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HURIWA Applauds NDLEA, Seeks Financial Autonomy
The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has lauded the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) for its transformative fight against drug trafficking and abuse, describing its performance under the leadership of Brigadier General Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd.) as exemplary.
In a statement signed by its National Coordinator, Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko, HURIWA praised the NDLEA’s remarkable successes, including dismantling drug cartels, seizing large quantities of narcotics, and arresting traffickers.
The group also commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for providing the agency with unwavering support, enabling its progress.
HURIWA highlighted recent NDLEA operations, such as the interception of nearly two tonnes of cannabis, known as “Ghanaian Loud,” at Lagos’s Eleko Beach, and the arrest of six foreign nationals involved in the smuggling.
“These achievements reflect the agency’s unyielding commitment to protecting Nigerians from the menace of narcotics,” HURIWA stated.
The association also applauded the NDLEA’s strategic focus on capacity building, particularly its collaboration with the German government for a two-week training program for officers. The training covered critical areas like crime scene investigation and the use of the West Africa Police Information System (WAPIS).
“Capacity building is crucial in countering evolving drug trafficking methods. The NDLEA’s proactive investment in training ensures that its officers remain ahead of traffickers’ tactics,” the statement read.
HURIWA further emphasized the need for sustained financial support, urging the federal government to grant the NDLEA full financial autonomy. It warned of the potential infiltration of drug money into Nigeria’s political system, particularly as the 2027 general elections approach.
“Adequate funding for the NDLEA is essential to ensure that drug barons do not undermine the integrity of our democracy,” the group asserted.
Looking ahead to 2025, HURIWA expressed confidence in the NDLEA’s ability to adapt to anticipated challenges posed by evolving drug cartel tactics. It urged Nigerians, state governments, and international partners to collaborate with the agency in promoting drug prevention and awareness.
“The NDLEA, under General Marwa’s results-driven leadership, has restored public confidence in its ability to tackle the drug menace head-on. We salute the agency for its outstanding efforts and call on the federal government to continue supporting this critical fight,” HURIWA concluded.
By Our Reporter
The National Productivity Centre, NPC organized the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) 2025 Productivity Club Quiz Competition, which brought together students from selected secondary schools in Abuja.
The event, held at the Newton Park hotel, Zone 4, Wuse, Abuja on Thursday, March 6, aimed to test participants’ knowledge on productivity and its concepts.
The competition featured students from eight secondary schools in the Federal Capital Territory, FCT including: Government Secondary Schools Karu, Wuye, Apo Resettlement, Byazhin, Jabi, and Kurudu; as well as Government Day Secondary Schools Karu and Dutse Alhaji, all in the FCT.
In his opening remarks, the Director-General, Hon. Dr. Baffa Babba Dan’Agundi welcomed participants and observers, highlighting the aim of the programme.
Dr. Dan’Agundi said: “This unique programme is targeted at bringing young students together to showcase their knowledge of productivity they have acquired over the years, through the Productivity Coaching and Mentoring (PCM) Programme”.
Explaining further, he added that “Productivity Coaching and Mentoring Programme is an arm of the Productivity Awareness Campaign programme designed to take productivity messages to secondary schools to drive their productivity consciousness and introduce them to basic Productivity improvement tools and techniques, that would guide them on how to improve their productivity in their academic pursuit”.
The Executive Secretary, FCT Secondary Education Board, who was represented by Mr. Henry Sunday Mamman commended the Centre for impacting productivity knowledge to the students. He also encouraged the students to use the knowledge acquired to enhance their overall performance.
After a keenly contested finale, the quiz competition came to a thrilling conclusion with GDSS Dutse Alhaji emerging as the overall winner.
The second and third positions were secured by GSS Karu and GSS Byazhin, respectively.
The event was graced by distinguished guests, including the Director-General, National Productivity Centre, and his team of Directors, as well as Mr. Henry Sunday Mamman, who represented the Executive Secretary of FCT Secondary Education Board.
Hajia Maimuna Musa Adaji, Director/HOD Corporate Affairs and Information, delivered the Vote of Thanks.
Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Thursday quizzed the immediate-past Minister for Women Affairs, Uju Kennedy Ohanenye, for her alleged roles in the misappropriation, violation of procurement process and diversion of public funds of ₦138.4m in the course of disbursing the 2023 budgeted funds for the Ministry.
According to authoritative sources, the ex-minister arrived at the Commission’s headquarters around 11am on Thursday and faced interrogators on her alleged involvement in the fraud.
The sources claimed that investigations by the EFCC showed that funds donated for the funding of P- Bat Cares for Women Initiative were diverted for her self-enrichment.
She reportedly has not been admitted to administrative bail, as the sources added that investigations are still ongoing.
Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye was one of the ministers President Bola Tinubu relieved of their duties in October 2024.
She was appointed as the Minister of Women Affairs by Tinubu on August 21, 2023.
A Bill for an Act to provide for the establishment of an Independent Authority for the registration, regulation, and funding of political parties in Nigeria has scaled second reading in the House of Representatives.
The bill seeks to establish a dispute tribunal and regulate the funding of political parties as well as utilisation of the funds.
The bill, which was sponsored by the Speaker of the House, Tajudeen Abbas, and another lawmaker, Marcus Onobun, further seeks to ensure transparency and a stable democracy.
At the moment, there are 19 registered political parties in Nigeria. The roles to be performed by the new independent authority are currently the responsibilities of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The independence and neutrality of INEC have been questioned by many including former President Goodluck Jonathan and former INEC Chairman Attahiru Jega, who decried the influence of political interference on the appointments of electoral commissioners.
“The electoral commission must be fully independent and we must have credible people. Political leaders who are so domineering and over-pressuring you (INEC staffers) to do what is wrong should resign and leave,” Jonathan said at a Yiaga event recently.
Similarly, Jega said, “There is political interference in the appointment or removal of electoral commissioners and other election officials.”
Bishop Isaac Idahosa, the 2023 Vice Presidential Candidate of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), also lamented that nobody puts INEC in check.
Meanwhile, INEC chairman Mahmood Yakubu has been pushing for the creation of an electoral offence tribunal.
“A major obstacle to the speedy dispensation of justice in this regard is that electoral offences are not time-bound as is the case with post-election offences through the tribunals. Furthermore, they are solely prosecuted by the Magistrate and State High Courts in the jurisdiction where the alleged offences are committed.
“No priority attention is given to such cases as the courts deal with a variety of other cases. Consequently, electoral offences are carried over from one General Election to another which may sometimes affect the diligent prosecution of the cases.
“It is therefore imperative to renew our call for the creation of the Electoral Offences Tribunal that has a specific jurisdiction and limited timeframe for the speedy dispensation of cases,” he said.