The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency has warned the public, particularly those with relatives abroad, about a new fraudulent scheme being orchestrated by impersonators posing as NDLEA officers.
This was made known in a statement by the NDLEA’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, shared on the agency’s website on Saturday.
The statement said, “The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency wishes to alert members of the public especially those who have loved ones abroad to a new scheme by scammers who impersonate NDLEA officers and call unsuspecting citizens to inform them of the arrest of their relatives at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport Ikeja Lagos or any other international airport in Nigeria with illicit drugs upon arrival in the country.
“After throwing the family members into panic, the scammers then make a demand of millions of naira to facilitate the release of such persons from NDLEA custody. We have thwarted a number of such bids in the past when the family members called the agency’s official contacts for help or clarification.
“At the moment, there is one such scenario the agency has just investigated. In this case, the picture of a Nigerian man based in the US is being circulated with audio of a purported NDLEA officer negotiating the payment of N5 million with a female relative for the release of the US-based Nigerian man purportedly arrested at the Lagos airport on Friday 22nd March upon his arrival with a ‘contraband’
“Just like in previous instances, our investigation has also shown that the current incident is the work of scammers. No NDLEA officer is involved in the audio conversation and the person whose photo is attached to the audio recording being circulated is not in our custody at MMIA or any of our commands either as at yesterday or any other day.
“The family members involved in this case are advised not to part with their hard-earned money to scammers. Nigerians with loved ones abroad are also urged to keep discussions on travel plans of their relatives to themselves to avoid the hijack of such by criminal elements for devious schemes.
”For those who may have a similar challenge, please feel free to seek help or clarification through any of our contact lines”
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As the week comes to a close, According Online presents the nation’s top news stories.
Naira staged a comeback as the Federal Government decided to disclose the list of individuals involved in financing terrorism in the country.
Following the killing of soldiers in Okuama, Delta State, there have been debates and speculations surrounding a potential retaliatory attack.
Access Bank acquired the National Bank of Kenya, a significant development in the business sector that has been met with positive reception.
Here are highlights from the week’s biggest news stories, from March 17 to March 23, 2024.
Naira recovers
Naira and Dollar
Naira showed resilience on Thursday, appreciating by N18 to close at 1,382/$ in the official market. This followed a significant gain at both the official and parallel markets the previous day, with the naira closing at N1,400/$ on Wednesday. The intraday high on Thursday reached N1,598/$, while the intraday low strengthened to N1,300/$. Increased dollar supply at the Nigerian Autonomous Foreign Exchange Market contributed to the naira’s 1.3 percent appreciation. The Central Bank of Nigeria’s successful resolution of foreign exchange backlogs, totalling $7 billion, further boosted confidence in the FX market.
Additionally, Nigeria’s external reserves grew to $34.37 billion as of March 12, 2024, and Diaspora remittances surged by 433 per cent to $1.3 billion in February. Speculators were urged to sell off their dollar holdings, as the naira is expected to appreciate further amidst CBN interventions and clampdowns on illegal currency activities.
Terror financiers unveiled
The Nigerian Sanctions Committee, in compliance with a directive from the Federal Government, disclosed the identities of entities on Monday, March 18, allegedly linked to terrorism financing. Among the nine individuals sanctioned, Kaduna-based publisher Tukur Mamu, accused of aiding terrorists in the Abuja-Kaduna train attack, was prominently listed.
Also identified were individuals suspected of terrorist activities such as attacks on St. Francis Catholic Church in Owo, Ondo State, and the Kuje Correctional Centre in Abuja. Six Bureau De Change firms, including West and East Africa General Trading Company Limited and Desert Exchange Ventures Limited, were implicated. The sanctions follow revelations from the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit, urging immediate asset freezing and reporting obligations on designated persons and entities as per the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
Access Bank expands footprint
Access Bank announced its acquisition of the National Bank of Kenya Limited from the KCB Group Plc, as part of its expansion strategy into key African markets.
The acquisition of NBK, a well-established bank in Kenya with a substantial balance sheet, presents a significant opportunity for Access Bank to strengthen its presence in the East African market. Upon completion of the transaction, NBK will merge with Access Bank Kenya Plc, creating an enlarged franchise. This acquisition aligns with Access Bank’s broader objective of becoming a leading player in the Kenyan and East African markets.
Nasarawa State University stampede
Tragedy struck at Nasarawa State University, Keffi, as two female students lost their lives in a stampede during a palliative distribution event at the university’s convocation square. The state government had organised the distribution of bags of rice to alleviate students’ suffering, but chaos ensued as students stormed the venue, resulting in injuries to at least 10 others.
Nasarawa State University
The National President of the Nasarawa State Students Association, Yunusa Baduku, confirmed the incident, stating that many students were rushed to hospitals for medical attention.
Governor Abdullahi Sule expressed shock over the incident and ordered a thorough investigation to identify those responsible. The Vice-Chancellor of the university, Prof Suleiman Bala, also lamented the loss of lives and announced plans for investigations by both the university management and the state government.
This is the second stampede in a month. The Nigeria Customs Service had in February said it was selling seized food items at N10,000 per 25kg to alleviate the people’s suffering. A pregnant woman and six others died in the stampede at the Yaba Customs office compound, Lagos.
Labour rift: Union vs. Party
The Nigerian Labour Congress and the Labour Party have been involved in a dispute that has many Nigerians questioning the reason for the union and the opposition party’s disagreement. A former President of the NLC, Ayuba Wabba, asserted that the Labour Party was established by the NLC to serve as a platform for members to advocate for their rights.
Former NLC President, Ayuba Wabba
The NLC instructed its state councils and political commissions to picket LP secretariats nationwide following a virtual meeting. The NLC also protested at the LP’s national secretariat, demanding the removal of the National Chairman, Julius Abure, and opposing the LP’s planned national convention.
Wabba clarified that the LP was formed by the NLC and accused the party of not honouring a consent agreement signed in June 2022, leading to the dispute and picketing actions by the NLC.
This is still a developing story.
Army denies reprisals amid tension in Delta
The Nigerian Army has denied engaging in reprisal attacks in the Okuama community of Delta State, where 17 military personnel were killed during a communal clash. The Army accused the community of spreading propaganda and stressed its commitment to apprehending the perpetrators.
Meanwhile, tension remains high in Okuama as military personnel continue to maintain a presence, with residents fleeing and houses reportedly being set ablaze. The Defence Headquarters released the names of the slain personnel and vowed to bring the perpetrators to justice while respecting human rights laws.
Meanwhile, soldiers reportedly invaded the Igbomotoru community in Bayelsa State, causing panic and destruction. Although it could not be ascertained if the soldiers’ mission was in connection with the killing of military personnel in neighbouring Delta State, a community source told According Online that they stormed Igbomotoru in five gunboats.
Suspects believed to be hoodlums have reportedly attacked a Customs office in Yauri Local Government Area of Kebbi State.
The hoodlums were said to have injured an officer, while property was also damaged in the process.
This was according to a statement made available to newsmen by the spokesman for the command, Mohammed Salisu, on Saturday.
He said the incident occurred on Thursday after the officers intercepted some smuggled items in the area.
The statement read, “During the late hours of Thursday, March 21, 2024, at about 2310 hours, the combined team of Yauri outstation and surveillance were informed of a suspected smuggling activity at Yauri Waterside. Upon arriving at the scene, 41 bags of foreign parboiled rice were seized, secured, and taken to the outstation.
“Afterwards, a mob attack was launched by the aggrieved smugglers by way of mobilising hoodlums to attack the outpost.
“Upon sighting the mob, the management contacted the command and other sister agencies for reinforcement, which helped in containing the situation.
“Amid the attack, the OIC sustained a hand injury; 1 AK-47 rifle was carted away but retrieved shortly; and 29 out of 41 bags of the seized rice were taken away by the attackers.
“The mob went further to vandalise the OIC personal vehicle, the outstation Air Conditioner, chairs, tables, windows, doors, and other essentials put in place to support the operations of the outstation.”
He, however, assured that to subside and lower tension, the Kebbi State Governor, Dr Nasir Idris, hosted the Customs Area Controller on the way forward, and normalcy has since been restored.
“The Customs Area Controller, Iheanacho Ojike, has been in touch with the Commissioner of Police, and so far, some arrests have been made and an investigation was launched in view of arresting and prosecuting the criminals,” he added
Enugu State Governor, Peter Mbah says his administration will generate and distribute electricity in the state by the end of 2026.
Mbah unveiled the plans to tackle the challenges of epileptic power supply to businesses and residents of the state on Saturday at a town hall meeting with various stakeholders.
According to him, the State Electricity Regulatory Commission will be inaugurated soon as part of measures to actualise the goal, adding that the state would explore opportunities provided by the power sector reforms to generate and distribute power to boost businesses.
He said, “Electricity is a major infrastructural requirement for industrial development. We are going to set up the Enugu State Electricity Regulatory Commission as we tackle all legal and regulatory issues in actualising the objective.
“Working with the private sector, we shall generate and distribute electricity in Enugu by the end of 2026. We will build transmitter lines and handle the distribution of power.
“People can come here to buy and distribute power. Our desire is to ensure we have a steady power supply to businesses and households in Enugu.”
Mbah also spoke on the ongoing legacy project aimed at repositioning the educational sector.
He disclosed that the 260 smart schools being constructed in the 260 political wards of the state will come alive by 2025.
According to Mbah, work has already commenced in 160 wards while the remaining 100 will commence soon.
He said the smart school will go beyond primary school education and over a 12-year compulsory and free education to every child born in the state.
He added that early life learning is included in the smart school initiative, and with that, the children will be absorbed from nursery to primary schools.
“They will be exposed to the modern learning environment and this will see a transition from chalkboard to smart boards and our pupils will no longer struggle with notebooks as they’ll be given notepads for their lesson notes,” adding that “our children are at the epicentre of our plans for the state.”
The governor also said that his administration is building 260 type II health centres across the wards, and 30 such health centres have already been awarded, and 100 will soon be awarded.
He further stated that the current maternal mortality rate in the state is “unacceptable and we’re doing everything to bring it down and to help tackle this.”
He said his administration has increased the number of nurses admitted into state-owned institutions, and the schools of nursing are getting the needed face-lift.
Recently, there has been a widespread blackout and worsening electricity supply across the country.
Nigeria, on Saturday, commiserated with the people and Government of the Russian Federation following Friday’s terrorist attack in Moscow.
Gunmen in camouflage clothing opened fire on people at a concert in the Crocus City Hall near Moscow, the Russian capital, on Friday.
The number of deaths, including children in the terrorist attack at Crocus City Hall in Moscow, has reached 115, as reported by Al Jazeera.
It was gathered from several Russian media outlets that automatic weapons were used in what many have termed ‘one of the worst of attacks in Russia in years’.
Reacting, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, in a statement, sent Nigeria’s sympathy and condolences to the Russian president, Vladimir Putin.
“We convey our deepest condolences to the people and Government of the Russian Federation on the tragic attack carried out at the Crocus Concert Hall in Moscow that resulted in the death of innocent people and injuries to more than a hundred others.
“The Government and people of Nigeria commiserate with the victims of this tragic attack and pray for the repose of their souls.
“We also pray for the quick recovery of those injured.
“At this challenging time, we stand in brotherhood with the government and Russian Federation and send our deepest sympathy and condolences to the Russian president, His Excellency Vladimir Putin,” he said.
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The National Chairman of the Nigerian Institution of Water Engineers, Dr Adeyinka Sobowale, on Friday, said granting full autonomy to state water supply agencies across the country will attract investors to the sector and help to improve access to safe drinking water.
Sobowale also said there was the need to develop a water resources or water supply master plan for each of the 36 states of the federation with a well-defined action plan to address the challenge of access to safe drinking water.
The Chairman of NIWE disclosed this during a press briefing held at Bolude Oyebolu Engineering Centre, Abeokuta, to mark this year’s World Water Day.
World Water Day is held on March 22 of every year.
This year’s theme is “Water For Peace”
He said 87% of the country’s population, translating to 179 million Nigerians, do not have access to safe drinking water.
Sobowale explained that the statistics highlighting the water crisis facing Nigeria were encapsulated in the 2021 Water, Sanitation, Hygiene National Outcome Routine Mapping, which covers 36 states of the federation and FCT.
He said, “This report shows that up to 87% (179 million) of Nigerians do not have access to safely managed drinking water service.
“This report also revealed that access to basic water supply services is available to 67% of the population while 68% use drinking water supplies contaminated by thermotolerant coliform at the point of collection.”
He explained further that to address this challenge of acute access to safely managed drinking water, saying, “government should give full autonomy to the state water supply agencies across the country to attract investors to the sector. This will require adequate legislation that will remove unnecessary interference in their operations
“There is also a need to develop a water resources or water supply master plan for each of the 36 states of the federation with a well-defined Action Plan for implementation.
“It has also become imperative for the states to establish water regulatory agencies to adequately regulate the activities of the service providers in their domain for quality assurance.
He said, “The theme for this year World Water Day is very apt in the face of the numerous challenges facing the development and management of water resources all over the world which more often than not result in avoidable conflicts creating a serious social, financial and environmental imbalance that affects everyone.
“I cannot conclude this press briefing without letting us know that water has acted as impetus to create peace or spark conflicts. Many unnecessary wars have been fought over water in many parts of the world.
“When water is scarce or polluted, or when people have unequal or no access to water, tension can rise. This is the reason why the government at all levels must be ready to explore every available opportunity, innovation, and collaboration that can continually enhance water supply and access to safely managed drinking water”
The Defence Headquarters said troops of Operation Hadrin Daji have rescued 16 Almajiris and a woman abducted in Gada Local Government Aera of Sokoto State.
The According reports that some terrorists had invaded the LGA on March 9, 2024, and kidnapped the victims.
The DHQ, in a statement on Saturday, by the Director of Media Operations, Maj. Gen Buba Edward, said the troops with local authorities and government agencies worked together to ensure the freedom of the hostages.
He noted that the rescued victims had been handed over to the Sokoto state government. The statement read, “Recall terrorists invaded and kidnapped 16 pupils (Almajiris) with a woman in Gada LGA of Sokoto State.
“On 21 March 2024, the military, working with local authorities and government agencies across the country, in a coordinated search and rescue operation rescued these hostages.
“The rescued hostages have been handed over to the Sokoto State Government for further action. ”
Edward, however, said the military had extended its resources to find and rescue kidnapped victims in the country.
He vowed that the military would not rest on its oars until terrorists and other non-state actors abducting citizens are brought to book.
Edward said, “Additionally, the armed forces are extending all of its efforts and resources to find other innocent hostages and track down the terrorists that perpetrated these crimes.
“These efforts would continue until they are found and the terrorists arrested, tried, and brought to justice by Nigerian law. The military would not rest until all kidnapped hostages are rescued.”
Edward also noted that troops would deploy the same efforts to fish out those behind the death of its personnel in Delta State.
He said, ” Furthermore, troops are deploying the same effort to track down the culprits responsible for the killings of 18 soldiers in Okuama Community in Delta State on 14 March 2024.” He said the banner of wanted persons would be deployed in strategic locations.
He said, ” Indeed, to curb the freedom of action of terrorists and the perpetrators of insecurity across the country, the military has released banners of wanted terrorist and their cohorts.
“The banners would be deployed in strategic areas across the country. The deployment of the banner is for ease of recognition and arrest of the wanted persons. The public is urged to cooperate and report, please.”
The Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, says the ministry is planning to have a law that will promote local content development in the power sector.
Adelabu stated this during his official visit to Momas Electricity Meters Manufacturing Company Limited in the Ibafo area of Ogun State on Friday.
According to him, President Bola Tinubu’s government has decided to support local manufacturers to reduce their dependence on foreign goods.
“We will support and encourage local industries, those people that have taken the risk to put their equity and debt capital into production, we should support them. We also intend to incentivise them by allowing them to have access to cheap funds and long-time debt capital.
“Lastly, we will patronise them. When they produce, we must buy those products. That’s what will give room for sustainability in their activities.
“In the power sector, it is our choice to have significant local content in our projects and in our contracts. In fact, we are trying to work on a bill that will legislate local content for the power sector, just like we have in the oil and gas sector. That is the only way we can sustain local producers,” he said.
Adelabu, who said the ministers in Tinubu’s cabinet are always on the field, acknowledged the fact that the country is passing through a lot of hardship as a result of rising inflation, the removal of fuel subsidy, harmonisation of the exchange rate and the consistent devaluation of the naira that has led to increasing prices of goods and services.
“But we are not bothered. We are not depressed. We are not discouraged. You cannot have an omelette without breaking eggs; and without pain, there will be no gain,” he noted
The minister explained that 90 per cent of Nigeria’s inflation is attributable to import dependency.
“We are an import-dependent country. We hardly make what we consume in Nigeria. When naira loses value, it will be expensive to import things, and the prices will keep rising. The only way to prevent this is to become self-dependent and self-reliant,” Adelabu remarked.
He regretted that “The population that was supposed to be an advantage to us has turned out to be a liability.
“It should be an advantage because if we produce anything here, we have the market. With the population, we are supposed to create factories here and create employment opportunities. We shouldn’t be bothered about the price of the dollar to naira at all. But the way it is now, we are using that population to import from other countries that have created their own factories and employed their own people”.
He said it was one of the cardinal points of President Tinubu to start import substitution by supporting local industries to reduce the influx of foreign goods.
“Once we are able to satisfy local demands and still have excess, we will start pushing it offshore and start earning foreign exchange,” he added.
Earlier, the Chairman of MEMMCOL, Kola Balogun, urged the Federal Government to create an enabling environment for local manufacturers to grow.
Balogun said the company, which was created about 30 years ago, has since been manufacturing prepaid metres locally, designing the products from scratch.
He charged the government to optimise the local capability “to streamline our proliferation of all kinds of things coming into the country for us to grow.”
A 81-year-old woman from Aral Moreira, Brazil, Daniela Vera, has died after undergoing surgery to remove a 56-year-old lithopedion, a calcified foetus, from her abdomen.
Daniela had unknowingly carried the foetus since her youth, with doctors dismissing her complaints of stomach pain over the years.
As reported by NDTV, on Friday, Vera visited a local health centre on March 10, where she received treatment for a urinary tract infection. Subsequently, she was referred to another hospital where she underwent 3D scans.
The scan was conducted after she was transferred to Ponta Pora Regional Hospital in the central-western state of Mato Grosso do Sul, following a generalised infection contracted from a prior visit to a hospital closer to her home for treatment of the urinary infection.
The scan revealed lithopedion, a condition derived from Greek words meaning ‘stone’ and ‘child,’ wherein an abdominal ectopic pregnancy becomes calcified around the foetus.
Despite having seven children, the presence of the calcified foetus went unnoticed until the scans revealed it.
Following surgery, Daniela was transferred to intensive care, where she passed away on March 15 due to complications from an infection.
Prior to the discovery of the lithopedion, medical experts had initially suspected cancer. They have since determined that Daniela had been carrying the deceased foetus in her body since her last pregnancy over five decades ago.
Dr Patrick Dezir, the head of the Ponta Pora Hospital health department, said: ‘When pregnancy occurs, it must be inside the uterus, but in some situations, pregnancy can occur outside.
‘That baby was not clinical, the patient did not have acute pain and did not have major bleeding and this diagnosis goes unnoticed and time will take care of that foreign body that was left inside the woman’s abdomen.’
Vera’s child, Rosely Almedia, said: ‘She was old and we are indigenous, she didn’t like going to the doctor, she was afraid of the equipment to take exams.
Vera had complained of abdominal pain since her first pregnancy when she was a teenager, her daughter said.
Rosely added: ‘She said so it looked like a baby was moving inside her belly and sometimes she felt sick, but we never suspected that it was that.
In 2013, something similar happened to an 82-year-old woman in Colombia. She had a stone baby in her belly for 40 years.
For many years, the four-pound fetus stayed in her belly until she had surgery to take it out.
Lithopedion is very rare, happening in only 0.0054% of pregnancies.
Akwa Ibom State Governor, Umo Eno, on Friday, inaugurated the board of the State Bulk Purchasing Agency with a charge on members to ensure transparency and accountability as spelt out in the blueprint for the interventionist agency.
The board has Dan Akpan as Chairman, and Unyime Etim, as General Manager/Secretary, with Commissioners in the Ministries of Economic Development, Agriculture, Justice and Internal Security as members.
Other members of the board are; the State Chairman of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria, Economic Adviser to the Governor, Dr. Uduakobong Inam, Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Market Matters, Akparawa Idorenyin Raphael, Mrs. Affiong Ibanga representing Akwa Ibom State Chamber of Commerce, and Comrade Dominic Abang representing Labour.
Inaugurating the board at the State Executive Council Chamber, Eno said the establishment of the agency was in furtherance of his administration’s intervention to avail the needy and most vulnerable in the state staple food items at no cost, considering the tough economic conditions across the nation.
He thanked the state House of Assembly under the leadership of Udeme Otong for aligning with the vision of the executive by giving the Bulk Purchase Agency Bill the due importance through speedy and expeditious legislative consideration.
Eno urged the committee to work closely with the Ministries of Economic Development and Agriculture, as well as liaise with food producers, distributors and stakeholders to ensure that the food voucher programme is administered judiciously, adding that they should not hesitate to acquire buffer stock to ensure that government’s intentions for the programme are met.
“We have rolled out a blueprint for this programme to be launched and how it should be managed. We expect that you follow and remain very accountable. You should be ready to be audited at any time by any group of persons because we must ensure transparency.
“This Board is tasked with the onerous responsibility of administering our ARISE Food Security Programme scheduled to be launched next week Tuesday. This is our bold and compassionate intervention at this critical moment when the prices of our staple food items such as rice, beans and garri have soared beyond the immediate reach of the poor and most vulnerable,” the governor stated.
The governor reaffirmed his administration’s position that the food intervention programme be administered based on the updated social register to ensure accountability while directing the Ministry of Economic Development to reopen the social register in every village and ward in the State for continuous registration to accommodate more people.
