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Oshiomhole Opposes Bill To Create Drug Rehabilitation Institute, Gives Reason

Published

12 months ago

October 16, 2024

A bill seeking to establish an institute for drug awareness and rehabilitation has passed second reading at the senate, but not without some opposition.

The bill passed second reading after Hanga Rufa’i, senator representing Kano central and its sponsor, lead a debate on the general principles of the legislation.

While leading the debate, Rufa’i said drug abuse has enabled crime in the country.

“The objective of this bill is to raise awareness of drug abuse, drug trafficking and the rehabilitation of drug users,” he said.

But Adams Oshiomhole, senator representing Edo north, said instead of creating a new institution to achieve the objectives of the bill, the existing ones like the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) should be strengthened.

“I have serious concerns, there is no disputing the fact that drug abuse has become a national challenge,” the former Edo governor said.

“As we speak we have NDLEA which not only prosecutes traffickers, takes care of the garmount of drug abuse. I think what we have to do is look at the existing law of NDLEA to see how we can strengthen It.

“But with this idea of setting up agencies for everything, we will soon have laws against cough.

“We are spending so much on overhead. I’m not convinced that we need another body to compete with NDLEA.”

Hussaini Uba, senator representing Jigawa north-west, also supported Oshiomhole’s position.

“Yesterday we were told that everyday new drugs are imported into Nigeria. I was shaken to my marrow when I was told that dry human fecal matter is turned to things to get high,” Uba said.

News

Boko Haram Once Nominated Muhammadu Buhari As Negotiator – Jonathan Revealed

Published

2 hours ago

October 3, 2025

Editor

Former President Goodluck Jonathan on Friday, disclosed that Boko Haram insurgents once nominated the late ex-President Muhammadu Buhari as their negotiator.

Jonathan said Boko Haram chose Buhari to negotiate with the Nigerian government on their behalf.

He made the disclosure while speaking at the public presentation of Scars, a book authored by former Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Lucky Irabor (retd.), in Abuja.

Jonathan said the insurgents named Buhari after his then-administration set up several committees to explore dialogue with the group.

Jonathan said: “One of the committees we set up then, the Boko Haram nominated Buhari to lead their team to negotiate with the government.

“So I was feeling that, oh, if they nominated Buhari to represent them and had a discussion with the government committee, then when Buhari took over, it could have been an easy way to negotiate with them and they would have handed over their guns. But it was still there till today.”

Jonathan noted that the inability of Buhari to eradicate Boko Haram terrorists showed that the crisis was more complex than often portrayed.

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Edo: Pandemonium As NDLEA Operatives Chase Escaping Driver With Shooting

Published

4 hours ago

October 3, 2025

Editor

There was pandemonium at Oka Market, Upper Sakponba Road, Benin City, Friday, as operatives of the State Command of Nigerian Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) shot sporadically in chase of an escaping driver.

In the course of the commotion, traders and residents took to their heels, probably to avoid being hit by stray bullets, while others were confused, not sure of what caused the sporadic gunshots.

The sporadic gunshots which lasted more than five minutes at the gate of the NDLEA Head Office, by Oka Market, followed a hot chase of an articulated vehicle driver who was said to have brushed their (NDLEA) vehicle.

The driver, who reportedly brushed the NDLEA vehicle refused to stop for negation, which prompted officers at the scene to alert their colleagues who waited at the alert.

According to eyewitnesses, as the escaping articulated driver approached the NDLEA office, officers who were said to have been alerted by their colleagues pursuing the trailer began to shoot.

Seven of the tyres of the trailer were deflated by bullets of the NDLEA operatives yet the driver refused to stop.

The officers continued to shoot while pursuing him, until he was caught.

A source said that the driver brushed their vehicle on the way, and that every effort by the officers to stop him so they could settle the matter proved abortive; hence the gunshots and deflation of the tires.

“It was a simple thing; they jammed our men, but the officers tried to stop him so that they could settle, but the driver refused to stop. That is why the men have been shooting to stop him. Even after bursting about seven tires, he was still running, but we caught him and they are bringing him back to our office,” he concluded.

Calls and messages sent to the commander, Edo State NDLEA Command, Mr. Mitchell Ofoyeju, were not responded to as at when filing this.

News

JUST IN: Court Bars Police From Enforcing Tinted Glass Regulation

Published

6 hours ago

October 3, 2025

Editor

The Federal High Court sitting in Warri has issued an order directing the Nigeria Police Force and the Inspector-General of Police to maintain the status quo in the ongoing case concerning the controversial tinted glass permit.

The case, Suit No. FHC/WR/CS/103/2025: John Aikpokpo-Martins v. Inspector-General of Police & Nigeria Police Force, came up for hearing today.

Delivering the interim order, the Court directed the police authorities to respect judicial processes pending further proceedings in the matter.

Confirming the development, Kunle Edun, SAN, who led the legal team, noted that the directive is a major step in ensuring that the rule of law is upheld while the substantive issues in the case are being determined.

Details of the ruling and the next adjourned date are expected shortly.

Further updates coming soon…