Category: PM News

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) and the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) have urged the Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, to ‘immediately reject and withdraw the Foreign Aids (Regulation, Transparency and Disclosure) Bill, 2026 (SB.1034), as the Bill is unnecessary, unlawful, unconstitutional and threatens civic space, media freedom and democratic participation in Nigeria.’

The organisations said, ‘if enacted, the Bill would establish an extensive framework for governmental control over civil society organisations, independent media, religious organisations and other organisations and private entities receiving foreign assistance.’

The Bill, sponsored by Senator Ibrahim Dankwambo (PDP, Gombe North), proposes mandatory registration and disclosure requirements and provides for sanctions, including a minimum fine of N20 million for civil society organisations and private entities, as well as possible suspension or revocation of operating licences.

In a joint open letter dated 29 August 2026 and signed by Kolawole Oluwadare, Deputy Director, SERAP, and Mr. Onuoha Ukeh, General Secretary, NGE, the organisations said: ‘Although the Bill is presented in the guise of promoting transparency, it would establish an extensive framework for governmental control over civil society organisations and private entities receiving foreign assistance.’

The organisations urged ‘the National Assembly to immediately withdraw and reject the Bill and publicly commit not to reintroduce any legislation that unjustifiably restricts civic space, media freedom or the legitimate activities of civil society organisations and private entities.’

The organisations said, ‘Should the Bill be passed into law despite the serious constitutional and human rights concerns raised, SERAP and NGE will consider taking all appropriate legal action in the public interest to challenge it and protect freedom of association, media freedom and civic participation.’

The joint open letter, read in part: ‘The Bill could have serious consequences for independent journalism and civil society organizations, given the reliance of many organisations on foreign grants to support investigative journalism, fact-checking, journalist safety, media development and other public-interest activities.’

‘The Bill is unnecessary, duplicative and would impose the additional cost of another regulator on public resources.’

‘Nigeria already has a comprehensive legal and institutional framework for corporate registration, financial reporting, taxation, anti-money laundering and anti-corruption enforcement through the Corporate Affairs Commission, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, the Special Control Unit against Money Laundering (SCUML), the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit, the Federal Inland Revenue Service and other competent authorities.’

‘Nothing in the Bill demonstrates that these institutions are unable to perform their statutory responsibilities or that any regulatory gap justifies creating another regulator with overlapping and potentially intrusive powers.’

‘The Bill also employs vague concepts such as ‘foreign aid’, ‘national priorities’ and ‘public interest’ without defining them or establishing objective legal standards to govern their application. As such, the Bill fails to satisfy the constitutional and international human rights requirements of legality, necessity and proportionality.’

‘The Bill would establish the proposed Foreign Aid Regulatory Commission (FARC) and confer broad powers to register NGOs, CSOs and private entities receiving foreign assistance; compel disclosures; inspect records; investigate activities; monitor the utilisation of foreign assistance; issue directives; suspend approvals; revoke registrations; and impose administrative sanctions.’

‘These sweeping powers go far beyond ordinary financial regulation and would expose legitimate organisations, including independent media organisations, civil society groups and other civic actors and private entities, to intrusive governmental supervision and interference.’

‘Subjecting independent media and other civil society organisations and private entities to an additional executive-controlled regulatory regime would increase governmental leverage over their operations, place pressure on independence and create conditions conducive to self-censorship.’

‘Religious organisations, humanitarian organisations, charitable bodies and other legitimate entities receiving foreign assistance could also be subjected to the proposed regulatory and disclosure requirements.’

‘By applying to organisations and private entities receiving foreign assistance, the Bill would extend its regulatory reach to independent media organisations, labour unions, professional associations, universities, research institutes, religious and humanitarian organisations, technology hubs and other entities lawfully receiving foreign grants, donations, technical assistance or development funding.’

‘The proposed penalties make the Bill even more dangerous. CSOs and private entities could face fines of at least N20 million, suspension or revocation of their operating licences, while individuals could face hefty fines and imprisonment for non-compliance.’

‘As Nigeria prepares for the 2027 general elections amid an increasingly shrinking civic space, the Bill further threatens fundamental rights, democratic participation and media freedom.’

‘The suppression of the press in recent times takes various forms ranging from extrajudicial and unlawful detentions, disappearances, malicious prosecutions and wrongful use of both legislation and law enforcement.’

‘Part II of the Bill establishes the proposed Foreign Aid Regulatory Commission (FARC) and gives it powers to register NGOs, CSOs and private entities receiving foreign assistance; maintain databases; compel information; conduct audits and inspections; monitor the utilisation of foreign assistance; issue regulations and guidelines; and impose administrative sanctions.’

‘These sweeping powers create significant opportunities for arbitrary or selective enforcement, exposing a broad range of legitimate organisations and private entities to intrusive governmental supervision and undermining their operational independence.’

‘The Bill also requires recipients to disclose detailed information about foreign assistance, including sources, amounts, conditions and implementing partners, with such information to be placed on a public National Foreign Aid Register.’

‘The Bill regulates how foreign assistance must be used, subjects recipients to annual audits and requires foreign-funded projects to align with government-defined national development priorities. The combination of these requirements with criminal sanctions, substantial fines and possible suspension or revocation of operating licences creates a disproportionate regulatory burden on legitimate organisations.’

‘The Bill is incompatible with sections 39 and 40 of the Nigerian Constitution 199 (as amended) which guarantee the rights to freedom of expression and freedom of association.’

‘It is also inconsistent with the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, Article 13 of the United Nations Declaration on Human Rights Defenders, and relevant international human rights standards protecting civic space, freedom of association and media freedom.’

‘Any restriction on the rights to freedom of expression, association and media freedom must be prescribed by law, pursue a legitimate public purpose, and be necessary and proportionate in a democratic society.’

‘The right to freedom of association protects not only the right to form an association but also the right of an association to freely carry out its lawful activities without undue government interference.’

‘Enabling and protecting freedom of association is essential to addressing Nigeria’s challenges and to the realisation of civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights.’

‘Associations provide essential avenues for individuals and communities to organise, express their concerns, promote and defend their rights and participate in public affairs. Undue and excessive restrictions on associations affect the operations of organisations and have a direct and detrimental impact on the communities they serve.’

‘By imposing extensive regulatory controls and potentially severe sanctions on organisations and private entities receiving foreign assistance, the Bill risks weakening important channels of public participation, service delivery and accountability.’

‘The proposed regulatory framework, particularly its mandatory registration, intrusive inspection powers, broad disclosure requirements and severe sanctions, goes beyond what can reasonably be considered necessary and proportionate in a democratic society.’

‘United Nations human rights experts have consistently warned that separate regulatory regimes targeting organisations receiving foreign funding can discriminate against legitimate civil society actors, produce a chilling effect on freedom of expression and association, and facilitate arbitrary governmental interference.’

‘The Bill should also be viewed alongside recent efforts to narrow civic space in Nigeria, including the increasing use of criminal defamation and cybercrime laws against journalists and activists, strategic lawsuits against public participation (SLAPPs), arbitrary arrests for peaceful expression, and repeated attempts to expand governmental control over civic actors.’

‘Experience across multiple jurisdictions demonstrates that foreign funding laws can be used not to improve transparency but to stigmatise, intimidate and restrict independent civil society organisations and the media. Nigeria should not follow that path.’

SERAP and NGE therefore urged the National Assembly to:

Immediately withdraw and reject the Foreign Aids (Regulation, Transparency and Disclosure) Bill, 2026 (SB.1034), and publicly commit not to reintroduce legislation that unjustifiably restricts civic space, media freedom or legitimate activities of civil society organizations and private entities.

Prioritise legislation that strengthens transparency, accountability, media freedom, civic participation and an enabling environment for private entities, independent civil society, religious, humanitarian and media organisations.

Refrain from introducing further legislative proposals that undermine democracy, the rule of law, human rights and fundamental freedoms, including in the period leading to the 2027 general elections.

Uphold the National Assembly’s constitutional responsibility to protect and promote democracy, the rule of law, human rights and fundamental freedoms, and ensure that legislative power is not used to narrow legitimate democratic participation or silence critical voices.

The Lagos State Chapter of the Renewed Hope Ambassadors (RHA) has paid a condolence visit to the family of late veteran Nollywood actor, Taiwo Hassan, popularly known as Ogogo, describing his death as a significant loss to Nigeria’s entertainment industry and cultural heritage.

The delegation, led by the State Ambassador of Renewed Hope Ambassadors Lagos, Tayo Ayinde, visited the bereaved family to express sympathy and solidarity following the death of the celebrated Yoruba actor.

Ayinde was accompanied by the RHA Chief of Staff, Dr Oluremi Shopeyin; Director of Protocol, Hon. Jibike Babatunde; Director of Security, Hon. Olalekan Abubakar; Hon. Bayo Ajisebutu and other members of the organisation.

The delegation was received by Ogogo’s widow and members of the Hassan family.

Speaking during the visit, Ayinde described the late actor as a cultural ambassador whose influence extended far beyond his performances on screen.

‘The late Taiwo Hassan, fondly known as Ogogo, was more than an actor; he was a cultural ambassador and a towering figure whose exceptional talent brought joy, inspiration and pride to millions of Nigerians,’ Ayinde said.

He stated that Ogogo’s decades-long career earned him widespread admiration and established him as one of the most recognisable personalities in Nigeria’s film industry.

Ayinde added that the actor’s contribution to Yoruba cinema went beyond entertainment, noting that his work helped preserve indigenous narratives, language and cultural values while contributing to the growing international visibility of Nigerian cinema.

‘He was a role model whose dedication, professionalism and passion for the creative industry contributed significantly to the evolution and global recognition of Nigerian cinema,’ he added.

The RHA delegation also offered prayers for the repose of Ogogo’s soul and prayed for divine comfort and strength for his widow, children and other members of the Hassan family.

Ayinde said the visit was intended not only to commiserate with the bereaved family but also to honour the memory of an actor whose career left an enduring imprint on Nigeria’s creative economy.

Taiwo Hassan, popularly known as Ogogo, was widely celebrated for his performances in Yoruba-language films and his longstanding presence in Nollywood. His career helped cement indigenous storytelling as a major component of Nigeria’s vibrant film industry.

His passing has continued to generate tributes from colleagues, admirers and stakeholders across Nigeria’s entertainment and cultural sectors, underscoring the breadth of his influence and the lasting appeal of his body of work.

The Nigeria Police Force has uncovered an alleged human trafficking and organ-harvesting syndicate operating in Nasarawa State, arresting two medical doctors and two other suspects.

The suspects were arrested by operatives of the Force Special Tactical Squad following an intelligence-led operation that allegedly exposed the recruitment of vulnerable young Nigerians for illegal kidney harvesting.

Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Ani Iniedu, said the arrests followed credible intelligence on the activities of the suspected syndicate.

According to the police, STS operatives carried out a sting operation at about 6 p.m. on August 19 in Auta Balifi, Karu Local Government Area of Nasarawa State.

Those arrested were Emmanuel Ode, 23; Dr Benjamin Oyime, 48; Dr Daniel Otukpa, 53; and David Idoko, 25.

Oyime, an Edo State indigene, is a nephrologist reportedly attached as a consultant to Wellington Hospital, Life Camp, Abuja.

Otukpa, a Benue State indigene, is also a nephrologist and Acting Director of Clinical Services at Wellington Hospital.

Police said clothes allegedly bought with proceeds of the suspected criminal activities were recovered during the operation.

Preliminary investigations indicated that the syndicate allegedly targeted vulnerable, financially desperate and largely uneducated young people in Nasarawa State and neighbouring areas.

The victims were allegedly persuaded to undergo medical procedures before their kidneys were harvested under circumstances now being investigated by the police.

Police said Ode confessed to recruiting victims for the syndicate.

According to his statement to investigators, he allegedly lured a 22-year-old man, identified as Samuel Ezekiel, to Wellington Hospital in Life Camp, Abuja, on April 24, 2026.

The police alleged that Ezekiel’s kidney was harvested and that $1,250, equivalent to about N1.7 million at the exchange rate cited by the Force, was paid for the organ.

Investigators also uncovered another alleged victim who claimed he was recruited by the same agent in 2022 and taken to a hospital where his kidney was harvested.

The second victim told police that he was paid N7 million.

The Force said the allegations form part of the evidence being examined as investigators seek to establish the full scope of the syndicate’s activities and identify other persons who may have been involved.

Police also said investigators uncovered an alleged document-forgery operation linked to the syndicate.

The suspects and their alleged accomplices were accused of forging documents to facilitate the medical procedures and create the appearance of consent or lawful transactions.

The allegedly forged documents included victims’ names, National Identification Numbers, birth certificates, age declarations, affidavits and consent letters.

Police said the findings raised serious concerns about the exploitation of vulnerable Nigerians and the alleged use of falsified official documents to facilitate organ harvesting.

The Force said investigations were continuing and that the arrest of the four suspects formed part of a wider effort to dismantle the suspected network.

Other suspects allegedly linked to the syndicate remain at large, with police operatives continuing efforts to apprehend them.

The NPF reaffirmed its commitment to combating human trafficking, organ harvesting and other forms of organised criminal exploitation across the country.

Police said investigations would also seek to establish the circumstances surrounding the alleged recruitment of victims, the medical procedures carried out, payments made and documents used in the cases.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will leave Abuja on Sunday for Europe, beginning a three-week vacation as part of his annual leave, with the timing coinciding with the formal take-off of political campaigns for the 2027 general elections.

According to a statement issued on Sunday by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the President’s first destination will be London, United Kingdom.

‘His first stop will be London, United Kingdom,’ Onanuga said.

He added that Tinubu would return to Nigeria at the end of the break to participate in what is expected to be an intense electioneering period.

‘President Tinubu is expected to return home after the working vacation to join the hectic campaign for the January 2027 election,’ Onanuga said.

The President’s departure comes barely two weeks after the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) opened the campaign period for the presidential and National Assembly elections scheduled for January 16, 2027. The governorship and state House of Assembly elections are scheduled for February 6.

Tinubu, who is seeking a second term on the platform of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), enters the campaign season amid a highly competitive political environment and growing scrutiny of his administration’s economic record.

His government has defended major reforms, including the removal of petrol subsidy and the liberalisation of the foreign-exchange market, as necessary measures to stabilise public finances and rebuild the economy.

The reforms, however, have been accompanied by a severe cost-of-living crisis, with inflation, declining purchasing power and insecurity emerging as major issues likely to shape voters’ decisions.

The President faces prominent challengers, including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi, while the opposition remains divided after efforts to forge a broad coalition against the APC failed to produce a unified presidential ticket.

Tinubu has also strengthened the APC’s political machinery ahead of the election, with a large number of state governors now aligned with the ruling party. The development has increased the party’s organisational reach while simultaneously fuelling opposition concerns about the concentration of political power.

The President’s vacation also follows a recent 12-day leave taken by Vice President Kashim Shettima, who resumed official duties on August 18 after the Presidency said his break was intended to provide time for ‘study, reflection and intellectual renewal.’ Shettima subsequently represented Tinubu at the African Union summit in Angola.

While the Presidency described Tinubu’s trip as a ‘working vacation,’ the three-week absence places his return squarely within a crucial phase of the 2027 election cycle.

His post-vacation schedule is therefore expected to be dominated by campaign activities as the APC seeks to secure another presidential mandate.

The Eselu of Eseluland in Yewa North Local Government Area of Ogun State, Oba Akintunde Akinyemi, has called for thorough scrutiny of all candidates seeking to succeed Governor Dapo Abiodun ahead of the 2027 election.

He said this while warning against allowing political affiliation, ethnicity or zoning to override competence and integrity.

The monarch said the next governor of Ogun State must be carefully examined based on competence, track record, character and family background, stressing that the quality of leadership that emerges in 2027 would have far-reaching consequences for the future of the state.

Oba Akinyemi made the call while speaking with journalists during the housewarming ceremony of his private residence at Obada Oko, Ogun State.

The traditional ruler also weighed in on the lingering crisis over the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship primary involving two Yewa sons, Senator Olamilekan Adeola, popularly known as Yayi, and Hon. Semanko Abayomi Hunye.

He urged the APC leadership to urgently establish a dispute resolution committee to address Hunye’s grievances, warning that allowing the disagreement to persist could further divide the party and embarrass the region.

Hunye, who contested the APC governorship ticket against Adeola, has challenged the outcome of the primary in court, alleging irregularities in the process.

Oba Akinyemi, who described both Adeola and Hunye as his subjects, appealed to political leaders to bring the two aspirants together and resolve their differences in the interest of Ogun State.

‘I think I will have to implore the party that they should call them together and resolve whatever their differences are.

‘As far as the claim is concerned, it would have been an issue for the political leaders. But as a royal father, what I will implore them to do is to put a committee in place. There should be a dispute resolution committee in the party,’ he said.

The monarch said he had been closely following the controversy, describing it as a situation of ‘agitation and counter-agitation’ which required urgent intervention by the APC leadership.

He also questioned the reported zero vote credited to Hunye at the governorship primary, saying the figure deserved clarification.

‘If actually Abayomi Hunye went for the primary, he can’t score zero. It’s not possible. Because he also voted. So, who stole his vote? That’s the fundamental question,’ Oba Akinyemi said.

‘Let’s assume everybody voted for Yayi; there’s no doubt about that. But what about Hunye? Can Hunye vote for Yayi? That’s not possible. So, that one vote, where is it? Who stole it?’

The traditional ruler, however, cautioned against pre-judging the matter, noting that the dispute was already before the court.

He urged the APC to use its internal dispute resolution mechanisms to address the grievances while allowing the judiciary to determine the legal issues surrounding the primary.

Oba Akinyemi acknowledged the agitation for Ogun West, also known as Yewa, to produce the next governor, describing it as legitimate given what he called years of political marginalisation.

However, he warned that the quest for power must not lead the people to compromise on competence and good governance.

‘Yes, Yewa is expected to have the government because we have been marginalised. You cannot erase that fact,’ he said.

‘But at the same time, we still want a good person that will give us good governance. I so much believe in good governance. That is my prayer.

‘I want somebody who can give us dividends of democracy. Basic education should be fundamental. Empower the people. That is what is paramount to me.’

The monarch therefore charged the media and civil society organisations to thoroughly investigate every governorship candidate before the election.

‘Whoever is going to be the governor of Ogun State should be thoroughly cross-examined.

‘We don’t have any other place to call our state. So, whosoever wants to take over from the governor, we should shun politics aside, irrespective of the party.

‘The press, the media, civil society organisations should bring everybody together and investigate them thoroughly, including their family background. That is very important,’ he said.

The Eselu further urged traditional rulers across Ogun State to remain politically neutral while encouraging their subjects to critically assess the candidates seeking their votes.

According to him, traditional rulers have a responsibility to guide their people towards informed choices without openly taking sides in the political contest.

‘Our role is to be neutral. Number two, to watch critically and make sure that we scrutinise one after the other and make sure that we are not going to pick a wrong choice,’ he said.

‘I implore all my traditional rulers that, please, this time around, we should be careful in making our choice. Pick the right choice.’

While commending the administration of Governor Dapo Abiodun for what he described as its achievements, Oba Akinyemi said whoever succeeds the governor must be subjected to careful scrutiny to ensure continuity of good governance.

‘The government is putting its best. It has done a lot of tremendous work; there is no doubt about that. But whoever is stepping after him must be critically verified.

‘That’s my prayer,’ he added.

The PBAT Door-to-Door Movement 2027 has told former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar to focus on selling his political agenda to Nigerians instead of criticising President Bola Ahmed Tinubu over his current vacation abroad.

The group dismissed concerns about Tinubu’s absence from the country, describing the trip as a normal break that does not amount to a leadership vacuum.

In a statement released in Kaduna on Sunday, the movement’s National Coordinator, Comrade Sunday Adekanbi Asuku, said the former vice-president should use the period leading to the 2027 general elections to explain how his proposed policies would differ from those of the current administration.

The group also raised questions about Atiku’s position on fuel subsidy, pointing to what it described as a shift from his stance during the 2023 presidential election.

It said voters needed to hear concrete and consistent policy proposals from politicians seeking their support.

‘After contesting for the presidency repeatedly since 1993, Atiku should be telling Nigerians what he intends to do differently, rather than spending his time attacking President Tinubu.

‘In 2023, he told Nigerians he would remove fuel subsidy. Today, he is talking about bringing it back. Nigerians deserve to know whether this is a genuine policy position or simply an attempt to respond to the current economic situation.’

The movement said preparations for the 2027 elections were already under way, following the timetable released by the Independent National Electoral Commission.

It therefore advised opposition politicians to take their messages directly to voters and provide detailed solutions to the country’s economic and social challenges.

The group specifically challenged Atiku to explain how he would tackle the economy, insecurity and unemployment if given the opportunity to lead the country.

‘INEC has rolled out the timetable. Atiku should go out and campaign and tell Nigerians what he has for them. Criticising President Tinubu because he has gone on vacation will not work.

‘Presidents and world leaders go on vacation. A vacation does not mean a country has been abandoned. Nigeria has functioning institutions and officials responsible for ensuring that government continues to run,’ the group said.

The movement also called on Nigerians to judge the Tinubu administration on its policies and record, while urging opposition candidates to present credible alternatives as the 2027 election approaches.

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, has intercepted 47,200 pills of Captagon, popularly known as the ‘Jihadi drug’, alongside more than 3.9 million opioid tablets with a combined street value exceeding N6.2 billion at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos.

The seizures, recorded in separate operations, also led to the arrest of a suspected cross-border drug kingpin and exposed increasingly sophisticated methods allegedly being employed by traffickers to smuggle dangerous substances into Nigeria.

NDLEA Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, disclosed the development in a statement on Sunday, August 30, 2026.

Babafemi said operatives intercepted the Captagon consignment on August 22 following the arrest of 49-year-old Akinbile Kazeem Aikins, who arrived in Lagos from Accra, Ghana, aboard an African World Airlines flight.

He said a search of Aikins’ carton of local bathing soap, popularly known as ‘Ghana Soap’, led to the discovery of 47,200 Captagon pills concealed inside the blocks of soap.

According to Babafemi, the consignment had an estimated street value of more than N1.5 billion.

‘After his arrest, Akinbile claimed he was meant to deliver the consignment in the North,’ Babafemi said.

The interception is particularly significant because Captagon has previously been associated with armed groups and illicit drug networks in the Middle East. Nigeria recorded its first major interception of the substance in September 2021, when 451,807 tablets weighing 74.119 kilogrammes were seized at Apapa Port in Lagos.

In that operation, the drugs, valued at about N6 billion at the time, were concealed inside imported machinery. The NDLEA had said intelligence from international partners helped track the shipment from the Middle East before it reached Nigeria.

Babafemi said another major interception at the Lagos airport involved 3,900,030 tablets of Tramaking 225mg and Tapentadol 250mg, with a combined gross weight of 2,787.40 kilogrammes and a street value of more than N4.6 billion.

He stated that the drugs were recovered from four abandoned consignments at the MMIA import shed after no one appeared to claim them.

Three of the consignments contained 900,000 tablets of Tramaking weighing 815.40kg and arrived on RwandAir flights from Bangladesh, while the fourth contained 3,000,030 Tapentadol tablets weighing 1,972kg and arrived aboard Qatar Airways from Amsterdam.

Babafemi explained that the consignments were placed under surveillance after they were abandoned before NDLEA operatives, Customs officials and other stakeholders jointly examined and retrieved them on August 28.

The latest seizures add to growing concerns over the movement of large quantities of opioids through Nigeria’s international entry points. In May, the NDLEA reported the interception of 1,825,710 Tapentadol 250mg tablets worth about N2.19 billion at the Lagos airport.

Babafemi also disclosed that NDLEA operatives arrested a 31-year-old United States returnee, Sowunmi David Oludotun, in the Ikate area of Lekki on August 19.

He said Oludotun was arrested when he allegedly arrived to take delivery of 3.350 kilogrammes of ‘Loud’, a potent synthetic strain of cannabis imported from the United Kingdom.

In Rivers State, Babafemi said NDLEA operatives raided a notorious drug den in the Abuja Down/Up area of Port Harcourt, where they recovered a fireproof iron safe.

He stated that the safe was cracked open with a welding machine on August 25, revealing 237 grammes of Colorado, 316 grammes of cocaine and 10 grammes of heroin.

The agency also reported significant cannabis seizures in Ondo State.

Babafemi said three suspects-Oyedele Daniel, 42; Taye Saliu, 36; and Kehinde Saliu, 36, were arrested on August 28 along the Ipele-Idoani Road with 728kg of skunk allegedly being conveyed in a truck marked KRE 120 XB.

He added that two other suspects, Uche Joseph, 35, and Godwin Umeh, 21, were arrested at Aponmu Forest on August 26 with another 341kg of the same substance.

In Delta State, Babafemi said more than 176,000 pills of assorted opioids, including tramadol and Molly, were recovered during two separate operations between August 26 and 28.

Marwa orders sustained pressure

NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (rtd.), commended the officers involved in the operations and directed them to maintain pressure on drug traffickers.

Babafemi quoted Marwa as urging NDLEA personnel across the country to sustain the agency’s ‘balanced approach’ to drug control, combining enforcement with prevention and public awareness.

He said Marwa specifically directed officers to maintain the momentum against traffickers who continue to devise new methods of concealing illicit drugs, including the use of ordinary household products such as soap.

The Director-General of National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS), Prof. Abubakar Sulaiman, has warned political actors against setting Nigeria on fire through their conducts and utterances ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The NILDS DG gave the warning while featuring on the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) Personality Interview Series on Sunday in Abuja.

He urged ?????????politicians to rather engage in issue-based campaigns and matters that would foster an inclusive political culture to protect the nation’s democracy.

Sulaiman cautioned political actors against divisive rhetoric, vulgar statements and actions capable of threatening national unity or heightening tensions unnecessarily.

‘As electioneering activities gather momentum for the 2027 general elections, NILDS is finalising plans to convoke a political communication summit to address the issues of political communications, including utterances and campaigns.

‘Our appeal is that our campaign utterances should be issue-based. We should avoid vulgar statements. We should avoid statements that could set the country on fire.

‘Our appeal to our politicians is that we should not be under any illusion that everything is okay. We should protect this democracy through our conduct, through our political culture,’ he said.

Sulaiman also appealed to political parties and politicians not take Nigerians for granted; but promote inclusive politics for the marginalised groups, especially the women and the youth.

‘We should play politics of inclusivity. The youth must be involved; our women must be involved; people that are vulnerable must be involved.

‘Our politicians should guide their conduct, especially their actions and their utterances. Anything that would threaten the monolithic entity of this country must be avoided.

‘We should not push some actors to the wall for them to react. We should guide democracy jealously, and that’s my advice to politicians,’ he said.

Dr Ekiomado Eki-Udoko has received commendations from Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo, and the management of the National Orthopaedic Hospital, Benin, following her emergence as the first female neurosurgeon in Edo and Delta states and the former Midwest Region.

Eki-Udoko recently became a certified neurosurgeon after successfully completing her specialist training and obtaining certification from the West African College of Surgeons.

The governor received the medical specialist at the Government House in Benin City on Sunday, where he praised her accomplishment and pledged government support for her professional advancement.

Okpebholo described the achievement as evidence of the determination of Edo people to attain excellence and make an impact beyond the state.

He assured Eki-Udoko that his administration would support her career development while also working to improve specialised healthcare services in Edo.

‘The area of speciality which you have chosen is a very difficult one, and you must be a very focused person for you to achieve this height; we will support you to go further because we need more brains like you in Edo State to help us,’ the governor noted.

The National Orthopaedic Hospital, Benin, also hailed the achievement, with its Medical Director, Dr Philip Ugbodaga, describing it as an important milestone for the institution and specialist medicine in the region.

In a congratulatory letter personally signed by Ugbodaga, the medical director said Eki-Udoko’s accomplishment was a source of pride to the hospital.

‘Your feat is unparalleled and unequalled in the rare and specialised field of neurosurgery. We celebrate your remarkable achievement and, more importantly, the fact that you achieved this feat as a staff of the National Orthopaedic Hospital, Benin City.

‘We will do all that is required to enable you to deploy your skills and expertise in the management of neurosurgical cases in the hospital, serving patients from our catchment area and from other parts of Nigeria.’

Ugbodaga disclosed that Eki-Udoko was head-hunted and recruited during the hospital’s 2025 recruitment exercise as part of efforts to bring highly specialised medical professionals into its workforce.

According to him, her recruitment formed part of the hospital’s strategy to expand its capacity to provide advanced specialist services, particularly amid increasing demand for neurosurgical and trauma care in Edo, the South-South region and other parts of the country.

Eki-Udoko expressed gratitude for the recognition, saying her journey into neurosurgery was demanding and required perseverance.

She credited her husband for providing significant support throughout the difficult process and disclosed that she planned to undergo additional training in selected neurosurgical subspecialties.

‘I am the First female neurosurgeon in Edo/Delta; we are seven all over the country and five of us are in practice in Nigeria,’ she said.

The founder and President of the Nigeria Pitch Awards, Shina Philips, has expressed gratitude to the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR, for initiating the long-awaited reforms in the country’s football governing body.

In a press release in Abuja on Saturday, Philips threw his weight behind the president’s reforms, stating that the reforms would highlight the challenges facing Nigerian football and identify salient areas where presidential intervention was needed.

‘The reforms initiated by the President and the National Sports Commission will highlight the challenges facing our football and draw the much-needed intervention or support from the presidency,’ Philips stated.

Philips further noted that the reforms were a bold attempt to confront any perceived decline in our football and that it would leave our football revived, vibrant, and robust. He also stated that, because of the strategic importance of football in the international community and the large following it commands among Nigerians, the Government would certainly not neglect it.

‘Football has a large following in the country, and during football matches involving our national teams, Nigerians become united, abandoning their differences to celebrate the national teams,’ he noted.

While commending the National Sports Commission, Philips called on all parties involved to collaborate with FIFA, the football governing body, to ensure that the reforms align with its guidelines.

‘The Presidency, and the National Sports Commission should work closely with the interim management in the NFF and FIFA to ensure that the reforms align closely with FIFA rules and guidelines,’ Philips further said.

Philips expressed his support for the new interim management led by the experienced duo, Dr Emmanuel Ikpeme and Dr Ademola Olajire, while also calling on all football stakeholders to support and participate in the reform process, stressing that the growth of Nigerian football was a collective responsibility.

‘I have known Dr. Emmanuel Ikpeme and Dr. Ademola Olajire for decades, and I know they will steer the federation in the right direction. I call on all stakeholders to give them all the support that they need to rebuild our football,’ Philips noted.