News

Drug Abuse Great Menace To Society – Bayelsa Stakeholders

Published

2 years ago

July 3, 2022

Editor

Some stakeholders in the fight against drug abuse in Bayelsa State have said the state is winning in the battle against the social menace in the state.

The stakeholders, made up of the officials of the Nigerian Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Medical Doctors, Psychologists, Civil Advocacy and Rights Activists, Pharmacists and women advocacy groups, agreed that the war against drug abuse under Governor Douye Diri has rekindled hope for the youths of the State.

The Bayelsa State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Pabara Newton Igwele, described the revolution against drugs as one of the right steps taken by Diri’s administration and that it is anchored on his vision to give youth a new hope and set the pace for societal growth and minimize crime.

Also speaking, the Chairman of the Committee on Drug Abuse Prevention and Rehabilitation Committee BADAPARC, Dr. Faith Zips-Godwin, noted that the State Committee has closed ranks with other stakeholders to change the Bayelsa Drug Abuse story for the state.

”Our approach is to use four cardinal strategies, the community, faith-based, school and media strategies to combat the scourge of drug misuse and abuse across the state”

She noted that drug abuse results in numerous life-threatening health conditions like liver damage, kidney failure, high blood pressure, and other health conditions, and called for all hands to be on deck to win the war against drug abuse and trafficking.

Also speaking, the Chairman of the Bayelsa State Traditional Rulers’ Council, King Bubaraye Dakolo, the Ibenanaowei of the Ekpetiama kingdom, said the illicit drug trafficking business in the world attracts an estimated $300 billion dollars annually, advising the state government to work closely with the security agencies to secure the marine and land borders to checkmate movement of hard drugs into the state.

UNODC Country Representative Dr. Oliver Stolpe described the State as a testament to working the talk against drugs noting that if nothing is done the disease will negatively affect the development of the society closely tied to crimes.

“It is visibly clear and audibly loud enough from the lips of all stakeholders that the reality to achieve a crime and drug-free society, efforts need to be intensified with relevant actors and agencies to prevent drugs supply and abuse which the Bayelsa State Government has championed by taking the bull by the horn as a shining example for other states across the country.

“As Bayelsa State joins the rest of the world to celebrate the 2022 international day against drugs on the theme “Addressing Drug Challenges in Health and Humanitarian Crises.” several activities including a road show, symposium and lecture organized to raise awareness of the people and join the train to stand against drug misuse and abuse in the oil-rich state, Bayelsa”.

News

JUST IN: Convicted Kidnap Kingpin Evans Re-arraigned, Opts For Plea Bargain

Published

3 hours ago

May 16, 2024

Editor

Convicted billionaire kidnapper, Chukwudumeme Onwuamadike, popularly known as Evans, and his co-defendant Joseph Emeka, charged with murder and attempted kidnap have opted for plea bargain.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the state lead counsel, Mr Yusuf Sule, informed the court about the plea bargain option on Thursday when the case was called for re-arraignment.

The case was called for re-arraignment before Justice Adenike Cokers of an Ikeja High Court.

NAN reports that Evans and his co-defendant were to be re-arraigned on an amended five-count charge bordering on murder, attempt to murder, conspiracy to commit felony, wit: kidnapping and attempt to murder.

Sule informed the court that the case was for re-arraignment but he was aware the defendants have applied for plea.

The prosecutor, however, said the plea bargain terms were being considered by the Attorney-General of Lagos State, Mr Lawal Pedro (SAN).

Details shortly…

News

JUST IN: Collapsed Roof Injures OAU Students During Lecture

Published

3 hours ago

May 16, 2024

Editor

A torrential rainfall of early Thursday morning, accompanied with a whirlwind has injured students of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State.

The rain which started when the students were having a lecture, SER to be precise, in the Amphitheatre of the Oduduwa Hall, affected the ceiling of the Amphitheatre as it fell off and injured a few of the students.

The Vice-Chancellor, Professor Adebayo Simeon Bamire led other principal officers to the Medical and Health Centre of the University, and ensured that the injured students were given adequate medical attention.

A release by the Public Relations Officer of the University, Mr. Abiodun Olarewaju, stated that the Vice-Chancellor also followed two other students, whose cases demanded more medical attention to the Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital Complex (OAUTHC), where the Chief Medical Director (CMD), Professor John Okeniyi, physically supervised the proceedings.

The Vice-Chancellor has, therefore, appealed for calm and urged students and staff to go about their academic and administrative activities without any form of untoward action.

Meanwhile, the management of the University, has sealed off the amphitheatre, the venue of the unfortunate incident, until further notice.

News

Edo Guber: Those Leaving PDP Are Disgruntled; We Need People With Value – Campaign DG

Published

4 hours ago

May 16, 2024

Editor

Matthew Iduoriyemkewen, the Director-General of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Campaign Council for the September 21st governorship election in Edo State says persons who defected from the party to other parties are disgruntled.

Iduoriyemkewen made this assertion on Thursday in Benin during a familiarisation visit to the leadership and members of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Edo State council, where he solicited for a partnership and cooperation from media practitioners.

According to the DG, the PDP is interested in persons of value, adding that those that are in the party are assets to the party and that many persons are still coming.

“Most of the people moving out of the PDP have become disgruntled, and they feel they must have it all. I don’t know who gave them that kind of entitlement that PDP is theirs, and it must be theirs, and that when they need anything in PDP, and they don’t get it, nobody else can get it, and that the roof must be brought down,” he added.

He continued: “I can tell you that people we have in PDP are those that are asset to the party. Those that are assets to the party, we do not allow them to leave. More so, those that we are bringing into the party are those that will add value to the party. You will start seeing them very soon.”

Iduoriyemkewen, who said Edo needs persons with value and substance, stressed that his party candidates – Asue Ighodalo and Osarodion Ogie – are the rights persons Edo needs to move to an enviable heights.

Further speaking on activities of the campaign council, the DG said the party campaign would be issue-based, adding that how to move Edo forward is his party concern and not frivolous issues.

He said: “Our campaign would be issue-based. The campaign would be where we met Edo people and where we intend to take them to. Our campaign is going to be a realistic one, the steps we intend to take to solve the numerous challenges facing us.

“What we are going to be telling Edo people is the process of taking them from where we met them to where we are taking them to.”

Responding, the chairman, Edo NUJ, Comrade Festus Alenkhe, assured the DG of members of the council unbiased, apolitical stance as far as politics is concerned in the state.

The Edo NUJ chairman who said the union as a professional body frowned at fake news and unverified information, described the NUJ secretariat as a freedom ground where anyone can come to express his or mind on issues.