Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, has intercepted a consignments of cocaine and pharmaceutical opioids at three courier firms in Lagos.

The NDLEA spokesperson, Femi Babafemi said in a statement on Sunday in Abuja that the drugs were concealed in ladies’ sanitary pads and hair treatment cream containers.

Mr Babafemi said that the consignments were heading to the United Kingdom, Ireland and Cyprus respectively.

According to him, in one of the logistics companies, not less than 30 parcels of cocaine weighing 1.1 kilograms were concealed in hair cream containers.

“They were recovered by NDLEA officers of the Directorate of Operations and General Investigation, (DOGI), during examination of cargoes going to Ireland on Tuesday Sept. 3

“Another consignment of 24 parcels of cocaine weighing 862 grams also hidden in hair cream containers meant for delivery in UK was equally intercepted at the same company on Friday Sept. 5.

In the same vein, a total of 525 pills of tramadol 225mg and ecstasy (MDMA) concealed in ladies’ sanitary pads going to Cyprus were seized at another courier firm in Lagos by NDLEA operatives on Tuesday Sept. 3.

Meanwhile, a shipment of 200 ampoules of promethazine injection and pentazocine injection hidden in food items and herbs heading to London, UK, was also seized by operatives on Wednesday Sept. 4

“Operatives equally intercepted another consignment of tramadol 225mg buried in granulated melon that came from Cameroon and going to South Africa on Friday 6th September,”he said.

In another development, no fewer than 550,000 pills of tramadol were also intercepted at the Port Harcourt International Airport, (PHIA) Port Harcourt on Monday Sept. 2.

Babafemi said that the tramadol pills were seized during a joint examination of a cargo that came from Delhi, India, with men of the Nigerian Customs Service.

“A suspect was already arrested in connection with the seizure,” he said.

NAN

The 2023 presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, has warned that the proposed Value Added Tax (VAT) increase by President Bola Tinubu would consume the citizens.

The former vice president said it was unfortunate that President Tinubu and his aides prefer to punish Nigerians through taxes and charges.

He decried that instead of searching for ways to improve the lives of Nigerians who are already overburdened by his government’s hard economic policies, the President seeks ways to fund his extravagant excesses.

In a statement, on Sunday, titled “The increase in VAT is set to become the blazing inferno that will consume the very essence of our people“, Atiku stated that Nigerians would find it more difficult with the VAT increase policy.

He said, “President Bola Tinubu, alongside his coterie of advisers, has resolved to raise the VAT rate from 7.5% to 10%, even as the NNPCL has announced a soaring PMS price increase at the pump. This move unveils a new era of regressive and punitive policies, and its impact is destined to deepen the domestic cost-of-living crisis and exacerbate Nigeria’s already fragile economic growth.

“President Tinubu and his entourage seem to be resorting to their familiar tactic: heaping burdens upon the impoverished while steadfastly ignoring their extravagant excesses! Tinubu’s actions reflect a profound insensitivity to the plight of the less fortunate as he indulges in the opulent renovation of villas and the acquisition of new jets and vehicles for himself and his family.

“One need not be an economist to grasp the ominous implications of President Tinubu’s ill-conceived policies for Nigeria’s future. The relentless rise in taxes and interest rates has proven excessively onerous, debilitating businesses of all sizes and leading to job losses while intensifying the suffering of the poor. The manufacturing sector, in particular, has endured relentless strife since Tinubu’s ascendancy, with its contribution to the GDP diminishing by over 20% since December 2023, as reported by the NBS.”

Atiku also bemoaned the President’s removal of import duty on rice, maize and other cereals. He explained that the policy has put farmers in serious economic problems and job loss.

“In early August, Tinubu turned his attention to agriculture. As is customary with this administration, a new policy was clandestinely formulated and announced, permitting duty-free importation of agricultural commodities such as wheat, maize, and paddy, despite vehement opposition from farmer groups nationwide.

“This policy poses a grave threat to Nigeria’s food security ambitions, as local farmers, facing unfair competition from low-cost producers in Asia, Europe, and America, are compelled to reduce or entirely abandon their production efforts. It jeopardizes job creation, wealth generation, and the sector’s long-term prosperity, casting a shadow over Nigeria’s sustainability and development.

“President Tinubu and his advisers would be wise to redirect their efforts towards crafting sustainable solutions to the systemic shocks afflicting the economy rather than compounding the crisis with measures destined to ignite further turmoil,” Atiku added.

A staunch supporter of President Bola Tinubu’s administration’s policies and an All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain, Joe Igbokwe has cried out to the President on the new electricity tariff plan.

Joe Igbokwe lamented that the current electricity tariff plan has a serious effect on his small business. He cried out that if something is not done, his business and other businesses will be killed by the new charge.

The Lagos State All Progressives Congress, chieftain, on his Facebook handle, on Saturday, narrated that he is paying more than he used for his small office in Surulere.

According to Igbokwe, before the electricity tariff hike, he used to buy 300 units for ₦20,000 and it lasts for a long time powering his Surulere Office and its 7 Air Conditionals, but that has changed.

He explained that with the new tariff increase which put him and his business in Band A classification, ₦20,000 worth of units only lasted for one day for his office.

He called on President Tinubu to review the new electricity tariff hike to save his business and other businesses.

Igbokwe wrote, “PBAT (President Bola Tinubu), please look into the new electricity tariff in Nigeria. It will kill businesses if the government does not act as quickly as possible. I have a small office in Surulere with about 7 units of AC.

“We used to buy 300 plus units for ₦20,0000. Yesterday (Friday) we bought ₦20,000 worth of units and it lasted for just one day. They call it band A group. I pray that we review this.“

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has raised an alarm regarding the activities of Christ Mercy Land Deliverance Ministries, led by Prophet Jeremiah Fufeyin.

Naija News reports that the agency warns that the ministry is using NAFDAC’s name to mislead the public about unregistered miracle products.

In a statement issued on Sunday, NAFDAC’s Director General, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, clarified that none of the miracle products promoted by the ministry are approved by the agency.

“NAFDAC wishes to alert the public on the activities of a faith-based organization – Christ Mercy Land Delivery Ministries – that uses NAFDAC name to deceive the unsuspecting public,” the statement partly read.

NAFDAC said it received numerous complaints from concerned citizens regarding the ministry’s promotion of “Miracle Water” and “Miracle Soap” through social media, claiming these items could heal ailments and perform miracles, such as curing infertility.

Prophet Fufeyin allegedly told his congregation that the soap was registered with NAFDAC, prompting many people to inquire with the agency for confirmation.

The complaints also highlighted a list of additional products allegedly sold by the ministry, including “River Jordan Water,” “A New Beginning Mount Camel Miracle Water,” and various other “miracle” waters and perfumes.

Upon receiving these complaints, NAFDAC tasked its Delta State office with investigating. Officials were directed to visit the ministry’s premises to verify the production of the miracle products and assess the validity of the claims.

“The Coordinator was also directed to visit the Ministry to establish the veracity of the claims in the petitions and take necessary regulatory action on the production facility in the Ministry where the Miracle water and other products are produced. The State Coordinator covertly bought the Miracle Water (25cl) for 3000 naira from the Ministries and took the pictures.

“On Wednesday, August 14th 2024, the State Coordinator Delta State visited the Mercy Land Ministry and met the Head of Service – Mr. Ogunleye Fufeyin and the Chief Security Officer. The officials denied producing Miracle and Healing Water or Soap even with the evidence of the receipt of purchase.

“He claimed that only the Logo and address on the label were theirs but not the product. The HOS added that they only have a pool of Bethsaida water, which is spiritual and artificial. The HOS requested time to meet with other staff and returned. He returned after 30 minutes and refused to cooperate, asking them to see the CSO.

“On August 27th 2024, a team of Investigation and Enforcement NAFDAC and Federal Task Force on Counterfeit and Fake Drugs and Unwholesome Processed Foods visited the Ministry to commence investigation on the place of purchase or the manufacturing site for possible sample collection, for laboratory analysis, but the officials did not cooperate with the team. Letters of invitation were issued to the officials to report on August 28th, but it was not honoured.

“The company instead submitted a Legal document at NAFDAC Headquarters Abuja on August 28th, 2024 and asked to come back on September 3rd, 2024, to organise their document before coming. The Agency then gave the Prophet till the 29th to report to the investigation and Enforcement NAFDAC Office Asaba for further necessary investigation.

“Investigation and Enforcement Asaba waited for the Christ Mercy Land Delivery Ministries officials based on their earlier request to report for commencement of the investigation, but they still refused to show up. On September 3rd, 2024, they forwarded some documents instead of asking for more time to report,” it explained.

In a document presented to NAFDAC on September 3rd, Christ Mercy Land Deliverance Ministries claimed they had entered a production agreement with Globod Table Water, located in Delta State, without informing NAFDAC’s state office. NAFDAC has deemed this arrangement illegal under current regulations.

In response, NAFDAC has sealed the Globod Table Water factory for its involvement in the unregistered production and sale of the miracle water, which carried a fake NAFDAC registration number.

The agency confirmed that Christ Mercy Land Deliverance Ministries had failed to cooperate with the ongoing investigation.

NAFDAC emphasized that none of the miracle products sold by the ministry are registered, warning the public against buying them. The agency reiterated its commitment to ensuring that all products undergo scientific validation before receiving approval.

“In continuation of our investigation, NAFDAC Investigation and Enforcement has sealed the Globod Table Water factory to aid and abet the production, sale, and advertisement of unregistered and unwholesome Miracle Water under the pretext of Fake NAFDAC Registration Number.

“At this point, it is very clear that Christ Mercy Land Delivery Ministries, KM 5, is not ready to present itself for investigation of production and advertisement of suspected falsified, unwholesome, and unregistered miracle products.

“NAFDAC wishes to inform the public that none of these products being advertised and sold are registered with NAFDAC. The public is also being advised to stop patronizing any of these Miracle products. NAFDAC is scientific organization that is guided by verifiable scientific facts before registering any product.

“In the meantime, we will continue with our investigation into the activities of this faith organization with regard to products within our mandates that have been reported to be manufactured and sold by them. I want to use this opportunity to warn faith organizations against illegal production of regulated products without requisite regulatory requirements,” it added.

Prof. Adeyeye concluded by reassuring Nigerians that NAFDAC would continue to protect public health and warned other faith organizations against producing regulated products without following proper procedures.

The interim coach of the Super Eagles, Augustine Eguavoen, said his team can beat any team with the quality of players in the team.

Eguavoen stated this after his team spanked the Cheetahs of Benin Republic 4-0 in the 2025 African Cup Of Nations, AFCON at the Godswill Akpabio stadium, Uyo, Akwa Ibom on Saturday.

“We have quality players to beat any team but we respect team anyway. Any coach can come in and do the same job with the Super Eagles.

“It is a mindset, we have the potential and how you perceived your opponent, given the information about them and then go out and do the job,“he said.

Equavoen attributed the victory to the formation adopted by the technical crew, adding that any formation could be used to ensure that the team was successful.

“We can decide to use any system. It is something we discussed and I slept over it. I know with the caliber of players that we have, we can decide to play any formation.

“Football is about you win, lose and draw, I don’t believe we have a poor result,” he said.

He, however, said that the former Super Eagles coach didn’t do a good job but it has to do with believe, what is at stake and what you want to achieve.

“Psychologically as a group, we are agreed, where we are and where we are going to be. We will definitely achieve it,” Equavoen said.

He commended the performance of the defence , describing it as superb, adding that the team had been training together for one week.

The coach said that asking six players to warm up for the second half was to buy time, adding that there was no need to rush to change.

He said the Cheetahs of Benin Republic were a good team, adding that they came with a good game plan.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that Eguavoen was appointed interim coach after the deal between the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF and coach Bruno Labbadia failed.

NFF explained in a statement that it failed due to the stringent regulations of German tax authorities.

NAN

The Governor of Katsina, Dikko Umar Radda, has disclosed that most bandits’ attacks in villages were done through village and community heads in the state.

Governor Umar Radda said an undisclosed village head collected ₦700,000 bandits, in exchange for the bandits to invade his village and kill 30 residents.

Speaking at the 2025 Citizens’ Budget Participation Process and the launching of the state’s Community Development Programmes Governor Radda explained that paying ransom would not help to address bandits’ activities in the state.

The Katsina State Governor added that his administration has resolved to empower the residents to combat bandits themselves.

“We have come up with an initiative that for any community ready to defend itself, we will give them necessary support and training to engage criminals before the arrival of the security agents.

“I went to a village, Tsamiyar-jino, where it took me two hours inside a ‘Jeep’ before I reached the village from the main road.

“So, if bandits attack such areas, from the time you inform the security agents, it will take them over two hours before they can respond to the distress call. By then, whatever is going to happen will have happened – they will have killed people and kidnapped others.

“I have said it several times, that the security agents cannot do this work alone. We didn’t even have enough of them,” Governor Radda said.

He continued, “I am surprised at the way we are dying in such a humiliating manner. We were told that anyone who died in defence of his family would enter paradise.

“You see five criminals attacking a community of 2,000 to 3,000 people, rape daughters, women and abducting others without any confrontation from the people of that community.

“If there are 100 youths in the community who confront them, they will not shoot for more than three times without being captured with bare hands.

“Paying ransom doesn’t even prevent a hostage from being killed by abductors; sometimes they collect the money and kill the victim.

“There was a representative of the village head who collected ₦700,000 from bandits and allowed them to enter his area and killed about 30 people.

“There were women arrested – a teacher serving as their informant; in fact, almost all the segments of people involved in this act.“

The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) has promised to patronize Dangote Refinery when the organization starts selling petrol to members of the public.
The National President of IPMAN, Abubakar Maigandi, who made this known on Saturday, added that the marketers are ready to buy from Dangote irrespective of the price the refinery fixes for its product as long as the organization is ready to do business with its members.

“Whatever the case, if Dangote starts selling his product, we are going to patronise him; if at all he wants to do business with us.

“We are ready to buy at any price because the NNPC is saying that they don’t want to involve themselves in fixing prices. So, at any price that he wants to sell, we are ready to buy and discharge and sell at a good price,” he told Punch.

Meanwhile, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) has clarified its stance regarding the recent accusations by the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), which suggested that NNPC’s actions were undermining the operations of Dangote Refinery Limited (DRL).

According to a statement issued on Saturday by Olufemi Soneye, the Chief Corporate Communications Officer of NNPC, the company refuted claims that changes in the pump price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) would prevent the Dangote Refinery from offering competitive prices.

NNPC emphasized that it is not the sole buyer of petroleum products in Nigeria and that the market remains open for competitive pricing from any local refinery, including DRL.

They reiterated that the pricing of products from any refinery, including DRL, is determined by global market forces, and current high prices present an opportunity for local refineries to sell at lower rates.

The company also dismissed the claim that it is the sole offtaker of products from DRL, stating that domestic refineries are free to sell directly to any marketer on a “willing buyer, willing seller” basis.

The NNPC assured the public that they hold no exclusive rights to distribute Dangote Refinery’s products and that their role in the market remains transparent and competitive.

Olatunbosun Oyintiloye, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun has appealed to President Bola Tinubu, to quickly address the growing hunger and economic hardship in the country.

Mr Oyintiloye, a former lawmaker, made the appeal while speaking with newsmen on Sunday in Osogbo.

He said that the current suffering and hardship Nigerians were passing through required a more faster and impactful approach.

He said that although there was no doubt that the President was working hard to ameliorate the suffering of the people, but a more faster approach was needed.

Mr Oyintiloye, a member of the defunct APC Presidential Campaign Council, PCC, noted that the economic hardship through the hike in the prices of food stuff, petrol, electricity, cooking gas, among others were becoming unbearable.

He said the recent increment in the fuel pump price will no doubt worsen the hardship the masses were currently going through.

“Nigerians are hopeful that there will be positive turn around in the country but measures to achieve this must be accelerated.

“There is no doubt that the President is doing everything humanly possible to ameliorate the suffering of the masses but a faster approach must be considered.

“The President should ensure that every bureaucratic bottleneck that is impeding the swift implementation of policies that will put smiles on the faces of the masses is removed.

“The economic suffering the masses are currently going through is becoming unbearable and the President must act fast. Nigerians are hungry,” he said.

Mr Oyintiloye also urged the President to see to the delay in the implementation of the suspension of customs duties and taxes on imported food items two months after.

The APC chieftain said that since the initiative was said to be part of measures to combat rising food inflation across the country, there should not be any delay in its implementation by the concerned authorities.

Mr Oyintiloye, who noted that on August 7, the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adeniyi, assured that the implementation of the policy would commence the following week once the guidelines were ready, said up till now the policy was yet to be implemented

“There is no doubt that the President is passionate and willing to put smiles on the faces of the masses but those who are in charge of implementing these policies should not be seen as roadblocks.

“The President gave a directive to the authorities of the Nigeria Customs Services that a 150-day duty-free window to allow the importation of maize, husked brown rice, and wheat and almost two months after this is yet to be implemented.

“This is not good enough. The President cannot be every where and that is why his foot soldiers must be proactive in taking steps to achieve the President’s desire.

“The masses are angry and hungry, and that is why all measures to ameliorate this should be acted on faster,” he stated.

He appealed to Nigerians for continued support to the President, saying that all the policies implemented at the moment might seem painful but would be of great benefits in the long run.

NAN

In a heartfelt session held over the weekend, Betsy Obaseki, the wife of the Edo State Governor, delivered an inspiring message to childless women, urging them to see themselves as “fruitful, potential, and proud mothers” awaiting their time as decreed by divine providence.

The occasion, a Zoom meeting, saw Mrs. Obaseki, joined by Mrs. Ifeyinwa Ighodalo, spouse of the Peoples Democratic Party governorship candidate, engaging with a vibrant community of Edo women residing abroad.

This impactful dialogue comes in the wake of controversial remarks by Senator Adams Oshiomhole regarding Mrs. Obaseki’s childlessness, which quickly spiraled into virality.

The senator’s comments were a direct reaction to a pointed jab from Betsy Obaseki during a rally in Igueben, where she declared that “only Asue Ighodalo has a wife among the leading contenders.”

During the virtual meeting, Mrs. Obaseki addressed the participants spread across various continents, reminding them of their intrinsic worth and the divine intention behind their creation.

“Every woman is created by God for a purpose,” she asserted, reinforcing a message of hope and dignity amidst the often sensitive subject of childlessness.

She said, “My words of comfort to you, like myself, who have conceived and experienced miscarriages, painful stillbirths, and evacuations of babies who died in our wombs, is this, you are not barren.

“I dare to call you fruitful. You and I are potential and proud mothers of children who will come in God’s time. Enjoy the life God has given you.

“Take your mind off your challenge, and before you know it, children will start coming.”

Obaseki said that her contributions to society have gone beyond the biological aspect of motherhood. Being fruitful is not limited to childbearing. It is about impacting lives and creating positive change in society.

“There is no point in feeling bad. Women can fulfil God’s purpose in many ways beyond motherhood,” she added.

Ifeyinwa Ighodalo thanked the women for attending the meeting and promised to continue all of Betsy Obaseki’s programmes for women and the girl child in Edo if her husband is elected.

Fresh facts have emerged as to why the special adviser to the President Bola Tinubu on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, resigned.

On Saturday, Mr Ngelale announced that he had taken an indefinite leave of absence to attend to health challenge in his family.

“On Friday, I submitted a memo to the Chief of Staff to the President informing my office that I am proceeding on an indefinite leave of absence to frontally deal with medical matters presently affecting my immediate, nuclear family.

“While I fully appreciate that the ship of state waits for no man, this agonizing decision — entailing a pause of my functions as the Special Adviser to the President on Media & Publicity and Official Spokesperson of the President; Special Presidential Envoy on Climate Action, and Chairman, Presidential Steering Committee on Project Evergreen — was taken after significant consultations with my family over the past several days as a vexatious medical situation has worsened at home,” Mr Ngelale said.

Although Mr Ngelale had cited “medical matters” as the reason for his “leave of absence”, insiders told DAILY NIGERIAN that Mr Ngele was only given a soft-landing to quit as presidential spokesman but he chose to quit all the positions he was occupying.

Since Mr Ngelale’s appointment, which was influenced by the first family, there has been internal pressure to replace him with “someone better media relations” among the campaign spokespersons or “someone the president is more pleased with”.

DAILY NIGERIAN also gathered that Mr Ngelale was also on collision course with other media aides working for the president for allegedly sidelining them in the running of the affairs of the office.

According to sources, Mr Ngelale had also chewed more than he could bite, taking a number of roles that affected his primary media relations role.

The sources said the tasks of being a Special Presidential Envoy on Climate Action, and chairman, Presidential Steering Committee on Project Evergreen, has created a role strain and gave the cabal a reason to convince the president to replace him.

The sources said Mr Ngelale had stepped on some toes as he expanded the scope of the Special Presidential Envoy role to garner more influence in the power circle.

“When the powers around the president realised that he has too many irons in the fire, they asked him to choose between being a presidential spokesman and Special Presidential Envoy on Climate Action.

“They thought Ajuri would choose the climate role because of his passion for climate campaign, but he chose to remain as presidential spokesman.

“Dissatisfied with Ajuri’s choice, the presidential cabal therefore directed him to completely quit the media role and become a full-time climate ambassador.

“So when Ajuri realised that the cabal does not want him as spokesman for the president, he decided to quit the roles altogether,” said a source familiar with the power play.

DAILY NIGERIAN gathered that the president may pick his former chief of staff, Sunday Dare, as Mr Ngelale’s replacement.

Efforts to get the reaction of Mr Ngelale on the issue were unsuccessful as his known phone number was switched off at the time of filing this report.

He has also yet to respond to SMS sent to his phone line.