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The Kano/Jigawa command of the Nigerian Customs Service on Thursday handed over a suspect and a total of 261,750 capsules of Pregabalin (300 milligrams) and 228,700 tablets of Tramadol hydrochloride (225 milligrams) to the Nigeria Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).

The illicit drugs, concealed in five jumbo agro sacks, were seized by Customs around the border.

Area Controller of Customs, Comptroller Dalhatu Abubakar, disclosed that the drugs were hidden inside 35 packets of Pregabalin and 28 rolls of Tramadol tablets.

Speaking while handing over the seized illicit drugs to the NDLEA representative, the Kano/Jigawa Controller, Comptroller Dalhatu Abubakar, said the substances pose serious health risks to the body, including organ damage, addiction, and restlessness, particularly among the youth.

Abubakar warned about the wider social implications of drug abuse, linking it to violence, crime, immorality, economic loss, and insecurity in the region.

He said a male suspect was arrested at the scene with 455,500 Naira intended as a bribe, alongside a black-tinted green Nissan Pathfinder, marked DUT196AE

A cutting knife was also among the exhibits recovered from the suspect.

‘The seizure was in line with sections 55C and 234 of the Nigerian Customs Service Act 2023, which mandated the protection of public health and prohibited the possession of smuggled goods,’ Abubakar said.

Commander of narcotics Mohammad Maiaduwa Usman received the suspect and exhibits on behalf of NDLEA.

He said NDLEA will conduct further investigations for the prosecution of the suspect.

He reiterated the agency’s commitment to continued synergy with other security agencies in the fight against drug abuse.

Nollywood actress Destiny Amaka has revealed that she narrowly escaped death in a ghastly car accident, just five days after burying her father.

Sharing the news on Instagram, Destiny said the crash occurred while she was on her way to church.

She disclosed that three people were in the vehicle, but she was the only one injured, sustaining a busted lip and a fracture in her tibia/fibula.

‘Yesterday morning, just five days after my Daddy’s death, while on my way to church, I was involved in a brutal car accident. There were three of us in the car, yet I was the only one physically injured,’ she wrote.

Despite battling grief and physical pain, the actress said she chose to see the accident not as a curse but as a reminder to slow down and reflect.

‘My body has been telling me to pause, receive, breathe. I didn’t listen. This accident made the voice louder. A gentle push, not a curse,’ she noted.

Amaka had recently laid her father to rest on September 26. In a heartfelt tribute, she admitted their relationship wasn’t perfect but cherished their final conversations, which reaffirmed his love for her.

The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Christopher G. Musa, has tasked Nigeria’s security forces with identifying and eliminating criminal elements destabilising the country and the wider Sahel region.

Speaking as the guest of honour at the closing ceremony of Exercise Haske Biyu, a joint security training organised by the Armed Forces Command and Staff College (AFCSC), Jaji, Musa said peace in Nigeria and the Sahel can only be achieved by decisively removing such threats.

‘At the end of the day, the only thing we must do is to look for the bad guys and take them out. That is the only way we can have peace,’ he declared.

The CDS cautioned that the crisis in the Sahel is escalating, stressing that the enemies confronting Nigeria disregard national borders, making unilateral responses ineffective.

‘If we hold on to our borders alone, we will continue to suffer. But if we unite and work across, it makes it better,’ he said, urging stronger regional cooperation and joint operations.

Musa cited the Multinational Joint Task Force in Chad as an example of how neighbouring nations can operate collectively ‘as brothers’ to root out insurgents exploiting porous frontiers.

He linked military action to community engagement, insisting security forces cannot succeed without the cooperation of citizens who must deny criminals safe havens.

‘Once communities deny these elements the ability to stay, they will not be able to stand,’ Musa told participants, stressing that civil-military synergy is vital to sustainable gains.

The CDS also highlighted the role of the media in shaping public perception, praising journalists for educating Nigerians on the objectives and progress of security operations.

‘When perception is wrong, anything you are doing will be perceived as being wrong. So the media is critical,’ he said, thanking reporters for sustained, constructive coverage.

Musa urged personnel to remain professional and resist corruption and partisan influence, warning that money and politics could undermine operations against armed groups.

‘The only thing we must do is to look for the bad guys and take them out,’ he reiterated, charging officers to execute their mandate without fear or favour.

Closing his address, General Musa charged participants to convert the training’s outcomes into ‘solution-driven action’, stressing that relentless pursuit of criminals in cooperation with neighbours, communities and the media, is the surest route to lasting peace.

Earlier in his welcome address, Commandant of AFCSC, Air Vice Marshal Hassan Idris Alhaji, said Haske Biyu 2025, the largest exercise the college has held, deliberately adopted the theme Family and National Security to reconnect social cohesion with national defence.

He warned that weak families and fractured communities create fertile ground for radicalism and criminality, and urged trainees to translate lessons learned into community-focused action on return to their formations.

The presence and representation of high-level dignitaries at the exercise underscored the national importance of the event and the need for an all-of-society approach to security, the Commandant said.

The Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company Plc (IBEDC) has felicitated with Nigerians on the nation’s 65th Independence anniversary.

The Firm said this year’s theme: ‘Nigeria at 65: All Hands on deck for a greater nation,’ underscores the fact that project of nation-building rests on collective responsibility.

A statement by the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of IBEDC, Engr. Francis Agoha said it remained resolute in its commitment to national development through improved quality power supply, prompt response to customer complaints, and deliberate efforts to bridge the metering gap across its franchise.

According to him: ‘We recognise that a sustainable power sector is central to economic advancement, industrial growth, and improved quality of life.

‘In alignment with the spirit of this theme, IBEDC enjoins its esteemed customers to partner with us in building a greater Nigeria by refraining from energy theft, vandalism of electricity infrastructure, and by paying their electricity bills regularly.’

He urged customers to be safety conscious at all times by properly supervising their children to prevent electrical accidents, refrain from trading under high-tension wires and engaging only qualified electricians to fix electrical faults.

He stated: ‘Our technical teams are fully mobilized and ready to promptly address any faults or service disruptions that may arise during the Independence Day holiday.

‘Customers are also encouraged to make use of our convenient e-payment channels for uninterrupted service delivery.

‘As Nigeria celebrates this historic milestone, IBEDC urges all citizens to embrace unity, responsibility, and collective action in building the Nigeria of our dreams. Together, we can power a greater nation.’

Chairman of the All Progressives Congress United Kingdom (APC UK) and the APC Diaspora Chairmen Council (APC CDC), Hon. Tunde Doherty, has called on Nigerians to uphold the legacies of the nation’s founding fathers and sustain the spirit of resilience that has defined the country since independence.

In a statement he personally signed to mark Nigeria’s 65th Independence anniversary, Doherty described the milestone as more than a historical landmark, stressing that it symbolises the unity, diversity, and hope of the Nigerian people.

‘Sixty-five years of Nigeria’s independence is not merely a historical milestone; it is a testament to our resilience, our unity in diversity, and our unwavering hope for a better tomorrow,’ he said.

Doherty further assured that the diaspora chapter of the ruling party under his leadership remains committed to promoting inclusive governance, encouraging civic engagement, and strengthening strategic collaboration between Nigeria and its citizens abroad.

‘The diaspora remains a vital force in shaping Nigeria’s future.

‘We must continue to build bridges across borders, advocate for transparency, and empower our communities to contribute meaningfully to national development,’ he said.

Doherty called on all Nigerians to reflect on the values of freedom, justice, and progress, and to recommit themselves to the collective pursuit of a prosperous and united nation.

In Speak Up! A Guide to Public Speaking for Young Minds’, Adetola Ajibola lays the foundation for public speaking and builds on it across 11 chapters and 38 pages. The author consistently stresses the importance of standing up and speaking.

She emphasises that the voice itself is the hallmark of speaking-unique, powerful, and capable of bringing new ideas to life, while also serving as a tool of empowerment. Ajibola creates a background to the title by tracing the roots of public speaking step by step: stand up ? speak ? your voice ? your message ? writing. Alongside this, she highlights the need to build confidence, noting that confidence strengthens how a message is projected.

In Chapter 5, she explains that it is not enough to simply have a message or confidence, what you say must compel your audience to act. She suggests approaches such as being authentic, telling stories, and encouraging interaction. The book also provides a template for writing a compelling speech. True to the author’s words, public speaking requires storytelling, but stories must matter, relate, and be relevant to the audience-whether they are personal experiences or statistics.

Ajibola further highlights the role of visual aids in elevating presentations, such as slides and designs that align with the message. Importantly, she balances the strengths of public speaking with the realities, building confidence, handling difficult questions, and recognizing that speaking is not always rosy. She emphasizes that success requires preparation and rehearsal, before, during, and even after the speech.

One weakness of the book, however, is that it does not adequately address the limitations of speaking up. While it thoroughly covers the ‘why’ and ‘how’, it gives little attention to the ‘when’, a crucial challenge for many young people who struggle with timing.

Nevertheless, the book’s strength lies in its simplicity and relevance. The words are free of ambiguity, relatable to young minds and enriched with practical examples and steps.

Big Brother Naija housemate Faith has been disqualified from the reality show following a heated altercation with fellow contestant Sultana during a skincare task rehearsal.

The announcement was made by Biggie on Thursday evening, hours after the clash left Sultana with a twisted ankle and a hand injury.

The dispute began when Sultana accused Faith of being controlling and insisting on leading the group despite the task not falling within his medical expertise.

Tensions escalated when Faith dragged a basket containing group materials, causing Sultana to fall.

Despite interventions from housemate Kaybobo, who briefly took the basket from Faith, the confrontation continued, prompting Sultana to declare she could no longer work with him.

The incident sparked outrage among viewers, many of whom demanded Faith’s disqualification for causing physical harm to a fellow housemate – a call Biggie eventually upheld.

Kaduna State Governor, Senator Uba Sani, has launched the Kaduna State Emergency Medical Services and Ambulance System (KADSEMSAS), describing it as a landmark in his administration’s commitment to saving lives and ensuring no citizen is denied access to emergency healthcare.

Speaking at the flag-off on Thursday, the governor said the initiative was not just about unveiling ambulances, but about guaranteeing the right to timely medical intervention for every resident of the state.

‘Our vision is simple but profound: no citizen of Kaduna State should be denied timely medical intervention because of distance, delay, or lack of access,’ Sani declared.

The system features a fleet of ambulances with life-saving equipment, a central dispatch centre, and trained emergency medical technicians who will stabilize patients en route to hospitals. It will operate across all 23 local government areas, serving both urban and rural communities.

‘In times of crisis-whether a maternal complication, a road traffic accident, or a cardiac emergency-minutes can mean the difference between life and death. This deliberate step underscores our resolve to leave no one behind,’ the governor said.

Sani stressed that the program reflects his administration’s ‘people-first philosophy,’ anchored on Universal Health Coverage (UHC).

He noted ongoing reforms, including revitalization of primary health centres, prioritization of maternal and child health, and approval of new salary structures for health workers.

‘This initiative is not for the privileged few. It is for the farmer in Ikara, the trader in Kachia, the student in Giwa, and the child in Kagarko. No one will be left behind,’ he assured.

Commissioner for Health, Umma K. Ahmed, hailed the scheme as ‘a giant leap forward,’ noting that integration of the Rural Emergency Medical and Maternal Transport Services (RESMAT) into KADSEMSAS would extend access to hard-to-reach areas.

She added that treatment within the first 48 hours will be free for pregnant women, children, and accident victims.

Governor Sani also emphasised sustainability, saying the government was upgrading health facilities, training health workers, and involving communities to make the system effective beyond the launch. ‘To our citizens: this system belongs to you. Use it responsibly, report misuse, and provide feedback,’ he said.

The flag-off follows Kaduna’s onboarding into the National Emergency Medical Services and Ambulance System (NEMSAS), approved by the Federal Ministry of Health in 2024. Officials believe the state’s example could set a benchmark for others across the country.

In a new groundbreaking study, researchers have uncovered serious weaknesses in the way Portland, Oregon, USA, governs its urban forest- a critical tool in the fight against climate change stressors.

The study, published in the open-access journal Sustainability, was conducted by Nigerian-born green industry professional and environmental governance expert, Quadri Taiwo, and Professor Vivek Shandas, a renowned US-based professor specializing in urban ecology and community resilience.

The research offers fresh insight into why many U.S. cities are struggling to expand their tree canopies despite well-intentioned planting campaigns.

According to the study, Portland’s urban forestry system is plagued by fragmented coordination and weak stakeholder engagement.

The researchers mapped a network of 162 organizations-including government agencies, non-profits, and community-based groups-involved in tree planning and management across the city. What they found was a loosely connected network lacking strong institutional linkages.

‘Our analysis shows that while Portland has a high number of actors in its urban forestry space, they are not effectively working together,’ Quadri Taiwo said. ‘This has major implications for urban sustainability, climate resilience, and environmental equity.’ The study used social network analysis (SNA)-a method more commonly applied in corporate or social science research-to assess the structure and effectiveness of stakeholder collaboration.

The results were striking: the network had a density score of 0.0079, meaning that only a tiny fraction of potential partnerships between actors were active. Network cohesion was also low, measured at just 5.4%. These findings, the researchers argue, help explain the broader trend of declining tree cover in many urban areas in the United States, despite public and private efforts to reverse the loss.

‘The lack of decentralized governance and the over-reliance on fragmented individual efforts are part of why tree planting campaigns often fail to deliver meaningful long-term results,’ said Quadri Taiwo. As a solution, the authors called for the establishment of regular collaborative governance platforms-such as co-designed management plans that are jointly developed and implemented by stakeholders from different sectors.

They also proposed the use of virtual reality (VR) simulations to improve public understanding and engagement. By allowing residents and policymakers to experience different urban forestry scenarios in immersive 3D environments, the researchers believe VR could become a powerful tool for consensus-building and environmental education.

‘With increasing urban heat and climate-related health challenges, cities must go beyond planting trees,’ the authors said. ‘We need to reimagine how we govern our green infrastructure to ensure it delivers real and lasting benefits.’

Further analysis revealed that most of the organizations involved were concentrated in specific areas, with limited outreach to underrepresented communities. This spatial imbalance, according to the researchers, raises concerns about equity in tree distribution and access to green space benefits.

In addition, while many organizations identified ‘tree planting’ as a key activity, far fewer were involved in long-term tree maintenance, community engagement, or policy reform. This creates a mismatch between short-term action and the need for sustainable canopy growth over decades.

The authors argued that city governments must play a more active convening role, ensuring that community voices are not only heard but integrated into planning frameworks. They noted that relying on voluntary collaboration without clear institutional accountability is insufficient to meet ambitious climate and resilience goals.

In Portland’s case, the researchers stressed, it offers broader lessons for cities worldwide-especially in the face of rising urban heat islands, increased flooding risks, and public health crises. Urban forests can serve as buffers, but only when managed through inclusive, transparent, and adaptive governance.

Moving forward, Quadri Taiwo recommended pilot programs that test new governance models combining public leadership with grassroots innovation. They emphasized that only a systemic shift-from fragmented to unified governance-can unlock the full potential of urban forests as tools for ecological restoration.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, former President Olusegun Obasanjo, and the Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Most Rev. Dr. Matthew Hassan Kukah, are among the dignitaries expected at the launch of former Chief of Defence Staff, General Lucky Irabor’s book, ‘Scars: Nigeria’s Journey and the Boko Haram Conundrum,’ in Abuja tomorrow.’

According to a statement by Jonah Ejenavi, Chairman of the Book Launch Organizing Committee, President Tinubu is expected as the special guest, while former President Obasanjo will serve as chairman of the occasion, and Bishop Kukah will act as book reviewer.

The 330-page book, divided into 14 chapters and three parts, explores Nigeria’s historical past, unravels the roots of the country’s security challenges, and examines the Boko Haram conundrum, proposing a paradigm shift to establish peace in Nigerian society despite the threat of insurgency.

‘In Scars: Nigeria’s Journey and the Boko Haram Conundrum, Gen Irabor dissects the Boko Haram conundrum, while proposing solutions to a challenge that threatens the future of Nigeria and other West African states.

‘The bird’s-eye view of Gen Irabor, who led Nigerian forces against one of the biggest threats to his country, offers a deeper understanding of Boko Haram and the insurgency challenge,’ the statement said.

Since emerging in 2002, Boko Haram has unleashed unprecedented violence, destruction, and economic devastation across West Africa, with far-reaching consequences for the region, continent, and globe.