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Marwa Vows Tougher Crackdown on Drug Traffickers in Second NDLEA Tenure

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The Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd.), has warned drug barons and trafficking networks to brace for an even tougher clampdown as he begins his second five-year tenure.

Marwa, who was reappointed by President Bola Tinubu on Friday, November 14, 2025, issued the warning while addressing jubilant NDLEA personnel who gathered at the agency’s headquarters in Abuja to celebrate the announcement. His reappointment was confirmed in a statement released on Saturday, November 15, 2025, by the NDLEA Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi.

Speaking to the crowd, Marwa vowed that the next phase of the agency’s operations would be relentlessly aggressive.
“This second tenure is going to be hell and bleak for them. Drugs shall not pass, in or out or within Nigeria,” he declared.

He expressed surprise at the warm reception, thanking the workforce for their dedication and acknowledging the recognition from President Tinubu.
“We thank the President and Commander-in-Chief for the special recognition of our collective efforts and the new mandate to continue the war against drug abuse and trafficking,” he said.

Marwa also appreciated the support of the Attorney General of the Federation, Prince Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), the Minister of Finance, Wale Edun, and several international partners who, he noted, have played vital roles in the agency’s achievements.

Issuing a stern warning to drug cartels, he urged traffickers and cannabis cultivators to abandon illicit trade:
“This is the right time for them to drop that criminal business and face something legitimate.”

He highlighted the NDLEA’s Alternative Development Unit, which provides legal livelihood options for offenders, but cautioned that anyone who persists will face severe consequences.
“You will be arrested, the drugs will be seized, and your assets will be confiscated. You will come out from jail to find nothing left,” he warned.

Marwa reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to drug-demand reduction and announced expanded rehabilitation initiatives. He said the NDLEA’s 30 rehabilitation centres will receive increased support, with seven new centres set for completion under the 2025 budget—ensuring every state has access to drug treatment facilities.

He also noted improvements in collaboration with the Ministries of Health and Education, including the recent approval of drug tests for students upon admission into tertiary institutions.
“With this, we can catch them young before addiction sets in,” he said.

Marwa concluded with prayers for the president, NDLEA supporters, and the agency’s personnel as he embarks on what he described as a more aggressive phase in Nigeria’s war against drugs.

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147 Lagos Structures to Face Impact From Coastal Highway

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President Bola Tinubu says 147 structures in Lagos will be affected by the construction of a service lane along the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway.

Five of the structures are expected to face full demolition, while the remaining 142 will experience minimal impact.

Tinubu disclosed this Sunday at a stakeholder engagement in Lagos, where he also flagged off repairs of the Eko and Marine bridges and a flooded section of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.

Represented by Lagos Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, the president assured affected property owners that they would receive compensation where necessary.

Tinubu said the stakeholder engagement was designed to secure public support and ensure the effective implementation of the projects.

He described the Eko Bridge as one of the oldest bridges built after Nigeria’s independence, while noting that the Marine Bridge provides an important link to Lagos seaports.

The president urged Lagos residents and other stakeholders to support infrastructure projects designed to improve transportation and economic activity.

The figure of 147 affected structures was presented by a representative of the AEC consortium during the engagement.

Some of the affected residents and stakeholders asked some questions on areas of compensation and impact.

Tinubu said the Federal Government remains open to constructive criticism but urged stakeholders to support projects that are properly executed.

He said the projects are intended to deliver infrastructure that will serve Lagos residents and Nigerians for generations.

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Tinubu Flags Off Eko, Marine Bridge Repairs

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President Bola Tinubu has flagged off repairs of the Eko and Marine bridges in Lagos, as part of Federal Government efforts to improve critical infrastructure and ease traffic along the Lagos corridor.

Tinubu, represented by Lagos Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, spoke Sunday at a stakeholder engagement on the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway.

Sanwo-Olu said the president remains committed to infrastructure development, security and job creation under the Renewed Hope Agenda.

The governor also said more than 200 kilometers of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway had been constructed across various sections within two years.

He said additional slip roads and improved drainage links to the Lagos Lagoon would be introduced to ease movement and reduce flooding.

Works Minister David Umahi, meanwhile, condemned the vandalism of public infrastructure, describing it as “devilish,” “wicked” and unacceptable.

Umahi urged Nigerians to protect government assets, warning that vandalism could undermine the benefits of major infrastructure projects.

His comments followed the recent vandalism of sections of the newly constructed Festac-Alakija Bridge. Lagos authorities have arrested 27 suspects over the incident.

Umahi also ordered a crackdown on unauthorized activities along the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, directing officials to stop motorcycles, tricycles, hawkers and loitering on the route.

The minister also called for stronger security around strategic infrastructure.

The 750-kilometer, 10-lane Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway is designed to connect Lagos with Cross River through seven coastal states, with the Federal Government expecting it to improve transportation and boost economic activity

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ICPC: Adeyemi’s fake letter not from Presidency

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The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has confirmed that Adeniyi Adeyemi Mathew was never appointed by the Federal Government and that the so-called Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council (PFIPC) was a fictitious entity.

Speaking at a press conference in Abuja on Saturday, ICPC Chairman Dr. Musa Adamu Aliyu, SAN, disclosed the findings of the agency’s 30-day probe ordered by President Bola Tinubu on 7 July 2026.

“Recall the President on 7th July, 2026 gave ICPC 30 days to investigate into the fake Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council and today is exactly 30 days. I have just submitted the interim report and briefed Mr. President accordingly,” Aliyu said.

He stated that the President, in the spirit of transparency and accountability, directed him to address the media for the benefit of Nigerians.

According to the interim report:

  • Adeniyi Adeyemi Mathew was never appointed by the Federal Government or any authority of government.
  • The PFIPC was never established by any law, executive order or other valid instrument of government.
  • The appointment letter presented by Adeyemi was completely forged, along with similar documents used to sustain the illegal activities of the fake agency.
  • The PFIPC cannibalised the former Presidential Economic Advisory Council (PEAC) and illegally appropriated offices and instruments of operation.
  • False projection, false representation, widespread impersonation and a range of illegal activities were perpetrated by Adeyemi as the purported Director-General.
  • Weaknesses in verification, inter-agency oversight and government processes were exploited by Adeyemi, with some level of negligence and connivance.
  • No funds of the Federal Government were approved or disbursed to the fake PFIPC/PEAC.

Aliyu emphasised that no weaknesses were found in the systems of the State House or the Central Bank of Nigeria, describing their processes as above board. He specifically noted that the fake appointment letter did not originate from the Presidency.

The ICPC further discovered that Adeyemi created two additional fictitious government agencies — the FCT Investment Promotion Agency (FIFA) and the Foreign Investment Promotion Agency and Public Private Partnership (FIFA-PPP). To facilitate their creation, he forged legislative instruments styled as Enabling Acts, which were used to support the opening of bank accounts.

Among the recommendations in the interim report are that Adeyemi should be fully prosecuted, administrative sanctions should be imposed on public officers whose acts of omission and negligence facilitated the illegal operations, and institutional reforms should be implemented.

Aliyu disclosed that investigations are ongoing into all activities and bank accounts linked to the PFIPC, Adeyemi and his collaborators.

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