make sure that all we discussed here will be put in process.”
Other members of the committee who spoke toed the same line of commendation and assurance while they all agreed to fast track the amendment of the NDLEA Act earlier passed by the 9th Senate but returned to the 10th Senate because it lapsed.
Senate to Partner with NDLEA to Fight Drug Menace
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Embrace peace-building via education – CDS tells youth

Embrace peace-building via education – CDS tells youth
By: Zagazola Makama
The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Gen. Christopher Musa, has called on Nigerian youths to embrace peace-building through education and social media.
He, however, ddescribed Nigerian youth as the country’s most potent force against violent extremism, terrorism, and insurgency.
Musa made the call while addressing a students, civil society organisations, traditional leaders and security officials at a Multi-sector conference on countering extremism ideology and insurgency on Saturday in Maiduguri.
The event was organised by the Kaltu Foundation for Peace, Network of Civil Society Organisation.
The event which focused on “Building Resilience Against Violent Extremism Through Youth Engagement and Civic Dialogue,” featured the unveiling of a new book.
The book is titled Stand Against Violence, Terrorism, and Extremism: An Admonition to Nigerian Youths, co-authored by Gen. Musa and other senior defence stakeholders.
In his keynote address, the Defence Chief emphasised that the burden of national security and peace cannot rest solely on the military, stressing that “the future of Nigeria lies in the hands of its youth.
“If we want to defeat insurgency, it is the youth that will do it. If we want to prevent violent extremism and reclaim our schools, our homes and our dignity, it is the youth that must lead the charge,” Musa declared.
Drawing from his personal military experience in the region, Gen. Musa reflected on his service in the North-East as Theatre Commander of Operation Hadin Kai and Commander of the Multinational Joint Task Force, stressing the resilience of the people and the importance of civic support to military success.
He thanked the people of Borno for their sustained cooperation with the armed forces, adding that the current military leadership under Maj.-Gen. Abdulsalam Abubakar as “capable and committed.
“Nation building is a continuous, painstaking, and tireless effort, especially for patriotic and well-meaning Nigerians like you,” he said. “We must not relent.
“Things are improving. With your support, we will achieve total peace,” he said.
Speaking on the power of information in the digital age, Musa warned against the misuse of social media platforms by extremist elements, calling on the youth to use technology to promote peace, unity, and truth.
“Social media today does not merely shape opinions, it influences behaviour, identity, and belief systems.
“We must repurpose it as a tool for civic education, truth-telling, countering disinformation, and supporting our security forces,” the CDS said.
He urged students and youth to become “ambassadors of peace,” leveraging peer influence and community engagement to challenge radical ideologies and reclaim their spaces from those who sow division and hatred.
“Let us start a new movement. A movement of young Nigerians committed to rebuilding their communities through values that reflect our collective national identity – peace, unity, truth, and purpose,” Musa said.
The CDS, however, expressed optimism that the publication would become a key resource in educational and security institutions, saying he welcomed reviews and constructive criticism.
“There are no perfect solutions to the complex issues we face but through multilateral collaboration and thoughtful dialogue, we can sharpen our strategies and outpace the ever-evolving tactics of non-state actors,” he added.
Musa also paid tribute to the Borno government, traditional rulers, scholars and members of the academic and civil society for what he described as their “unwavering commitment to peace.”
The event was attended by top officials from the military, Borno Government, Network of Civil Society Organisations, youth groups, and students from tertiary institutions across the North-East.
Embrace peace-building via education – CDS tells youth
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Two arrested over beating death of teenager over missing phone in Yobe

Two arrested over beating death of teenager over missing phone in Yobe
By: Zagazola Makama
Two young men have been arrested in Ngalda town, Fika Local Government Area of Yobe State, for allegedly beating an 18-year-old boy, Abbas Zakari, to death over a missing phone and power bank.
Zagazola gathered from sources that the incident occurred on Friday, June 27, at about 5:00 p.m., when the suspects, identified as Musa Sale, 25, and Muntari Suleiman, 23, accused the deceased of stealing two mobile phones (an Android and a keypad model) and a power bank.
According to a relative, Hussaini Zakari, who reported the matter to the police, the suspects apprehended Abbas in Potiskum, where he had reportedly gone to sell the items, and recovered the handsets from him.
Instead of handing him over to the police upon returning to Ngalda, the suspects allegedly took matters into their own hands and severely beat the teenager with sticks.
The victim was rushed to the General Hospital in Fika by police officers, but was confirmed dead on arrival by a medical doctor. His remains were released to his family for burial in accordance with Islamic rites.
The suspects have since been arrested and have reportedly confessed to the assault during preliminary interrogation.
Police say the case will be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) for further investigation and prosecution.
Two arrested over beating death of teenager over missing phone in Yobe
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Tinubu Commissions Locally Made Electric Vehicles in Nasarawa

Tinubu Commissions Locally Made Electric Vehicles in Nasarawa
By: Michael Mike
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has officially commissioned indigenous electric vehicles, tricycles and motorcycles in Nasarawa State,
This marks an important milestone in Nigeria’s transition to sustainable transportation.
The event, which also featured the launch of several legacy infrastructure projects, showcased the commitment of Governor Abdullahi Sule’s administration to innovation and environmental sustainability.

The commissioning ceremony signifies the formal establishment and operation of electric vehicle technology in the state—an initiative aligned with President Tinubu’s national policy on sustainable transportation.
Governor Sule revealed plans to empower residents across Nasarawa with electric vehicles, a move aimed at easing transportation challenges and reducing reliance on fossil fuels.
Speaking at the event, the Chief Executive Officer of Electric Motor Vehicle Company (EMVC), Prince Mustapha Audu, expressed gratitude to both President Tinubu and Governor Sule for supporting local innovation and embracing the future of transportation.
Audu described EMVC as one of Nigeria’s leading electric vehicle manufacturers, with branches in other states. He commended Governor Sule for pioneering the future of mobility in Nasarawa, noting the global shift towards electric vehicles, especially as many countries move to phase out compressed natural gas (CNG) vehicles by 2030.
He said: “We have SUVs that can travel 1,200 km per charge, and sedan models suitable for ride-hailing services with a 400 km range. We also have locally made tricycles and motorcycles—popularly known as Igwe—that are affordable and built for Nigerian roads.”
Highlighting innovation in infrastructure, Audu explained that the vehicles will be supported by solar-powered charging stations. “Our charging stations can power three vehicles simultaneously without relying on the national grid or generators. We plan to increase them to five stations shortly,” he stated.
He explained that with just ₦5,000, vehicle owners can fully charge their cars depending on battery capacity.
He said the electric vehicles are powered by lithium batteries designed to reduce carbon emissions and enhance clean energy usage. To support long-term adoption, EMVC is also setting up battery assembly lines, EV repair centers, and training hubs across the state.
He further said: “Each electric vehicle comes with a minimum two-year warranty,” noting that: “Unlike traditional vehicles with over 25,000 components, electric vehicles have fewer than 300 parts—most of which are cosmetic. This greatly reduces maintenance costs and complexity.”
He emphasized that common issues will mostly be electrical, and the company already has trained technicians on the ground, with plans to train more as demand grows.
Audu acknowledged challenges such as poor road conditions and climate, but assured that the vehicles were designed with Nigerian realities in mind.

He expressed confidence in the durability of the locally manufactured electric vehicles, tricycles, and motorcycles, urging Nigerians to embrace the cleaner, cheaper alternative to transportation.
Tinubu Commissions Locally Made Electric Vehicles in Nasarawa
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