The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has intercepted 12 large parcels of cocaine destined for the United Kingdom via a Virgin Atlantic flight from Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Ikeja, Lagos. A statement by NDLEA spokesman Mr. Femi Babafemi on Sunday in Abuja said the drugs were concealed in the false bottoms of food flasks. The cocaine consignment, with a gross weight of 2.80 kilograms, was intercepted on Thursday, April 16, by NDLEA operatives at the Lagos airport export shed. Two cargo agents involved in the export bid were swiftly arrested. “Further investigation revealed a 52-year-old freight and forwarding…
Author: Newsdesk
The Barracks Health Committee of the 44 Nigerian Army Reference Hospital, Kaduna, has intensified efforts to promote education, hygiene, and environmental sanitation within the military community. The Chaplain of the hospital, Capt. Emeka Ibekwe, said the initiative was inspired by the vision of the Chief Medical Director (CMD), Brig.-Gen. Godwin Ogoh, to make the barracks one of the best in the country. Ibekwe explained that the committee was established to ensure that children and residents maintain high standards in education, cleanliness, and general well-being. Parents have been encouraged to uphold a clean environment, while children are engaged in academic activities…
The Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) says it will embark on an indefinite strike as the April 30 deadline for concluding its renegotiation with the Federal Government approaches. Its National President, Mr. Muhammad Ibrahim, stated this in a communiqué issued at the end of a Special National Executive Council (NEC) meeting held on Sunday in Abuja. SSANU had reportedly issued the Federal Government a 30-day ultimatum on March 30 to resolve welfare and agreement issues reached with university-based unions. Ibrahim, who is also Chairman of the Joint Action Committee (JAC) of SSANU and NASU, said the renegotiation process…
The Lagos State Butchers Association has raised concerns over the persistent rise in cow prices in the state, now at N2.5 million from N1.7 million in 2025. The association’s Patron, Bamidele Kazeem, disclosed this in an interview with reporters on Sunday in Lagos. Kazeem attributed the price hike to insecurity, rising transportation costs, and delayed local ranching initiatives. “Cows that sold for about N1.7 million last year are now priced between N2.3 million and N2.4 million. At one point, a cow was even sold for N2.5 million,” he said. He noted that the surge in prices has placed heavy pressure…
Gov. Uba Sani of Kaduna State says the state has made significant improvements in security, infrastructure, and human development since he assumed office in 2023. He made the remarks at a workshop for senior government officials organised by the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) during Nigeria Public Relations Week, Croc City 2026, in Kaduna. The workshop, themed “From Policy to Public Trust: Strategic Communication for Vision Alignment and Governance Delivery for Renewed Hope,” was attended by commissioners, special advisers, counsellors, permanent secretaries, and other top officials. Sani said he inherited a state with immense potential but burdened by insecurity,…
The Katsina State Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education has announced that academic activities for the 2025/2026 third term will begin on Monday, April 27. The announcement was made in a statement issued in Katsina on Sunday by the ministry’s Public Relations Officer, Sani Danjuma, on behalf of the Commissioner. Danjuma said the resumption date remains as scheduled and is part of efforts to ensure full coverage of the school curriculum and improve students’ academic performance across the state. READ ALSO: Kogi reaffirms support for culture, girls’ education He clarified that there will be no holiday on the Friday preceding…
Retired police officers in Katsina have finalised plans to support a nationwide protest on April 20 in Abuja over the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS). The retirees, under the Association of Retired Police Officers, announced the plan in a statement issued in Katsina on Sunday by spokesperson Shehu Suleiman. The decision followed a general meeting on Saturday led by Chairman DSP Kabir Bawa (rtd), where members discussed challenges facing retired officers nationwide, particularly under the police pension scheme. Suleiman said the protest, described by organisers as a “do or die” action, aims to urge President Bola Tinubu to assent to a…
Experts have urged a balanced regulatory framework for Nigeria’s rapidly growing online trading sector, noting its transformative impact on commerce, consumer behavior, and the economy. The call comes amid Nigeria’s expanding digital marketplace, fueled by rising smartphone use and social media activity. The digital economy now contributes over 19 per cent to the national GDP, driven largely by pandemic-era shifts in consumer behavior toward faster, more convenient online transactions. Chris Oputa, Director-General of the Nigerian Association of Small Scale Industrialists (NASSI), said the rise of online commerce stems from widespread mobile and social media use and evolving global trends. He…
The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Dr. Bernard Doro, says the Federal Government is implementing a unified and transparent poverty response system to ensure proper coordination. Doro made the statement during an engagement with beneficiaries of the HOPE Conditional Cash Transfer (HOPE-CT) programme in Uyo on Saturday. HOPE-CT is a major Federal Government poverty response initiative under President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda. The minister said the engagement aimed to assess the programme’s reach and its impact on household wellbeing in Akwa Ibom. “As a government, we need to ensure that support reaches the intended households and improves…
The Director-General of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Brig.-Gen. Olakunle Nafiu, says the scheme is addressing delays in corps mobilisation through reforms and stakeholder engagement. Nafiu disclosed this in an interview with reporters on Sunday in Abuja, noting that the delays are caused by multiple factors, many of which are beyond the scheme’s direct control, particularly issues related to corps-producing institutions and data management. “It is not a single factor; delays often come from late uploads by institutions and errors in the data submitted to us,” he said. He explained that the expansion of tertiary institutions has significantly increased…