News
HoR advocates increase in budgetary provision for NDLEA
By Gloria Ikibah
Nigerian house of representatives has advocated the increase in budgetary provision for the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) to enable it meet up with the task ahead of it.
The call became obvious when the House of Reps Committee chairman on Drugs and Narcotics Hon. Abass Aboworin Adigun allayed fears that if the agency is not empower to combat drugs offenders headlong, the future of the country will be in jeopardy.
The house Committee on Drugs and Narcotics made the call on Thursday in Abuja during an interacting session with the management of the agency on the way forward for it operation.
Also, the chairman noted that the only way the agency can be properly funded is to move it from the office of the special duty to the presidency where it funds would be coming directly from the presidency, saying it is the only way to improve the fight against drugs abuse.
Meanwhile, he joined his Committee members in commending the good job the agency under the former Lagos State military administrator is doing despite been under funded and urged the leadership of the agency to keep the fire burning pending when the bill to move the agency to presidency is passed by both chambers and forwarded to president Bola Ahmed Tinubu for accent.
He added that the house has already passed the bill, and expressed optimism that the red chambers will do same to enable the agency have more bites in the fight against drugs offenders.
According to the committee chairman, “My committee research has shown that we are in trouble in this country because most of the youths that will be the leaders of tomorrow are into drugs, and the worse is that some of the house wives are also into drugs. While their children are out there taking drugs their mothers are doing it right inside the homes which means such families are gone.
“Let it be for the record,the agency NDLEA has not been helped by the federal government of Nigeria. Why do I said so, like I said, I looked into their capital and overhead in 2022, 2023 and 2024 budget, there is nothing to ride home about, compare to other agencies and for that to change, the agency needs to move to the presidency” he said.
Meanwhile, the chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the NDLEA, Brig Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd), while addressing the Committee made passionate appeal for the setting up of a special court to enable the agency expedite the process of prosecution and conviction of offenders as at when due.
He noted that as it is at the moment, prosecution of offenders and conviction is delayed because the regular courts are overwhelmed with several cases, as such the call for several adjournment for a case that should ordinarily be decided within three months, but ends up been delayed for years.
“For my agency to expedite action in the process of prosecution and conviction, we need a special court to handle our cases because the regular courts are overwhelmed with other cases as such delaying accelerated hearing on our cases. Of
“A case that ordinarily should ends within six months is been dragged for years because of several adjournment, so we are appealing that a special court is created for the agency to enable it fast tract the process of prosecution and conviction.
Marwa, noted that the task of educating the young ones on the dangers of drug abuse also rest squarely on the politicians. He added that politicians themselves are into drugs, therefore, they need to go back and educate their supporters on the need to stop taking drugs.
For emphasis Marwa said, “Our job at the agency is to make sure we denied people access to drugs.”
The First Lady, Mrs Oluremi Tinubu, on Saturday, refuted reports that she will be leading a seven-day national prayer for Nigeria.
This followed a report last week that Mrs Tinubu and the National Security Adviser, Mrs Nuhu Ribadu, will spearhead a national prayer session to tackle the country’s numerous challenges.
The reports quoted the Director-General of the National Prayer Forum, Segun Afolorunikan, announcing the event in Abuja.
Afolorunikan had said the initiative, coordinated with Christian and Muslim religious leaders, intends to seek divine intervention for the country’s socio-economic and security issues, under the theme ‘Seeking the Intervention of God in Nigeria’s Affairs.’
“Christians will meet at the National Ecumenical Centre for a week of intense prayer, with prayer warriors from various denominations focusing their efforts on the nation’s adversities,” said the convener.
However, the First Lady has denied knowing any such arrangement saying a call for prayer must be done “willingly, conscientiously and correctly.”
Mrs Tinubu’s Senior Special Assistant on Media, Mrs Busola Kukoyi, conveyed this in a statement she signed Saturday titled ‘First Lady of Nigeria Oluremi Tinubu, CON refutes organising national prayer.’
It read, “This is to clarify and inform the general public that the First Lady of Nigeria is not organising a national prayer.
“The news making rounds in some conventional and social media platforms is unfounded and misleading.
“Consequently, anyone who might have come across the purported news of the joint National Prayer for Nigeria should disregard it as false.”
Kukoyi said the First Lady, a Christian and strong advocate of prayer and praying for Nigeria, believes that prayer is an act that must be done willingly, conscientiously and correctly.
“She also believes that praying for Nigeria is the responsibility of every Nigerian, irrespective of religious belief, political affiliation, tribe or tongue.
“Members of the public are advised to verify the authenticity of any news or event involving the First Lady of Nigeria or her office through official channels,” the statement concluded.
A building of 25 shops has been gutted by fire in the early hours of Saturday in Ilorin, the Kwara state capital.
According to the state fire service, the incident occurred at Adeta roundabout at about 02.39 hours.
A statement in Ilorin on Saturday by the spokesman of the service, Hassan Adekunle, said the firefighters, upon arrival, found a block of about 25 shops engulfed in flames.
“Thanks to the swift action and bravery of the Kwara State fire service officers, only three shops suffered damage, including a soft drinks and alcohol shop.
“Preliminary investigations indicated that the fire was caused by a power surge,” the statement disclosed.
The Director of the State Fire Service, Prince John Falade Olumuyiwa, expressed sympathy for the affected shop owners, offering prayers for the restoration of their losses.
He also urged the public to prioritize safety and ensure all electrical appliances are unplugged when not in use.
The newly emerged terror group known as Lakurawa, is reportedly offering as much as one million naira to young men in exchange for their allegiance.
This was made known on Saturday by Zagazola Makama, a Lake Chad Basin counterterrorism and insurgency expert, in a post on his X handle.
Makama disclosed that an impeccable source informed him that Lakurawa, allegedly composed of individuals from Mali, Chad, Libya, Niger, and Burkina Faso, was actively recruiting local youths in Sokoto through substantial financial incentives.
He stated that according to witnesses’ accounts, the financial lure is part of an aggressive recruitment campaign aimed at attracting followers to their cause.
The security expert said that Lakurawa, unlike traditional criminal gangs, reportedly adhere to extremist ideologies linked to the Khawarij sect, similar to the beliefs of Boko Haram.
Makama added: “Local sources suggest that they employ a combination of financial incentives and ideological influence to gain support among vulnerable communities.
“Beyond the recruitment, the Lakurawa reportedly confront and expel bandits and confiscate their cattle in areas under their control.
Watch video below:
https://twitter.com/ZagazOlaMakama/status/1855319733282758848?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
First Lady denies leading national prayer
25 Shops destroyed as fire guts building in Ilorin
New terror group Lakurawa offers N1m incentives to recruit Sokoto youths + Video
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