Category: Nigerian Tribune

Political analyst, Basil Okoh, has claimed that the fear of former Deputy Senate President, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, is a factor driving the Delta State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) into hastily endorsing Governor Sheriff Oborevwori ahead of the 2027 governorship election timeline.

Okoh said the governor’s growing anxiety and overreliance on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s name reflect deep insecurity within the party’s ranks.

According to Okoh, in an article posted online, the secretive meeting held on Sunday at the Banquet Hall of Government House, Asaba, was convened to hastily project Oborevwori as the sole APC governorship candidate in Delta. He further claimed that phones were reportedly confiscated, and attendees were barred from taking photographs – a clear sign, he noted, that ‘the meeting was driven by fear, exclusion and anxiety over one man’s silence.’

That silence, Okoh stressed, is Omo-Agege’s calculated quietness, which now defines the political atmosphere in Delta APC. ‘Nobody can be sure of the political direction of the state until Omo-Agege makes his stand known,’ he wrote. ‘Even Sheriff, the governor, is groping for reassurance that there will be no challenger and that he will be adopted by consensus.’

Okoh observed that Oborevwori’s restlessness stems from a lack of confidence in his ability to win a contested primary.

‘He appears to be jumping the gun by declaring himself the APC governorship candidate in Delta State, preempting the primary process,’ he said. ‘If he were confident, he wouldn’t be rushing ahead, instigating motions for sole candidacy and demanding that only one nomination form be printed.’

The analyst further stated that Oborevwori remains an outsider within the APC, despite support from figures such as Minister of Aviation Festus Keyamo. ‘He continues to assure his fellow decampees that he’s in charge, but they know he’s not,’ Okoh explained. ‘The fear of Omo-Agege hangs over the party – invisible yet pervasive like Arabian incense.’

Okoh argued that Oborevwori’s desire to be associated with President Tinubu reflects his bid for legitimacy by association rather than genuine closeness. ‘Sheriff ties himself to Tinubu every time he talks about 2027 because he doesn’t trust his own popularity,’ he wrote. ‘His contact with Tinubu is very limited, and the national leadership of APC sees through his gambit to reap where he did not sow.’

He warned that the APC’s popularity in Delta has plummeted since Oborevwori’s defection, noting that ‘the man has a genuine reason to fear the invincible hand of Omo-Agege as the cause of his declining popularity.’ While Tinubu may be hoping for a strong governor to help deliver votes in 2027, Okoh said Delta is a weak link. ‘Sheriff cannot improve Tinubu’s electoral fortunes in Delta,’ he wrote. ‘In 2023, it was Omo-Agege who popularized Tinubu; in 2027, it will be the other way around.’

‘Omo-Agege’s silence has left them perplexed and in a political quandary. They know he still commands a large following in Delta and the respect of the national caucus.’

Okoh added that at the Banquet Hall meeting, Governor Oborevwori openly voiced his worries, declaring that he would ‘not negotiate with anyone’ over his APC candidacy. But in reality, he eventually will – out of self-interest, though not without factoring in President Tinubu’s political calculations.

Okoh also asserted that Oborevwori’s political maneuvers are dictated by fear rather than strategy. ‘All his actions are governed by one thing – the fear of Ovie Omo-Agege,’ he added. ‘The banquet hall meeting in Asaba was less about strength and more about survival.’

A middle-aged woman, Karimatu Sulaimanm, has prayed a Shari’a court in Magajin Gari, Kaduna State to grant her custody of her four-year-old grandson.

Karimatu’s counsel, Mr Usman Umar, told the court that his client’s daughter who was divorced by her husband, Bashir Abdullahi in 2021 had remarried.

‘Since she has remarried, she no longer has the right for child custody and as such my client wants the child to remain in her custody.

‘We want the former husband to pay N30,000 monthly allowance for the child’s upkeep’,he said.

On his part, Abdullahi disagreed with the complainant’s prayers, saying he wants his son back.

He prayed court to grant him custody of his child so that he can enroll him in a school and raise him in a good way.

‘She does not allow my son to visit me at home. He does not know his relatives’, he said.

The judge, Malam Mu’awiyya Shehu, adjourned the case until October 21 and asked Abdullahi to produce witnesses.

The 2027 presidential race took a defining turn over the weekend as stakeholders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ogun State formally endorsed Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim for his bid for the ticket of the party.

They said the endorsement marked the end of the era of ‘politics of entitlement.’

According to them, the endorsement, made under the aegis of the Gbenga Hashim Solidarity Movement (GHSM), positions Ogun as the epicentre of a growing South-West political reawakening.

The stakeholders added that the wave of his endorsement has already gained traction across Osun, Lagos, Ekiti, Ondo, and Oyo States.

Speaking after the adoption, Honourable Gbenga Idowu, State Coordinator of GHSM, described Hashim as ‘the bridge between the North and South’ and ‘the most competent and credible alternative to the failed APC leadership.

‘President Tinubu has failed both Nigeria and the South-West. What he promised as renewal has turned into national ruin. Inflation is at its worst, insecurity has deepened, and the people are hungry,’ Idowu claimed.

He added that Ogun is joining the rest of the South-West to say enough is enough. It was here that Tinubu once said ‘Emilokan’ and God permitted it. Today, we are saying, ‘Baba, eti ja wa kule. Ni 2027, Gbenga ni o má gbe wa ga’, meaning, the feast is over; it is Gbenga who will lift us higher.’

The stakeholders hailed Hashim’s comprehensive $4 trillion economic blueprint, which emphasises industrial expansion, energy reform, agricultural value chains, and youth employment as pillars for national rebirth.

They also praised his integrated national security plan, which combines intelligence coordination, defence reform, and community policing to tackle insecurity holistically.

‘Gbenga Hashim has a plan, not slogans. While others trade in political catchphrases, Hashim offers leadership with depth, clarity, and vision,’ Idowu asserted.

The Hashim wave is already resonating across the South West, with similar endorsements emerging from PDP stakeholders and grassroots coalitions in Osun, Oyo, Lagos, and Ekiti, signalling what political observers describe as a ‘South West PDP rebirth’ anchored on Hashim’s leadership.

‘Gbenga Hashim is not in politics for ego or profit. He is here for the purpose to unite our nation, reform our economy, and restore the dignity of governance,’ Idowu stated.

Olawepo-Hashim, a founding member of the PDP, businessman, and former presidential candidate, has in recent months emerged as a formidable national contender ahead of the 2027 elections.

Political analysts say Ogun’s endorsement marks a major shift in regional dynamics and could reshape South-West politics in the countdown to 2027.

The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) has reaffirmed its commitment to improving maternal and child health through stronger community engagement and collaboration with traditional leaders and partners.

Speaking at a community dialogue and outreach event organised by the Rotary Action Group for Reproductive, Maternal and Child Health(Rotary RMCH) on Saturday in Abuja, the Executive Secretary, FCT Primary Health Care Board (PHCB), Dr. Ruqayya Wamakko, said active participation of communities has made it easier for health workers to deliver vaccines and other essential services to remote areas.

‘The road has been built, where bridges are supposed to be built, and that has made it easier for our healthcare workers to reach their workplaces, carry vaccines, and return safely, unlike before,’ she commended the Ministers of Health and the Minister of State for Health for their support.

She described community involvement as the foundation of successful health programmes, stressing that the FCT administration continues to align health interventions with local culture and traditional structures.

‘We implement our activities in cognisance of our culture and beliefs. When our traditional leaders speak, we listen – because their voices guide our actions. That is why we are all gathered here today; we respect our traditions while improving healthcare delivery,’ she noted.

Wamakko also praised the Village Development Committees (VDC) and Ward Development Committees (WDC) for their mobilisation efforts, while recognising the media as vital partners in promoting public health awareness.

‘Once you are doing an activity and do not partner with the media, you have not started. The media sell our activities – without them, we plan to fail,’ she added.

She further highlighted ongoing efforts such as the mass measles-rubella vaccination campaign, nutrition programmes, and the HPV vaccine rollout for adolescent girls to prevent cervical cancer.

‘The entire world is moving towards preventive medicine, not curative, and that is what Nigeria is now embarking on,’ she said.

In his remarks, the National Coordinator of the Rotary Action Group for Reproductive, Maternal and Child Health (RMCH), Prof. Emmanuel Adedolapo Lufadeju, said community ownership and government partnership are vital to reducing maternal and child mortality nationwide.

‘No one in this country wants to see women and children die from preventable causes. This is one of the very important ways by which we are addressing it,’ Lufadeju stated.

He said Rotary is partnering with the Federal Ministry of Health to promote safe motherhood, family planning, and maternal death surveillance under the Maternal and Perinatal Surveillance and Response (MPSR) initiative.

‘We are supporting the government to identify why women die and how to prevent such deaths. It is already yielding results in several states,’ he said.

Lufadeju commended the Federal Government for making reproductive health services and contraceptives free, noting that partnerships with civil society and community leaders are improving outcomes.

‘The government has shown strong leadership. Contraceptives are now free, and access is expanding. But we must sustain the collaboration to end preventable maternal and child deaths,’ he said.

He also called for increased funding for primary healthcare, more training for community health workers, and intensified awareness to build trust in public health programmes.

‘Beyond infrastructure, the human connection is key. When people understand why immunisation, family planning, or antenatal care is important, they take ownership. That is what true community engagement means,’ he added.

The District Head of Kagini Community, Alhaji Ayuba Barau, thanked the government for improving access to health services and called for a General Hospital in the area to complement existing facilities.

‘Every life matters, and every individual deserves access to quality health services. We are grateful for what has been done so far, but we appeal for a General Hospital to serve our growing population,’ he said.

The outreach featured immunisation, nutrition screening, and consultations, drawing together traditional rulers, health officials, and residents to promote community-led healthcare in the FCT.

A woman, Zainab Alhassan, has divorced her husband, Tijjani Muhammad, over his refusal to repair her damaged cell phone worth N70,000.

She told the court that she was no longer interested in their marriage and was ready to divorce him through Khul’i, (a type of divorce where a woman returns the dowry she received to her husband.)

According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Alhassan told the court that she was ready to return the N30,000 dowry to regain her freedom.

She told the court that she was watching a movie on her phone when her husband started fighting her, collected her phone and allegedly smashed it.

She, however, noted that she does not have a witness to prove her claims.

On his part, the defendant said he does not have a problem with her divorce plea but disagreed with the claim that he damaged her phone.

The judge, Malam Mu’awiyya Shehu, dissolved their marriage on the basis of Khul’i and dismissed the complainant’s plea for the repair of the phone.

The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Management, Festus Keyamo, has hailed Comrade Isaac Balami for his initiative in establishing a private university, describing it as a development that will attract more people to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Speaking at the unveiling of the Isaac Balami University of Aeronautics and Management (IBUAM), Keyamo said the ‘transfer season’ was still open for anyone willing to join the APC, urging Balami to take charge of political mobilization in Borno State.

Commending Balami’s energy and vision, the minister recalled how the young entrepreneur first presented his dream of an aviation university to him shortly after his appointment.

‘The moment I was sworn in as Minister of Aviation, one of the first people who came to my office was Isaac Balami. He shared his plans for the aviation sector. I remember it was around his 39th birthday. He told me he had just established an MRO in Lagos and that the Isaac Balami University was on the way,’ Keyamo said.

He expressed surprise and admiration for Balami’s initiative at such a young age, adding that he was inspired to support him until the university received approval.

‘This is another feather to my cap as Minister of Aviation. I can proudly say I’ve delivered my own polling unit in this sector. This aligns with the vision of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration to support the private sector and promote human capital development – two key pillars in our five-point agenda,’ Keyamo added.

He described IBUAM as a ‘revolutionary achievement,’ noting that it is the first of its kind in Africa by combining a flying school, aviation professional training, and an aircraft maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) facility under one umbrella.

Also speaking, the member representing Askira Uba Federal Constituency, Hon. Midala Balami, praised the university’s founder, describing him as a symbol of resilience and determination. He said with the unveiling of IBUAM, political opposition in Borno had been weakened, and the stage set for President Tinubu’s victory in 2027.

‘Congratulations to Isaac Balami for completing 40 to 50 percent of the campaign for Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu,’ he said.

In his remarks, Comrade Isaac Balami expressed appreciation to President Tinubu, Keyamo, Seyi Tinubu, Captain Chris Najomo, and others who contributed to the success of the project. He said his decision to remain in Nigeria and invest locally, despite the ongoing brain drain, was driven by his passion to contribute to nation-building.

Balami recounted his humble beginnings, noting how his parents sold their properties to support his education.

‘The university is not just another tertiary institution; it is tied to an aircraft maintenance and overhaul facility in Lagos. Our goal is to produce 21-year-old graduates who can work anywhere in the world without supervision,’ he said.

He called on state governments, ministries, agencies, and political leaders to sponsor students on scholarships, emphasizing that profits from the university would be reinvested into society through his foundation.

Meanwhile, the Minister of Women Affairs, Hajiya Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, announced scholarships for 100 female students willing to enroll in the university, noting that empowering young women in critical sectors aligns with President Tinubu’s vision for gender inclusion and national growth.

The event was attended by dignitaries including the Director General of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Captain Chris Najomo, as well as senators, permanent secretaries, and captains of industry.

The convener urged all candidates who scored cut off points of 200 and above to quickly for admission.

It assured candidates that most of its scholarships will come from development agencies, such as the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, and North East Development Commission, NEDC.

Governor Ahmed Aliyu of Sokoto State has reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, saying Sokoto will continue to align with the national drive for economic recovery, food security, and sustainable development.

Aliyu made this known during the meeting of the Progressive Governors’ Forum (PGF), which was held on Thursday in Birnin Kebbi, the Kebbi State capital, and brought together 24 governors elected on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The meeting, chaired by Imo State Governor and PGF Chairman, Senator Hope Uzodimma, reviewed the achievements of the Tinubu administration and commended its performance in critical areas of governance.

‘We are satisfied with the progress being recorded under President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, particularly in the economy and security sectors,’ Uzodimma told reporters after the meeting.

‘The Forum appreciates the tremendous efforts of the Federal Government on food security and assures the President of our continued and unflinching support.’

Governor Aliyu’s presence at the meeting, according to his Director General, Media and Publicity, Abubakar Bawa, reflects Sokoto’s firm commitment to the APC-led government’s transformative vision.

‘Governor Ahmed Aliyu is working in synergy with the Federal Government to ensure that Sokoto people fully benefit from the Renewed Hope policies, especially in agriculture, social welfare, and infrastructure,’ Bawa said.

The governors also used the opportunity to call on Nigerians to rally behind President Tinubu’s reforms and support ongoing efforts to rebuild the economy.

‘We call on Nigerians to support the Renewed Hope Agenda in the interest of the nation,’ the communiqué added.

The Forum reaffirmed its pledge to deepen inter-state collaboration, strengthen internal democracy within the APC, and promote innovative policies that would accelerate growth across member states.

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has described poverty as the greatest enemy confronting humanity, lamenting that Nigeria has unfortunately earned the label of being among the countries worst hit by the scourge.

Atiku made the remark in a post on his X handle to commemorate the International Day for Poverty Eradication, where he called for concerted efforts from government, civil society, and all stakeholders to end poverty in all its forms.

‘Poverty is the greatest enemy that humanity has ever known. Wherever it takes root, whether in the life of an individual or across a society, it breeds other troubles like disease, ignorance, insecurity, and hopelessness,’ the former Vice President said.

He described the observance of the International Day for Poverty Eradication as a ‘timely reminder and a call to action,’ urging a united front in tackling poverty.

‘In Nigeria, we have sadly earned the label of being among the nations hardest hit by poverty. That is why my advocacy for deliberate, people-centred solutions to end poverty remains strong and consistent,’ he stated.

Atiku stressed the need for both government and community-driven interventions that directly impact ordinary Nigerians, saying the fight against poverty must reach ‘every home, every community, and every school.’

Quoting a Nigerian proverb, he added, ‘When the poor man is hungry, peace sleeps outside. When poverty is defeated, the freedom and dignity of every man and woman will find true meaning.’

Domestic violence, which is a prominent aspect of marital abuse, is fast becoming a recurring decimal. It’s something that we must not treat with kid gloves – not with the reported incident of last week, resulting in the death of a lieutenant in the Nigerian Army, during a marital conflict between him and his wife, a few months old in the marriage. He was set ablaze in the scuffle. That’s why I am returning to domestic violence this week, and probably, the next one or two weeks, as we revisit this monster ravaging the marriage institution.

I was provoked to do this because of the serious damage it’s causing the marriage institution, making it less attractive for more people in society. Last year, I read about what the Emir of Kano, His Royal Majesty, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, reportedly said some time ago. He was reported to have said that he would slap any daughter of his who came to report that her husband slapped her, without her returning the slap.

As if that was not enough, the husband of my dearest sister, some time ago, violently inflicted injury on her body.

These two incidents informed my decision to consider the issue of marital abuse again, so as to make sanity prevail in an abusive marriage as much as possible.

My heart bleeds for the abused. May the soul of the dead in last week’s marital violence rest in perfect peace.

Abusive marriage is one that one should not wish for, even for an adversary. It comes in various shades and versions. It’s something I don’t like to think about because it stirs up emotions in me. Though it’s very common for men to be the abuser, a few cases end up with the wives as the abuser. In last week’s incident, the accusing finger points to the wife as the aggressor who set her husband ablaze. Whichever way, it’s not good for our society, and it must be fought to a standstill.

Abusive by definition means to treat someone badly by coarse, insulting words or other maltreatment, vituperative, reproachful, or scurrilous – first attested in the early 17th century – according to the free dictionary, Wiktionary. It involves being physically or emotionally injurious; characterised by repeated violence or other abuse.

For the marriage institution, an abuse is characterised by the bad treatment of a spouse in all respects and manner of physical, sexual, and emotional torture. It’s a scary situation that leaves a lasting, damaging effect on the abused, which may culminate in death if there is no timely intervention. This is why it should be a source of serious concern for all.

Traits of an abusive marriage

These tell you that a marriage is abusive in nature. Whenever a marriage evidences any or all of the following traits, it’s suffering from abuse.

Isolation of a spouse. One spouse is isolated from friends, family members, and neighbours. No visitors, no phone calls, or outings by the abused. When this is noticed about a marriage, those around and family members, and friends must do more than pay lip service to the situation.

Secrecy. This means information about the family is gagged. The abused is prohibited from talking to anyone, including her siblings and parents, about the affairs of the marriage or family. So, it’s difficult to know what goes on in the marriage. It thrives under the notion ‘let’s keep our secrets, secret.’

Physical hurts or bruises. One common way to identify an abusive marriage is physical scars. You notice that the abused, usually the wives, have bloodshot eyes, bruises on the face, broken lips, and the like. When you make an enquiry, the answer is very similar – a fall in the bathroom or the staircase, or a collision with the door, etc. In reality, the common hidden reason is a physical assault on the wife by her husband. Many times, we have ignored such signs or swallowed the proffered reasons, line, hook, sinker, ignorantly, to the detriment of the abused. This must not be allowed henceforth.

Irrational or weird behaviour. Putting words into the mouth of the spouse, living in perpetual fear of the spouse, jittery, or having incoherent speech. These should trigger anyone’s curiosity about a marriage.

These are some of the pointers to an abusive marriage. We must watch out for more and be our neighbours’ keeper. Lives can be saved and destiny salvaged through such an intervention.

Weapons of the abuser

For an abusive marriage to thrive, the abuser usually employs the following weapons:

Intimidation. It means to make someone afraid. Fear is created in the heart of someone. You make one feel weaker and unable to withstand someone or something. The purpose and the intent of intimidation is to dominate and control someone, for a selfish advantage. In an abusive marriage, fear is created in the abused to dominate him or her, to make him or her dance to one’s tune. That’s why the abused scarcely talks to another person about his or her situation in the marriage.

Control. This is to dictate to someone what to do or not to do. It’s like issuing a command that must not be disobeyed. This makes the abused vulnerable without going beyond the dictates of the abuser.

Manipulation. This is the act of exerting undue influence on someone to gain control over him or her, for one’s selfish advantage. Manipulation plays on the mind of someone so as to make him or her subjective to the ways and manners of the abuser. In marriage, the abused is influenced in such a way to obey and accept any position or proposal presented by the abuser. It usually presents false narratives about people, events, and situations.

Threats of physical and emotional torture. This is a major weapon of the abuser. It threatens dire consequences for the abused if he or she doesn’t abide by the instructions or wishes of the abuser. Such threats are usually executed at the slightest opportunity to achieve the aim of the abuser.

These are simply to keep the abused traumatised in such a way to prevent her from reaching out to others for help. In most cases, it takes advantage of the weaknesses of the abused in terms of blind love, poor family background, and previous bad experiences to traumatise her. These make the abused unable to stand up to the abuser. It’s a terrible situation that is unpalatable.

We must all be armed to recognise an abusive marriage, as well as be able to confront it headlong to save vulnerable partners from agony or even death.

We will conclude this on the steps to take to deal with the monster called abusive marriage in the next write-up.

The Zonal Commander of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Zone 9, Assistant Commander-General of Narcotics, ACGN Tunde John Omotosin, was at the Tribune House, Imalefalafia Street, Ibadan, during the week. During the visit, he spoke on the importance of sustained sensitisation of the general public on the dangers of drug abuse and what fate awaits those who indulge in drug use and trade. Deputy Editor, SAM NWAOKO, brings excerpts of the interaction.

What are some of your experiences on this job which has taken you around the country?

When I was in Kebbi State, I rehabilitated a medical doctor. He was with me for six months. How did he get involved with drugs? The drug he should have used for medical purpose, he abused it and he got hooked on it. So nobody is above it. But it is a bad signal that vulnerable children are getting more and more involved and that is why we are out on sensitisation. We go to most of the secondary schools – the last one we went to was in Arometa in Eleyele, Ibadan.

The mandate of the NDLEA is on two major strategies: Reduction of supply and drug demand reduction. That is the reason we have come to seek the support of the Nigerian Tribune to help us pass the information to the general public. By so doing, one or two persons may choose to stop the indulgence of drug use. NDLEA does not joke with sensitisation, it is very important to us and we want partnership on this because prevention is cheaper and better than cure. Our men, you see with guns and so on, are out there to ensure supply reduction. They are trying to cut supply so that the thing does not go to other areas. Imagine us not being around for a long while, the mere fact that our men are around there means that people that have access to drugs in that area, who may want to distribute, will be scared. Some will not even be able to bring it to the road because if they are arrested, that is the end of it. So, it is important that we partner especially on the need to pass the right information and facts about drug abuse.

I did a documentary when I was State Commander in Delta. We had a collaboration with the state government and we went to about 87 schools. We went to the extent of pushing for drug education in the school curriculum of the state. We do all that and not just to arrest. About 20 years or so, it was more of arrest and arrest but now, we give both reducing drug use and supply balanced attention.

The spot near Guru Maharaji in Ibadan where you have your men is known to almost everybody. But we hear that the cultivation of cannabis is Ondo/Ekiti/Osun axes while the supply is inward Lagos. What do you do about the unmanned areas on the supply from Ondo, Ekiti and Osun areas?

The major farms are in Osun and Ondo, but the storage is in Ibadan. I am saying this because I’m familiar with the terrain and I had worked as operations commander in Osun. When the foreign UNODC officials came around, we went to the farms and destroyed many of them and we arrested people who told us their modus operandi. It is easier here in Ibadan to store than where it was planted. Nobody would believe that there is a warehouse in a place like Ibadan because most of the farmlands we destroy are not here. But this is where they store. In the dead of the night, they traffic these drugs to the far north. These drugs, sometimes, are not meant for consumption here; some are for some other countries. We don’t produce the psychotropic substances here – cocaine is not produced in Nigeria. They are from South America. How can drugs from South America be found here in Nigeria? They came through the road, the airports, the seaports, the international boundaries. We have made a lot of arrests at that spot. If we were not making reasonable arrests and progress from that spot, we wouldn’t have been there. NDLEA commands are appraised by the arrests and seizures and the convictions you secure. That spot is very vital, something is going on there, and our men are not just there for nothing.

We also recognise the inconvenience that sometimes come with the job we do at such spots, but we need to salvage the situation. We need to save our youths and we must not mortgage our future. Drugs are the worst enemies we have. If you visit rehabilitation centres, you will agree with me because drug users are never productive. Also, to avoid road crashes on our roads, you must curb drug abuse.

How much has modernity impacted your operations as an organisation?

Because of modernity, we are having various new trends. The Yahoo Yahoo syndrome is one of them and the free money that is associated with it; and when you have free money, you can afford to buy some expensive drugs to take. Some people abuse everyday drugs, which has led to the prohibition of some common drugs. What led to the prohibition of the cough syrup with codeine was the abuse of the drug by young people. If you have cough, medical personnel would recommend cough syrup with codeine and give you the dosage. But those who abuse it will go to the pharmacy, buy it and gulp the entire content of the bottle at a go. Then, some would take up to four or five bottles in a day and thereby cause problems for themselves and others. What about the organs of their body? What do you think causes the rise in kidney failure cases in the country?

Alcohol too is also a drug. It is a depressant. When you take it to a certain extent it becomes a stimulant. Alcohol is a drug because it exerts pressure by depressing the central nervous system. It also causes lack of coordination, what we refer to as hallucination; hallucination in the sense that the user will not be able to coordinate between time, space and distance. That is why, often, you see them inside gutter because they feel that they are in the comfort of their home. But the law and the society accept alcohol as gateway drug because it prepares a user to take stronger drugs. It would get to a time the body would build tolerance.

Even kolanuts are drugs. It contains caffeine but kolanut is our cultural identity. There is nearly no ceremony where kolanut is not used, and we produce it in the South West. The people that cherish it most are the Igbo while the Hausa consume it the most.

But there is no law against the kolanut.

Yes, there is no law against kolanut in Nigeria.

Why is there no law against kolanut?

It is stimulant. It is like you taking coffee, for example.

For instance, many secondary school children are now indulging in socially unconventional drugs. There is a plant we refer to as ‘zegemy’. It is a very potent drug. It is more common in the North. It’s not in the South but the problem is that it can be transported here down south. The plant is not common yet and not many people know about it in the South.

Cannabis Sativa (Igbo) is referred to TAC9 (Tetrahydrocannabinol 9) because that is the most active ingredient in the plant. It has over 600 chemical compounds but TAC9 is the most active ingredient because it is what causes hallucination. The modern trend is not to smoke it as we knew it back in the days. They now lace cookies, chocolate and candies and so on with it.

In the Niger Delta, they soak cannabis with snake in native gin so that the venom in the snake would be forced out and they would take it. The cannabis extracts have been removed, the active ingredients have diffused into the ethanol. Now, when such person is arrested, how would you prosecute? Which evidence would you present against him before the court?

That is why we advise that parents should always check on their children and wards. It is very important. Know who your children and wards are mixing with. Carry out sudden inspection of their rooms. Just go to their rooms, once you identify that there is a particular culture they have started imbibing, you see them with dreadlocks or they start carrying ragamuffin muffler, you need to check on them and ask them questions. You need to do this because when the problem comes, you will not be able to manage it, and a lot of our youths have died prematurely in the process of drug abuse. That is why we take it upon ourselves that we must conscientise the minds of the general public about the issue of drug abuse. It is not just to arrest. Once they are arrested and a prima facie case is established, they are going in for it. But what about the users who are the victims? If you go by the UN Protocol on Eradication of Narcotic Drugs, it states that users are victims who need our love, care and attention and after-service. That is, after rehabilitation, you will keep on checking on them so that they don’t relapse. So it is very important and that is why we seek the cooperation of the media and the general public.

What are your plans for those who plant Indian hemp?

Those who plant should know that once the long arm of the law catches any of them, they are going in for it. There is no mercy when it comes to that. From experience, those who plant these drugs only sell it and so on, many of them don’t use it. Most of them do everything with the plant but they don’t use it. This is because they know the inherent danger in indulging in drugs. They know that drug abuse makes one to be useless. Look at some of the area boys, they are mostly useless after taking drugs.

In terms of prevalence of drug use, what is your experience after working in the North and in the South, and what is the success rate you would say the NDLEA has achieved in your sensitisation efforts?

At the macro level, taking my Command which is Oyo and Osun Zone and the state commands as a case study, we are trying our best and we can say that we are on top of the situation. If you visit any of our offices, or you visit any of the federal high courts around then you will know what we are doing. A national survey conducted in 2018 by the European Union and the United Nations Office on Drug and Crime made us to know that 14.3 percent of the Nigerian population indulges in drugs. That is around 44 million people. They indulge in different types of drugs – narcotics, stimulants, depressants, inhalants and solvents; we also have anabolic steroids used mostly by sports people. A lot of sportsmen and women have crashed from grace due to doping.

Some of these drugs are household items which cannot be criminalised – kolanuts, coffee and others, including energy drinks made from kolanut extracts. Coffee, if you are not careful, can raise the blood pressure while alcohol is also a stimulant. In the end, alcohol can damage the kidney and so on. So it is better to avoid them.

What are some of your most interesting experiences on the job because when you started out, it must have been mostly Igbo (cannabis) but there are so many varieties now; what are your interesting experiences on the job?

Emerging trends, like the laughing gas, is an interesting new discovery. We arrested two containers of the gas at Tin Can Island and Apapa Ports. Our men are there and that is why we could arrest them. Let us assume that they escaped us, it would come into the society, some would be left behind and others would go elsewhere. Drug dealers don’t stay in a particular place, they build markets and they distribute through established networks that are well-coordinated, and it is a crime beyond national borders.

Laughing gas is the type of gas used for industrial or domestic purpose. Welders and other technicians use them, but people abuse the gas now. So, when your vehicle’s exhaust has issues, you ordinarily would go to weld it, but the gases they use for these purposes are now being abused. They are modern trends and people are running away from the ones we knew: Igbo because it is cheap and it is available everywhere. Also, because if anyone smokes igbo now, everyone would notice from the odour. But now there are hybrid varieties, like the cannabis indica which is from Canada and the USA. Its TAC level is not as high as that of Nigeria, and it is used medically in those countries for the treatment of glaucoma and as painkillers, etc. But in Nigeria, the NDLEA Act criminalises it. The only drug that you can take are coffee, alcohol, kolanuts, and snuff/tobacco. These are allowed, but if you still don’t take alcohol in moderation, it will tell on you. You can do harm to yourself, your family members and the society. Imagine incidents of a drunken driver who has caused a case of ‘hit and run’; and crashed vehicle and so on. That is why they are all categorised as drugs, although they are socially acceptable.