News
Reports on Naira Marley’s appointment as NDLEA ambassador outright falsehood

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, says its engagement with music star, Afeez Adeshina Fashola popularly known as Naira Marley is to encourage him to use his skills and platforms to put out content that will discourage millions of his followers and Nigerian youths from substance abuse.
The artiste had on Thursday 17th August 2023 led members of his team on a visit to the National Headquarters of the Agency in Abuja to express his preparedness to join the fight against drug abuse in the country.
This clarification became necessary following continued misrepresentation of the purpose of the visit especially on online platforms where some reports suggest that the British-Nigerian singer was appointed as an NDLEA Ambassador.
This is misleading and absolute falsehood as the pictures of the visit and the short video containing Naira Marley’s advocacy message to his followers were properly captioned and shared by the Agency without any suggestion of such appointment.
The decision by the Agency to encourage Naira Marley with over seven million followers, half the population of those who abuse drugs in Nigeria, use his platform share anti-substance abuse messages as against using same to promote and glamourize drug abuse with the dire consequence of misleading millions of Nigerian youths into their peril, is to create a balance between our drug supply reduction and drug demand reduction efforts.
This is also in line with the Agency’s whole society approach to the fight against drug abuse, and in tune with global best practice as well as the theme for this year’s World Drug Day; People First: Stop Stigma and Discrimination, Strengthen Prevention.
When an artiste, who professes marijuana is good to seven million followers turns a new leaf after some serious counselling, do we reject him, turn our back to him and allow him continue in his old habit or we accept him, give him a chance so he can reach out to his followers to quit substance abuse.
In other words, why should we take our anti-drug abuse advocacy messages to schools, churches, mosques, market places, motor parks, Nollywood, kannywood, traditional rulers, labour and the entertainment industry but when one of their members accepts to turn a new leaf, we turn our back to him?
These are questions those opposed to Naira Marley’s needed change may have to ponder on.
Indeed, no one is better suited to take the message against drug abuse to the Marlians than the head of the same movement.
This is no time for mischief or cynicism but the right moment we all need to encourage the singer and hold him accountable to his public commitment against substance abuse in his video message to his followers in the overall interest of our youths.
Femi Babafemi
Director, Media and Advocacy
NDLEA Headquarters Abuja
Saturday 19th August 2023
News
Gunmen abducts CAC members travelling for burial in Ondo

Some members of the Christ Apostolic Church (CAC) in Oke Igan, Akure, Ondo state capital have been abducted.
The Ondo police command confirmed the abduction on Saturday.
The church members were reportedly travelling for a burial ceremony when they were attacked and abducted by gunmen at Ifon in Ose LGA of the state.
Olufunmilayo Odunlami-Omisanya, police spokesperson in the state, said the victims were kidnapped on Friday afternoon.
“Yesterday afternoon, the police was informed that a church bus with the inscription CAC was abandoned around Elegbeka area and there are suspicions that the passengers in the vehicle were kidnapped,” Odunlami-Omisanya said.
“The police anti-kidnapping squad and other tactical teams have been deployed to the area to rescue the victims and arrest all involved in the crime.”
A family member of one of the abductees, who did not want to be named, said the victims are members of the church’s choir.
News
Lagos state government announces closure of Ojuelegba Flyover Bridge for repair of truck barrier

The Lagos State Government has announced traffic diversion at Ojuelegba flyover bridge on the night of Monday, October 2, 2023, from 10pm to 6am.
This is in line with plans by the state government to repair the truck barrier at the bridge which was recently damaged again.
This is contained in a statement issued by the state government on Friday, September 29, 2023, and can be seen on its official X (formerly Twitter) account.
The state government in the statement said that the following alternative routes will be available to Motorists during the diversion:
Motorists from Eko Bridge/Constain/Iponri inbound Ojuelegba/Alhaji Masha Road will be diverted to the service lane from Alaka via the National Stadium gate to link Barracks or Alhaji Masha Road to continue their journeys.
Motorists from Eko Bridge via Costain and those from Apapa Road going through Iponri will make use of Iponri Estate Road to link Bode Thomas via Adeniran Ogunsanya to Shitta Roundabout for their desired destinations.
Motorists were implored to be patient as the brief closure of the bridge is planned for night time as part of a traffic management strategy to avert further accidents and loss of lives.
News
Mohbad: Witnesses to appear October 13 as coroner begins sitting

The coroner’s inquest into the death of the singer Mohbad began sitting in Lagos on Friday.
Mohbad, 27, died on September 12 and was buried the next day.
The circumstances surrounding his death have sparked controversies on social media.
Thousands of Nigerians have demanded justice for Mohbad in nationwide protests.
On September 18, the Lagos police inaugurated a 13-man special investigation team to probe Mohbad’s death.
On Tuesday, the Lagos state judiciary said it will begin a coroner’s inquest into Mohbad’s death following a request submitted by Falana & Falana Chambers.
The first sitting was held on Friday at the Candide Johnson court in Ikorodu, Lagos.
Representatives of the parties in the case had a close-door session to determine different matters.
Funmi Falana, a lawyer representing Mohbad’s family, told BBC that the sitting was to determine the persons of interest to be invited to the court.
She said people should be hopeful as the lawyers will pursue the cause of justice.
“What we did today was to determine the how and what procedures to follow to help us get justice. We have fixed the next date and we will bring in our witnesses,” she said.
“We are representing the interest of justice, we should allow peace to reign but justice must be served. We will get to the root cause of the death”.
Festus Ogun, a Lagos-based lawyer, said any witness who fails to appear in court will be charged with contempt of court.
The court thereafter fixed October 13 for witnesses to present their pieces of evidence in court.
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