.................

NOVA Bank Achieves Global Cybersecurity Milestone with ISO 27032 Certification:

NOVA Bank has achieved a major milestone in its commitment to safeguarding customer data and digital operations by attaining the globally recognized ISO 27032 Cybersecurity Standard certification.

 This significant achievement positions NOVA Bank among the elite financial institutions in Nigeria with such a distinction.

The ISO 27032 certification focuses on fortifying cybersecurity measures, ensuring robust protection for data, systems, and online transactions amid an ever-evolving cyber threat landscape. In addition to this achievement, NOVA Bank is already certified in ISO 27001 for Information Security Management and BCMS 22301 for Business Continuity Management, further underscoring its dedication to operational excellence and security.

Speaking on the achievement, Acting Managing Director and CEO of NOVA Bank, Mrs. Chinwe Iloghalu, described the certification as a pivotal moment for the Bank and its customers.

“This certification underscores NOVA Bank’s unwavering dedication to maintaining the highest global standards in cybersecurity. As we continue to innovate with customer-centric retail products, cybersecurity remains at the heart of our operations. Our customers can rest assured that their data and transactions are protected by some of the most advanced security frameworks in the industry. Trust is built on security, and NOVA is committed to providing a secure, reliable, and innovative banking experience,” Mrs Iloghalu stated.

The Bank’s Executive Director for Operations and Information Technology, Dr. David Isavwe, who also serves as the President and Chairman of the Board of Trustees for the Information Security Society of Africa, Nigeria (ISSAN), emphasized the broader implications of the certification.

“The ISO 27032 certification highlights NOVA Bank’s proactive approach to addressing cybersecurity challenges. It demonstrates our readiness to protect against evolving threats and our ability to adapt to the dynamic landscape of digital banking. This certification reinforces our commitment to delivering secure and uninterrupted services to our valued customers,” Dr. Isavwe remarked.

This milestone aligns with NOVA Bank's overarching strategy of integrating cutting-edge technology with its trademarked Phygital model—seamlessly blending physical and digital banking experiences, while maintaining an unwavering focus on customer trust and satisfaction. As the bank prepares to launch a series of innovative retail banking products, this certification highlights its dedication to prioritizing cybersecurity, ensuring a secure and seamless banking experience for all its customers.

Polaris Bank Commemorates World Savings' Day with Enhanced Financial Literacy for Students

 Polaris Bank Commemorates World Savings' Day with Enhanced  Financial Literacy for Students

By Ganiyu Obaaro 

08118364404

 Polaris Bank ended its nationwide financial literacy initiative with an impactful session at the MD/CEO’s designated school, Government Day Secondary School, Pantami, Gombe State, marking the culmination of its activities to commemorate World Savings' Day 2024. 

This program,  the bank said,  is aimed at promoting a culture of saving and financial responsibility among young Nigerians.

The Bank, through its team, reached out to schools across the 36 states in Nigeria and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

The financial literacy program focused on equipping students with knowledge about savings and personal finance. 

The final session, held on November 14, 2024, featured interactive discussions and practical lessons designed to inspire the next generation to adopt prudent financial habits early in life.

Representing the MD/CEO, Group Head, North East, Aliyu Baba Adamu highlighted the significance of financial literacy in building a more informed and financially responsible society. “Through this program, we aim to empower young Nigerians with the knowledge and skills needed to make sound financial decisions. Our commitment is to bridge the financial literacy gap and support Nigeria’s journey toward financial inclusion, economic growth and sustainability,” he said.

Speaking at the event, Mal. Muhammad Saje Daudu, Principal of Government Day Secondary School, praised Polaris Bank’s efforts, saying: “This initiative has given our students invaluable insights into the importance of savings and financial discipline. We are deeply grateful to Polaris Bank for investing in the financial education of our youth and shaping their future positively.”

The initiative, which began on October 28, 2024, engaged thousands of students nationwide, emphasizing the role of education in driving financial inclusion. 

The program reinforced Polaris Bank’s dedication to impactful social initiatives, particularly in empowering young Nigerians with the tools they need to navigate an ever-evolving financial landscape.

Polaris Bank was adjudged Nigeria’s Digital Bank of the Year in 2024, 2023, 2022 and 2021 in Business Day’s Banks and Other Financial Institutions (BAFI) Awards.

Concerned citizens appeal to Gov Sanwo-Olu, Dangote Foundation, Banks, MTN Foundation, NNPC, others to assist journalist to get brain surgery**

Concerned citizens appeal to Gov Sanwo-Olu, Dangote Foundation, Banks, MTN Foundation, u, others to assist journalist for brain surgery**

Some concerned citizens including media and corporate affairs practitioners have appealed to Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Banks, Dangote Foundation, MTN Foundation and other notable organizations and citizens to help provide  financial assistance for Kolawole Kuforiji, a Nigerian journalist who requires Deep Brain Stimulation surgery that is expected to cost  $35,000 (USD) about N57 million in Turkey.

Specifically, friends of Kola Kuforiji that initiated moves to seek financial support from concerned organisations and citizens  have so far sent SOS For Journalist Kola Kuforiji requesting for financial assistance to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos, Dangote Foundation, MTN Foundation, All Nigerian Banks through the Association of Corporate Affairs Managers of Banks (ACAMB), NNPC Foundation, Chevron Nigeria Foundation, Guinness Nigeria Foundation, Nigerian Breweries Foundation, Shell Nigeria Foundation, Total E&P Nigeria Foundation and  Babcock University.

Beside the calls for institutional supports to save the life of Kola Kuforiji, the group of friends have opened an bank account with Polaris Bank (Name of Account: SOS FOR JOURNALIST KOLA KUFORIJI/ Account Number: 1790322317) and have started making individual donations.

Donations to the fund from as little as N1,000 donor to N150,000 donors has rising to N842,940.00 from the last count.

The life of Kola, a 54-year-old husband and father of two, who had worked for about two decades with Rhythm FM (Sliverbird Group) reporting business  was turned upside down when he was diagnosed with a drug-resistant, Parkinson's disease with pronounced difficulty in walking and tremor has been very ill for more than two years and the severity and debilitating nature of his illness has depleted the  finances of his family.

He was initially treated at   Ikorodu General Hospital, Lagos, where a presumptive diagnosis of his medical condition was made.

He was over a year ago referred to LASUTH, but there has been little improvement in his health.

Medical treatment abroad now offers the best option for his recovery with a recommendation from  Atasehir Medicana International Hospital – Atasehir / Istanbul, Turkey confirming that he will need a Deep Brain Stimulation surgery.

Over the years  Kola has explored his media platform as a strong tool to drive financial inclusion and expanding frontier of knowledge of Nigerians on the activities and stride of the energy, banking and finance sectors at large to national development.

Despite his illness, Kola remains hopeful and determined to overcome.

As NDLEA foils bid to smuggle opioids into Lagos from Ghana

 UK, Italy, Turkey, Qatar-bound cocaine, meth consignments intercepted in Lagos, Abuja

. As NDLEA foils bid to smuggle opioids into Lagos from Ghana

Ganiyu Obaaro 

08118364404

Attempts by drug syndicates to export large consignments of cocaine, methamphetamine and opioids through the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, MMIA, Ikeja Lagos and the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, NAIA, Abuja to the United Kingdom, Italy, Turkey and Qatar, have been thwarted by the operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA,.

The  Agency, through a series of intelligence-led operations, recovered the illicit drugs and arrested the masterminds.

A total of 13 parcels of cocaine weighing 4.40kg cocaine going to the United Kingdom via Frankfurt on a Lufthansa Airlines flight were intercepted by NDLEA officers at the export shed of the Lagos airport on 5th November, 2024, while a businessman linked to the consignment, Ekeocha Anayo Nelson, was tracked and arrested on 8th November, a statement by the Director, Media and Advocacy, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, Femi Babafemi, said.

NDLEA' said that the bid by another businessman, Adegbite Solomon (aka Obama), to export 7,800 pills of tramadol, 180 tablets of rohypnol, and 60 bottles of codeine to Italy was also foiled at the departure hall of the Lagos airport on Monday, 11th November when NDLEA operatives arrested him after recovering the opioids concealed in food and other items, while attempting to board an Ethiopian Airlines flight to Italy. 

He claimed to have travelled to Europe through the Mediterranean Sea and earned a living as a street beggar before delving into logistics business. 

Also related is the arrest of another businessman, Anoke Kingsley Roomy with 1,100 pills of tramadol 225mg hidden in his luggage, while attempting to board his Ethiopian Airlines' flight going to Istanbul, Turkey at the terminal 1 of the Lagos airport on Friday, 15th November.

Following credible intelligence, NDLEA officers of the Directorate of Operations and General Investigation, DOGI, and their counterparts from the FCT Command of the Agency on Friday, 15th November, raided a hotel room at the Federal Housing Authority Estate, Lugbe, Abuja, where they arrested two suspects: Omeh Uchenna Jude, 36, and Anene Valentine Chigozie, 34. 

Recovered from them was 1.8kg methamphetamine, which they were preparing to travel with to Qatar. 

Another suspect, Akande Moruf Olasunkanmi, was arrested with 1.8kg methamphetamine by the operatives of a Special Operations' Unit in NDLEA at his 9, Durojaiye street, Lawanson area of Surulere, Lagos home after weeks of intelligence and surveillance.

In another intelligence led operation, officers of an NDLEA task force on Saturday, 16th November foiled the attempt by a trans-border trafficker, Emmanuel Okechukwu Okeke to smuggle 50,000 pills of tramadol 225mg from Ghana into Lagos. The pills were concealed in the body compartments of a Toyota Hummer Bus belonging to GUO Transport Company, driven by the suspect.

 The vehicle was intercepted at Ijanikin area of the Lagos-Badagry expressway, while coming from Ghana. 

In Edo state, not less than 997kg cannabis was recovered during raids in parts of the state.   

 While 680kg cannabis and a Sienna bus marked FST-320 AE, were seized at a bush path to Oghada forest in Oghada, Orhionmwan LGA, 180.5kg of same substance was recovered from a suspect, Cecilia Ibe, 31, at Ofosu forest, Ovia South West LGA; and 136.5kg evacuated from a building in Otuo community,  Owan East LGA on Thursday, 14th November. 

A suspect, Ifejimagha Chinonso was on Wednesday, 13th November, nabbed with 88.3kg cannabis by NDLEA operatives on patrol along the Lagos-Ibadan expressway while personnel of Kano Command of the Agency on Friday 15th November arrested Ahmed Goni, 30, at Gadar Tamburawa, Kano- Zaria road where they recovered from him 65,730 capsules of tramadol.

In Kwara state, NDLEA operatives arrested a suspect Adio Sulaiman with 120.8kg cannabis and some litres of codeine at Gaa Odota in Ilorin West LGA, while Kelechi Obichere, 42, was nabbed with 75kg cannabis at Eziobodo, Owerri West LGA, Imo state on Thursday, 14th November. 

A total of 563.74 kilograms of same psychoactive substance were recovered from a 60-year-old suspect Anthony Anakabi, following his arrest at Iyalode, Iyana church area of Ibadan, the Oyo state capital.

With the same vigour, Commands and formations of the Agency across the country continued their War Against Drug Abuse, WADA, sensitization activities to schools, worship centres, work places and communities among others in the past week. 

These include: WADA enlightenment lecture to students and staff of Government Day Secondary School, Bazza, Adamawa; Community Secondary School, Ogan-Ama, Rivers state; NKST Secondary School, Adikpo, Benue state; Government Secondary School, Tambuwal, Sokoto state; Government Girls Secondary School, Kunchi, Kano; Ebele Chu Group of Schools, Nkpor Onitsha, Anambra; and Army Cantonment Senior Boys High School, Ojo, Lagos state, among others.

While commending the officers and men of MMIA, DOGI, DI, Oyo, Lagos, Imo, Kwara, Kano, and Edo Commands of the Agency for the arrests and seizures, the Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (rtd), stated that their operational successes and those of their compatriots across the country especially their balanced approach to drug supply reduction and drug demand reduction efforts are well appreciated.

 UK, Italy, Turkey, Qatar-bound cocaine, meth consignments intercepted in Lagos, Abuja

. As NDLEA foils bid to smuggle opioids into Lagos from Ghana

Ganiyu Obaaro 

08118364404

Attempts by drug syndicates to export large consignments of cocaine, methamphetamine and opioids through the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, MMIA, Ikeja Lagos and the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, NAIA, Abuja to the United Kingdom, Italy, Turkey and Qatar, have been thwarted by the operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA,.

The  Agency, through a series of intelligence-led operations, recovered the illicit drugs and arrested the masterminds.

A total of 13 parcels of cocaine weighing 4.40kg cocaine going to the United Kingdom via Frankfurt on a Lufthansa Airlines flight were intercepted by NDLEA officers at the export shed of the Lagos airport on 5th November, 2024, while a businessman linked to the consignment, Ekeocha Anayo Nelson, was tracked and arrested on 8th November, a statement by the Director, Media and Advocacy, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, Femi Babafemi, said.

NDLEA' said that the bid by another businessman, Adegbite Solomon (aka Obama), to export 7,800 pills of tramadol, 180 tablets of rohypnol, and 60 bottles of codeine to Italy was also foiled at the departure hall of the Lagos airport on Monday, 11th November when NDLEA operatives arrested him after recovering the opioids concealed in food and other items, while attempting to board an Ethiopian Airlines flight to Italy. 

He claimed to have travelled to Europe through the Mediterranean Sea and earned a living as a street beggar before delving into logistics business. 

Also related is the arrest of another businessman, Anoke Kingsley Roomy with 1,100 pills of tramadol 225mg hidden in his luggage, while attempting to board his Ethiopian Airlines' flight going to Istanbul, Turkey at the terminal 1 of the Lagos airport on Friday, 15th November.

Following credible intelligence, NDLEA officers of the Directorate of Operations and General Investigation, DOGI, and their counterparts from the FCT Command of the Agency on Friday, 15th November, raided a hotel room at the Federal Housing Authority Estate, Lugbe, Abuja, where they arrested two suspects: Omeh Uchenna Jude, 36, and Anene Valentine Chigozie, 34. 

Recovered from them was 1.8kg methamphetamine, which they were preparing to travel with to Qatar. 

Another suspect, Akande Moruf Olasunkanmi, was arrested with 1.8kg methamphetamine by the operatives of a Special Operations' Unit in NDLEA at his 9, Durojaiye street, Lawanson area of Surulere, Lagos home after weeks of intelligence and surveillance.

In another intelligence led operation, officers of an NDLEA task force on Saturday, 16th November foiled the attempt by a trans-border trafficker, Emmanuel Okechukwu Okeke to smuggle 50,000 pills of tramadol 225mg from Ghana into Lagos. The pills were concealed in the body compartments of a Toyota Hummer Bus belonging to GUO Transport Company, driven by the suspect.

 The vehicle was intercepted at Ijanikin area of the Lagos-Badagry expressway, while coming from Ghana. 

In Edo state, not less than 997kg cannabis was recovered during raids in parts of the state.   

 While 680kg cannabis and a Sienna bus marked FST-320 AE, were seized at a bush path to Oghada forest in Oghada, Orhionmwan LGA, 180.5kg of same substance was recovered from a suspect, Cecilia Ibe, 31, at Ofosu forest, Ovia South West LGA; and 136.5kg evacuated from a building in Otuo community,  Owan East LGA on Thursday, 14th November. 

A suspect, Ifejimagha Chinonso was on Wednesday, 13th November, nabbed with 88.3kg cannabis by NDLEA operatives on patrol along the Lagos-Ibadan expressway while personnel of Kano Command of the Agency on Friday 15th November arrested Ahmed Goni, 30, at Gadar Tamburawa, Kano- Zaria road where they recovered from him 65,730 capsules of tramadol.

In Kwara state, NDLEA operatives arrested a suspect Adio Sulaiman with 120.8kg cannabis and some litres of codeine at Gaa Odota in Ilorin West LGA, while Kelechi Obichere, 42, was nabbed with 75kg cannabis at Eziobodo, Owerri West LGA, Imo state on Thursday, 14th November. 

A total of 563.74 kilograms of same psychoactive substance were recovered from a 60-year-old suspect Anthony Anakabi, following his arrest at Iyalode, Iyana church area of Ibadan, the Oyo state capital.

With the same vigour, Commands and formations of the Agency across the country continued their War Against Drug Abuse, WADA, sensitization activities to schools, worship centres, work places and communities among others in the past week. 

These include: WADA enlightenment lecture to students and staff of Government Day Secondary School, Bazza, Adamawa; Community Secondary School, Ogan-Ama, Rivers state; NKST Secondary School, Adikpo, Benue state; Government Secondary School, Tambuwal, Sokoto state; Government Girls Secondary School, Kunchi, Kano; Ebele Chu Group of Schools, Nkpor Onitsha, Anambra; and Army Cantonment Senior Boys High School, Ojo, Lagos state, among others.

While commending the officers and men of MMIA, DOGI, DI, Oyo, Lagos, Imo, Kwara, Kano, and Edo Commands of the Agency for the arrests and seizures, the Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (rtd), stated that their operational successes and those of their compatriots across the country especially their balanced approach to drug supply reduction and drug demand reduction efforts are well appreciated.

 

News

 . As NDLEA foils bid to smuggle opioids into Lagos from Ghana

Ganiyu Obaaro 

08118364404

Attempts by drug syndicates to export large consignments of cocaine, methamphetamine and opioids through the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, MMIA, Ikeja Lagos and the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, NAIA, Abuja to the United Kingdom, Italy, Turkey and Qatar, have been thwarted by the operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA,.

The  Agency, through a series of intelligence-led operations, recovered the illicit drugs and arrested the masterminds.

A total of 13 parcels of cocaine weighing 4.40kg cocaine going to the United Kingdom via Frankfurt on a Lufthansa Airlines flight were intercepted by NDLEA officers at the export shed of the Lagos airport on 5th November, 2024, while a businessman linked to the consignment, Ekeocha Anayo Nelson, was tracked and arrested on 8th November, a statement by the Director, Media and Advocacy, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, Femi Babafemi, said.

NDLEA' said that the bid by another businessman, Adegbite Solomon (aka Obama), to export 7,800 pills of tramadol, 180 tablets of rohypnol, and 60 bottles of codeine to Italy was also foiled at the departure hall of the Lagos airport on Monday, 11th November when NDLEA operatives arrested him after recovering the opioids concealed in food and other items, while attempting to board an Ethiopian Airlines flight to Italy. 

He claimed to have travelled to Europe through the Mediterranean Sea and earned a living as a street beggar before delving into logistics business. 

Also related is the arrest of another businessman, Anoke Kingsley Roomy with 1,100 pills of tramadol 225mg hidden in his luggage, while attempting to board his Ethiopian Airlines' flight going to Istanbul, Turkey at the terminal 1 of the Lagos airport on Friday, 15th November.

Following credible intelligence, NDLEA officers of the Directorate of Operations and General Investigation, DOGI, and their counterparts from the FCT Command of the Agency on Friday, 15th November, raided a hotel room at the Federal Housing Authority Estate, Lugbe, Abuja, where they arrested two suspects: Omeh Uchenna Jude, 36, and Anene Valentine Chigozie, 34. 

Recovered from them was 1.8kg methamphetamine, which they were preparing to travel with to Qatar. 

Another suspect, Akande Moruf Olasunkanmi, was arrested with 1.8kg methamphetamine by the operatives of a Special Operations' Unit in NDLEA at his 9, Durojaiye street, Lawanson area of Surulere, Lagos home after weeks of intelligence and surveillance.

In another intelligence led operation, officers of an NDLEA task force on Saturday, 16th November foiled the attempt by a trans-border trafficker, Emmanuel Okechukwu Okeke to smuggle 50,000 pills of tramadol 225mg from Ghana into Lagos. The pills were concealed in the body compartments of a Toyota Hummer Bus belonging to GUO Transport Company, driven by the suspect.

 The vehicle was intercepted at Ijanikin area of the Lagos-Badagry expressway, while coming from Ghana. 

In Edo state, not less than 997kg cannabis was recovered during raids in parts of the state.   

 While 680kg cannabis and a Sienna bus marked FST-320 AE, were seized at a bush path to Oghada forest in Oghada, Orhionmwan LGA, 180.5kg of same substance was recovered from a suspect, Cecilia Ibe, 31, at Ofosu forest, Ovia South West LGA; and 136.5kg evacuated from a building in Otuo community,  Owan East LGA on Thursday, 14th November. 

A suspect, Ifejimagha Chinonso was on Wednesday, 13th November, nabbed with 88.3kg cannabis by NDLEA operatives on patrol along the Lagos-Ibadan expressway while personnel of Kano Command of the Agency on Friday 15th November arrested Ahmed Goni, 30, at Gadar Tamburawa, Kano- Zaria road where they recovered from him 65,730 capsules of tramadol.

In Kwara state, NDLEA operatives arrested a suspect Adio Sulaiman with 120.8kg cannabis and some litres of codeine at Gaa Odota in Ilorin West LGA, while Kelechi Obichere, 42, was nabbed with 75kg cannabis at Eziobodo, Owerri West LGA, Imo state on Thursday, 14th November. 

A total of 563.74 kilograms of same psychoactive substance were recovered from a 60-year-old suspect Anthony Anakabi, following his arrest at Iyalode, Iyana church area of Ibadan, the Oyo state capital.

With the same vigour, Commands and formations of the Agency across the country continued their War Against Drug Abuse, WADA, sensitization activities to schools, worship centres, work places and communities among others in the past week. 

These include: WADA enlightenment lecture to students and staff of Government Day Secondary School, Bazza, Adamawa; Community Secondary School, Ogan-Ama, Rivers state; NKST Secondary School, Adikpo, Benue state; Government Secondary School, Tambuwal, Sokoto state; Government Girls Secondary School, Kunchi, Kano; Ebele Chu Group of Schools, Nkpor Onitsha, Anambra; and Army Cantonment Senior Boys High School, Ojo, Lagos state, among others.

While commending the officers and men of MMIA, DOGI, DI, Oyo, Lagos, Imo, Kwara, Kano, and Edo Commands of the Agency for the arrests and seizures, the Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (rtd), stated that their operational successes and those of their compatriots across the country especially their balanced approach to drug supply reduction and drug demand reduction efforts are well appreciated.

UK, Italy, Turkey, Qatar-bound cocaine, meth consignments intercepted in Lagos, Abuja

. As NDLEA foils bid to smuggle opioids into Lagos from Ghana

Ganiyu Obaaro 

08118364404

Attempts by drug syndicates to export large consignments of cocaine, methamphetamine and opioids through the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, MMIA, Ikeja Lagos and the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, NAIA, Abuja to the United Kingdom, Italy, Turkey and Qatar, have been thwarted by the operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA,.

The  Agency, through a series of intelligence-led operations, recovered the illicit drugs and arrested the masterminds.

A total of 13 parcels of cocaine weighing 4.40kg cocaine going to the United Kingdom via Frankfurt on a Lufthansa Airlines flight were intercepted by NDLEA officers at the export shed of the Lagos airport on 5th November, 2024, while a businessman linked to the consignment, Ekeocha Anayo Nelson, was tracked and arrested on 8th November, a statement by the Director, Media and Advocacy, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, Femi Babafemi, said.

NDLEA' said that the bid by another businessman, Adegbite Solomon (aka Obama), to export 7,800 pills of tramadol, 180 tablets of rohypnol, and 60 bottles of codeine to Italy was also foiled at the departure hall of the Lagos airport on Monday, 11th November when NDLEA operatives arrested him after recovering the opioids concealed in food and other items, while attempting to board an Ethiopian Airlines flight to Italy. 

He claimed to have travelled to Europe through the Mediterranean Sea and earned a living as a street beggar before delving into logistics business. 

Also related is the arrest of another businessman, Anoke Kingsley Roomy with 1,100 pills of tramadol 225mg hidden in his luggage, while attempting to board his Ethiopian Airlines' flight going to Istanbul, Turkey at the terminal 1 of the Lagos airport on Friday, 15th November.

Following credible intelligence, NDLEA officers of the Directorate of Operations and General Investigation, DOGI, and their counterparts from the FCT Command of the Agency on Friday, 15th November, raided a hotel room at the Federal Housing Authority Estate, Lugbe, Abuja, where they arrested two suspects: Omeh Uchenna Jude, 36, and Anene Valentine Chigozie, 34. 

Recovered from them was 1.8kg methamphetamine, which they were preparing to travel with to Qatar. 

Another suspect, Akande Moruf Olasunkanmi, was arrested with 1.8kg methamphetamine by the operatives of a Special Operations' Unit in NDLEA at his 9, Durojaiye street, Lawanson area of Surulere, Lagos home after weeks of intelligence and surveillance.

In another intelligence led operation, officers of an NDLEA task force on Saturday, 16th November foiled the attempt by a trans-border trafficker, Emmanuel Okechukwu Okeke to smuggle 50,000 pills of tramadol 225mg from Ghana into Lagos. The pills were concealed in the body compartments of a Toyota Hummer Bus belonging to GUO Transport Company, driven by the suspect.

 The vehicle was intercepted at Ijanikin area of the Lagos-Badagry expressway, while coming from Ghana. 

In Edo state, not less than 997kg cannabis was recovered during raids in parts of the state.   

 While 680kg cannabis and a Sienna bus marked FST-320 AE, were seized at a bush path to Oghada forest in Oghada, Orhionmwan LGA, 180.5kg of same substance was recovered from a suspect, Cecilia Ibe, 31, at Ofosu forest, Ovia South West LGA; and 136.5kg evacuated from a building in Otuo community,  Owan East LGA on Thursday, 14th November. 

A suspect, Ifejimagha Chinonso was on Wednesday, 13th November, nabbed with 88.3kg cannabis by NDLEA operatives on patrol along the Lagos-Ibadan expressway while personnel of Kano Command of the Agency on Friday 15th November arrested Ahmed Goni, 30, at Gadar Tamburawa, Kano- Zaria road where they recovered from him 65,730 capsules of tramadol.

In Kwara state, NDLEA operatives arrested a suspect Adio Sulaiman with 120.8kg cannabis and some litres of codeine at Gaa Odota in Ilorin West LGA, while Kelechi Obichere, 42, was nabbed with 75kg cannabis at Eziobodo, Owerri West LGA, Imo state on Thursday, 14th November. 

A total of 563.74 kilograms of same psychoactive substance were recovered from a 60-year-old suspect Anthony Anakabi, following his arrest at Iyalode, Iyana church area of Ibadan, the Oyo state capital.

With the same vigour, Commands and formations of the Agency across the country continued their War Against Drug Abuse, WADA, sensitization activities to schools, worship centres, work places and communities among others in the past week. 

These include: WADA enlightenment lecture to students and staff of Government Day Secondary School, Bazza, Adamawa; Community Secondary School, Ogan-Ama, Rivers state; NKST Secondary School, Adikpo, Benue state; Government Secondary School, Tambuwal, Sokoto state; Government Girls Secondary School, Kunchi, Kano; Ebele Chu Group of Schools, Nkpor Onitsha, Anambra; and Army Cantonment Senior Boys High School, Ojo, Lagos state, among others.

While commending the officers and men of MMIA, DOGI, DI, Oyo, Lagos, Imo, Kwara, Kano, and Edo Commands of the Agency for the arrests and seizures, the Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (rtd), stated that their operational successes and those of their compatriots across the country especially their balanced approach to drug supply reduction and drug demand reduction efforts are well appreciated.

STN Business News