National News
Stakeholders Call for Immediate Implementation of the National Disability Act

Stakeholders Call for Immediate Implementation of the National Disability Act
By: Michael Mike
Stakeholders have advocated for the immediately implementation of Discrimination Against Persons with disabilities (Prohibition) Act, 2019 popularly called The National Disability Act.
The stakeholders who were at a two-day National Co-creations Stakeholders Convening in Abuja with a convergence of an array of stakeholders including Senior Special Assistants to governors on Disability related matters from different states in the Federation, Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), Non-government Organisation (NGO) community representatives, implementing partners, Ministries, Departments & Agencies (MDAs) hosted by Centre for Ability Rehabilitation and Empowerment (CARE) in collaboration with Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) Community of Practice with the theme: “The National Disability Act post moratorium: Advancing Inclusion and accessibility for those vulnerable and outside the margin”, also called for the review and amendment of some sections of the act to conform with
emerging realities.
The stakeholders recalled that Discrimination Against Persons with disabilities (Prohibition) Act, 2019 popularly called The National Disability Act was passed by the National Assembly and signed into an Act by President Muhammadu Buhari after almost 19 years of engagements with the National Assembly, adding that the Act with 10 parts seeks to protect the rights and ensure adequate inclusion of persons with disabilities in line with the United Nations Convention on the Right of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD), but that however “after 5 years of its existence, the implementation of the act had been considered to be at a snail-pace with several rights holders calling
for speedy actions while some sections require review/amendment to conform with
emerging realities.”

The communique read that: “The convening aimed to discuss advancing Inclusion and accessibility for those vulnerable and outside the margin post-moratorium of the Disability Act. With the recent elapsed moratorium period of the Act, on January 24th, 2024, it is imperative to come together to discuss the domestication and implementation stages at National and State levels and strategize the next steps to ensure that the Act not only continue
to protect Persons with Disabilities, but also advance the Inclusion and accessibility
for those who are most vulnerable and marginalised in our society.
The convening served as a convergence point, bringing together an array of
stakeholders including Senior Special Assistants to governors on Disability related
matters from different states in the Federation, Civil Society Organisations (CSOs),
Non-government Organisation (NGO) community representatives, implementing
partners, Ministries, Departments & Agencies.
The stakeholders identify gaps and challenges in mainstreaming Persons with Disabilities, particularly in budget allocation, appointments and modalities for implementation of penalties, sensitize and increase awareness among duty bearers and right-holders about the National Disability Act, 2019.
Stakeholders acknowledged several challenges faced after the
passage of the Disability Act at the National, State and local level, recognising that Part 1 of the National Disability Act used the term integration and not
Inclusion and this further increases the gap to ensure full Inclusion, as integration means bringing people together without providing reasonable accommodation as it relates to their diversity, while Inclusion does both.
They also recognize that some states have domesticated the Disability Law and established disability commission but, implementation is still very weak, while other states have neither domesticated nor even passed or drafted bill, disclosing that states that have domesticated and implemented the Disability Act include: Anambra, Lagos,
Ekiti, Rivers, Bauchi, Nassarawa, Abia, Delta. Kwara, Kaduna, Kano, kogi, Edo,
Adamawa, Plateau, Jigawa, and Ondo.
They said: “Though these states have domesticated the Act, the level of implementation varies. While the remaining states have not domesticated the Act.
“Minimum accessibility standard/regulation is yet to be a legal document. Tokenism is still an issue plaguing the full implementation of the Disability Act
as a lot of duty bearers have not fully adopted the human rights approach.
“Leaders who represent disability groups in meetings do not disseminate
information to other persons with disabilities and this leads to information gap. Victimization of persons with disabilities by political appointees who are also
persons with disabilities. Continuous discrimination of Persons with Disabilities in accessing Inclusive airline services and other forms of basic services.
“Little or no budget allocation for persons with Disabilities at all levels.”
Having acknowledged the gaps and challenges in the domestication and full
implementation of the National Disability Act 2019 through robust discussion, the
participants resolved: “To advocate for the removal of the word ‘’Integration’’ as enshrined in part one of the National Disability Act and rather replace with
‘’Inclusion’’ as this is more robust and tends to close the gap to provide a culture of diversity, equity and sense of belonging not contained in the National Disability Act.
“To work together, collaborate more to ensure the full Inclusion of Persons with Disabilities at all levels. To organise Joint National Association of Persons with Disabilities (JONAPWD) members and ensure to meet with the Governor and or the
chief of Staff of Kwara State.
“To engage Commissioners in charge of Disability matters. To intensify advocacy efforts on the establishment of Disability
Commission through the use of radio and other media. To replicate this event in Anambra State to examine and evaluate the
implementation of the Act in collaboration with Anambra State Disability Commission.
“To bridge the communication gap between Persons with Disabilities and
Persons without Disabilities through the use of technology.
“To replicate same programme in Imo State to strengthen the capacity of
JONAPWD Executives and members in the state, increase advocacy to
ensure the passage of the disability law and establishment of the
disability commission in Imo State.
“To liaise with relevant stakeholders (Government and Private sector,
JONAPWD leadership, State commission for PWD, SA to governors etc) to strengthen collaboration in increasing advocacy for the
implementation and compliance to the state disability law.
“To replicate same programmes in other States to strengthen the capacity
of Disability groups and members in the state, increase advocacy to
ensure the domestication of the disability law, it’s full implementations
and to ensure the establishment of the disability commission at all state
levels.”
Stakeholders Call for Immediate Implementation of the National Disability Act
National News
NSCC Appoints Yilwatda Its Ambassador

NSCC Appoints Yilwatda Its Ambassador
By: Michael Mike
The National Senior Citizens Centre (NSCC) has appointed the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Professor Natawe Goshwe Yilwatda, as its ambassador.
The appointment was made in Jos, Plateau State as part of activities to commemorate the National day of Older persons.
This significant appointment which was on the sidelines of the 6 day medical outreach organized by the Centre in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction recognizes Professor Yilwatda’s unwavering dedication to humanitarian service, poverty alleviation, and the protection of vulnerable populations, particularly senior citizens.
According to a statement, as NSCC Ambassador, Yilwatda will serve as a key advocate for the rights, dignity, and well being of older persons across Nigeria.
The statement read: “His leadership and commitment are expected to drive impactful initiatives that promote healthy, active, and inclusive aging, in alignment with the NSCC’s national mandate.
“The NSCC looks forward to a fruitful partnership with Professor Yilwatda in advancing policies and programmes that uplift and empower the elderly in our communities.”
NSCC Appoints Yilwatda Its Ambassador
National News
Marwa: NDLEA Open to Controlled Exportation of Cannabis Oil

Marwa: NDLEA Open to Controlled Exportation of Cannabis Oil
By: Michael Mike
Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has said the agency is not averse to the controlled and regulated export of cannabis oil to countries who desire it but remains opposed to its local consumption.
Speaking at a stakeholders workshop themed “Cannabis Oil Debate: The Path Forward for Nigeria”, organized by the Nigerian Academy of Science in Abuja on Wednesday, Marwa said the dialogue on cannabis oil is a welcome development.
He said: “At NDLEA, our position on cannabis oil is simple: we welcome dialogue. We believe Nigeria must make informed choices, not choices driven by half-truths, commercial interests, or global trends. Cannabis oil may have medicinal properties worth investigating, but it also carries health risks, potential for misuse, and implications for public safety. This is why it is crucial that scientists, medical experts, policymakers, and regulators are in the same room to bring facts to the table, scrutinise evidence, and weigh options carefully.
“Let me assure you that NDLEA is not opposed to science, nor are we indifferent to innovation. What we insist on is caution. Policy must protect lives, safeguard public health, and strengthen—not weaken—our fight against drug abuse. As such, the agency will not be averse to the idea of controlled export of cannabis oil to foreign companies and countries who desire it, as part of our drive as a country to enhance foreign earnings. After all, some countries have approved the use of cannabis oil for therapeutic purposes while others including Nigeria have not.
“Our concern however is about its consumption in Nigeria. In essence, we are not opposed to the idea of exporting the oil to those who desire it but such must be strictly controlled, licensed and monitored by NDLEA with such process located only within export free zones.”
Explaining further the position of the agency, the NDLEA boss said the conversation is necessary because “we are talking about Cannabis, which is not just another plant. It is a substance with complex medical, social, and economic dimensions. For decades, the debate has been one-sided. Advocates often highlight the supposed benefits of cannabis oil, while its risks and consequences are glossed over. This, no doubt informs the decision by us at the NDLEA to commission an ongoing study on cannabis oil by this respected apex body of scientists, the Nigerian Academy of Science.”
He added that: “In a country like Nigeria, which is already contending with a high burden of drug abuse, it is imperative that we approach this matter with sobriety, clarity, and balance. Till today, much of the public debate highlights the potential therapeutic uses of cannabis oil and the commercial value of its export. What about the risks? Evidence shows that cannabis, including its oil extracts, can have adverse effects on mental health, especially among young people. The prolonged or uncontrolled use of cannabis and its extracts is linked to anxiety, depression, psychosis, and cognitive impairment. In addition, dependence and addiction are real concerns as well. In reality, these side effects create additional social and economic costs for families, communities and society at large.
“Another fundamental issue that we must take cognisance of is that the lack of standardised production and regulation in many countries means products sold as “cannabis oil” often vary in potency, contain contaminants, or are misused outside of medical supervision. Already, Nigeria has one of the highest rates of misuse of cannabis worldwide. For a country already grappling with 14.4 percent substance abuse prevalence rate as against the global average of 5.6 percent and a staggering figure of 10.6 million cannabis users based on the last drug use survey report of 2018, the risks associated with cannabis cannot be dismissed. Rather, the reality should remind us that while cannabis oil may have medical potential, its dangers are real and must be addressed with strong safeguards before any policy shift is considered”
He said as part of efforts to mitigate the consequences of illicit drug cultivation and production is the decision by the agency, as the first in Africa, to introduce alternative development project in 2023.
According to him, “The Alternative Development Project demands ethical responsibility and commitment to develop transformative policies and humanitarian responses to mitigate drug-related problems and end the complexities and violence of the war on drugs in Nigeria and globally. In Nigeria, the Alternative Development Project will focus on reducing the vulnerabilities of ignorance, poverty, hunger, unemployment and underdevelopment that push people into illicit economies, particularly illicit drug cultivation. Aside from its link to transnational organised crime, illicit drug cultivation fuels national organised crime that causes agricultural states to abandon food crop cultivation for cannabis plantations in some communities across Nigeria. We intend to reduce these vulnerabilities both in urban centres and rural areas through the provision of functional mechanisms and facilities for sensitisation, skills acquisition, empowerment and positive engagements for sustainable livelihoods.”
In his welcome remark, President of the Nigerian Academy of Science, Prof Abubakar Sambo who was represented by the Vice President of NAS, Prof Friday Okonofua noted that several research studies have considered various uses of cannabis and its side effects. He said the workshop was aimed at reaching a consensus on the contentious issue of the use of cannabis oil.
“At the end of the day, we’ll have evidence-based consensus work, which will be properly documented that will lead us to decide what we should be doing regarding the use of cannabis in this country”, he stated.

Chairman of NAS study committee on cannabis oil use, Prof Musbau Akanbi commended NDLEA for being proactive and working with the Academy to obtain science driven guide for Nigeria. “As we all know, cannabis oil is extracted from cannabis and the legalisation of the use of the oil would translate to large-scale cultivation of the weed itself. The Nigerian Academy of Science consequently constitutes the consensus study committee on cannabis oil debate, comprising experts in all fields that had to do with the study request. The committee collected a lot of literature on the subject matter from all over the world, reviewed what is happening in other lands, and decided to arrange this workshop where experts from various related fields will come together with stakeholders and present evidence that will be collated to assist NDLEA in carrying out its honest responsibility.”
Also speaking at the workshop, Dr. Samuel Adekola who represented Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa of Ondo state noted that “this all-important workshop will offer our great country, Nigeria, the opportunity to move from debate to design, from potential to policies and I urge all participants to contribute constructively so that together we can rise to craft a model that not only benefit the consumers of health, also the sunshine state and Nigeria, but also position our nation as a leader on the African continent in this emerging field. Let us proceed with vision, with courage, and with unity of purpose”
In his keynote address, the Director, WHO Collaborating Centre for Research and Training in Mental Health, Neurosciences, and Substance Abuse, University of Ibadan, Prof. Oye Gureje, stated that cumulative evidence suggests that “cannabis has some limited medical use”, and “widespread recreational use is likely to lead to increased risk of psychosis”, while “public health may be moderately affected by increased use (e.g. road accidents)”
Marwa: NDLEA Open to Controlled Exportation of Cannabis Oil
National News
Zagazola Makama replies U.S. Congressman: Stop weaponising religion to deny Nigeria arms

Zagazola Makama replies U.S. Congressman: Stop weaponising religion to deny Nigeria arms
By: Zagazola Makama
Security analyst and counterinsurgency expert, Zagazola Makama, has dismissed as false, baseless, and hypocritical the recent claims by U.S. Congressman Riley M. Moore alleging “systematic persecution and slaughter of Christians” in Nigeria.
Makama said the Congressman’s remarks were nothing but an orchestrated attempt to exploit religion as a political weapon, while disguising the real agenda to deny Nigeria access to weapons and military hardware needed to defeat terrorism.
This entire narrative of so-called Christian genocide is not only false but deliberately crafted to cripple Nigeria’s counterterrorism capacity. The same terrorists who attack churches also bomb mosques and kill Muslim villagers. They are not fighting for faith they are fighting against peace,” Makama said.
He noted that Moore’s claim of 7,000 Christians killed in 2025 was not supported by any verifiable evidence or credible international monitoring body, including the United Nations, Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, or even the U.S. Embassy in Abuja, which maintains real-time intelligence on Nigeria’s security situation.
“If the U.S. Embassy in Abuja with its vast intelligence network has never classified the violence in Nigeria as religious genocide, then where exactly did this Congressman get his statistics from? Certainly not from facts,” he said.
Makama said it was deeply disturbing that individuals in the U.S. Congress could be misled by propaganda designed to portray Nigeria as a country at war with its Christian population, when in fact, victims of insurgency and banditry cut across all religions and ethnicities.
He warned that blocking arms sales to Nigeria under the guise of human rights or religious concerns would directly strengthen the terrorists and make the U.S. Congress complicit in the killings they claim to condemn.
“When you deny Nigeria weapons to fight terror, you are helping the terrorists who get theirs through illegal back channels. That means the so-called human rights defenders in Congress are aiding mass murder by ensuring that innocent civilians remain defenceless,” Makama stated.
He also reminded the U.S. lawmaker that earlier this year, Washington itself admitted that American taxpayer money through USAID had found its way into the hands of terrorist-linked organizations in the Sahel, yet no one has been prosecuted.
“So before pointing fingers at Nigeria, the U.S. should first look inward. Their own agencies have admitted to indirectly funding terrorists, and yet, they continue to lecture other nations about accountability,” he said.
Makama described the Congressman’s statements as a dangerous attempt to sow religious division and mislead the international community into viewing Nigeria through a sectarian lens.
“Nigeria’s security crisis is not a Christian-versus-Muslim war. It is a fight between lawful citizens and violent extremists. Any attempt to twist it into a religious war is dishonest and deeply irresponsible,” he said.
He added that countless soldiers and civilians of both faiths have sacrificed their lives in defence of the country, and their bravery should never be undermined by political actors seeking to weaponise faith for foreign agendas.
“Those who peddle this false narrative are not friends of peace. They are knowingly promoting religious hatred and helping the enemies of Nigeria by trying to cut off its access to essential defence support,” Makama said.
He called on international partners to rely on verified intelligence, credible data, and first-hand reports from reputable organizations rather than politically motivated fabrications designed to damage Nigeria’s reputation.
“If the U.S. truly stands for global peace and religious freedom, it must stop empowering propaganda that fuels division and weakens nations fighting terrorism on the frontlines,” he concluded.
Zagazola Makama replies U.S. Congressman: Stop weaponising religion to deny Nigeria arms
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