News
Drug Abuse Among Youths : Cross River Mothers Imposes Fine on Sellers and Users
The women have taken a stand against the abuse of methamphetamine popularly known as “ice”, shisha, marijuana, tramadol and other illicit drugs in their communities and as such vowed that it must stop.
Women in Obubra Local Government Area, Cross River State, have taken the lead in the battle against hard drugs by imposing a fine of N500,000 on anyone found using or selling banned substances, with threats of ex-communication for non-compliance.
Led by Mrs. Caroline Ekpe, a school teacher and mother of five, the women drawn from Onyen Orangha, Nkum Iyala, Akam, Nyametet, Ababene and surrounding communities in Obubra, marched through villages, chanting songs and declaring zero tolerance for drug abuse.
Lamenting the alarming rates of hard drug abuse among youths, the women, who were mostly mothers, said that they are fed up with the devastating impact of substance abuse on their children and communities.
The women cited rampant road crashes, squabbles, pregnancies, and immoral sex among youths under the influence of drugs.
The women declared that the atrocious activities caused by youths on drug influence are taking a toll not only on themselves but the entire communities and therefore must stop.
Mrs. Ekpe emphasised that the women in the entire Obubra are highly disturbed about the mental state of their children occasioned by high drug abuse.
She said that the women have taken a stand against the abuse of methamphetamine popularly known as “ice”, shisha, marijuana, tramadol and other illicit drugs in their communities and as such vowed that it must stop.
“We are mothers and must act now before the situation gets completely out of hand.
If our men are looking the other way, the government not concerned and the churches not bothered about what is going on, we the women who gave birth to these children must show them the right way before our communities are completely engulfed in drugs and deviant acts”
” We have had enough. When they ride motorcycles after taking these drugs, it is like they want to fly and often they end up crashing and killing themselves or maiming others.
“If an elder, even their parents talk to them it is like an ant talking. We certainly cannot continue this way,” she said.
Mrs Ekpe added: “The girls are not left out. They take these things and become something else and before you know it they are pregnant. The burden becomes that of the mother to take care of the mother and the child. Why should that be?
” We know that these drugs are brought from outside to destroy our youths and our communities and our eyes are watching to see who would dare us by bringing drugs here again both at night or in the day.”
News
Nigeria partner Japan to redevelop Abuja Master Plan
It is very key for us because I know the design of Abuja was done by Japan, and now they need to look at it again in order to carry out further structural development.
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, announced a strategic partnership with the Government of Japan to change the 1979 Abuja Master Plan.
The move, aimed at aligning the city’s growth with modern realities through the year 2050, was the highlight of a courtesy visit by a high-level Japanese delegation to the FCT Ministry on Tuesday.
The delegation was led by the Japanese Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Suzuki Hideo, and the Chief Representative of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Nigeria, Mr. Ishigame Keiji.
During the meeting, Barrister Wike expressed profound appreciation for Japan’s historical and technical contributions to Nigeria.
He emphasised that the original blueprint of the FCT owes much to Japanese expertise.
“On behalf of the FCT Administration, I appreciate the relationship between Nigeria and Japan,” Wike said.
“I am fully aware of the projects through JICA. It is very key for us because I know the design of Abuja was done by Japan, and now they need to look at it again in order to carry out further structural development.”
News
Minister of Power Apologise To Nigerians Over Blackouts
“I can tell you, with the committee that we have set up, and commitments from gas suppliers, and the timeline for repair of the gas pipelines, two weeks from now, we should start seeing improvements in supply. Two weeks,” Adelabu said.
The Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, has apologised to Nigerians over the prolonged and severe electricity outages recorded in recent weeks across the country.
He acknowledged the strain the outages have caused on households and businesses in key sectors of the economy.
“I want to apologise to Nigerians, officially now, coming from me as the Minister of Power, for this temporary issue that is leading to hardship being experienced, especially during this dry season, where there is so much heat everywhere,” Adelabu said at a press briefing in Abuja on Tuesday
He admitted that the ongoing blackouts has worsened living conditions, particularly during the intense dry-season heat.
“Businesses are being affected, schools have been affected, and industries have been affected. It is not our wish to find ourselves in this situation, but it is due to some factors that are actually beyond our control, ”said Adelabu.
Despite the disruptions, Adelabu assured citizens that the situation would soon improve, offering a clear timeline for restoration of better power supply.
“I can tell you, with the committee that we have set up, and commitments from gas suppliers, and the timeline for repair of the gas pipelines, two weeks from now, we should start seeing improvements in supply. Two weeks,” Adelabu said.
News
BUK expels 171 students for admission frauds
The affected students cut across different departments and levels, describing the action as part of efforts to sanitise its academic records
The Senate of Bayero University Kano has approved the expulsion of 171 students over falsification of admission entry qualifications.
In a statement published in the university’s weekly bulletin on Friday, said that the decision was taken during the Senate’s 433rd meeting held on March 4, 2026.
It said that following an investigation by the Senate’s Committee on Entry Qualification Irregularities, the affected students were found to have presented falsified credentials during their admission processes.
The university noted that the offence constitutes a violation of Section 20.7, Category A (vii) of its General Examinations and Academic Regulations, which prescribes expulsion for such misconduct.
It added that the affected students cut across different departments and levels, describing the action as part of efforts to sanitise its academic records.
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