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Achieving a brighter future for Nigerian children 

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By Ayo Oyoze Baje

 

Quote:

 

“A Nigerian child who survives at birth is faced with hunger and malnutrition. Our nation today is home to over 18 million out-of-school children, among the highest in the world. This is not just a statistic — it is a deep national wound”

– Peter Obi ( Labour Party Presidential candidate, 2023 )

 

 

With the 2025 Children ‘s Day theme anchored on the moving mantra of: “Stand Up, Speak Up: Building a Bullying-Free Generation,” it should serve as a clarion call on all the stakeholders in the significant function of child upbringing. That is, to walk the talk on providing a safe, secure, morally sound environment with access to quality education and healthcare delivery that are affordable for the socio-economic development of the Nigerian child, for now and the future. That of course, involves the critical role parents, teachers, opinion leaders, religious and traditional rulers in addition to that of the government have to play in safeguarding their lives and providing for their welfare. This has become imperative considering the dire economic situation that the present generation of our children are battling with.

 

 

Though President Bola Tinubu in his speech on the Children ‘s Day pledged to prioritize child protection under the Renewed Hope Agenda, with the full implementation of Nigeria’s National Plan of Action on Ending Violence Against Children (2024–2030), which he recently launched he has to be reminded on the root causes of violence against children. These include the escalating wave of poverty, hunger, joblessness amidst high cost of living. These have affected that of food items , fuel, electricity tariff, taxes, school fees, and of course rents all of which have skyrocketed over the past two years of his administration.

 

 

In as much as his plan to provide a comprehensive roadmap to prevent abuse, prosecute perpetrators, and support victims, backed by robust financing and multi-sectoral coordination are commendable initiatives, the fear factor right from the family level through educational and Industrial sectors will persist as long as the operational environment is harsh on both the psychological and physical wellbeing of the average Nigerian citizen.

 

 

All the same, his administration should take decisive steps to prevent, detect, and respond to all forms of violence against children, as promised. So, it is good to note that his government has initiated a comprehensive review of the Child Rights Act (2003) and the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act (2015). The aim is to expand the scope of protection, strengthen their provisions, close implementation gaps, and ensure nationwide enforcement. Also notable is the that of leveraging the Cybercrime Act, which is in full force, to protect children from cyberbullying, exploitation, and abuse

 

 

Similarly, it is worthy of commendation that the 36 states of the federation have domesticated the Child Rights Act. This, according to Tinubu reflects the governments’ collective resolve to protect and provide for the welfare of children. And with the introduction of the National Policy on Safety, Security, and Violence-Free Schools and developed Guidelines for School Administrators, the learning environment should be free from fear and all forms of threats and intimidation.

 

 

Of significance also is the National Commission for Almajiri and Out-of-School Children. Its noble aim is to create inclusive pathways for every child to learn, thrive, and succeed, regardless of background. That reminds of the Almajiri School Program under the then President Goodluck Jonathan. It should have been sustained devoid of political sentiments. As Peter Obi rightly noted: “Each out-of-school child represents a dream deferred, a future endangered, and a country that is failing to uphold its most sacred responsibility.”

 

 

With specific regards to the children ‘s welfare urgent steps should be taken to reduce the scourge of poverty. In fact, a 2024 UNICEF report revealed that around 11 million children here in Nigeria are suffering from severe food poverty, with one in four under the age of five stunted due to malnutrition—particularly in rural areas. That on its own is a form of brutality. So is that of the 2022 National Bureau of Statistics report which found that 46.5% of Nigerian children aged 5–14 were engaged in child labour.

 

 

Yet, with the 2023 report from UNICEF estimating that over 110 million people under the age of 18 live in Nigeria no effort should be spared to ensure that this national asset is provided with the best quality of life. But doing so would involve the contribution of all the stakeholders. Certainly, all manner of terrorists, bandits, kidnappers, armed robbers, yahoo-yahoo scammers and drug traffickers come from one home or the other. If the parents are there for them they would not be engaged with such crimes and criminality.

 

 

Both the state and federal governments should learn some lessons from the laudable initiatives of one of the most patriotic Nigerians, the Efik-born Prof. Eyo It’s. He returned to Nigeria from the United States in 1933 after clinching two Masters Degrees and a doctorate degree in Philosophy. Concerned about the future of Nigerian children the educationist saw to the birth of the Nigerian Youth Movement, NYM. He predicated his vision on the palm philosophy with the five fingers of Health, Economy,Beauty, Knowledge, Patriotism and Religion. He was passionate about young Nigerians who would be well educated and resourceful, to become useful citizens to the country. That was during the colonial era. If he could actively engage the young minds then why not our current leaders in the first quarter of the 21st Century?

 

 

In fact, so impactful was the NYM in the training of young Nigerian doctors,lawyers and teachers that in that same 1933 the likes of Dr. J. C. Vaughan,Ernest Okoli, Samuel Akinsanya and H.O. Davies all based in Lagos keyed into the vision. With it they challenged the poor quality of the then Yaba Higher College. Its tempo and tenor spread nationwide prompting the return of the Great Zik from Ghana to kick start and give life to the dream and desire for Nigeria’s political independence. That was then.

 

 

Now we need our political leaders to drastically reduce the issue of both physical and emotional brutality. The government should therefore, provide the enabling environment for businesses to thrive. The costs of transportation, food items, electricity tariff, school fees and rents should be reduced to make them affordable. The government should reduce both the tax and debt burdens on the citizens so that the parents would be capable of meeting the financial burdens of their children. It should also come up with pro-people policies that would act as catalysts for both industrialization and good governance. With all that there will be a brighter future for Nigerian children

2027: Northern Muslim group urges Tinubu to pick Christian VP

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A northern Muslim advocacy group has called on President Bola Tinubu to consider choosing a northern Christian as his running mate for the 2027 presidential election.

The group, Concerned Northern Muslim Ummah, made the call in a press statement issued on Sunday by its convener, Bala Duguri.

It said the appeal followed wide consultations across northern states with various Islamic organisations, aimed at forging a unified political direction ahead of 2027.

Duguri noted that the group’s decision stems from its support for President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which he described as yielding “positive results toward a greater Nigeria.”

“Our group has undertaken wider consultations across the northern states with different Islamic organisations in a bid to speak with one voice over the political direction in the APC-led administration. The outcome is very encouraging,” Duguri said.

He emphasised that, based on their findings, there was a growing consensus that political equity and fairness demanded a religious balance in the 2027 ticket.

“We have carefully considered the present situation of our country, coupled with deep concern for the well-being of our people, in the spirit of fairness, equity, and justice,” he said.

The group acknowledged the success of the Muslim-Muslim ticket during the 2023 elections, attributing it partly to the support of the Christian community, and called for that gesture to be reciprocated.

“The sacrifices made by our fellow Christian brothers and sisters in the 2023 presidential elections, in the spirit of unity and national progress, need to be acknowledged. It’s time for Muslim political actors to make similar sacrifices,” Duguri added.

The statement appealed to potential Muslim vice-presidential aspirants within the APC to step aside and support the nomination of a Christian running mate in 2027.

“As a Muslim organisation, we use this opportunity to call on all potential Muslim nominees for the vice presidential slot to make the necessary sacrifice by dropping their ambitions for the good of the country.”

The group also urged President Tinubu, the APC National Executive Committee, the National Working Committee, the Board of Trustees, the Progressive Governors Forum, and other stakeholders to consider its appeal in the spirit of unity, equity, and justice.

Duguri stressed that the recommendation was not merely political but rooted in a genuine concern for national cohesion, democratic stability, and the continued success of Tinubu’s administration.

“After extensive consultations across religious, ethnic, and political lines in the North, we believe the most appropriate step forward is for a Northern Christian to be selected as the Vice Presidential candidate in 2027,” he said.

The group pledged to continue engagement with major religious and traditional institutions, including the NSCIA, JIBWIS, CAN, the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria, JNI, and the Northern Traditional Institution, to lobby for support for their position.

“This move will not only stabilise our democracy but also improve the electoral chances of President Tinubu, who, with this adjustment, will surely win by a landslide,” the group stated.

However, its call is in sharp contrast to that of Borno State APC stakeholders who have called on President Tinubu to retain Vice President Kashim Shettima, a Muslim from Borno State, as his running mate.

The Borno APC made the call in April in a communiqué issued following a critical stakeholders meeting held at the Multi-Purpose Hall of the Government House, Maiduguri.

“The meeting prayed for Mr. President to retain His Excellency Senator Kashim Shettima as his Vice President for his second term,” the communiqué read in part.

IS ATIKU “SERUBAWON?”

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  By Tunde Olusunle Politics in Nigeria over the years has always been denominated by notable peculiarities. This of course is relative to time and season. The gamut of its aesthetics resides in the frills and thrills, dramas and theatrics, which it throws up. Electioneering engenders colourful rallies in stadia and open arenas, complete with songs, chants and dance. Oftentimes, such events build up into resplendent carnival crescendos in the African sunshine. Roadshows offer similar excitement, music booming and blaring from loudspeakers mounted on branded automobiles, electrifying the streets and cities, as huge processions accompany mobile platforms. It is the season when aliases are minted and sobriquets conjured, when major political dramatis personae are conferred with novel honorifics and nomenclatures. Nigeria’s First and Second Republic politics featured notable legends like Jeremiah Obafemi Awolowo; Samuel Ladoke Akintola; Augustus Meredith Adisa Akinloye; Moses Adekoyejo Majekodunmi; Busari Adelakun and Adeniran Ogunsanya, from Nigeria’s present day South West. From the South East came icons like Alvan Azinna Ikoku; Nnamdi Benjamin Azikiwe; Kingsley Ozumba Mbadiwe; Michael Iheonukara Okpara, while today’s global North had the Abubakar Tafawa Balewas; Sa’adu Zungurs; Aminu Kanos; Yusuf Maitama Sules, among others. Awolowo was nicknamed Awo evidently derived from the full spelling of his surname, while the fearless, daring Adelakun was festooned with the alias Eruobodo, which means the “river fears no one.” For his pan-Africanist endeavours, Azikiwe was commonly referred to as Zik of Africa, while Aminu Kano was the Baba’n Talakawa, on account of his strident advocacy for the proletariat, the down-trodden. Aliasing on the political trail subsists even up until the present. Lamidi Adedibu a colossus in the politics of Oyo State in his time, was reputed for his affinity with the underprivileged. As many urchins and street kids who accessed his expansive home in Molete, Ibadan, were assured of regular meals, the staple being amala, yam flour. While Adedibu in one breath was the exemplar of amala politics, he was also famously known as Alaafin Molete. Alaafin is the title of the king of Oyo, a foremost kingdom in Yoruba and Nigerian history. Adedibu was said to have been eminently influential in his district, Molete, Ibadan, his hands strengthened by the swarming army of youngsters beholden to him as their ultimate benefactor. His wishes were his commands. The title of Alaafin, arguably the Number One royal in Oyo State, was therefore appropriated and honorarily bestowed on him. For as long as he lived, Adedibu was a major factor in the politics of Oyo State, whose voice indeed echoed in Aso Villa, seat of national governance. Nigeria’s botched Third Republic brought forth Isiaka Adetunji Adeleke as Governor of Osun State, in January 1992. He was a very cosmopolitan and charismatic personality who was born in Enugu in Nigeria’s South East. He was noted for the remarkable styling of his headgear, which pointed skywards like that of a chef, as against the norm in Yoruba land. He contested for the governorship of Osun State on the platform of the extinct Social Democratic Party, (SDP) and won, just months after the creation of the entity in August 1991. The manner of his first time sweep of the gubernatorial poll earned him the sobriquet Serubawon, the one dreaded by his adversaries. Isiaka Adeleke’s younger brother, Ademola Adeleke who like his older sibling is Governor of Osun State, has since adopted and popularised his brother’s signature cap. Such are the variegated spin-offs of politics in our own part of the world. Conversations around Nigeria’s 2027 presidential poll have begun rather early. The administration of President Bola Tinubu is barely two years in office, yet the national space has been drowned in the din of an election which is more than 700 days away. Cross-carpeting and defections have assumed fever-pitch as politicians try to secure their places in the political scheme, post-2027. Governors, parliamentarians, government appointees, serving and retired continue to move around like yo-yos. Their whole lives, their eternal relevance seem solely predicated on the sustenance of their proboscis, deep inside the torso of our collective patrimony. Many politicians in the present milieu have become permanent fixtures in our politics. As though they are the only Nigerians capable of adding value to governance and nation-building. Proclamations about Tinubu being the sole presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, (APC) in the 2027 presidential ticket have been made. He will run unopposed. Olusegun Obasanjo, the First President of the ongoing Fourth Republic, was challenged at the 2003 presidential primary of his party at the time, the Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP), by no less a politician and statesman, than Alex Ekwueme, Nigeria’s Second Republic Vice President, a foundation member of the PDP. This underscores the politics of accommodation promoted by Obasanjo a strong President in his own era. Affirmations are equally being chanted, as affixture to the on your mandate we shall stand chant, popularised by Tinubu promoters during the 2022/2023 electioneering exercise. Mere mortals are making matter-of-fact declarations and pronouncements with the manner of certitude and conviction about the future which presupposes they know the plans and workings of the mind of the Almighty God Himself. Nigeria’s former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, has remained a very formidable factor in Nigeria’s politics since the days of the primordial SDP, back in 1992. Despite being a newcomer to partisan politics having just retired from public service at the time, Atiku posted a notably strong performance for a newbie at the party’s presidential primary in 1993. This ensured he was a decider in the subsequent emergence of Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola, (MKO), as presidential candidate of the SDP. Abiola beat Baba Gana Kingibe, in the runoff between both men, in Jos that year, largely because of Atiku’s personal sacrifice. Atiku continued to hone his skills as a politician, build cross-national friendships and relationships and to align with democratic elements even under the dreadful regime of Nigeria’s former pseudo-maximum ruler, Sani Abacha. He was tracked to his Kaduna home by Abacha agents and attacked. A number of armed security operatives on guard in his house were neutralised just as he escaped by the whiskers and went into exile. Atiku was Governor-elect of Adamawa State, early 1999. He was awaiting inauguration when he was chosen to pair Obasanjo’s presidential ticket, after the PDP presidential primary. Instructively, the primary took place in Jos, where the SDP presidential primary in which he previously participated, held six years before. The Obasanjo/Atiku ticket won the presidential election proper and Atiku Abubakar became the First Vice President of Nigeria subsisting Fourth Republic. Talk about one politician who has friends and associates across all of Nigeria’s 774 local government areas and you find that in Atiku Abubakar. He needs not grope in the dark searching for acolytes. And because he is ever in touch with his affiliates and foot soldiers, they rally spontaneously to his beckoning and causes. If there is one politician today whose name evokes trepidation in the ranks of the establishment, that person has to be Atiku Abubakar. His vast public service experience; his successful forays into the private sector; his profound knowledge of the Nigerian conundrum; his deft organisational skills; his flexibility as a team player; his charm and charisma, combine to underline his formidability. Concerned Nigerians in recent weeks and months, have been reaching out to Atiku to lead the charge for change in the nation’s political leadership. While the overall socioeconomic health of the nation is draped in gloss and fine print by incumbents, the situation is excruciating on the streets. There is palpable hunger, worsened by skyrocketing inflation. Insecurity continues to pummel the citizenry by way of kidnappings, banditry, insurgency and wanton killings across the breadth of the country. Depression has accentuated suicide rates as many succumb to despair and despondency. The national space is thick and dark with tangible foreboding. True, Nigeria’s opposition parties are almost irredeemably discombobulated as we speak. The very thought of Atiku commitedly attempting to sew a pathway out of the tatters, however, is very concerning to the status quo. The experience of the 2023 presidential election where the APC capitalised on the fact of the dismemberment of the PDP behemoth into three political smithereens remains very fresh. Hopefully, political archaeologists will some day unearth the debauchery and chicanery which attended the tallying of the final results of that election. To forestall a recurrence of that incident, a viable cross-party partnership is being conceived to rescue Nigeria from its present abyss, as Nigerians continue to agonise about the glaring failures and failings of the incumbent regime. This underlines mass angst, with the Tinubu administration consistently fingered for excruciating hardship and the attendant national lachrymose. The evolving political alliance calculated to confront the incumbent dispensation, is gathering adherents by the day. At the centre of this movement is Atiku Abubakar whose every guest, every visit to like-minded politicians, every event he participates in, evokes interest and debate, in opposing political quarters. Atiku is fittingly the contemporary Serubawon. He is the one whose sneezes reverberate across the political sphere, causing tremors in the ranks of his adversaries. The journey to 2027, by the way, is just beginning. There are no foreclosures as yet. Not at all.   Tunde Olusunle, PhD, Fellow of the Association of Nigerian Authors, (FANA), is an Adjunct Professor of Creative Writing at the University of Abuja

Police rescue two kidnapped victims, hunt for alleged abductors

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    The Police Command in Lagos State says it has rescued two kidnap victims and launched a search for their alleged abductors. The command’s spokesperson, CSP Benjamin Hundeyin confirmed this in a statement on Sunday in Lagos. Hundeyin said that the alleged kidnappers abducted the victims on Wednesday at Ijede in the Ikorodu area of the state. “The police received information that some kidnappers invaded the Ijede community and kidnapped two persons. “Upon receipt of the report, police operatives were mobilised to the scene where it was observed that the kidnappers forcefully gained entrance into the house of a 40-year-old man, killed the security dog, and kidnapped him. “The kidnappers equally forced their way into the nearby house and kidnapped the landlord’s 25-year-old daughter, ” he said. The spokesperson said that the victims were rescued on Saturday, March 29.
“With the collaborative efforts of both the police joint task force and other stakeholders, the kidnapped victims were rescued unhurt and handed over to their family members. “The area is relatively calm and being closely monitored. “Efforts are ongoing to apprehend the wanted suspects, ” Hundeyin said. (NAN)

Zone 2 Police Command Arrests Kidnappers Terrorizing Ogun

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Intelligence at the disposal of the AIG has it that there is a syndicate of suspected armed robbers/AIYE cult members who specialize in robbing motorcycle riders and hijacking cement trucks along Onigbedu in Ewekoro L.G.A of Ogun State.

Sequel upon that, a team of Detectives from the Zonal Dragon Squad 2 were detailed to investigate and bring the suspects to book.

On Thursday May 8th, 2025 three suspects: Damilare Babatunde ‘m’ aged 30yrs (a.k.a. Drey), Fatai Ishola ‘m’ aged 25yrs, Segun Hammed ‘m’ aged 28yrs (a.k.a. Opa) were arrested at Sabo Hausa Market Eleweran, Abeokuta while planning a robbery operation.

The arrest of the three suspects led to the arrest of one Abiodun Olanrewaju ‘m’ aged 45yrs in his hideout at Onigbedu, Ewekoro Local Government Area of Ogun State, the arrested suspects confessed to taking part in the hijack of cement laden trucks along Onigbedu Area of Ewekoro in Ogun State.

In the course of investigation, the suspects confessed to kidnapping two Chinese nationale on Thursday August 11th, 2024 (Liang Ding Jia ‘m’ and Chen Wen Guang ‘m’) and received a total sum of N30,000,000.00 as ransom for their release.

One of the suspects Segun Hammed ‘m’ known as “OPA” in the underworld confessed to taking part in a robbery operation at Obada Oko on Monday January 27th, 2025 where he forcefully had unlawful canal knowledge of a 62-year-old woman right in the presence of her children.

The victims identified him and narrated their ordeal in the hands of this gang.

During an interview with the 62-year-old woman, she stated that the suspect Segun Hammed wanted having unlawful canal knowledge of her daughter but she pleaded with him then he turned to her and forcefully had his way with her in the presence of her two children.

The following items were recovered from the suspects: One (1) locally made Pistol, Three (3) Life cartridges, Two (2) Unregistered Bajaj Motorcycles and One (1) Berreta Pistol with Thirteen (13) Live Ammunition. Meanwhile, Three Hundred Thousand Naira N300,000.00k cash, one iPhone 7+, one small Tecno Phone and Opay Digital Service & UBA ATM cards made away with in the robbery operation are said to be in possession of a suspect at large.

Investigation is ongoing and efforts intensified to arrest other suspects at large and recover all exhibits thereafter suspects will be charged to court upon completion of investigation.

N6.5billion opioids intercepted in Lagos, Rivers ports as NDLEA nabs 2 British men

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Destroys 77,000kg skunk in Cross River, Edo forests; recovers 4,000kg in Nasarawa

By Ebinum Samuel

 

No fewer than six million pills of opioids namely: tamol 225mg, tapentadol 225mg and carisoprodol 225mg as well as 332,000 bottles of codeine-based cough syrup with a combined street value of Six Billion Five Hundred and Twenty-Four Million Naira (N6,524,000,000.00) have been intercepted by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) at the Port Harcourt Ports Complex, Onne, Rivers and the Apapa seaport, Lagos.

The seizures at the Apapa and Onne ports followed intelligence and tracking of new trafficking routes to ship illicit substances into Nigeria by drug cartels, which necessitated the watch-listing of the containers for 100 percent examination. The consignments at the Port Harcourt ports: six million pills of opioids and 162,000 bottles of codeine syrup were uncovered in two containers on Monday 19th and Tuesday 20th May 2025 during a joint examination of the shipments by NDLEA officers with men of the Nigeria Customs and other security agencies. At the Apapa port in Lagos, a total of 170,000 bottles of codeine syrup were discovered in a watch-listed container by NDLEA operatives during a similar joint examination exercise on Thursday 22nd May.

Meanwhile, two British nationals: Mhizha Jordan Alexander Tatendra and Ayedipe Andrew Adejuwon as well as two Nigerians: Shonowo Oluwaseun Imole and Ofuoma Omokaro Ayobami have been arrested by NDLEA operatives for attempting to smuggle into Nigeria 92 bags of Loud, a strong strain of cannabis weighing 51.10kg through the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, MMIA Ikeja Lagos.

Alexander was intercepted with the consignment upon his arrival at the MMIA on a Qatar Airline flight from Doha based on processed intelligence on Thursday 15th May. He was allowed to pass through the security control unhindered and closely monitored by NDLEA operatives to the car park, where the owner of the cargo, Ayedipe Andrew Adejuwon, who is a Nigerian British, was waiting in an SUV along with his relation Shonowo Oluwaseun Imole and the driver of the vehicle, Ofuoma Omokaro Ayobami, to receive the courier.

The NDLEA operatives tracking them however swooped on them as they attempted to drive out of the airport car park, arresting them with the drug exhibits in the vehicle. In his statement, Alexander confessed he was recruited during his vacation weeks ago while he was promised 1,300 British Pounds after a successful delivery of the consignment in Lagos. The arrowhead of the syndicate, Ayedipe Andrew Adejuwon, confessed that he arrived in Nigeria a day earlier from South Africa through Ghana.

A follow-up operation at their apartment in Lekki led to more discoveries. At the point of his arrest, N93,000 and 17,200 South African Rand were recovered from him while a search of his Lekki apartment, led to the seizure of Three Million Eight Hundred and Ten Thousand Five Hundred Naira (N3,810,500) cash, an Apple laptop, an iPhone 14 Pro Max and four laughing gas (Nitro Oxide) canisters.

A total of 75,000 kilograms of skunk were destroyed on 30 hectares of cannabis farms

by NDLEA operatives at Esuk-Odot village in Odukpani LGA, Cross River state where 200kg of same substance was recovered on Wednesday 22nd May, while 1,957.5kg of the same psychoactive plant was destroyed at Ohosu forest, Ovia South West LGA and Okhuse community forest, Owan West LGA, Edo State on Friday 23rd and Saturday 24th May.

In Nasarawa state, two suspects: Sunday Daniel, 51, and Abu Peter, 30, were arrested at Keffi by NDLEA operatives on Saturday 24th May when 4,000 kilograms of skunk were discovered concealed under unprocessed wood in their lorry, while another suspect, Godwin Obi, 39, was nabbed at Karu with 154.5kg of same substance on Wednesday 21st May.

In Kaduna, NDLEA operatives on patrol along Kaduna – Zaria expressway at Gwargwaje on Wednesday 21st May, intercepted 22-year-old Muhammad Hamza with 57,750 pills of tramadol and diazepam, while same day their counterparts in Bauchi arrested Usman Muhammad, 45, along Bauchi-Misau road with 80 blocks of skunk weighing 45kg.

Similarly, operatives on stop-and-search operations along Potiskum–Damaturu road, Yobe state intercepted 55 parcels of Colorado, weighing 2kg, which a suspect Adum Muhammed, 29, was attempting to smuggle into the Republic of Chad through Ngamboru Ngala border town in Borno State.

In Niger state, NDLEA operatives on patrol along Mokwa-Jebba road on Thursday 22nd May intercepted a Mercedes Benz car marked FST 938 FU loaded with 235 blocks of compressed cannabis sativa weighing 97kg and arrested a suspect, Adams Ayibakro.

This is even as operatives in Lagos raided the Osapa London area of Lekki where they arrested a suspect Jonathan Isa with different quantities of Cocaine, Methamphetamine, Molly, Rohypnol, Codeine, Cannabis and Nitrous Oxide while another raid at Idasun, Eleko, Ibeju Lekki on Saturday 24th May led to the arrest of Olamilekan Idowu and seizure of 48kg skunk.

The War Against Drug Abuse, WADA, social advocacy activities by NDLEA Commands equally continued across the country in the past week. Some of them include: WADA sensitization lecture delivered to students and staff of Adamu Babbale Government Secondary School, Dimirkol, Katsina; Mary Hanney Secondary School, Oron, Akwa Ibom; Nnodo Secondary School, Abakaliki, Ebonyi; Government Secondary School, Guyuk, Adamawa; and Government Girls Islamic Secondary School, Gwagwarwa, Kano while Lagos State command of NDLEA paid WADA advocacy visit to the Sarkin Fulani of Lagos, Alhaji Muhammadu Bambado, among others.

While commending the officers and men of PHPC, MMIA, Apapa, Nasarawa, Cross River, Edo, Lagos, Niger, Kaduna, Yobe and Bauchi Commands of the Agency for the arrests and seizures of the past week, Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd) praised their counterparts in all the commands across the country for ensuring a fair balance between their drug supply reduction and drug demand reduction efforts.

 

I’ll Invest Greater Funds To Uplift Vulnerable Africans – Dangote

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Africa’s business mogul and philanthropist, Aliko Dangote, has vowed to invest more money to aid the upliftment of vulnerable populations across Nigeria and Africa.

 

The Chairman of Aliko Dangote Foundation revealed that he intends to uplift the less privileged as part of his philanthropic efforts to give back to society.

 

The respected entrepreneur was named among the top 100 philanthropists listed by TIME Magazine on the 22nd of May, alongside other global personalities like Michael Bloomberg, David Beckham, Stephen Curry, Melinda Gates and Oprah Winfrey.

 

Speaking on the sidelines of the TIME100 Impact Dinner held at ASPIRE at the One World Observatory in New York City, USA, Dangote declared that his investment in key sectors like Health, Education and Economic empowerment form part of his foundation’s main priorities.

Investing in nutrition, health, education, and economic empowerment is our contribution to setting Africans up for success,” he said.

 

Among Dangote’s ongoing efforts to make life easier for Africans is a $100 million multi-year initiative to combat severe childhood malnutrition.

 

Every year, his foundation spends $35 million on average on several initiatives across Nigeria and Africa. This is coming after he equipped the Aliko Dangote Foundation with $1.25 billion, with the sole purpose of giving back to a continent that played such a vital role in his success.

 

100 public figures from 28 nations have been honoured for their philanthropic efforts in 4 categories: Titans, Leaders, Trailblazers, and Innovators. TIME referenced Dangote’s remarkable growth over the years, having amassed lots of billions via ventures in cement, agriculture, and oil refining in Nigeria.

Education is another key area where the business mogul is making his mark. He recently announced a $10 million donation to the Aliko Dangote University of Science and Technology, based in Kano State.

 

His crucial investments in education include offering vocational training, providing scholarships at the secondary and tertiary levels, and delivering yearly fellowships through the World Economic Forum’s Young Global Leaders programme.

 

“We need to create the next generation of African leaders. My mother instilled in me the ethos of giving back, which inspired my philanthropy 30 years ago. I trust my three daughters will continue this legacy, just as they will continue to grow our business and impact. I want to be known not just as Africa’s richest person but also as its biggest philanthropist,” he added.

Meet Paul Jeremiah, a multi-talented IITA-trained farmer making the difference 

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By Ayo Oyoze Baje

 

 

As millions of Nigerians groan under the current economic hardship, foisted on us by the sudden, rash removal of fuel subsidy back in May 2023 with the spin – off effects of high inflation rate, spiralling into the escalating costs of transportation, food items, sundry consumables and services, there are a few young entrepreneurs defying the odds to succeed as problem – solvers. We need to glean a lesson or two from them.

 

One of such is the 29 year-old Paul Godswill Jeremiah.In a recent encounter he revealed some facts about his professional background, what he currently does and his vision for the future. As the wise ones say, it is always good to hear from the horse’s mouth. He has therefore, responded to related questions. The taste of the pudding is really savoured in its eating. So, enjoy the conversation, in his own words:

 

On his background he stated that: “I’m from Akwa Ibom, but based in Lagos. I’m a student running a part – time programme at the University of Lagos, Distance Learning Institute (DLI).currently at the 300-Level studying Public Administration. My professions include photography, solar power gadgets installation, poultry farming as well as a marketer.

 

With specific regards to poultry farming he stated that: “My experience at the training was that I learnt to be a problem – solver as an entrepreneur, based on what to produce, how to produce it and who to produce them for.

 

“I learnt on how to become a successful poultry farmer, how to take care of the birds such as broilers, layers and cockerels. I also learnt of how the pen – house must be kept clean, which is going to be a daily routine. In the course of this training the platform became an eye- opener of what I did not know. But now I know and I understand what it takes to be an agribusiness poultry farmer. “

 

Furthermore , he shed more light of what he gained during the period of his IITA training program. Said he: “In the course of the training we were asked to write down our weaknesses and our fears, so as to face them, of which I did. I penned it down saying that ‘I can’t stand the smell of the faeces. But working on it helped me to overcome that challenge.”

 

Giving insight into what the IITA Training Program is all about he explained that: ” It is a youth empowerment program where we have department which is classified into three. We have the *Poultry class, the Aquaculture* and the Horticulture.”

 

When it comes to some relevant lessons he learnt, not just for production but that of sales he explained that: ” The number one key weapon to be a successful farmer is that one must have a good customer relationship which would lead to very fast and reliable services. Also, one must treat the customer as king. In fact, customers are very important to me because I place my client as the top priority.”

 

He decided during the training to focus on just poultry farming for now. But he needs government ‘s financial support to push his vision forward. As he stated : ” I need capital to expand the poultry business so I can put to use on what I have learnt “

 

On what the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, means to him, he has this to say: “IITA is more than an institution to me. It is a beacon of hope and progress. To me, it represents a place where knowledge, innovation, and passion for agriculture come together to create real impact. My time with IITA has opened doors to new perspectives, inspired a deep appreciation for research-based solutions, and strengthened my commitment to transforming agriculture in Africa.

 

” It is a community that nurtures growth, encourages collaboration, and empowers individuals to be part of something bigger than themselves. IITA has not only shaped my career path but has also instilled in me a sense of purpose and pride that is in contributing to sustainable development.”

 

 

On his piece of candid advice to the younger generation he highlighted that: “My advice to the Nigerian youth is this: First, discover your purpose and don’t wait for opportunities to come over to you. Try and create them by yourself. It is also important to learn a skill and mix wit the right people.”

 

On his plans for the future, he stated that: “Looking ahead, my goal is to grow both personally and professionally. I aim to continue developing my skills, embrace new learning opportunities, and contribute meaningfully to my community and country. I plan to pursue a career that aligns with my passions, whether in agriculture, entrepreneurship, or social impact, and use that platform to create solutions and empower others.

 

“In the long term, I hope to be a role model for the next generation—someone who not only achieves success but also uplifts others along the way. My future is driven by purpose, guided by values, and fueled by a deep desire to make a lasting difference.”

 

All said, it has become necessary for young Nigerians to reshape their vision away from fraudulent and frivolous lifestyles of yahoo yahoo, engaging in ritual murders for come-quick naira or getting involved in drug trafficking, to that of full focus, learning skills, resilience to succeed against all manner of challenges and standing tall to achieve success, as Jeremiah is currently doing. A word should be enough for the wise.

NDLEA, US-DEA to strengthen collaboration on drug war

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US Drug Agency lists training, special joint operations as areas of further support to NDLEA

By Ebinum Samuel

 

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and the Drug Enforcement Administration of the United States (DEA) have stressed the need to strengthen current collaboration between the two agencies on the fight against the menace of substance abuse and illicit drug trafficking.

This was the highpoint of discussion during a meeting between the Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig Gen Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd) and the Country Attache of US-DEA, Ms. Daphne Morrison at the Agency’s National Headquarters in Abuja on Friday 23rd May 2025.

While thanking Marwa for the cordial working relationship and partnership between NDLEA and DEA, Ms. Morrison who was recently posted to Nigeria said “I wanted to make this one of my priorities to come meet with you so we can continue to collaborate and work together. And thank you so much for your support over the years, and we’re ready to keep things going. I know you’ve been working well with the last Country Attaché, so I’m ready to get back in and collaborate and do some really great things with you.”

She said efforts are ongoing to organise more trainings for officers and men of the Special Operations Units of the Agency while looking forward to a number of joint operations with NDLEA in already identified areas of interests.

In his response, the NDLEA boss acknowledged the excellent relationships with Morrison’s predecessors. “They’ve been very, very supportive, and I have absolutely no doubt in my mind that it will be the same, if not better, with you.” He noted the recent evolution of NDLEA in the size of its workforce, expansion of operational and administrative structures as well as remarkable successes recorded in its drug supply reduction and drug demand reduction efforts.

While acknowledging the support received from DEA over the years especially in areas of equipment, training, and joint operations, Marwa expressed hope that more of such support will continue. “I think we would welcome much more support but because this being your first visit to introduce yourself, I’m not going to bring out a long list of demands or requests, but just to acknowledge that we appreciate all the support we’ve been receiving.”

 

Dangote reveals how Nigerian govt earns big from Dangote cement sales

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    Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote, has shed light on the significant revenue the Nigerian government earns from his flagship business, Dangote Cement.   Speaking at the 2025 Taraba International Investment Summit held on May 21, Dangote disclosed that the government receives 52 kobo for every N1 generated through the production and sale of cement.   “I’m sure it might be shocking to you to know that the federal government of Nigeria, not even the state, makes more money from, for example, our cement business. For every N1 we turn around, 52 kobo goes to the federal government of Nigeria,” the entrepreneur said. He said governments benefit from investments, whether private or public, when they create conducive environments for businesses to operate and pay taxes.   “We always say that the government has no business in business. If it’s true, they don’t have business in business. Though, how are they going to make money, educate people, you know, do the hospital, road, infrastructure? It’s through what? Taxes,” Dangote said.   “Have you ever heard of the American government owning an oil block? No, the American government doesn’t own an oil block. And they are the biggest producers of oil today in the world. But they make their money through taxes.”   He added that foreign investors are unlikely to invest in a country unless local investors thrive. Dangote said the group would continue to invest in Nigeria to create jobs and support local communities.