National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net
Monday, August 27
South-West
, 2012
9
NDLEA seeks stiffer penalty against drug barons ABIODUN NEJO ADO EKITI
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he Nigerian Drugs Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has said the fine option given to convicted drug barons by judges are part of the reasons illicit drug business is on the increase in the country. NDLEA Director General, Mr Femi Ajayi, said he expected those found guilty in court of deal-
•Says fine option not enough ing in cocaine, heroin and other hard drugs be jailed without option of fine to serve as deterrent to others and discouragement to the business. Ajayi told journalists at the weekend at OyeEkiti in Ekiti State that stiff punitive measures against illegal drug dealers in court remained the most potent way to
curtail the activities of criminals and safeguard the country’s image before the international community. He said: “I suspect a dangerous situation ahead when judges exercise discretionary powers when discretion does not arise. I have witnessed situations when people dealing in
cocaine and heroines, which are classified as Class A drugs were convicted with option of fine. I plead with our judges to look at this aspect very well in the interest of this country”. According to him, such feeble penalties for the convicted, coupled with restricted presence of NDLEA men in some
critical locations where illicit drug dealers use as hideouts or as escape routes, have been the bane of the agency. The NDLEA boss lamented the shortage of manpower in the agency, despite the abundant human resources in the nation, saying this had created avenue for criminals to escape arrest and justice. Ajayi said: “As I speak
with you, NDLEA men are not everywhere they are supposed to be. We do not have men at all the nation’s borders and this is a loophole for criminals to escape arrest”. He, however, promised that the agency would continue to strengthen its operation and extend its dragnets across the nation to ensure that illicit drug dealers did not have their ways.
Aregbesola tasks FG on security WALE FOLARIN OSOGBO
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sun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola has said that it is high time the Federal Government resolved the security challenges confronting the country. Speaking at the 10th anniversary of the Organisation of African Instituted Churches (OAIC) at the weekend in Osogbo, the state capital, Aregbesola said: “No nation can develop and continue to prosper in an atmosphere of insecurity and breakdown of law L-R: Caretaker Chairman of Ido-Osi Local Government Area of Ekiti State, Hon Gbenga Agbeyo; Caretaker Chairman of Ekiti East and order.” The governor decried the Local Government Area and Chairman, Association of Local Government of Nigeria (ALGON), Hon Rotimi Ajidara; ALGON Treasurer, Maj Tajudeen Awe (rtd) and the state’s Accountant General, Mr Ayoola Owolabi, during a press conference to debunk allegation increasing spate of violence of illegal deduction by the state government in Ado-Ekiti, yesterday. in the country, adding that the development was posing severe threat to nation’s construction of the second was resolved that an inter- sub-structure recently. “The peace. OLUFEMI ADEOSUN nationally reputed bridge preliminary report of the was completed in 1991. Aregbesola said: “It is unABUJA On the efforts being made consultant be invited to underwater investigation fortunate that the country is he Federal Govern- to ensure that the bridge carry out further inspection though not yet concluded bedeviled with multifarious ment has dismissed is put under continuous of it. revealed that the metal cas- socio-economic challenges rumours that the maintenance, the statement The statement reads: “An ing housing the concrete is Third Mainland Bridge in said: “In 2006, joint inspec- international bridge consul- rotting away as a result of Lagos is on the verge of col- tion on the bridge was first tant was thereafter invited the activities of certain sea LUFEMI ADEOSUN lapsing. carried out by a combined to carry out series of inspec- creatures attracted to that O ABUJA In a statement from the team of engineers from the tions and investigations section of the Lagos Lagoon Ministry of Works and Federal Ministry of Works, along with the contractors due to the discharge of orfter a week of ressigned by the Director High- Julius Berger Nig Plc and and bridge design consul- ganic effluent into the Lacue efforts and asway Designs, Mr. Dominic M/s Borini Prono, a mem- tants. The studies revealed goon. sessment of the Avishigh, the Federal Gov- ber of the consortium that that there was no threat “Following the report, the impact of the devastating ernment asked members of constructed the bridge, fol- of collapse on the Third Minister of Works, Mr. Mike ocean surge at the coastline the public to go about their lowing insinuation that the Mainland Bridge. It was the Onolememen, wrote the of Lagos State, a team from businesses without fear, add- bridge was oscillating. same process that led to the Lagos State Government to the National Emergency ing that rehabilitation work After the inspection, ac- commissioning of under- stop the discharge of organic Management (NEMA) has on the bridge is ongoing. concluded its assignment cording to the statement, it water studies of the bridge effluents into the lagoon. “We wish to use this opwith a report indicating that portunity to call on Nigerithe causes of the surge was in Akure by his Special Ad- the October 20 governorship natural. ans to go about their normal HAKEEM GBADAMOSI viser on Media and Public- election in Ondo State. duty and disregard such AKURE The agency also discov“Nothing will show INEC ered that human-casualty in ity, Mr. Kunle Adebayo. satanic rumours about the he Peoples DemoOke described the devel- seriousness and determina- the incident was man-made. Third Mainland Bridge cratic Party (PDP) opment as a genuine move tion to make the voice of the as the on-going rehabilitaLeading the NEMA team governorship candi- by the commission to con- people count in 2015 elec- after the completion of the tion work is very much on date for the October 20 elec- duct transparent elections tions and beyond than to en- assessment at the weekend, track,” the statement said sure that the technology is the Director of Planning, in the country. The Third Mainland tion in Ondo State, Chief He said: “For us, this is used in the Ondo elections Research and Forecasting Bridge, which y connects Olusola Oke, has hailed the Lagos Island with the Main- decision of the Independent a strong voice from a genu- in October 20.” of the agency, Dr. Charles Oke pointed out that po- Agbo, said the ocean surge land, is said to be the longest National Electoral Commis- inely determined agency for and most important bridge sion (INEC) to introduce transparent elections and litical atmosphere in the was a natural phenomenon. in Nigeria. The bridge was video recording during elec- leadership change. We also state is becoming tense over Apart from that, he said hail suggestions by stake- the October poll, saying that the casualty figure was constructed in two phases. tions Oke stated this in a press holders that the video re- some politicians had started high because people failed The first phase was constatement signed yesterday cording exercise starts with heating the polity. structed in 1981, while the to take precautionary mea-
such as gross insecurity, violence and terrorism as well as corruption in high and low places. “Our country is passing through a particularly difficult time and facing challenges that constitute direct affront to its existence as a nation. Violence and terrorism, corruption, especially the recent revelation of fuel subsidy scam of almost a trillion Naira and pensions running into hundreds of billions, seems to have overwhelmed the government at top.” the top.
FG allays fear over Lagos Third Mainland Bridge
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Aregbesola
Kuramo beach surge natural –NEMA
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Elections: Oke praises INEC’s new technology
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sure, such as not engaging in business activities close to the sea. He said: “Though nine bodies have so far being recovered and confirmed by NEMA officials, while others, as claimed by residents still missing, the ocean surge at Kuramo beach and other areas of Lagos was natural phenomena, while the human casualty could be blamed on carelessness of people living too close to the danger of coastline when early warning alert were raised by appropriate authorities on the effect of climate change and global warming.” The agency said more beaches might be affected by wave tide after the team assessed the impact at the worst affected Kuramo Beach and also visited Oniru Private Beach and some parts of Ojo, Badagry, Tarkwa Bay, Maiyegun and Alpha Beach.