Tag: PlusNaija News

  • 15 Drug Kingpins Out of 3,412 Offenders Convicted in 2023 Bagged 168 Years in Jail – NDLEA Boss

    15 Drug Kingpins Out of 3,412 Offenders Convicted in 2023 Bagged 168 Years in Jail – NDLEA Boss

    Chairman/Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd) has disclosed that a total of 15 drug kingpins out of 3, 412 offenders were successfully prosecuted in 2023.

    Gen. Marwa also revealed that they were all convicted and sentenced to 168 years imprisonment.

    According to a statement issued by the Agency’s Director, Media and Advocacy, Mr. Femi Babafemi on Wednesday, the NDLEA boss made the disclosure while addressing commanders, officers and men of the Agency during awards and commendations ceremony at its national headquarters in Abuja.

    The event had in attendance 104 personnel and 13 commanders that were outstanding in discharging their duties in the second half of 2023, hence, they were duly recognized and rewarded.

    The NDLEA boss stated: “Indeed, our performance as individuals and as a collective could always be better; nonetheless, we must appreciate every effort made to help sustain the momentum of our upward trajectory since January 2021, when we launched the renewed fight against illicit substance trafficking.

    “According to our statistics, we recorded 13, 664 arrests leading to the seizure of 1, 606, 799.09 kilograms of assorted illicit drugs and 3,412 convictions with a total of 5, 570 offenders charged to court in 2023. It’s indeed a year that at least 15 drug kingpins bagged 168 years of imprisonment collectively.

    “That is a substantial improvement over our performance in 2022. Notably, in 2023, we also ramped up our enforcement action against cannabis farms and carried out at least seven successful major operations, leading to the discovery and destruction of over 206 hectares of cannabis plantations”.

    He buttressed that to create awareness about the dangers of substance abuse aimed at prevention and encourage those already in it to seek treatment, the Agency intensified its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) advocacy initiative nationwide.

    “The frequency and intensity of our advocacy throughout the year improved considerably. Zonal and state commands have been very dedicated to propagating WADA advocacy. As a result, a total of 2,725 sensitisation lectures and programmes were held in schools, worship centres, work places and communities among others.

    “A breakdown of the WADA lectures held in 2023 shows: 807 in Primary/Secondary Schools; 146 in Tertiary Institutions; 488 for out of school children; 264 in worship centres; 140 in military/paramilitary organisations; 90 in other work places, among others. Just as well, our commands and formations have coped with the increased workload of counselling activities leading to the counselling and rehabilitation of 10, 904 drug user”.

    He noted that those who have been in the Agency longer than 2021 can attest to the fact that the past three years have brought different dynamics to the operations and performance of the agency – a development that has attracted commendations from home and abroad.

    His words: “This is further reinforced by the content of a letter two weeks ago from the National Assembly conveying the decision of the national parliament to ‘commend the efforts of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in the fight against illicit drug consumption and trafficking.’ This recognition by both Chambers of the National Assembly should serve as a further morale booster and a reminder that your efforts are not going unnoticed.

    “I must also say that the NDLEA management has no misgivings about instituting the Commands Awards and Commendations. This twice-a-year event, though a reward system, serves as an inward-looking glass for critical self-analysis and therefore a mechanism that puts the agency on its toes. Each time we gather here to honour exemplary officers and commands, we are making a loud statement that we value meritocracy and that hard work is a virtue we hold in high esteem. We are trying to normalise good performance”.

    Gen. Marwa vowed that he will not relent in his effort to improve the welfare of the Agency’s workforce.

    “All the issues we are working on will soon come to fruition in a matter of time. For instance, we fought hard to have an amended NDLEA Act last year. Today, the bill is at the 10th National Assembly receiving due attention, and we are optimistic that there will be a light at the end of the tunnel. I am also pleased to inform you that our barracks projects have recorded progress. Before the middle of the year, some of our barracks will be ready for commissioning. These few examples of the efforts going on behind the scenes are evidence that we are working in your best interest”.

    Similarly, he warned that the Agency will be firm on disciplinary issues saying; “We don’t take infractions lightly. Every officer of NDLEA is expected to work within the ambit of our core values and strictly adhere to our standard operating procedure. We expect our officers to be the epitome of service, selflessness and sacrifice.”

    He further expressed gratitude to individuals and institutions that have contributed to the success of the Agency.

    “As an institution, we thank the European Union and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, UNODC, for being helpful partners on this journey. We appreciate the support of our other international partners from the US, UK, France, Germany, and India among others.

    “We also appreciate sister agencies and security organisations, including the Nigerian Army, Navy, Air Force, Customs, Immigration, Police, DSS, NSCDC, NAFDAC, NYSC and FRSC, for the synergy that makes our job easy. Our profound gratitude also goes to the Senate Committee on Drugs and Narcotics, the House of Representatives Committee on Narcotic Drugs, and the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice. Importantly, we thank His Excellency President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his encouragement and immense support to NDLEA.”

  • NDLEA Intercepts 14.5 Tonnes of Cannabis Linked to Wanted Lagos Drug Baron

    NDLEA Intercepts 14.5 Tonnes of Cannabis Linked to Wanted Lagos Drug Baron

    Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have intercepted large consignments of Ghanaian Loud, a strong strain of cannabis sativa, smuggled into Lagos from Ghana.

    The consignment was loaded in two trucks and a J5 bus with a total weight of 14, 524.8 kilograms.

    The three vehicles conveying jumbo bags of the psychoactive substance were trailed and intercepted at Ojuelegba area of Lagos in the early hours of Sunday, January 28, 2024.

    The Director of Media and Advocacy of the NDLEA, Femi Babafemi made the disclosure in a statement made available to Thelensng on Sunday.

    Babafemi explained that in the process of blocking the vehicles, two of the drivers jumped off on motion while the third driver, 66-year-old Nasiru Ojomu, who works with wanted Akala, Mushin based drug baron, Suleiman Jimoh (alias Olowo Idi Ogede, also known as Temo) was arrested.

    According to him, NDLEA operatives have seized several shipments of same psychoactive substance worth billions of naira linked to Temo in the last three years.

    He added that the wanted drug lord has since gone into hiding while the Agency continues manhunt for him.

    In the same vein, NDLEA operatives on routine patrol around a warehouse sealed at Church Street, Idumota, Lagos by the Agency over an ongoing investigation on Thursday 1st of February arrested three suspects: Joseph Joshua; Muhammed Adamu and Balarabe Musa who burgled the store and loaded 546,700 pills of tramadol and other opioids into a waiting yellow bus marked BDG 447 XD and an unregistered Suzuki minibus.

    Meanwhile, a male deaf and dumb suspect dealing in illicit substances has been arrested at Samaru area of Zaria, Kaduna State.

    At the time of his arrest, 150 grams of cannabis were recovered from him while selling the psychoactive substance. Another suspect, Ibrahim Sani, 56, was also arrested in possession of 51 kilograms of same substance at Tirkaniya area of the state.

    The statement further read: “Operatives in Abuja on Wednesday 31st January arrested Emmanuel Paul with 43.5kg cannabis concealed in used shoes loaded in a trailer coming from Ogbese, Ondo state to be delivered at Gwagwalada area of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT.

    “In Katsina state, NDLEA officers on patrol along Dutsinma – Katsina road on Friday 2nd February apprehended a suspect, Murtala Isah, 35, with a total of 37,600 pills of tramadol and other opioids recovered from him.

    “In Kogi state, operatives on Wednesday 31st January destroyed 833.32 kilograms of cannabis sativa on a two acre of farmland at Iluke community, Kabba- Bunu LGA while the owner, Samuel Atonila, 49, was equally arrested.

    “On the same day, operatives in Nasarawa also arrested three suspects: Muhammed Musa, Bilyaminu Musa and Sadiya Ya’u with same psychoactive substance weighing 24.4kg at Uke, Karu local government area of the state, while no less than 258 kilograms of same substance were recovered from a bush store around Ikare bypass, Owo, Ondo state”.

    According to Babafemi, NDLEA Commands across the 36 states and the FCT continued their War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitisation lectures in schools, communities, work places and others in the past week.

    Some of these include: WADA sensitisation lecture for students and staff of Gombe State College of Education and Legal Studies, Nafada; parents, students, and teachers of Kemta comprehensive high school, Olugbo, Odeda LGA, Ogun State; students of Government Day Science Technical School, Babura, Jigawa State; students and staff of Government science school, Mokwa, Niger State; students of Ansarudeen secondary school, Iludun, Osun State.

    Also, students of St David’s Anglican Basic School, Ogbomoso, Oyo State; students of Government Girls Arabic Secondary School, Anguwar Danya, Wudil LGA, Kano State state; traders at Ogbo-Olu timber market, Anambra State and commercial motorcyclists in Oko Afo, Olorunda LCDA, Badagry, Lagos State, among others.

    The Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd) commended the arrests and seizures of the past week by officers and men of the Lagos, Kaduna, Ondo, Katsina, Nasarawa, Kogi and FCT Commands.

    He charged them and their compatriots across all formations of the Agency to continue to remain vigilant and double their efforts on both drug supply reduction and drug demand reduction simultaneously.

  • Results of Our Partnership With NDLEA Impressive, UK Home Office Int’l Operations Says

    Results of Our Partnership With NDLEA Impressive, UK Home Office Int’l Operations Says

    The United Kingdom Home Office International Operations (HOIO) has revealed that it has gotten great results from the collaboration with National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) on several drug law enforcement operations and projects.

    This was contained in a statement issued by the Agency’s Director, Media and Advocacy, Mr. Femi Babafemi on Wednesday following the HOIO’s Director of Africa region operations, Mr. Richard Lloyd visit to NDLEA’s headquarters in Abuja.

    Mr. Lloyd, who led a four-member delegation to the NDLEA office disclosed that following the impressive performance of the Agency, the UK government will embark on the construction of a maritime headquarters for NDLEA in June to further enhance the capability of the anti-narcotic body.

    He lauded the leadership of Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa, stressing that it has achieved tremendous successes in dismantling a lot of trans-border drug trafficking cartels.

    Lloyd also said that as further proof of their commitment to the result-oriented partnership with NDLEA, his office will be glad to sign an already drafted Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the NDLEA in no distant time.

    His words: “I have heard so many good stories of the agency and your team. I will start by saying thanks for your support and the relationship that we have. I’ve been nothing but impressed since I arrived in Nigeria 10 days ago.

    “I met a lot of the teams in Lagos and in Abuja and I must say they have been fantastic. The way that we work together with the Home Office International Operations and the NDLEA is astonishing. I manage a lot of countries and teams in Africa and I have a lot of teams across the continent and in Nigeria here is by far head and shoulders above everyone.”

    He added: “To be fair, not only in Africa, because I work in Africa I may be biased but across all of our operations, we are massively ahead of everyone and it is really good for me to go back to the UK and highlight the amazing work that NDLEA does with Home Office team in the country. The office has a keen interest in Nigeria and the way that we work to disrupt organized crime and gangs in the country. Congratulations to the NDLEA team for doing a fantastic job.”

    The director further revealed that the HOIO has just completed the refurbishing of two patrol boats for the maritime operations of the Agency and vowed to support with more logistics.

    Meanwhile, Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd) in his remarks expressed gratitude to Lloyd and his team for their kind comments about NDLEA’s work, adding that such commendation will further encourage the officers and men of the Agency to do more.

    The NDLEA boss stated: “We thank you very much for these encouraging remarks. These commendations coming from you are considered highly because we are glad to be meeting our mandate. I will like to give you the assurances that the NDLEA is very committed to our mandate.

    “We plan to go down to the 774 local governments of the country so that at the community levels, we are able to check what is going on there and do whatever needs to be done there. We know these are difficult times in the UK as it is with other countries, and we appreciate that even with that you find the resources to support us is much welcome, especially the training, and capacity building which is very important.”

  • Tinubu’s Administration Owes Nigerians Explanation for NNPC $3.3bn Emergency Loan – Atiku Says

    Tinubu’s Administration Owes Nigerians Explanation for NNPC $3.3bn Emergency Loan – Atiku Says

    Flag-bearer of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2023 presidential election, Mr. Atiku Abubakar has said that President Bola Tinubu’s administration owes Nigerians explanation for the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) $3.3 billion emergency loan.

    Mr. Atiku made this known on his X, formerly Twitter account on Thursday, stressing that the deal is supposed to be handled by the African Export-Import Bank.

    “In what appears to be a landmark economic decision of the Bola Tinubu-led administration, the Federal Government last year, precisely on August 16, 2023 through the Nigeria National Petroleum Company (NNPC) secured a $3.3 billion emergency crude repayment loan, which according to the NNPC, was to help give support to the Naira and stabilize the Foreign Exchange market.

    “The curious thing about this transaction is that up till now, the Federal Government continues to keep mum about it, and the only information available to the public on the mega deal is coming only through unofficial sources from the NNPC. The deal is supposed to be a crude-for-cash loan arranged by the African Export-Import Bank,” he stated.

    According to him, a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) called Project Gazelle Funding Limited initiated the deal and it was incorporated in the Bahamas.

    “The SPV is the borrower while the NNPC is the sponsor, with an agreement to pay with crude oil to the SPV in order to liquidate the loan at an interest rate that is a little over 12 per cent.

    “What is even more confounding about this deal is why the Federal Government would register a company in the Bahamas, knowing full well the recent scandal of the Paradise Papers that involved that country.”

    The former Vice President also stated that the current Barrels Produced Daily (BPD) in Nigeria is 1.38 million and “according to the Project Gazelle deal, Nigeria is to supply 90,000 Barrels of its daily production, starting from 2024 till it is up to 164.25 million barrels for the repayment of the loan.

    “Now, this is where the details get disturbing because Nigeria’s benchmark for the sale of crude per barrel in 2024 is $77.96. A simple multiplication of that figure by 164.25 will give us a whooping $12bn. It is on this note that we are calling on the Federal Government to speak up on this shady deal.

    “It is inconceivable that the Federal Government will lead the country to take a loan of $3.3b with an interest rate that is not more than 12 percent, but with estimated repayment amounting to $12bn. That is a humongous differential of about $7b between what is in the details of the deal on paper and what indeed is the reality.”

    He asked the Federal Government to provide details on the deal so as to keep the citizens abreast of what is happening in the sector.

  • US Interested in Doing Business in Nigeria – Says Blinken

    US Interested in Doing Business in Nigeria – Says Blinken

    U.S. Secretary of State, Anthony Blinken has reiterated America’s commitment to investing in Nigeria’s economy.

    President Bola Tinubu held bilateral talks with the visiting Blinken, who lauded bold economic reforms embarked upon by the President since he assumed office.

    Addressing newsmen in company of Nigeria’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Yusuf Tuggar after the bilateral meeting with President Tinubu, the US Secretary of State while welcoming the President’s bold reforms to unify the currency and end fuel subsidy stressed the need to remove impediment to capital repatriation.

    Bliken, who is on an African nations tour, said that American entrepreneurs and companies were eager to partner with and invest in Nigeria, especially in the tech sector.

    In his remarks, Nigeria’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Yusuf Tuggar, said the bilateral talks also discussed issues such as food security, agriculture, pharmaceuticals, and security in the subregion, noting that the discussions were fruitful.

    Blinken was received at the forecourt of President Tinubu’s office at about 6.55pm on Tuesday.

    Top government officials on hand to receive him were Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila; Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris and Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake.

  • Mattini Air: NSIB Begins Investigation into Ibadan Airport Incident

    Mattini Air: NSIB Begins Investigation into Ibadan Airport Incident

    The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) says it has commenced investigation into a serious incident involving a Challenger 601-3R aircraft with Nationality and Registration Marks N580KR operated by Mattini Air.

    The incident occurred at about 10: 55am Local Time on January 26, 2024 in Ibadan.

    This was contained in a statement made available to PlusNaija and signed by NSIB Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Mrs Bimbo Olawunmi Oladeji on Saturday.

    The aircraft, with 12 passengers and three crew members onboard was en-route Ibadan from Abuja.

    The aircraft, on final approach to landing Runway 22, Ibadan Airport overshoot the runway.

    There was no fatality, as all passengers and crew were safely evacuated.

    The NSIB added that it has deployed a Go Team to investigate the incident.

    The statement further said: “As the investigating agency, NSIB needs and hereby solicits for your assistance. We want the public to know that we would be amenable to receiving any video clip, relevant evidence, or information any members of the public may have of the serious incident; that can assist us with this investigation.

    “The Bureau will appreciate that the general public and press respect the privacy of the people involved and NOT assume the cause of the serious incident until formal report is released”.

    The Bureau added that it will release the preliminary report as soon as possible.