News
Drugs is fueling insurgency, we’ll deploy 5,000 operatives to Borno, says Marwa
Buba Marwa, the chairman of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), says drug abuse among Nigerians is the main driver of insurgency.
Marwa spoke on Tuesday during an interactive meeting with LGA chairmen, security agencies, public transport workers and pharmaceutical companies in Borno state.
The NDLEA chairman said the meeting aimed to combat the scourge of drug abuse among the residents of the state.
Marwa said no fewer than 35,000 drug peddlers have been arrested while 6,000 convictions have been secured since the establishment of the agency.
He added that the support of all Nigerians is required to sustain the fight against drug abuse.
“There is no greater problem facing us in the country today than drug abuse. Every community in Nigeria is facing this problem,” NAN quoted Marwa as saying.
“I am sure each and everyone of you sitting here today knows somebody in his family or his community that is afflicted with a drug abuse problem.
“Every day parents miss money in their houses because the children steal the money to keep the habit.
“In some cases, the parents are the drug addicts, they send the children to go and buy the drugs for them.
“It is a problem that is facing us that we need to stand up collectively to challenge. The fact is that we have had children who killed their parents.
“The other day, a boy killed his mother after she refused to give him the N5,000 he demanded because he needed to sustain the addiction.”
Marwa said the activities of the insurgents in the state are aggravated by drugs.
“We have had experience where the military officers who took over insurgents camps asked the insurgents what was their most important possession and they said it was drugs,” the NDLEA chairman said.
“Once they have their drugs they are happy which triggers them to commit their heinous crimes.
“Insurgents, criminals, bandits and Boko Haram, armed robbers all need drugs to operate.
“We must therefore work in partnership as a society, not just for the NDLEA, all of us are stakeholders.
“We have to stand up for the challenge, face it and conquer it once and for all.”
Marwa urged the LGA chairmen to establish a war against drug abuse (WADA) committees to fight substance abuse in their respective secretariats.
He maintained that such a move would go further to create awareness of the dangers of drug abuse and other vices.
He assured them that the NDLEA would make efforts toward deploying its men to the LGAs and urged the chairmen to provide the operatives with office accommodation and vehicles for patrol.
“We are going to deploy an additional 5,000 NDLEA men. They will soon be in every nook and cranny of the state to stamp out the menace of drug abuse,” he said.
“Already, we have established about 36 rehabilitation centres across the country and when we have a situation that is beyond our facilities, we refer it to the Federal Neuro-Psychiatric Hospital.”
News
Okpebholo nominates Cyril, Oshiomhole’s son, as health commissioner
Monday Okpebholo, governor of Edo, has nominated Cyril Oshiomhole, a medical doctor, as the commissioner of health.
Cyril is the son of Adams Oshiomhole, the former governor of Edo, now a serving senator.
The commissioner nominee earned his bachelor’s degree in medicine and surgery (MBBS) at the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.
He has a master’s degree in public health and majors in environmental health, toxicology, and disaster management.
Fred Itua, Okpebholo’s spokesperson, said in a statement on Tuesday that the governor also nominated Samson Osagie, a former member of the national assembly, as the attorney-general and commissioner for justice.
“On the new state attorney-general, Dr. Samson Osagie is a private legal practitioner having been called to the Nigerian Bar on March 22nd, 1995,” the statement reads.
He is also the current vice president of the African Bar Association (West African Region),” the statement reads.
“He was a two-term member of the Edo state house of assembly and also the house of representatives, where he rose to the position of the minority whip.
Itua said the Osagie and Oshiomhole’s names would be forwarded to the Edo state house of assembly for confirmation.
He added that Okpebholo also announced the appointment of Musa Ikhilor as the secretary to the state government (SGG).
“Barrister Ikhilor has over 11 years of experience in legislative drafting, parliamentary administration, lawmaking procedure and processes, constitutional drafting and amendment, and general legislative governance issues working in various capacities at the national assembly,” Itua said.
“Barr. Ikhilor is active in business, corporate legal practice, and social works, where he serves as the managing partner of Springfield Legal Consult and as the executive director and board of trustees member of the Amana Legacy Foundation.”
News
Okpebholo, Idahosa sworn in as Edo governor, deputy
Monday Okpebholo has been sworn in as the governor of Edo State after months he was elected to take over from Godwin Obaseki, who has completed his second term in office.
The Chief Justice of the state, Daniel Okungbowa, administered the oath to the governor and deputy governor at Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, where they pledged to uphold the constitution and work for the well-being of the people of Edo State.”
Dignitaries including vice president Kashim Shettima, Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq, Chairman of the Governors’ Forum, Philip Shaibu, the reinstated deputy governor of Edo, and other governors from the APC were in attendance as Okpebholo took the oath of office.
News
Nigerian Defence Academy opens applications for 77th regular course
The Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) has officially opened online applications for the 77th Regular Course, providing opportunities for both male and female Nigerian candidates to enroll in military and academic training programs.
The application window, which began on November 6, 2024, will remain open until April 30, 2025 and successful applicants will undergo both academic and military training as Officer Cadets at the NDA for a period of five years.
Upon completion, cadets will be awarded a Bachelor’s degree in their field of study and will also receive a Presidential Commission into the Nigerian Armed Forces.
NDA is partnering with the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) for the admissions process hence applicants must also register for the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) conducted by JAMB, selecting the NDA as their first-choice institution.
“Candidates applying for admission into NDA must also apply to the year 2025 Joint Admissions and Matriculations Board and select NDA as their first choice institution,” they said.
Only candidates who meet the required UTME scores will be considered for further assessment. A score of 180 for Arts, Social Sciences, and Science programs, and 210 for Engineering courses.
Screening test
The NDA screening test serves as the first phase of the Post-UTME assessment, will be conducted on Saturday, May 24, 2025. Eligible candidates are expected to bring the following documents to the test center:
- Acknowledgment form
- Screening Test Admission Card
- JAMB result slip
- Two passport-sized photographs (3.5 x 5 inches), showing only the chest upwards with essential candidate information written at the back
Candidates can begin the application process by visiting the NDA application portal at ndaapplications.net and selecting the “Purchase Access Code” option. For more enquiries visit the website here.
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