Author: GANUX

 

Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency at the Port Harcourt Ports Complex, Onne, Rivers State, and Apapa Seaport, Lagos, have recovered drugs valued at approximately N6.5 billion.

 

The seized consignments included over six million opioid pills specifically Tamol 225mg, Tapentadol 225mg, and Carisoprodol 225mg as well as 332,000 bottles of codeine-based cough syrup.

 

In a statement released on Sunday, the agency’s spokesman, Femi Babafemi, explained that the seizures at Apapa and Onne ports followed intelligence gathering and the tracking of new trafficking routes employed by drug cartels to smuggle illicit substances into Nigeria.

 

“This necessitated the watch-listing of containers for 100 per cent examination. At Port Harcourt, six million opioid pills and 162,000 bottles of codeine syrup were uncovered in two containers on Monday 19, and Tuesday, May 20, 2025, during a joint inspection by NDLEA officers alongside Nigeria Customs and other security agencies,” Babafemi added.

 

At Apapa port in Lagos, a further 170,000 bottles of codeine syrup were discovered in a watch-listed container during a similar joint inspection on Thursday, May 22.

 

Babafemi also disclosed the arrest of two British nationals and their Nigerian accomplices for attempting to smuggle 51.10kg of cannabis into the country.

 

“Two British nationals, Mhizha Jordan Alexander Tatendra and Ayedipe Andrew Adejuwon, along with two Nigerians, Shonowo Oluwaseun Imole and Ofuoma Omokaro Ayobami, were arrested by NDLEA operatives for attempting to smuggle 92 bags of Loud, a potent strain of cannabis weighing 51.10kg—through Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Ikeja, Lagos.

 

“Alexander was intercepted upon arrival at MMIA on a Qatar Airways flight from Doha on Thursday, May 15, following processed intelligence. He was allowed to pass through security control unhindered but was closely monitored by NDLEA operatives to the car park, where the consignment’s owner, Ayedipe Andrew Adejuwon, a Nigerian-British national, awaited in an SUV with his relative Shonowo Oluwaseun Imole and driver Ofuoma Omokaro Ayobami.

 

“The operatives swooped on them as they attempted to leave the airport car park, arresting them with the drugs in the vehicle.”

Babafemi revealed that Alexander confessed to being recruited during his recent vacation and was promised £1,300 following the successful delivery of the consignment in Lagos.

 

“The syndicate’s ringleader, Ayedipe Andrew Adejuwon, admitted arriving in Nigeria a day earlier from South Africa via Ghana.

 

“A follow-up operation at their Lekki apartment led to further discoveries. Upon arrest, N93,000 and 17,200 South African Rand were recovered from him, while a search of the apartment yielded N3,810,500 in cash, an Apple laptop, an iPhone 14 Pro Max, and four canisters of laughing gas (nitrous oxide).”

 

In other operations, Babafemi reported that NDLEA operatives destroyed 75,000 kilograms of skunk on 30 hectares of cannabis farms at Esuk-Odot village, Odukpani LGA, Cross River State, where 200kg of the substance was also seized on Wednesday, 22nd May. Additionally, 1,957.5kg of cannabis was destroyed at Ohosu Forest, Ovia South West LGA, and Okhuse Community Forest, Owan West LGA, Edo State on May 23 and 24.

 

“In Nasarawa State, two suspects—Sunday Daniel, 51, and Abu Peter, 30 were arrested in Keffi on Saturday, 24th May, when 4,000 kilograms of skunk were found concealed under unprocessed wood in their lorry. Another suspect, Godwin Obi, 39, was apprehended at Karu with 154.5kg of the same substance on Wednesday, May 21.

“In Kaduna, NDLEA operatives patrolling the Kaduna-Zaria Expressway at Gwargwaje intercepted 22-year-old Muhammad Hamza with 57,750 tramadol and diazepam pills on Wednesday, 21st May. On the same day, operatives in Bauchi arrested 45-year-old Usman Muhammad along Bauchi-Misau Road with 80 blocks of skunk weighing 45kg,” the statement added.

 

Similarly, Babafemi said operatives conducting stop-and-search operations along the Potiskum–Damaturu road in Yobe State intercepted 55 parcels of Colorado cannabis weighing 2kg, which suspect Adum Muhammed, 29, was attempting to smuggle into the Republic of Chad through Ngamboru Ngala border town in Borno State.

 

“In Niger State, NDLEA operatives on patrol along Mokwa-Jebba Road on Thursday, May 22, intercepted a Mercedes Benz car marked FST 938 FU loaded with 235 blocks of compressed cannabis sativa weighing 97kg and arrested suspect Adams Ayibakro.

 

“Meanwhile, operatives in Lagos raided Osapa London area of Lekki, arresting Jonathan Isa with various quantities of cocaine, methamphetamine, molly, Rohypnol, codeine, cannabis, and nitrous oxide. Another raid at Idasun, Eleko, Ibeju Lekki on Saturday, May 24, led to the arrest of Olamilekan Idowu and the seizure of 48kg of skunk,” he stated.

 

The Ogun State Government has sealed six industries operating within the state for various environmental violations.

 

The affected companies include Winwin Electrical Limited, Isichei Farms Limited, Chafengei Nigeria Limited, Fortune Height Farms Limited, Loly B and DA Ventures Limited, and Adventus Nigeria Limited.

 

This was disclosed in a statement released on Saturday by the Ogun Environmental Protection Agency via X (formerly Twitter), reaffirming the agency’s commitment to upholding environmental standards and protecting the state’s ecosystem.

 

In the statement, Farouk Tunde, Special Adviser to the Governor on OGEPA and Chairman of the Ogun State Task Force on Environmental Compliance and Enforcement said the companies were found to be in breach of environmental regulations.

 

He noted that while some of the companies had previously been sealed, they defied government orders and resumed operations unlawfully.

 

“Winwin Electrical Limited, Isichei Farms Limited, and Chafengei Nigeria Limited, located along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, were sealed for air pollution.

“Fortune Height Farms Limited, situated in Odogbolu Local Government Area, which had earlier been sealed for discharging untreated effluent into the environment, was resealed for breaking the government seal to resume operations,” the statement partly read.

 

Tunde further explained that Loly B and DA Ventures Limited in Ijebu-Ode, a company involved in grain cleaning, was also sealed for violating a stop-work order previously issued by the agency.

 

“Adventus Nigeria Limited, whose tube processing factory is located along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, was sealed for exposing workers to environmental hazards and operating without Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).

 

“Isichei Farms Limited, which produces poultry feed and is located along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, was also sealed for violating a stop-work order,” the statement added.

 

The OGEPA official reiterated the agency’s determination to ensure that all industries in the state comply with environmental laws.

 

Real Madrid appointed Xabi Alonso to replace Carlo Ancelotti as coach on Sunday, with the Spaniard to take over from June 1 and lead the team at the Club World Cup.

 

“Xabi Alonso will be the Real Madrid coach for the next three seasons, from June 1, 2025, until June 30, 2028,” said Real Madrid in a statement.

 

With veteran Italian coach Ancelotti taking the reins of the Brazilian national team, Madrid secured a deal with former midfielder Alonso, whom they have been linked with for months.

 

Alonso, 43, leaves German side Bayer Leverkusen at the end of the Bundesliga season after finishing second.

 

“Alonso is one of the biggest legends at Real Madrid and in world football,” continued Los Blancos’ statement.

 

“He wore our shirt in 236 games between 2009 and 2014. During that time he won six trophies.”

 

Alonso will be officially presented on Monday at 1030 GMT.

 

The Spaniard coached Leverkusen to a league and German Cup double in the 2023-2024 campaign, with his team unbeaten in the top flight, making him a target for Europe’s top clubs.

 

Basque coach Alonso had an agreement with Leverkusen to allow him to depart if one of his former sides, including Madrid, Liverpool and Bayern Munich, wanted to hire him.

 

Ancelotti’s Madrid endured a disappointing campaign, winning the European Super Cup and Intercontinental Cup but suffering Champions League quarter-final elimination by Arsenal.

 

Barcelona beat Real Madrid in the Spanish Super Cup and Copa del Rey finals and then reclaimed the Liga throne from their arch-rivals, meaning they failed to win a major trophy.

 

Madrid added French superstar Kylian Mbappe last summer but Ancelotti found it hard to include him in the team alongside Vinicius Junior without destabilising it.

 

Mbappe netted 31 La Liga goals which should earn him the European Golden Shoe, but Alonso’s main job will be to restore the team’s solidity without compromising the attack.

After losing two matches in the whole of the previous campaign, this season Madrid slumped to 14 defeats.

– La Decima –

 

Alonso will replace one of the most successful managers in Madrid’s history, despite their struggles this season.

 

Ancelotti, 65, took Los Blancos to 15 trophies during two spells at the club, spanning six years.

 

The Italian won three Champions League trophies in Madrid, including La Decima — Madrid’s 10th — in 2014, with Alonso as part of his squad, although he was suspended for the final.

 

Alonso was also coached by Pep Guardiola, Jose Mourinho and Vicente del Bosque among others and is considered tactically adroit and an excellent organiser, which could be ideal for a Madrid side that has lacked balance.

 

The midfielder won two European Championships and the 2010 World Cup with Spain as he helped La Roja dominate the international game.

 

After retiring from playing in 2017 he coached Real Madrid and Real Sociedad at youth level before being appointed by Bayer Leverkusen in 2022.

 

Real Madrid have already signed defender Dean Huijsen from Bournemouth this summer and Liverpool right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold is expected to follow, with his contract coming to an end at Anfield.

 

Madrid are trying to bring in the England international before the Club World Cup this summer, which will be Alonso’s first chance to win silverware.

 

Real Madrid face Saudi Arabian side Al-Hilal in Miami on June 18 in their opening match at FIFA’s lucrative summer tournament, which will be the first look at Alonso’s side.

 

AFP

 

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board has released the results of its resit examination conducted for candidates affected by the technical error during the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination.

 

In a statement released on Sunday morning by its Public Communication Advisor, Fabian Benjamin, the board announced the results, revealing that out of the 336,845 candidates rescheduled for the examination, 21,082 were absent.

 

No explanation was provided for the high number of absentees.

 

“Of the 336,845 who were eventually scheduled after isolated good sessions of the affected centres were excluded and their previously unverified candidates were added, 21,082 were absent,” the statement partly read.

 

Recall that the results of the 2025 UTME were originally released on 9 May.

PUNCH Online had reported that, on May 14, JAMB Registrar Professor Ishaq Oloyede revealed that the results of 379,997 candidates across 157 centres in the Lagos and South-East zones were compromised due to a technical glitch.

 

During the press conference, the Registrar burst into tears as he apologised for the error and confirmed that affected candidates would be required to retake the examination.

 

He attributed the issue to faulty server updates, which prevented the proper upload of candidate responses during the first three days of the examination.

 

Details later…

 

The Alimosho Event Vendors Association has urged the Federal and Lagos State Governments to address the challenge of multiple taxation faced by its members, lamenting that this has led to harassment, exploitation, and financial strain.

 

The association identified multiple taxations as a major problem affecting the profit margin of its members.

 

Speaking at the Annual General Meeting/ Inauguration of the new executive members of the association on Saturday, the president of AEVA, Mrs. Rosemary Ajayi said the imposition of multiple taxes, levies, and charges at various levels of government on their members remains a major barrier to their services.

 

The event, held recently in Lagos, brought together professional event vendors from across Alimosho Local Government in Lagos State, providing a unique opportunity for networking and growth.

 

Ajayi, who is also the Chief Executive Officer of Mary’s Golden Event Ltd, said AEVA members were levied by both the Federal and Lagos State Governments, a situation she said was inimical to the industry’s growth.

 

She said, “We are facing multiple taxations. We are taxed by the Lagos State Government and the Federal Inland Revenue Service. We want the government to address this because we are small-scale businesses. We want the government to help us in any way they can.”

 

The president urged the government to implement a single, unified tax payment system to eliminate the burden of multiple levies.

 

Ajayi also appealed to the government to assist members of AEVA with soft loans to boost their business and contribute more to the economy by addressing unemployment.

 

“We are a big community of employers of labour for Nigeria. The event industry employs a significant number of people, and that is why we want to project the industry and our activities.

“We want the government to come and see what we are doing and help us and encourage us more. We address unemployment in Nigeria. So, we want the federal and Lagos State governments to support us with soft loans to grow our businesses and make more impact, “she said.

 

Ajayi said she would steer the affairs of the association in the next two years with a special focus on innovation, strategic partnerships with organisations, community building, and collaboration among members and relevant stakeholders to carry out big events as her major goals.

 

She assured that under her leadership, the association would work harder to unite the members and achieve its goals.

 

Ajayi took over from Eunice Iwu-Basil; the immediate past president who successfully led the association for two years.

 

The other new executive members include Helen Fregene, Vice President;

Oluwaseyi sylv-kadiri, Secretary;

Folashade Adelaja, Treasurer; Florence Oyegwa, Admin; Ayo Adewuyi, PRO; Oluseye Jegede, Social; Doris Monyei, Welfare and Eche Blessing Ogbe, Assistant welfare.

In her remarks, the AEVA Board of Trustee Chairperson, Mrs.Taiwo Awojoodu, said the association with 146 members was all about giving a voice to event planners and promoting the industry.

 

She urged the new executives to unite members of the association and to move it forward.

 

Awojoodu said the executives were elected by the members, unlike in the past when they were appointed.

 

Stakeholders in the engineering sector have identified the lack of effective engineering administration as a major contributor to the incidences of building collapse in the country.

 

They made this known at the Nigerian Institute of Civil Engineers 5th Engr. Umar Jibrin Distinguished Annual Public Lecture on Saturday in Abuja.

 

The lecture had as its theme: “Effective Engineering Administration as a Panacea for Building and Infrastructure Collapse”.

 

It was organised by NICE in honour of Jibrin, who dedicated decades of engineering skills to national development.

 

The keynote speaker, Prof. Okorie Uche, Registrar, Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria, said building collapse was a national concern.

 

He attributed it to the absence of qualified supervision, use of substandard materials, lack of enforcement of regulations, inadequate or expired structural designs, corruption in planning approvals, and poor maintenance culture.

 

“From residential building to bridge, roads, grid failure and public infrastructure failure, Nigeria has witnessed numerous catastrophic failures; these incidents are not merely accidents but symptoms of systematic problems demanding urgent attention.

 

“From statistics, 80 per cent of infrastructure failures were from private developers , that is where the problem is ,thus the need to bring them on board,’’ he said.

 

According to Uche, engineering administration is the backbone of any successful infrastructure project as it encompasses planning, research allocation, project management, policy implementation, and adherence to regulatory standard.

 

He said that when executed properly, it ensured that engineering projects met global standards of quality, durability, and safety.

 

“Every collapse is a failure of administration, a betrayer of trust, and an erosion of hope. We must rise to change this narrative. We must insist on professionalism over patronage

 

“We must prioritise long-term safety over short-term profits. We must empower engineers not to just build but to lead.

“Let us remember no nation rises above the integrity of its infrastructure, and no infrastructure stands tall without the scaffolding of sound engineering administration,” he said.

 

Uche explained that under funding, COREN, saddled with the monitoring and regulations of engineering in Nigeria, was undermining that process and called for a reversal of that situation.

The guest speaker, Mustafa Shehu, who is also the president, and World Federation of Engineering Organisations, urged Africa not to be left out in global engineering best practices.

 

The National Chairman of NICE, Tokunbo Ajanaku, said the annual lecture was not just a tradition but a vital platform for reflection and to engage meaningfully on matters that concern engineering and the society.

 

Ajanaku said: “As a nation, we are daily confronted with the disturbing reality of building and infrastructure failures, which not only result in economic loss but tragically the loss of lives.

 

“It is no longer sufficient to point fingers at design flaws or construction practices alone.

 

“We must critically examine the frameworks of engineering administration like our regulatory systems, project supervision, enforcement of standards and the leadership within our engineering institutions and agencies.

 

“Effective administration is the backbone of sustainable engineering outcomes and this lecture will provide a necessary lens through which we can evaluate our collective responsibilities and propose lasting solutions,” Ajanaku said.

 

Mr Umar Jibrin in whose honour the lecture was organised commended NICE for sustaining the annual lecture.

 

Jibrin said:” I feel highly honoured and elated. I am very impressed by the way the lecture has been going on.

 

(NAN)

 

Rescuers in Gaza said six people were killed and several more wounded in pre-dawn Israeli air strikes in the north and centre of the Palestinian territory on Sunday.

 

Civil defence spokesman Mahmud Bassal said five people were killed in a strike on a home in Jabalia, in the north.

 

Another person was killed in a drone strike on tents sheltering displaced people west of Nuseirat in central Gaza, he added.

 

The Israeli military has stepped up its Gaza operations in recent days in what it has described as a renewed push to destroy Hamas.

 

On Saturday afternoon, the military said it had carried out strikes on more than 100 targets throughout Gaza over the past day.

 

Gaza’s health ministry said Saturday that at least 3,747 people had been killed in the territory since a ceasefire collapsed on March 18, taking the war’s overall toll to 53,901, mostly civilians.

Hamas’s October 2023 attack on Israel that triggered the war resulted in the deaths of 1,218 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on official figures.

 

Militants also took 251 hostages, 57 of whom remain in Gaza including 34 the Israeli military says are dead.

 

The Niger Police Command has rescued four kidnapped victims of Sarkin-Pawa, Munya Local Government Area of the state.

 

This is contained in a statement released by its Public Relations officer, SP Wasiu Abiodun, on Saturday in Minna.

 

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that on February 20, around 10 pm, suspected kidnappers attacked Hayin-Dogo and Dangunu villages of Sarkin-Pawa, Munya LGA.

 

During the attack, one Usman Daina and four others were abducted, but Daina was released after two days.

 

“Since then, the joint security team had been mounting pressure through different clearance and rescue operations to rescue the victims.

“Fortunately, on May 22, at about 12 noon, the victims; Deborah Daina, Gambo Amos, Cyprus Titus, and Satti Iko escaped from their abductors due to the sustained pressure from the security team.

 

Meanwhile, the victims were taken to the hospital for medical attention and subsequently reunited with their families.

 

The Commissioner of Police, Niger Command, Adamu Elleman, commended the joint security team for its display of gallantry, which resulted in the rescue.

 

He reassured members of the public that the safety of lives and property would continue to be the priority of the police and other security agencies in the state.

 

The Katsina State Police Command said its operatives on Thursday foiled a kidnapping attempt.

 

The Command’s Public Relations Officer, DSP Abubakar Sadiqe, said the command also killed one suspected bandit and rescued five injured kidnapped victims during the operation.

 

According to DSP Sadiq in a statement made available to newsmen on Saturday, “On May 22, 2025, at about 2215 hrs, a distress call was received at Malumfashi Division that some armed men suspected to be bandits attacked Unguwar Lado and Karo villages of Malumfashi LGA, Katsina State. Led by the DPO, a team of police operatives responded promptly to the scene and engaged the hoodlums in a gun duel.

 

“During the operation, one notorious bandit, Audu Kushin, ‘m’ of Tsamiyar Maigoro village, was successfully neutralised.

 

“Unfortunately, five kidnap victims were shot and injured by the assailants.

“The injured victims were rushed to General Hospital Malumfashi for immediate medical attention. Efforts are being intensified to ensure the arrest of the fleeing suspects.

 

The police spokesperson added that, “This successful operation is part of the command’s ongoing onslaught against banditry and kidnapping, demonstrating the command’s commitment to protecting lives and property in the state.

 

“The Commissioner of Police, Katsina State Command, CP Bello Shehu, psc, fdc, MNIM, commends the efforts of the operatives as he charges them to sustain the tempo.

 

“He further called on members of the public to continue supporting the command with timely information for prompt and decisive action against all forms of crime and criminality in the state.

 

President Bola Tinubu has congratulated veteran human rights activist and lawyer, Ms. Ayo Obe, on her 70th birthday on Saturday.

 

The President lauded Obe for her unwavering commitment to justice and her significant contributions to Nigeria’s democratic journey.

 

Ayo Obe, a renowned pro-democracy activist, has held several pivotal roles throughout her distinguished career, including leading the Civil Liberties Organisation and the Nigeria Transition Monitoring Group.

 

She also served as a member of the Police Service Commission and, between 2006 and 2009, headed the Democratic Institute Abuja Elections Programme.

Tinubu commended the legal practitioner for her consistent demonstration of patriotism and humanism, qualities that he said have defined her life of service and struggle for a just and better society.

 

In a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, on Saturday, Tinubu remarked, “Your life of commitment, versatility and diligence in service, exemplified by your years of struggle against injustice and human rights abuse, culminating in your joining like-minded citizens to challenge military dictatorship during the nation’s dark days, even at the risk of your safety and liberty, is highly appreciated.”

 

The President further expressed his pride in her contributions to the enthronement of democracy, reaffirming his administration’s commitment to its growth and strengthening.

 

He concluded by praying for God to grant her continued good health and a sound mind, enabling her to persist in serving the nation through her advocacy for a better society and humanity.