Category: Nigerian Tribune

The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Professor Nentawe Yilwatda, has urged Nigerians, particularly voters in Ekiti State, to give President Bola Tinubu and other candidates of the party support in the 2027 general elections.

Yilwatda, who made this appeal on Thursday in Ado Ekiti, during the APC presidential campaign rally, said the performance of the Tinubu administration, particularly its economic reforms and development initiatives, had justified the call for the President’s re-election.

The APC chairman, who spoke during the rally attended by Vice President Kashim Shettima, members of the party’s National Working Committee (NWC), governors and other party leaders, said the present administration’s policies were repositioning the economy and creating opportunities for Nigerians.

In a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Information Strategy, Abimbola Tooki, Yilwatda expressed delight at the large turnout at the rally, describing it as an indication of the people’s confidence in the APC and its Renewed Hope Agenda.

He said the rally was an opportunity to present the party’s candidates, from the presidential candidate to those seeking election into the National Assembly and Ekiti State House of Assembly, while urging voters to support the APC across all elective positions.

Highlighting the administration’s achievements, Yilwatda said the ongoing tax reforms were designed to protect low-income earners and small businesses from excessive tax burdens, allowing them to retain more resources for personal and business development.

He also described the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) as a major intervention aimed at expanding access to higher education, noting that the scheme had provided financial support to students who might otherwise be unable to pursue their academic ambitions.

According to him, eligible beneficiaries of the scheme also receive a monthly upkeep allowance of N20,000 to ease their financial burden.

On infrastructure, the APC chairman cited road projects linking Ado-Ekiti and Akure, alongside other completed and ongoing federal projects, as evidence of the Tinubu administration’s commitment to improving transportation and stimulating economic activities.

Yilwatda maintained that the administration’s development agenda went beyond policy declarations, insisting that its interventions were already translating into tangible benefits for Nigerians.

Presenting Tinubu to the people of Ekiti State for another term, he urged the electorate to vote for APC candidates at all levels, arguing that electing party members into the National Assembly and state legislature would provide the legislative support needed to sustain the administration’s reforms.

He described the APC as Nigeria’s dominant political party, expressing confidence that it would consolidate its electoral strength in 2027.

The national chairman also urged party members and supporters in Ekiti to remain united and intensify mobilisation ahead of the elections, saying the party was determined to secure victory for Tinubu and all its candidates.

He expressed optimism that the Renewed Hope Agenda would deliver greater economic recovery, national development and shared prosperity if given another mandate.

The Nigeria Tobacco Control Alliance (NTCA) has warned that tobacco industry interference in government policies and regulatory processes threatens public health and contributes to nearly 30,000 preventable deaths recorded annually in Nigeria.

The alliance called on the Federal Government to strengthen enforcement of the National Tobacco Control Act, 2015, and its 2019 Regulations, while preventing tobacco companies from influencing public health policies through corporate partnerships, aggressive marketing and the exploitation of regulatory loopholes.

The NTCA Coordinator, Olawale Makanjuola, said the industry’s growing influence and efforts to weaken tobacco control measures required urgent collective action to protect Nigerians, particularly children and young people.

Speaking at the launch of a report on tobacco industry interference in Nigeria, Makanjuola described the document as both an early warning system and a blueprint for action.

‘This report serves as both an early warning system and an action blueprint. It reminds us that enforcing the National Tobacco Control Act is not a bureaucratic checkbox. It is a matter of national survival and social justice,’ he said.

He alleged that tobacco companies and their front groups were increasingly exploiting regulatory loopholes, using Corporate Social Responsibility initiatives to rehabilitate their public image and attempting to infiltrate policy spaces to influence government decisions.

According to him, the report exposes covert industry activities, aggressive marketing strategies and persistent policy interference capable of undermining efforts to protect public health.

Makanjuola recalled that the alliance had worked alongside public health advocates, civil society organisations and the media to establish legal frameworks, including the National Tobacco Control Act of 2015 and its accompanying Regulations of 2019.

He said the frameworks were designed to protect Nigerians, especially young people, from the dangers of tobacco consumption and emerging nicotine products.

Also speaking, the NTCA Board Chairman, Akinbode Oluwafemi, described the tobacco industry’s activities as a well-planned and well-funded attempt to undermine tobacco control efforts in Nigeria.

Oluwafemi raised concerns over a meeting reportedly taking place at the Federal Ministry of Trade to adopt a policy on new and emerging tobacco products, arguing that such matters should fall under the responsibility of the Federal Ministry of Health.

He accused the health ministry of failing to adequately protect Nigerians from tobacco industry interference, alleging that industry influence had weakened its capacity to safeguard public health.

‘The world is under attack in Nigeria. And there is a serious attack; it is very well planned and well funded. It seems as if the Ministry of Health is infiltrated. It seems as if they’ve dropped the ball, but not only dropped the ball, but kicked it inside the ocean.

‘We can no longer comfortably say the Ministry of Health is protecting the health of Nigerians where industries are concerned,’ he said.

Oluwafemi urged the government to protect citizens from tobacco industry interference, alleging that companies were seeking to rewrite existing laws and remove safeguards designed to protect children.

He also called for an end to public-sector partnerships and endorsements involving tobacco companies, insisting that Corporate Social Responsibility initiatives could not compensate for the health, economic and environmental costs of tobacco and nicotine products.

He further urged the government to strengthen enforcement against tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship, particularly through retail outlets, digital platforms and cultural events.

Oluwafemi warned that proposed amendments to tobacco control laws could reopen loopholes for advertising, weaken provisions on 100 per cent smoke-free environments and expose children to tobacco-related imagery and digital marketing.

He cited the alleged use of cultural events, including the Ojude Oba festival, to promote electronic cigarettes, describing the development as a threat to efforts to prevent young people from taking up tobacco and nicotine products.

The NTCA chairman also appealed to media organisations to investigate alleged irregularities surrounding the Consolidated Amendment Bill, questioning how provisions reportedly not debated in Parliament or subjected to public hearings could have entered the legislative process.

‘We want to plead with our media partners to, again, try to help us investigate a lot of what we’re talking about and expose them.

‘What was presented as the consolidated one was never discussed in Parliament. Who, at the last minute, smuggled almost a complete set of laws that was never debated, was not presented at a public hearing, into what they are now asking our President to sign as law?’ he queried.

In his remarks, the In-Country Coordinator of the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, Barr. Michael Olaniyan, said tobacco control advocates faced an organised and well-resourced industry that actively worked to frustrate public health campaigns.

Olaniyan said tobacco companies deployed financial resources and sophisticated strategies to counter efforts aimed at reducing tobacco consumption, making sustained advocacy and public awareness necessary.

He identified the absence of a dedicated tobacco control resource centre in Nigeria as a major gap in the country’s advocacy efforts.

According to him, the proposed centre would provide campaign materials, research-based arguments, policy information, designs and other resources that advocates and civil society organisations could readily access and use.

‘We need that kind of centre, that hub where people can just go and say, I want to run a campaign. Where can I get designs? Where can I get arguments? Where can I get one-pagers that I can print and share for the campaign that I want to do,’ he said.

Olaniyan acknowledged the importance of the Tobacco Control Data Initiative (TCDI) in providing scientific and academic evidence for policy engagement but said advocates also needed accessible information and publicly available records to support their campaigns.

He explained that while scientific evidence remained essential in responding to government and industry arguments, a dedicated resource centre would help translate information into practical advocacy materials and make it easier for campaigners to expose tobacco industry activities.

African Collaborations Group (ACG), the leading strategic project origination and collaboration platform focused on the industrialisation of sport in Africa through the origination of bankable sport and entertainment district ecosystems, has announced the appointment of Mike Dada to its Advisory Board.

Mr Dada is President and Founder of the All Africa Music Awards (AFRIMA), the continent’s flagship music awards platform, established in 2014 in partnership with the African Union Commission (AUC) to celebrate, reward and promote African music globally in pursuit of continental integration, economic prosperity and cultural diplomacy. AFRIMA is broadcast live in more than 84 countries around the world, convenes artists, delegates and production teams from every region of Africa, and has become one of the most important continental infrastructures for the African music industry.

Alongside AFRIMA, Mr Dada serves as Vice President of the African Union’s Pan-African Congress, in which capacity he led the development of the AU’s Plan of Action on Culture and Creative Industries – a landmark continental policy document adopted by the African Union Heads of State Summit in 2023 as the framework guiding the industrialisation of Africa’s cultural and creative economy. He is also a member of the Africa Policy Advisory Board (APAB) for the ONE Campaign, contributing to global policy engagement on African development priorities.

His appointment to the ACG Advisory Board consolidates the platform’s foundational commitment to treating sport and entertainment as an integrated ecosystem from the outset. Where AFRIMA has built the continental infrastructure through which African music reaches a global audience, and where the AU Plan of Action on Culture and Creative Industries provides the policy framework for the industrialisation of Africa’s creative economy at Heads of State level, ACG is originating the physical and financial ecosystems – the sport and entertainment districts – in which that creative economy can be produced, staged, monetised and experienced at continental scale.

Mr Dada’s presence on the Advisory Board ensures that ACG’s work is aligned with the continent’s highest institutional frameworks for cultural and creative industry development, and connected to the pan-African music industry network that AFRIMA has convened over more than a decade.

His appointment brings to the ACG Advisory Board a rare combination of continental cultural leadership, institutional and policy positioning at the highest level of African Union governance, deep pan-African industry relationships across the music and creative economy sectors, and the professional expertise of a lawyer and creative economy specialist – capabilities directly relevant to originating and structuring large-scale sport and entertainment district projects across the African continent.

‘Mike Dada brings to our Advisory Board a rare combination of continental cultural infrastructure leadership and Heads of State-level policy positioning. Through AFRIMA, he has built one of the most important continental cultural infrastructures Africa has, and through his leadership at the AU Pan-African Congress, he has shaped the very policy framework that guides the industrialisation of Africa’s creative economy at Heads of State level. That combination – commercial infrastructure and continental policy leadership – is exactly what ACG needs as we originate bankable sport and entertainment district ecosystems across the African continent, projects that must be aligned with the continent’s highest institutional cultural agendas and connected to the industry networks that will bring them to life. His presence on our Advisory Board is a genuine strategic asset,’ said Nicolas Pompigne-Mognard, Founder and Executive Chairman of ACG.

The ACG Advisory Board provides strategic guidance as ACG originates and structures large-scale sport and entertainment district projects across the continent, aligning governments, development finance institutions (DFIs), investors, sport bodies and infrastructure partners to support the development of financially sustainable, mixed-use district ecosystems.

Africa’s sport economy is projected to reach $20 billion by 2035, yet the continent continues to lack the integrated district ecosystems required to support large-scale development. ACG addresses this gap by originating bankable sport and entertainment district projects, moving beyond single-venue development models towards mixed-use, revenue-generating and financially sustainable district ecosystems.

Through its collaborative model, ACG convenes governments, PPP authorities and regulators, development finance institutions, private investors, developers, designers and engineers, legal and transaction advisors, operators, sport federations and leagues, event promoters, media and broadcast partners, academic institutions and host communities, creating structured pathways from concept to feasibility, bankability and delivery.

The presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Atiku Abubakar, has condemned Thursday’s court judgment purporting to remove Senator David Mark’s leadership of the party, describing it as a calculated attempt to weaken the ADC and frustrate his candidacy.

In a statement issued by Phrank Shaibu, Director of Strategic Communication of the ADC Presidential Campaign Council, Atiku said the timing of the judgment was telling.

‘It came barely a day after a mammoth crowd turned out in Sokoto to welcome him and attend the launch of the ADC campaign.

‘The people of Sokoto came out in their thousands because they are hungry for change and believe in our promise to make life affordable again. What we witnessed in Sokoto is only the beginning. The people of Kebbi will have their say, and so will Nigerians across the country as our campaign moves forward,’ Atiku said.

‘My roots are in Northern Nigeria, but my candidacy belongs to all Nigerians. There is a difference between being from the North and being a candidate only for the North. Hunger and hardship do not respect regional boundaries. Nigerians across the country are suffering under this government, and they deserve a leader with a credible plan to make life affordable again,’ he said.

‘The timing of this judgment is no coincidence. It is part of a strategy to weaken my support in the North and frustrate a campaign whose message is resonating across the country. But the ruling party’s greatest miscalculation is to assume that my support ends in the North. What we saw in Sokoto, what we will see in Kebbi and across the country, is the strength of a national movement,’ he added.

Atiku said the judgment also raised serious legal concerns.

‘Justice Musa Liman of the same Federal High Court had already dismissed the challenge to the David Mark-led leadership in Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/1637/2025. The court upheld the defendants’ objections on jurisdiction, standing and the failure to exhaust internal party remedies, and resolved the substantive issues in their favour. Why, after that judgment, was another case filed to reopen the same dispute? This is a calculated attempt to circumvent a subsisting judgment. We will challenge this judicial manoeuvre at the Court of Appeal,’ he said.

Atiku urged ADC supporters to remain calm and law-abiding and not to let the judgment weaken the momentum generated in Sokoto.

He said the campaign train was already in Kebbi and would continue across the country.

‘Our journey to rescue Nigeria from the hardship imposed by the APC government is a long one. Our Affordable Life campaign will continue because Nigerians deserve relief from this crushing cost-of-living crisis. We urge our supporters to remain resolute, take our message from house to house and door to door, and stay peaceful and focused. There is no shaking,’ he said.

Israeli opposition leaders have intensified their criticism of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, accusing him of damaging Israel’s relationship with the United States after Democrats won control of both chambers of Congress in the US midterm elections.

The Democratic victory on Tuesday, November 3, is seen as a major setback for US President Donald Trump and could complicate Washington’s traditionally strong support for Israel, particularly amid growing opposition to the US-Israeli war with Iran and Israel’s military campaign in Gaza.

Former Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid said the election results showed why Netanyahu could no longer remain in office, warning that his continued leadership threatened Israel’s security, democracy and international standing.

‘It endangers our security, it jeopardizes our democracy, and it will ruin our standing on the global stage,’ Lapid wrote on social media.

Lapid also accused Netanyahu of abandoning Israel’s longstanding bipartisan approach to Washington by openly aligning himself with Republicans. He recalled Netanyahu’s controversial 2015 address to the US Congress, in which he opposed then-President Barack Obama’s proposed nuclear agreement with Iran.

Meanwhile, opposition politician Yair Golan described Netanyahu as increasingly unpopular across the American political establishment, saying the election exposed ‘just how toxic Netanyahu has become’ among Democrats and Republicans.

Golan warned that retaining Netanyahu and his far-right government could push Israel towards international sanctions, diplomatic isolation and a confrontation with the United States.

Another opposition figure, Gadi Eisenkot, pledged to restore Israel’s bipartisan relationship with Washington if he succeeded in forming the next government.

The criticism comes as Netanyahu faces political difficulties at home following Israel’s October 27 election, in which his bloc secured 53 seats in the 120-member Knesset, falling short of the 61 needed for a majority. The opposition bloc secured 48 seats, while Arab-led parties won 19, leaving the country facing difficult coalition negotiations.

The Democratic takeover of Congress could also have significant consequences for Israel’s military and diplomatic relationship with Washington, as some Democratic lawmakers have increasingly questioned continued military assistance to the country.

Trump, who openly backed Netanyahu during Israel’s election campaign, also pledged to end the annual US military aid to Israel, worth about $3.8bn, arguing that doing so would remove an issue Democrats had used against his administration.

Despite the criticism, the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) congratulated pro-Israel candidates who won their elections, saying 234 candidates it supported had secured victories.

Netanyahu had not immediately responded to the opposition’s latest criticism.

Chief Executive Officer, CRC Credit Bureau, Dr. Tunde Popoola, has called on African governments, financial institutions, academia, policy makers and others, to embrace Artificial Intelligence (AI), adding that the technology is capable of contributing between $60 billion to $103 billion to Africa’s economy annually, if well deployed.

He, however, warned that there are risks of unregulated deployment, including privacy concerns, cybersecurity threats and ethical challenges, which must be guided against, despite the opportunities that come with the technology.

Popoola, in a keynote Address delivered at the maiden international academic conference, organised by the Department of Finance, Faculty of Management Sciences, University of Ilorin, on Monday, called for responsible regulation, effective governance frameworks, and robust safeguards to enable AI serve humanity positively and sustainably.

The CRC Credit Bureau boss also challenged universities, research institutions, policymakers, regulators, and industry leaders to collaborate on context-specific AI applications that can accelerate sustainable development across the continent.

Dr. Popoola, who spoke on the theme: ‘Artificial Intelligence, Finance and the Path to Sustainability in Emerging and Developing Countries,’ urged Africa to move beyond being a passive consumer of AI technologies and become an active creator of solutions tailored to its unique challenges.

He noted that many developing countries remain far from achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), due to a myriad of challenges confronting them. This development, he argued, has, therefore, made innovative and scalable solutions increasingly imperative.

Popoola identified poverty, climate change, energy deficits, infrastructure gaps, financial exclusion, and weak institutions, as some of those challenges that have continued to hold down emerging countries from achieving the SDGs.

He argued that finance has become central to sustainable development; since it mobilises savings, allocates capital, manages risks, and promotes innovation, adding that limited access to credit and inadequate financial infrastructure would continue to hamper progress.

The CRC Credit Bureau boss described AI as a new development equation, that enables smarter decision-making through advanced data analytics, improves credit assessment, and enhances fraud detection.

The Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) has announced plans to create 100 new millionaire entrepreneurs through practical capacity-building sessions and financial grants at its GROW Nigerian Conference 2026.

The conference, scheduled for November 8 to 10, 2026, at the Ecobank Pan African Centre (EPAC), Victoria Island, Lagos, will bring together entrepreneurs, policymakers, investors and development partners to explore opportunities for business growth.

It is themed ‘GROW Nigerian: The Next Frontier for Innovation, Policy and Market Access.’

According to a statement by SMEDAN, the conference will combine intensive masterclasses with enterprise funding to equip participants with the skills and financial support needed to establish, improve and expand their businesses.

Selected participants will receive financial grants at the end of the masterclasses, while the Zero to 100 Pitch Competition will provide additional funding opportunities for promising businesses.

The competition has a ?100m prize pool, with disbursements scheduled to take place at the Lagos conference and another event in northern Nigeria. The final and prize presentations at the Lagos conference will hold on November 10.

Speaking on the initiative, SMEDAN Director-General and Chief Executive Officer, Charles Odii, said the programme was designed to address practical challenges preventing entrepreneurial talent from translating into viable businesses.

‘For someone who has learnt a skill but cannot afford the tools to begin, access to capital can change their prospects. For an existing business, knowing how to price properly, attract customers and manage money can determine whether that capital produces growth,’ Odii said.

‘Our ambition to create 100 millionaires brings these needs together. We want entrepreneurs to leave the conference with useful skills, financial support and connections that help them build businesses capable of sustaining livelihoods and employing others.’

The statement added that the conference would feature the Nigeria First Fair, a three-day marketplace open to the public, where visitors can purchase directly from Nigerian small businesses, discover local brands and interact with entrepreneurs.

With the festive season approaching, the fair is expected to provide opportunities for individuals and organisations to shop for Christmas gifts, end-of-year celebrations and corporate orders.

Corporate buyers, retailers and organisations will also have the opportunity to identify suppliers and establish business relationships with participating enterprises.

SMEDAN encouraged Lagos residents and visitors to attend the fair, noting that purchases would create direct commercial opportunities for local businesses.

‘We are inviting people to come and shop Nigerian. As you prepare for the festive season, there is an opportunity to discover something new, buy directly from local businesses and help an entrepreneur finish the year stronger,’ Odii said.

The conference will feature the Group Chief Executive of Oando Plc, Wale Tinubu, as keynote speaker, drawing on his experience in building and expanding a Nigerian enterprise.

Confirmed masterclass facilitators include Chude Jideonwo, co-founder of Red Africa and Joy Inc.; Funke Bucknor-Obruthe, founder of Zapphaire Events; Teniola Chigbata, popularly known as TennyCoco; Nelly Agbogu, founder of NaijaBrandChick; and Anita Natacha Akide, popularly known as Symply Tacha.

The sessions will cover event management, beauty and makeup artistry, building a beauty business, and using artificial intelligence for marketing. Participants are expected to benefit from practical demonstrations, business lessons and direct interactions with the facilitators.

Award-winning Nigerian filmmaker, Tola Odunsi, will also attend to screen his latest film, 19, and conduct live auditions for a cast for a film production commissioned by SMEDAN.

Other confirmed participants include the Managing Director of the Bank of Industry, Dr Olasupo Olusi; Managing Director of the Development Bank of Nigeria, Dr Tony Okpanachi; and Managing Director of NEXIM Bank, Abubakar A. Bello.

They will be joined by the Director-General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye; Registrar-General of the Corporate Affairs Commission, Hussaini Ishaq Magaji, SAN; and Managing Director of the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund, Oluwaseun Mayomi Faleye.

A business clinic will also operate throughout the conference, bringing regulatory agencies and business support institutions together to provide direct assistance to entrepreneurs.

Business owners will be able to seek guidance on registration, regulatory requirements, and other operational challenges, as well as identify practical steps to resolve outstanding issues.

A dedicated NAFDAC Summit scheduled for November 9 will adopt a town hall format, bringing the heads of NAFDAC and SMEDAN together with entrepreneurs and small business representative groups to discuss registration requirements, address bottlenecks and clarify available solutions.

NAFDAC will also demonstrate its NAPAMS platform, guiding businesses on its use while receiving questions and feedback from participants.

The conference is being organised in partnership with the Deutsche Gesellschaft fr Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH through its Sustainable Economic Development Cluster (SEDEC), commissioned by the German Government and co-funded by the governments of Denmark and Switzerland, as well as the European Union.

Other partners include MTN and the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), while the Lagos State Government is the host and Ecobank is the partner host.

Lagos Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, is also expected to attend the conference.

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Barr. Nyesom Wike, has denied any involvement in the judicial decision affecting Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma’s senatorial ambitions.

Wike described attempts to link him to the outcome as mischievous, insisting that he had no role in the matter.

He spoke during his routine monthly media chat in Port Harcourt, monitored in Abuja, while responding to questions on political developments in Imo State.

‘Ordinarily, I wouldn’t want to go into this, but anybody calling my name is being mischievous. I didn’t go to court, and I’m not in the APC,’ he said.

Wike stressed that he did not institute any legal action against Uzodimma and was not behind the judicial decision.

He said those dragging his name into the Imo development were deliberately trying to create confusion and misrepresent his political position.

The Minister reiterated his unwavering support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration, stating that his primary political focus remains ensuring the President’s success in the 2027 presidential election.

‘As it is today, my priority is to ensure that Mr President emerges victorious in the 2027 presidential elections,’ he said.

Wike said he would not allow himself to be distracted by controversies that have nothing to do with his current political assignment.

However, he indicated that he would speak more openly about political developments and those opposing his political alignment after the presidential election.

‘Today, I’m not talking because we want the presidential election to be over. By the time the presidential election is over, I will speak out. Everything has its own time,’ he said.

Wike maintained that, for now, his energy is concentrated on mobilising support for Tinubu’s re-election.

He added that when the time comes, he will address all the issues and those behind the attempts to link him to matters he knows nothing about.

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) on Thursday disclosed that South African nationals were now leading drug trafficking cartels operating in Nigeria.

The Assistant Director, Media and Advocacy of the agency, Mr Francis Okogun, disclosed this during a joint media briefing by defence, security and intelligence agencies at the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) in Abuja.

Okogun, who explained that South African nationals were facilitating the movement of illicit drugs through Nigeria to other parts of the world, added that three South Africans had so far been arrested with large quantities of heroin, cocaine and synthetic cannabis.

According to him, ‘On the arrest of South African nationals in connection with drug trafficking, it is important to clarify that the issue has attracted attention because of the negative impression it could create about Nigeria internationally.

‘Our findings indicate that some foreign nationals are increasingly becoming involved in facilitating the movement of illicit drugs through Nigeria to other parts of the world. Some are also involved in bringing such substances into the country.

‘For the period under review, three individuals were arrested. What makes these arrests particularly significant is the large quantities of drugs recovered, including heroin, cocaine and synthetic cannabis, popularly known as Loud.’

He said the individuals arrested were suspected of working on behalf of international drug cartels.

‘As you know, drug traffickers rarely volunteer information about their sponsors or the final destinations of their consignments.

‘We are therefore conducting painstaking investigations to establish the actual destinations of the drugs and identify the cartels responsible for the shipments.’

Recall that a 38-year-old South African woman, Ms Will Jessica Ann, was arrested by NDLEA operatives at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (NAIA), Abuja, after she was found to have concealed 14 large blocks of heroin weighing 5.75 kilogrammes in her luggage. She allegedly used her three-year-old son as a cover to beat security checks and evade thorough screening.

Also, in October 2026, a South African woman, Gebashe Sithandiwe Jessie, was arrested at the Port Harcourt International Airport for allegedly attempting to smuggle 32.74 kilogrammes of ‘Thai Loud’ (synthetic cannabis) concealed in her luggage.

On July 6, 2026, NDLEA operatives arrested 38-year-old South African woman Will Jessica Ann at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (NAIA), Abuja, after she was found to have concealed 14 large blocks of heroin weighing 5.75 kilogrammes in her luggage, allegedly using her three-year-old son as a cover to evade thorough security screening.

The suspect was arrested during the inward clearance of passengers on Qatar Airways flight QR 1433 from Doha to Abuja.

Although she initially denied travelling with check-in bags, operatives established that the two bags containing the drugs had tags matching the claim tags attached to her passport. She then admitted ownership of the bags, adding that she had forgotten she checked in the two bags.

The Federal Government has expressed confidence that the abandoned National Library of Nigeria project in Abuja will be completed within two years, assuring Nigerians that adequate funding and effective monitoring mechanisms have been put in place to prevent further delays.

The Minister of Education, Dr Olatunji Alausa, gave the assurance during a familiarisation visit to the project site ahead of its formal return-to-site ceremony, scheduled for November 19, which will be performed by the First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu.

Alausa, who commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the First Lady for their commitment to reviving the project, said contractors had fully mobilised to the site and commenced construction activities.

He noted that the Federal Ministry of Education would ensure the prompt processing of payments to contractors to guarantee uninterrupted execution of the project.

‘Our own commitment at the Federal Ministry of Education is that work will not stop for one day until we get to the point where we commission this building,’ he said.

The Minister warned against administrative bottlenecks that could delay construction, urging contractors and consultants to bring any challenges relating to payment processing to his attention.

He said the Ministry had put mechanisms in place to facilitate requests for additional payments, stressing that the timely completion of the project remained a commitment to Nigerians.

Alausa attributed the renewed momentum on the project to President Tinubu’s intervention, noting that the President had directed the mobilisation of funds and the return of contractors to the site.

He described the intervention as evidence of the administration’s recognition of education as a critical driver of national development.

‘President Bola Ahmed Tinubu knows exactly what this country needs. He knows that education is the bedrock of any egalitarian society. If any society must develop, it must educate its citizens,’ he said.

The Minister also acknowledged the contributions of the First Lady, particularly her sustained advocacy and personal commitment, which he said had helped secure additional funding and advance the vision of a modern National Library.

According to him, the First Lady’s vision goes beyond establishing a national repository of knowledge to creating an inclusive cultural and educational landmark accessible to children, persons with disabilities and other members of the public.

He disclosed that the facility would feature specialised spaces for children and persons with visual and hearing impairments.

The Minister recalled that construction of the National Library commenced in 2006, with an initial two-year completion timeline, but activities were abandoned in 2014, leaving the project dormant for nearly 12 years.

He expressed concern that the prolonged abandonment of such an important national institution represented a setback to the country’s educational, cultural and archival development.

Alausa, however, commended Reynolds Construction Company (RCC) for maintaining the site and preserving the existing infrastructure throughout the period of inactivity, noting that its efforts had facilitated the resumption of construction without significant setbacks.

He also acknowledged the contributions of the Acting Permanent Secretary, Dr Olatunji David, the Chief Executive Officer of the National Library of Nigeria, the Ministry’s management team, consultants and other stakeholders towards the project’s revival.

The Minister further said the Federal Government was exploring international best practices, including lessons from the Qatar National Library, to ensure that the completed facility meets modern standards.

He explained that the National Library, upon completion, would serve as a major cultural and educational centre, hosting international conferences, attracting tourists and providing access to Nigeria’s historical archives and cultural heritage.

He urged the management of the institution to ensure that the facility becomes a vibrant centre of learning and knowledge, with activities that promote public engagement and Nigeria’s educational and cultural identity.

Earlier, the Managing Director of RCC, Engr Nader Yusuf, reaffirmed the company’s commitment to delivering the project, assuring that construction would be completed within the stipulated 18-month timeline.

Yusuf said the company had maintained adequate security at the site and prevented encroachment throughout the period of inactivity.

He also pledged that RCC would comply with the Minister’s directives and deliver the project in line with the Federal Government’s expectations.