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The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) said its operatives has destroyed 66,078.57kg of skunk cannabis and arrested 54 suspected drug traffickers during its September operations in Edo.

Commander of Narcotics in the state, Mitchell Ofoyeju, disclosed this on Tuesday in Benin while presenting the command’s operational scorecard

According to him, the successes are achieved through intelligence-led operations across multiple local government areas of the state.

‘Our intelligence-led operations led to the arrest of 54 suspected drug traffickers, comprising 43 males and 11 females.

‘In a proactive measure to curb cannabis cultivation, six illicit plantations spanning over 26.43 hectares were destroyed,’ Ofoyeju said.

These plantations, he said, were located in Ugbogui Forest (Ovia South West), Ataroro Forest (Owan West), Urohi Forest (Esan West) and Ogu Forest (Iguiben LGA), with an estimated yield of over 66,000kg of skunk cannabis.

The NDLEA boss said the command also intercepted 1,506.57kg of assorted narcotics, including 1,502.26kg of cannabis sativa, 3.96kg of tramadol, and 0.087kg of Nitrazepam.

Others, he said, were 0.044kg of Swinol, 0.116kg of Danabol (Molly), 0.018kg of Methamphetamine, 0.028kg of cocaine, and 0.014 kilograms of heroin.

In one major operation, the commander said the operatives intercepted a truck along Wareke-Auchi Road conveying 82 bags of cannabis concealed in bags of charcoal, weighing 1,025 kilograms.

He said two suspects (names withheld) both from Zamfara were arrested in connection with the seizure.

He added that another raid on a notorious drug flashpoint along Wire Road, Benin City, led to the arrest of a 43-year-old man from Uhumwonde Local Government, allegedly found with 98 pinches of crack cocaine weighing 13g concealed in a wooden stool.

Ofoyeju noted that despite an annual court vacation that slowed prosecutions, the command secured one conviction, filed four new cases, and had 118 drug-related cases ongoing at the Federal High Court, Benin City.

He said the command also provided counselling and rehabilitation support to 32 individuals, including 10 clients undergoing therapy.

He said the command was had intensified anti-drug sensitisation campaigns in markets, schools, and correctional facilities across the state.

‘We are determined to dismantle drug trafficking networks operating in Edo State.

‘The command remains committed to safeguarding our communities, reducing drug demand, and ensuring that offenders face justice,’ he stated.

Ofoyeju, however, identified logistical challenges such as poor terrain and lack of operational vehicles in forested areas, which often impede the agency’s efforts to combat illicit cultivation.

He reaffirmed NDLEA’s resolve to sustain momentum in the ongoing war against narcotics, describing the latest achievements as ‘a critical step toward reclaiming the safety and health of Edo citizens.’

Veteran Nollywood actress, Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde, has opened up about how fellow filmmaker Ruth Kadiri inspired her to embrace YouTube filmmaking.

Speaking on the Nollywood on Radio podcast, Omotola recounted how Kadiri persistently encouraged her to join the growing community of Nigerian filmmakers leveraging YouTube to showcase their works.

According to Omotola, the conversation took place while she was on vacation in 2023.

‘I came on vacation in 2023, and Ruth called me. She said, ‘Mama, do you know what’s going on? There’s a whole revolution with YouTube.’ She showed me numbers and everything,’ Omotola said.

The award-winning actress noted that Kadiri described YouTube as a ‘phenomenal platform’ that allows creators to have total control over their content.

‘She told me, ‘You can do what you want on YouTube, but I think you should get in on this. You would do very well.’ She didn’t let me rest,’ she added.

Omotola revealed that after much persuasion, she decided to give it a try.

‘That girl gave me no peace of mind. So I called my producer and said, ‘Let’s just try something.’ We shot the first project in four days and used the fifth day for cleanup. I surprised myself. I was thankful to her for giving me the courage to try.’

The success of her debut project on YouTube eventually inspired her to produce Mother’s Love, a feature film that later premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF).

‘Mother’s Love came because I was under pressure. I just told my producer, ‘What if we did a feature film?’ and that was it. We started planning immediately and shot it in less than two weeks,’ she shared.

Omotola admitted that she initially felt nervous about her comeback to the screen.

‘It took long to release because I was scared people might laugh at me or say it wasn’t good enough,’ she said.

Former Interior Minister and current National Secretary of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Rauf Aregbesola, recently stirred controversy by suggesting that Nigeria’s political parties should be allowed to nominate officials to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Speaking at a panel session on electoral innovation hosted by the Athena Centre for Policy and Leadership in Abuja, Aregbesola argued that the current method of appointing the INEC Chairperson, National Commissioners, and Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) is ‘deeply flawed.’

According to him, parties with at least five members in the National Assembly should be empowered to nominate individuals to lead INEC, claiming that such a model would ‘solve all the issues’ of bias and manipulation in Nigeria’s electoral system. In his words: ‘If the parties now betray themselves to allow one of them to run away with it, fine.’

While Aregbesola’s critique of the current system has merit – particularly his point about the risk of executive overreach when the President appoints the electoral umpire – his proposed remedy is not only misguided, but fundamentally threatens the very independence of Nigeria’s electoral process.

There is no credible democracy in the world where political parties directly nominate election officials. The logic is simple: an election management body must be insulated from partisan influence to maintain neutrality, fairness, and credibility. Allowing political parties – the very contestants in elections – to nominate INEC officials would be akin to letting football teams select the referees who officiate their matches. It violates the principle of impartiality that underpins democratic elections.

Moreover, Aregbesola’s suggestion directly contradicts the spirit and letter of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, which explicitly prohibits electoral officials from being members of political parties. The framers of the Constitution, in their wisdom, understood that even the perception of political bias in INEC could fatally undermine public confidence in elections.

It is puzzling that a man of Aregbesola’s political experience – one who fought a long and hard legal battle to reclaim his mandate as governor of Osun State in 2010 – would now advocate a system that could easily have denied him that victory. Would Aregbesola have trusted an INEC dominated by officials nominated by the then-ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)? Certainly not.

If anything, Aregbesola’s statement reflects the frustration many Nigerians feel about INEC’s recent credibility challenges, particularly after the 2023 general elections. However, the answer lies not in politicizing the Commission further but in strengthening its institutional independence.

What Nigeria needs is not partisan control of INEC, but transparent and accountable appointment processes. Civil society organisations, professional bodies, and judicial councils should play greater roles in screening and recommending nominees, while the National Assembly’s confirmation hearings must be made more open and rigorous. The President should no longer have unilateral power to appoint the INEC Chair and Commissioners without meaningful checks.

Furthermore, INEC’s funding and administrative autonomy must be constitutionally guaranteed and practically enforced. An electoral body that depends on political goodwill to function can never be fully independent.

Aregbesola’s call, though perhaps well-intentioned, would reverse decades of progress in depoliticising Nigeria’s electoral system. Nigeria must not trade independence for convenience. The credibility of elections rests on the impartiality of those who conduct them – and that impartiality must never be up for negotiation.

The path forward is clear: reform INEC, yes, but do so through constitutional safeguards, institutional transparency, and public accountability – not through political capture disguised as innovation.

Nigeria’s democracy cannot thrive if the lines between player and referee are blurred. Aregbesola’s proposal may ignite debate, but it should be firmly rejected as both impractical and dangerous to the survival of electoral integrity.

Nigerian activist lawyer Deji Adeyanju has raised concerns over the credibility and transparency of BBNaija’s grand prize.

Deji on his X handle on Monday, expressed his thoughts on the reality TV show while questioning their grand prize payment.

The lawyer also claimed that past winners end up poorer after winning the show.

‘Do they really give BBNaija winners the prize money? The reason I am asking is because many of them end up looking extremely broke thereafter,’ he wrote

Deji’s post stirred reactions from fans, with some demanding that he mention the names of former winners who became poorer after the show.

A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), in Edo State, Senator Ehigie Uzamere, has resigned his membership of the party.

He announced his resignation in a letter to the chairman of Ward 12, Ovia North-East Local Government of the state, Mr. Osaigbovo Godspower.

He said his decision to dump the PDP was not driven by animosity but by conviction and continued commitment to the service of his people.

According to him, ‘Politics, at its best, is a vehicle for service and representation, a means through which leaders express their commitment to the welfare of the people.

‘However, as the dynamics of the Nigerian political landscape continue to evolve. I find it

necessary to seek a new platform that aligns more closely with my vision and desire to continue serving my people effectively.

‘In doing so, I remain guided by my philosophy of ‘Aiguiyekampe’ – politics is without bitterness. My decision is driven by conviction, not animosity, and by a continued commitment to the service of our people,’ he said.

He therefore expressed appreciation to the party for the opportunities and experiences afforded him in the past.

The ally of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, did not state his next destination. Independent findings however indicated that he is on his way to the African Democratic Congress (ADC).

Uzamere who represented Edo South Senatorial District at the National Assembly between from 2007 to 2015, was first elected on the platform of the PDP in 2007.

He, however, decamped to the then Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), sometime in September 2010, when he was quoted to have said that the ticket of the then ruling PDP was as worthless as the Zimbabwe dollars.

His letter to the Senate, which was read by the then Senate President, David Mark, stated that the crisis in Edo PDP made him switch party to enable him successfully pursue his political ambition.

Uzamere who won the ticket of the ACN and second term in the Senate in 2011, later ditched his then APC for the PDP.

The Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Olufemi Oluyede, has warned that Nigeria’s greatest future wars may not be fought with bullets, but with lies, fake images, and AI-generated videos.

Oluyede sounded the alarm on Tuesday in Abuja during the Directorate of Army Public Relations’ quarterly seminar, saying fake news and deepfakes now pose a major threat to national security and the success of military operations.

Represented by Maj.-Gen. Mohammed Abdullahi, Commander of the Army Cyber Warfare Command, the COAS said misinformation has become a digital weapon capable of dividing the country faster than any insurgent attack.

‘With the rise of digital technologies and artificial intelligence, fake news, manipulated images, and deepfakes now pose real threats to national cohesion and operational integrity,’ he said.

He added that modern conflicts are now fought both on the ground and online, where false narratives can weaken public trust and morale.

‘Victory today is not won solely on the battlefield. Increasingly, it is fought in the information domain – where narratives, perceptions, and public confidence are decisive,’ he warned.

Oluyede called on journalists and military information officers to work together to combat misinformation, emphasizing that truth is now a critical tool for national defense.

‘While weapons win battles, truth and trust win wars,’ he added.

Acting Director of Army Public Relations, Lt.-Col. Appolonia Anele, echoed the warning, saying fake news and deepfakes now carry as much danger as enemy propaganda in active war zones.

She stressed that only verified, fact-checked reporting can protect the country from manipulation and panic.

The Army’s warning comes as artificial intelligence continues to blur the line between reality and fiction – allowing fake videos and audio to mislead the public, distort facts, and endanger national stability.

Nigeria and Argentina will, once again, set the global football stage alight as the Round of 16 of this year’s FIFA U20 World Cup finals commence in Chile on Wednesday evening.

Both countries have fought memorable battles in the FIFA World Cup finals, FIFA U20 World Cup finals and at the Men’s Olympic Football Tournament, but the most recent remains Nigeria’s spectacular 2-0 defeat of the Albiceleste in a Round of 16 encounter when Argentina hosted the FIFA U20 World Cup finals two years ago.

Ibrahim Muhammad and Haliru Sarki got the goals that stunned the hosts and upturned the prediction of most pundits, with the Flying Eagles marching ahead to the quarter-finals where they lost in extra time to the Republic of Korea.

Two decades ago, the Flying Eagles narrowly lost 1-2 to the Argies in the FIFA U20 World Cup Final in The Netherlands, both Argentine goals coming through penalty kicks converted by Lionel Messi, while Chinedu Ogbuke Obasi scored a brilliant goal for Nigeria.

Argentina have won the FIFA U20 World Cup six times, while Nigeria have finished with the silver medals twice (1989 and 2005) and the bronze once (1985), but there will be no inferiority complex on the part of the seven-time African champions when they take the pitch of the Estadio Nacional Julio Martinez Pradanos in Santiago from 8.30pm Nigeria time on Wednesday.

Self-belief, sense of purpose and pride, and resilience got the wards of Aliyu Zubair through the group stage, with four points off Saudi Arabia and Colombia, and the Colombians are unlikely to forget how the West Africans dominated a game they (Colombia) were tipped to easily win.

Thrice, the Flying Eagles struck the bar in the encounter at the Estadio Fiscal de Talca, and earned a deserved point at the end when captain Daniel Bameyi cooly converted a penalty kick conceded in desperation by the South Americans as the tireless Nigerian attack went on the rampage once more.

Coach Zubair must pick a new man to team up with Tahir Maigana and Kparobo Arierhi in the fore, with Suleman Sani suspended after accumulating two yellow cards in the group stage.

The Flying Eagles arrived in Santiago from Talca on Monday evening, and will conduct a training session on Tuesday evening ahead of the clash with the Argies.

President Bola Tinubu has declined assent to the Nigerian Institute of Transport Technology Establishment Bill 2025, and the National Library Trust Fund Establishment Amendment Bill 2025 recently passed by the National Assembly.

The President declined assent to the two bills in two separate in two sperate letters addressed to President of Senate, Mr Godswill Akpabio and read at plenary on Tuesday.

Tinubu in the letter on the bill seeking to establish the Nigerian Institute of Transport Technology, said it was tainted with fundamental defects.

He said:

‘I convey to the senate, my decision to decline assent to the Nigerian Institute of Transport Technology Bill 2025.

‘The rationale for my decision is that the bill is tainted with fundamental defects.

‘Section 18 of the bill expands the source of funding the National Transport Logistics Research to include one per cent of freight on every import and every export from Nigeria without their approval.

‘In addition, the bill is tainted by the Federal Executive Council, and more so, when the Institute is to be funded by the Federal Government itself.

‘Section 21, 2 empowers the institute to borrow by way of loan or overdraft without the consent of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, except where the amount to be borrowed is above N50 million.

‘In the extant act, borrowing can be made with the approval of the President, the removal of the approval of the President has not been explained or justified.

‘The provision could be abused as the incident could have been a major one, or a financial violation of its responsibility, this will amount to serious financial abuse,’ he said.

On section 23, 4, on power to invest surplus funds, the President stated that since the institute is to be funded by the Federal Government and money appropriated by the government for any agency usually projected and accounted for, it is unlikely to have surpluses.

‘The issue of investing surplus funds is usually applicable to agencies that have a surplus fund that is not funded by the federal government of Nigeria but generates revenue to spend.

‘In addition, section 21 states that it is the surplus fund of the Institute that should be invested, while section 23 states that any of the institute’s funds could be invested.

‘This can allow funds other than surpluses to be diverted for investment purposes, from original purposes.

‘Section 18 requires money in the form to be applied toward promotion of the objectives and functions of the act,it does not include or recognise the investment of the funds of the institute.

‘This seems contradictory to section 23, which proposes to allow the institute to put surplus funds.’

On the National Library Trust Fund (Establishment) Amendment Bill 2025, the President cited ambiguity in the bill with existing laws and policies.

According to the President ,the bill contradicts core government policies on funding of public agencies, taxation, public service remuneration, and age and tenure limits for public servants.

He said that enacting the bill in its current form would create an unsustainable precedent against public interest.

Akpabio thanked President Tinubu for taking time to go through each and every bill passed by the national assembly, sent to the executive for assent.

‘This is very very impressive because it means that the executive took time to go through the bills.

‘We will do justice to all the observations in the bill,’ he said.

UK Conservative Party leader, Kemi Badenoch, has dismissed a stinging comparison made by LBC host Nick Ferrari, who likened her leadership struggles to those of Manchester United manager, Ruben Amorim.

Ferrari made the remark during a live interview on Tuesday, suggesting that Badenoch, like Amorim keeps ‘asking for more time’ while presiding over losses.

‘If this was football, Mrs Badenoch, you need to look across to Old Trafford. The manager of Manchester United, Ruben Amorim, keeps saying, ‘Give me time,’ and keeps losing matches. You’re losing councillors, you’re losing support, you’re losing members. You are the Ruben Amorim of politics,’ Ferrari said.

The comment came a day after Badenoch addressed the Conservative Party conference in Manchester, where she urged members to stay united despite mounting internal pressure and defections to Nigel Farage’s Reform Party.

Rejecting the comparison, Badenoch said her leadership was focused on rebuilding the party after years of setbacks.

‘Well, that is certainly not the case,’ she replied. ‘What we are doing is shedding a lot of the baggage of the last 14 years. We need people in the party who are here for the right reasons.’

The Conservatives are currently polling at around 17 percent according to YouGov, one of their lowest ratings in decades, as frustration grows within party ranks.

Meanwhile, Amorim himself has been under intense scrutiny from Manchester United fans after 17 defeats in just 36 games. Football legends Paul Scholes and Wayne Rooney have both questioned his tactics, with Scholes saying the manager is ‘getting too much time.’

Ferrari’s quip has since sparked debate online, with observers joking that both Badenoch and Amorim may be ‘leading struggling teams in need of a reset.’

Nigerian medical doctor and media personality Egemba Chinonso Fidelis, popularly known as Aproko Doctor, has spoken about a a common practice of referring to kids as ‘My wife’ or ‘My husband.

The doctor on his X handle spoke against the practice, stating that adults should stop such acts.

‘Adults should stop referring to kids as ‘my husband’ or ‘my wife’. Stop it,’ he wrote.

Aproko Doctor’s opinion stirred reactions from users with some supporting the statement. While some users argued that the term is only used as an harmless form of endearment for kids, other stated that the term indirectly supports pedophilia and molestation.