The wife of the Delta State Governor, Deaconess Tobore Oborevwori, has called on relevant stakeholders to put in concerted efforts towards nipping the menace of drug abuse in the state.
She made the call following increasing reports of cases of drug abuse in the state while playing host to officers of the Delta State Command of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, (NDLEA), in Asaba, lamenting that parents are gradually losing their children to this menace.
The First Lady noted that drug abuse had been on the rise at a very alarming rate, pointing out the adverse effects it has had on youth.
“The level of drug abuse we are experiencing in society is worrisome and it is gradually but steadily destroying lives.
“It is even more alarming to learn that a great number of women are involved in drug and substance abuse as a means of escaping pressure and emotional stress.
“Irrespective of whatever reason people engage in it, the truth is that drug abuse is a silent killer and we all need to come together to raise awareness of the realities on ground as well as find ways to combat its spread.
“We are gradually losing our children to this menace. You see them on the streets and just at a glance, you can tell that something is wrong, and if we don’t do something about it now, we will have greater challenges to contend with in the near future.
“As a state, we will do all we can to see that this is achieved and we are counting on relevant agencies as well as individuals, especially mothers, to rise to the occasion,” she said.
Mrs Oborevwori promised to collaborate with the agency in every way possible to see that issues of drug abuse are reduced to the barest minimum in the state.
In his address, the leader of the delegation, Commander of Narcotics and the state commander of the agency, Abubakar Wada, pointed out some of the things that have led to an increase in the level of drug abuse.
“We have discovered that the availability of these drugs has made them easy to abuse, and as an agency, we have done well to reduce the circulation of these drugs. Between January and April, we recorded 261 pending cases, had 96 records of conviction and pressed 62 charges,” he said.
He noted that unemployment stands tall among the causes of drug abuse among young people.
Drug Abuse: Delta first dady, NDLEA call for emergency action
Drug Abuse: Delta first dady, NDLEA call for emergency action
Hospitality at ‘The Delborough Lagos’ second to none – Prince Harry
Treated to a lunch by eminent Nigerians at ‘The Delborough Lagos’ Sunday afternoon, the Duke of Sussex, Prince Harry expressed satisfaction noting that “hospitality at ‘The Delborough Lagos’ is second to none.”
On her part, while complimenting the Duke, the Duchess, Meghan also acknowledged that “attention to details at ‘The Delborough Lagos’ is empirical”.
The couple who expressed enthusiasm for their visit, said they could not wait to experience Nigeria’s culture.
Harry said: “We are delighted to explore the rich cultural heritage of Nigeria.”
Meghan, on her part, added: “It is a privilege to engage with the vibrant Nigerian community.”
They were received to an energetic cultural display at the hotel to their admiration.
Harry and Meghan, on Saturday, met with Nigerian businessman and owner of ‘The Delborough Lagos’, Dr Uzochukwu Stanley in Abuja.
The couple is in Nigeria on a three-day visit to promote Invictus Games, where Prince Harry played a seated volleyball match with Nigerian Army veterans, mostly wounded in battle against the country’s Islamist insurgency, on Saturday.
At an Officer’s Mess complex in Abuja, Harry’s team dressed in yellow played off in an exhibition against a team led by Nigeria’s chief of defence staff, Gen. Christopher Musa.
The Duke and the Duchess, visiting the West African nation, Nigeria, for the first time on the invitation of the Armed Forces of Nigeria, began their three-day visit by going to the Lightway Academy, which receives support from their Archewell Foundation to train young girls affected by conflicts in Nigeria, before going on to meet with the nation’s military officers.
At the Abuja school where they kicked off an inaugural mental health summit organised by a local non-profit GEANCO, which partners with their Foundation, the couple was received by a dancing troupe and a crowd of excited students and teachers.
“We’ve got to acknowledge those amazing dance moves!” Meghan said. “My husband was excited to jump up!”
They then went into the classrooms to interact with the students, who showed robot cars they had built.
They spoke to the students about mental health, and about their own children, Archie and Lilibet.
“In some cases around the world … there is a stigma when it comes to mental health. Too many people don’t want to talk about it,” Harry said. “So will you promise to us that after today, no more being scared, no more being unsure of mental health?”
Hospitality at ‘The Delborough Lagos’ second to none – Prince Harry
LP alleges Enugu govt awarded N100b contract to 4-day-old company
The Enugu State chapter of the Labour Party (LP) has alleged that the Enugu State Government awarded a contract worth N100 billion to a 40-year-old company.
The party, in a statement on Sunday,, called on Nigeria’s anti-corruption agencies to investigate the agriculture partnership agreement recently signed between the Enugu State Government and Pragmatic Farms Limited, alleging that the transaction might be a conduit to siphon the resources of the state.
Enugu LP Chairman, Comrade Casmir Uchenna Agbo, and Publicity Secretary, Onuora Odo, who jointly signed the statement, questioned the propriety of the transaction, pointing out that the company in question was allegedly registered only four days before it signed the agreement with the Enugu government.
The Enugu State Government recently issued a statement, claiming the partnership with Pragmatic Farms Limited was in line with the objectives of the Governor Peter Mbah Administration to revive and convert Enugu State’s dormant assets to productive assets, as part of plans to grow the state’s economy exponentially from $4.4 billion to $30 billion per annum.
the Labour Party, however, in its statement accused the government of planning to use the newly registered company as a conduit to siphon the resources of the state, saying that there was no indication that the company has the track record and capacity to manage the enterprise.
“We are raising this alarm because the entire project smells of large-scale fraud and as a responsible and responsive political party, we owe it to the people of the state, the duty of drawing their attention to what we see as economic rape and corrupt tendencies. Checks at the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) have created a cloud of suspicion around the project, following our discovery that Pragmatic Palms Limited was registered only on May 6, 2024, four days before the partnership agreement was signed with the Enugu State Government on May 10, 2024,” the statement said.
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The party also demanded that the state, governor, Peter Mba, should tell the people when discussions on this partnership began and how he concluded and signed the deal within four days of incorporating the company.
“It is important to also draw the attention of the people of Enugu State, the Federal Government of Nigeria, and the anticorruption agencies such as the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to what looks like a grand plan to divert the resources of Enugu State through what looks like a conduit. We say this because further checks reveal that Pragmatic Palms Limited was referenced in the news items as a subsidiary of another company known as Diamond Stripes Limited, a business owned by one Prof George Nwangwu and his wife. How the Enugu State Government decided to trust N100 billion belonging to the over-taxed and deprived people of the state to a glorified sole proprietorship is something that has to be explained.
“Diamond Stripes Limited, it is also worth highlighting, started business in 2013 and has its capacities in the area of hydroelectric generation and port management. Nowhere, on its website was its capacity for agriculture and agro-processing mentioned. More worrisome is the fact that the owner of the company, Prof George Nwangwu has no known track record in agriculture and related areas. We even went further to explore the search engine and the George Nwangwu we were able to find is a professor of Law and has never been involved in anything relating to agriculture before the N100 billion deal he reached with the Government of Enugu State.
“We are worried because a lot of things in the transaction do not appear straightforward. First, by sheer stroke of coincidence, Pragmatic Palms Limited’s registered office located at 5 Kokoma Close, Wuse II, Abuja, appeared in our search to be the same as that of a Law firm, Ratio Legal Practitioners LLP, which also processed the registration of Pragmatic Palms Limited.
“It is also worrisome that although Pragmatic Palms Limited was mentioned in the press release as a subsidiary of Diamond Stripes Limited, there was no indication that Diamond Stripes is a shareholder in Pragmatic Palms Limited. The only shareholder that was returned in the search is a certain George Nwangwu, who curiously owns the entire one million shares of the company.
“We are also worried that while on its website, Diamond Stripes Limited claimed it was in the business of electricity generation, ports services and the building of silos, data on its registration documents at the Corporate Affairs Commission indicated that it was registered “to carry on the business of the manufacturer, importation, exportation, distribution, promotion, sales, supply and marketing of all types of products, materials, agents, reagents and equipment to engage in the business of real estate and property.” The suspicion heightens given that the CAC no longer permits the registration and operation of omnibus businesses in Nigeria.
“We are therefore calling on the good people of Enugu State to be vigilant. We also invite the anticorruption agencies to investigate this transaction with a view to saving the people of Enugu State from what looks like a bogus transaction designed to facilitate the diversion of money belonging to the people”, the party added.
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AMVCA Best Digital Content Creator award: Adeleke celebrates Osogbo-born Layi Wasabi
Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun State has extended his heartfelt congratulations to Isaac Ayomide Olayiwola, popularly known as Layi Wasabi.
Olayiwola is the latest winner of Best Digital Content Creator at the 2024 edition of the Africa Magic Viewers Choice Awards, AMVCA.
Governor Adeleke, in a statement by his spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, praised the ingenuity of the Osogbo-born lawyer turned skitmaker in carving out a special niche for himself, not minding the limitations of his environment in an industry as competitive and demanding as the entertainment industry.
“I congratulate our dear son and brother, Isaac Ayomide, for winning the AMVCA award. Layi Wasabi, as he is popularly known in the entertainment industry, is a special talent and a great ambassador of Osun State. I am a great fan of his work. He is creative and original. His contents are unique and educational.
“Layi’s rise to fame is a perfect example of the model of the new Osun we are building. The one that excels beyond limitations. From a certified lawyer to becoming an excellent content creator, Layi has shown how passion, commitment, and consistency can lead to excellence.
“He is proud of his identity. He shoots most of his content right from inside the state secretariat here, and I am glad that through his work, he has been able to promote the identity of the state. This is just the beginning of his recognition and accomplishments in the industry,” the governor stated.
Governor Adeleke assures that his administration will provide the needed support and collaboration, not just for Layi Wasabi but for others in the Osun entertainment industry, to succeed and bring glory to the state and her people.
“We will give all necessary support not only to Layi but to everyone passionately driving positive change in the industry from Osun State. Entertainment can be used to promote societal change and reform. This is the model we are working to establish,” the statement concluded.
AMVCA Best Digital Content Creator award: Adeleke celebrates Osogbo-born Layi Wasabi
‘Anywhere we meet, we’ll dance’ – Obasanjo tells Adeleke
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has said that Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun State is his dancing partner.
Obasanjo made this statement at the inauguration of a VIP lodge in Osun Government House on Sunday in Osogbo.
He, however, told Adeleke, who is usually referred to as the “dancing governor,” to focus on governing the state and do so with honesty and integrity.
“You remember that at one time I phoned you; I told you I didn’t have problems with your dancing. I said, ‘Don’t leave dancing, but as you are dancing, ensure you are working.’
“Some people once despised you as just a dancer, but I said only happy people dance; you are my dancing partner. You have to be honest with your conscience, with the people and with your God. You have to be a man of character. Let people say, ‘When he sees an opportunity to dance, he will dance, but he is a man of integrity; he is honest and works hard.’ It is very important.
“Anywhere we meet, we will dance and rejoice, if anybody wants to abuse us, they should go ahead,” he said.
Obasanjo also applauded Adeleke for his developmental programmes in Osun.
According to him, what he heard and saw since his arrival in the state was a testimony to the good work the governor was doing.
“You are working on roads, don’t joke with it because when we make the necessary provision for the people to have jobs, the state will work.
“Many Yoruba people want to work, but what is impeding that is the road to ply. When we provide the wherewithal for them, they will work. I will plead with you to continue with that.
“You said government is a continuum and that all the abandoned projects are being completed. God will make it good for you,” he said
In his remarks, Adeleke said that his administration would continue to ensure that laudable projects were completed for the common use of the people.
The governor, who noted that the VIP lodge was started by the APC government, said that he completed it due to his belief that public infrastructure should not be politicised.
“We assure all lovers of good governance that our administration is passionate about delivering on quality pro-people policies for the benefit of all residents of the state,” he said.
‘Anywhere we meet, we’ll dance’ – Obasanjo tells Adeleke
IBB is alive – Associate debunks death rumour of former military Head of State Babangida
Associates of former Military Head of State Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida, IBB, debunked rumours of his death on Sunday.
Alhaji Mahmud Abdullahi, one of Babangida’s aides, said nothing was wrong with the former Military Head of State.
Mahmud said he spent hours with IBB on Saturday and has been in contact with him today.
Addressing newsmen, Mahmud described the death rumour as the price Babangida has to pay for being popular.
He wondered why people would mistake the former Military Head of State for veteran footballer Tijjani Babangida, who was involved in an accident along Kaduna Road and lost some family members.
According to Mahmud: “I don’t know how the death of the brother of footballer Tijjani Babangida has become former President Babangida. Nothing is wrong with IBB, that I can authoritatively tell you.
“I have been receiving calls from people wanting to know what is happening, and I tell them that nothing happened. IBB is hale and hearty, and they should ignore rumours of his death.”
IBB is alive – Associate debunks death rumour of former military Head of State Babangida
Gov Bago knocks Bida LG chairman for failing to perform to expectation
Niger State governor, Mohammed Umar Bago, has knocked Bida Local Government Area chairman, Malam Bala Shaba, for allegedly not performing up to the expectations of the electorate of the council area.
Bago stated this at a meeting organised for stakeholders in Bida Local Government Area during his four-day official working visit to Niger South Senatorial District (Zone A) in Bida.
He stated that the council chairman of Bida, who assumed office in late 2022 without completing a single project, has failed to deliver the dividends of democracy to the people while warning against incompetence.
Speaking further on the abysmal performance of Shaba while addressing the people of Kutigi, Lavun LGA, at the end of the flag-off visit of 67 km roads, he urged him to wake from slumber and do the needful for the betterment of his people and Bida Local Government Area as a whole.
The governor then directed Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs Hamidu Mu’azu Jantabo to subsequently double the monthly allocation for LGAs to help them embark on more people-oriented projects in their localities.
Gov Bago knocks Bida LG chairman for failing to perform to expectation
Edo govt takes up case of naked 4-yr-old girl in viral video – Police
The Edo State Police Command said the state government has indicated an interest in the case of a four-year-old girl whose father stripped naked and uploaded her video on social media platforms.
The Edo State Command, in a statement by its Public Relations Officer, SP Chidi Nwabuzor, said the girl’s 28-year-old father has been arrested by the operatives of the command in Auchi, the administrative headquarters of Etsako West Local Government Area.
Nwabuzor had said that the command was aware of the trending video of a child of about four years old who was conspicuously naked and used as adult content in an undisclosed hotel in Auchi.
“The Edo State Commissioner of Police, Funsho Adegboye, immediately drafted a tactical team to go out and arrest the suspect and his cohort.
“Within 12 hours, the father of the girl was arrested. An investigation has commenced. Further revelations will be made known to the public,” he stated.
Speaking on the incident, Commissioner of Police Funsho Adegboye said: “It is true the incident happened. We are taking it up. The Edo State Commissioner for Gender is interested in the case; the office of the first lady of the state is also interested in the case, and it is being handled appropriately.”
Edo govt takes up case of naked 4-yr-old girl in viral video – Police
Police launch investigations into assassination of FIRS staff in Abuja
The Federal Capital Territory Police Command has commenced an investigation to unravel the circumstances surrounding the unfortunate killing of Khalid Ahmed Bichi in the Maitama area of the nation’s capital.
Bichi, a staff of the Federal Inland Revenue Service, FIRS, was killed by assassins on Friday.
He was reportedly shot multiple times by his assailants when he stepped out of his residence to get food at 9 pm.
FCT Police Public Relations Officer, SP Josephine Adeh, said in a statement on Sunday that Commissioner of Police Benneth Igweh has ordered a thorough and discreet investigation into the matter.
The statement added that the diligent pursuit of the perpetrator(s) was underway, stressing that efforts are ongoing to ensure that they are apprehended and brought to justice.
“Furthermore, CP Benneth Igweh reaffirms the unwavering dedication of the FCT Police Command to enhance the security landscape of the Territory and continually adapt strategies to effectively combat evolving criminal activities. Updates on this matter will be provided in due course,” Josephine said.
Police launch investigations into assassination of FIRS staff in Abuja
Oluwo decorates Prince Harry, christens Meghan ‘Adetokunbo’
The Oluwo of Iwo, Oba Abdulrosheed Adewale Akanbi, has decorated the Duke of Sussex, Prince Harry and his wife, Meghan Markle, with Yoruba traditional attire.
Oba Akanbi equally christened the Duchess of Sussex, Meghan Markle with a Yoruba name – Adetokunbo.
The name was announced during a sit out with the Duke and Duchess of Sussex organised by the Defense Headquarters in Lagos.
DAILY POST recalled that the founder of Invictus Game, Prince Harry, and his wife, Meghan Markle, arrived in Nigeria on a 3-day visit last Friday.
In his remarks, Oba Akanbi commended the Chief of Defense Staff, General Christopher Musa, for bringing sanity to the Nigerian Army through multifarious activities including honouring veterans, as well as wounded and injured soldiers, with Harry’s visit.
Oluwo equally expressed assurance that the visit will re-engineer Meghan’s ancestral connection with Nigeria, widening the chance of Nigeria to host Invictus Game in 2027 and enhance the proposal to site the game’s centre in Nigeria, in support of the soldiers.
He said, “I am elated to be part of this event. I am impressed with the current leadership of the Nigerian Army. They are improving the tempo of our security architecture and boosting the morale of veterans, wounded and injured soldiers.
“The visit of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, respectively, facilitated by the Defense Headquarters, is heroic. It will cement the security partnership and enhance Nigeria’s chance to host the 2027 Invictus game. I’m honouring Meghan with a Yoruba name ‘Adetokunbo’ meaning ‘Crown has come home from abroad’.
Meghan, in a 2022 interview, had revealed she was “43 per cent Nigerian” after doing a genealogy test.
Oluwo decorates Prince Harry, christens Meghan ‘Adetokunbo’