News 24
Daily Times Nigeria Friday, July 8, 2016
NDLEA arrests 63 drug traffickers in six months at Lagos airport Chukwuemeke Iwelunmo
Umahi
Ebonyi to give soft loan to farmers Ogodo Mbam
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Ebonyi State Governor, Chief David Umahi, has restated the preparedness of the state government to assist farmers by giving them soft loan, seedlings and fertiliser. He disclosed this at the agricultural summit organised for civil and public servants in the state, and urged them to key into the programme. He announced that the state would launch one-man, onehectare by next month, establish six mega rice city and rice mills in all the 500 hectares of land acquired by government in every local government area. Umahi stated that his intention was to make sure that no land was left vacant, adding that he was committed to ensure that the state y did lose its position as the best rice producer in the country.
ÏÏÏ The Chief Executive of the
National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Col. Muhammad Mustapha Abdallah (rtd.), has disclosed that the agency arrested 63 suspected drug traffickers with 484.11kgs of drugs between January and June, 2016. He also disclosed that suspected drug barons also abandoned 336.090kgs of the seized drugs between the same periods. Abdallah, who also promised to dismantle drug syndicates in the country, gave the assurance as the agency released its scorecard at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos, between January and June 2016.
Abdallah said that Nigeria would continue to subscribe to the principle of shared responsibility and international collaboration in dismantling drug cartels. In his words, “the agency is maximising the benefits of Airport Communication Programme (AIRCOP) by coordinating joint international operations. We will continue to build capacity in risk analysis, drug detection methodology and tracing of illicit drug proceeds. This is aimed at identifying and dismantling criminal networks”. The NDLEA boss noted that the agency reacted swiftly to new tactics of drug trafficking by intercepting 22.530kgs of drugs originating from Dubai, United Arab Emirates. “As an intelligence-driven
agency, we realised the sudden use of Dubai as a transit point for cocaine originating from South America and successfully arrested 13 suspects with 22.530kgs of cocaine coming from Dubai.” According to the airport commander, Mr. Ahmadu Garba, those arrested included 46 males and 17 females. He gave the breakdown of drugs are as follows; Cocaine, 35kgs, Heroin 8.460kg, Methamphetamine 54.4kg, Ephedrine 6.120kg, Cannabis 5.470kg and Psychotropic substances 374.630kg. He hinted that 20 suspects were nabbed attempting to export drugs, while 25 were caught importing drugs into the country, adding that 18 suspects were apprehended during
follow-up operations, while 10 suspected traffickers were caught importing 7.695kgs of cocaine from Brazil and 13 other suspects were arrested with 22.530kgs of cocaine from Dubai. The Airport Commander listed the three abandoned seizures to include 25kgs of methamphetamine going to South Africa, 311kgs of tramadol originating from India and 0.090 grammes of cocaine from Brazil. Monthly breakdown, according to the Commander, indicated that January was 6.300kgs and with 12 suspects arrested, February 54.760kgs and 10 suspects, March 39.485kgs and 13 suspects, April 28.035kgs and 13 suspects, May 353.945kgs and 13 suspects while June was 1.585kgs and 2 suspects.
Book launch on veteran actor, Lere Paimo holds today in Ibadan Remi Oladoye, Ibadan
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historical city of Ibadan will today pay host to dignitaries from all walks of life who are expected to grace the official presentation of a biography of veteran actor, Chief Lere Paimo. The book is titled Lere Paimo : “A Quintessential Thespian” written by a seasoned journalist and author Sayo Alagbe/ The venues of the event is Apex Event Centre, Agodi Gate, lbadan, at 12 noon. While briefing journalists on the event, Alagbe said that the purpose of the event was to celebrate the story and objectives of Lere Paimo theatre life and messages to serve as reference guide for the audience, the theatre scholars, aspiring theatre students and the film industry at large “Lere Paimo remains the scepter of the old and contemporary theatre industry and has done the nation proud both locally and internationally. “He has also contributed immensely to the socio-culture and tourism development of Nigeria through his unbeatable records in the theatre and movie industry”.
The ever busy Federal Secretariat , in Abuja completely deserted as a result of Eid-el-Fitr holiday celebration… on Thursday.
Lalong, LG c’ttee didn’t give me money or gift – Plateau Speaker By Chijioke Kingsley, Jos
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The Speaker of Plateau State House of Assembly, Hon Peter Azi, has denied rumour making the rounds in the Tin City that Governor Simon Lalong and the Management Committee Chairmen in the 17 Local Government Councils had bribed him with huge sums of money, in order to secure the extension of the tenure of the local government committees. He stated this while exclusively answering questions from our correspondent on the competency and credibility issues that rocking the Plateau Assembly as
regards the extension of the LG C’ttee and the recent approval for Lalong to access N14 billion loan. The Speaker was quoted as saying that he first learnt about the loan when he was in Lagos on a conference and quickly called the Accountant General (AG) and the governor for confirmation. His words, “I learnt about the loan in Lagos and when I called the AG, he said that it was true and that he was preparing to send the relevant document to the State House of Assembly for approval. When I returned from my trip, I met with the Governor together with all the members of the House and the Governor explained to us that there was
a window to access loan from the Federal Government, which would be closing in less than a week and that if the state government did not get approval from the State Assembly in matter of days, it would lose the opportunity to access the loan”, he said. He said that Lalong explained that the loan would be used to temporarily solve the financial needs of the state, that of the state Civil Servants’ salaries and the pensioners. “On the issue of the Management Committee Chairmen, the Governor explained to us that people came to him at the end of every two months to tell him that they were interested in becoming
a Local Government Chairman, so by extending their tenure for six months, instead of the usual two months, no one will come to him seeking for such favour until the expiration of six months”, he explained. “With my age and experience, I don’t think I will lead the people of Plateau astray; I am here to serve my people and not for personnel gains”, he said. Meanwhile, some Assembly members from the opposition People Democratic Party (PDP), are not comfortable with the recent tenure elongation of the Management Committee members and the N14 billion loan recently approved.