Business

Grandma Nabbed For Cocaine Trafficking

Published

17 years ago

October 16, 2009

A 56-year-old grand mother has been arrested by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) at the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Ikeja Lagos for allegedly inserting 20 wraps of cocaine in her private parts and ingesting 65 wraps.

The suspect, Abiola Khadijat who resides at Musa Adewokun Street, Ojota Lagos was arrested on October 7, at about 9 pm. She was to travel to Atlanta, United States (U.S.) when she tested positive to drug ingestion during screening of passengers on Delta Airline flight.

Abiola, an international trader said she was indebted and decided to smuggle narcotics. “A man I met in a popular eatery introduced me into the drug trade. I attempted suicide several times but I was encouraged. I used to go to London to buy clothes and jewelleries since 2004 but I lost everything.

I have three daughters; the eldest who is 21 is a single parent like me. Now I am old and cannot work anywhere, no help from anywhere and I got frustrated. They said they will pay me when I get to the US,” she said.

Another suspect, Godday Ugweogbu, 31 was also arrested on his way from Brazil on October 8, with 93 wraps of substances that tested positive for cocaine in his stomach.

Ugweogbu who hails from Orlu in Imo State said: “I excreted three wraps in the flight, but for fear of arrest I washed them and swallowed them again. I have financial problem. I was stranded in Brazil. I decided to smuggle the drugs because I was promised N2.5 million”.

He was caught during the screening of passengers on a South Africa Airline flight.

The agency also intercepted 6.350 kilogrammes of cocaine industrially packed inside 26 pairs of garden shears and 60 trowels on October 13,

The consignment with Airway bill number 176-8457 3576 was imported from Brazil on an Emirate cargo flight by Fuitful Investment Nigeria Limited at the cargo section of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) Lagos.

Already, two clearing and forwarding agents, Abdullahi Shaba, 42 and Salau Nurudeen Wale have been arrested in connection with the consignment which was shipped by a Brazilian firm, Absoluta Trading. The value of the seized drugs in Lagos is N80.8 million .

The Chairman/Chief Executive of the NDLEA, Ahmadu Giade attributed the recent successes recorded to good foreign collaboration and commitment to the drug war.

“The discovery was made possible through exchange of intelligence with the United Kingdom under the Operation West Bridge. This certainly signifies end of the road to drug barons because we have similar understanding with other countries. We shall continue to detect and seize their drugs notwithstanding the mode of concealment,” Giade said.

He assured that the case will be thoroughly investigated.

Speaking on the arrest, the Acting NDLEA Airport Commander, Alhaji Idris Bello said the drug was factory concealed in the handles of the garden shears and trowels. “The handles were practically broken before the drug was discovered,” he said. The two clearing and forwarding agents arrested are assisting NDLEA operatives in further investigation,” he said.

The agency vowed to dislodge drug cartels in the country following recent discoveries of narcotics imported through the cargo section of the Lagos airport. All the suspects will soon be charged to court.

Business

Pipeline Explosion In Abua Odua, LGA Chair Calls For Calm

Published

3 weeks ago

July 3, 2026

The Tide

Fresh explosions have hit oil and gas pipelines in Odau Community, in Abua/Odual Local Government Area of Rivers State, triggering a major security and environmental crisis that has forced residents to abandon their homes.

The first incident occurred along the Kolo Creek – Rumuekpe crude oil pipelines, operated by Renaissance Africa Energy Company Limited.

This was followed by a gas pipeline explosion on the Ogboinbiri – Obirikom Gas Pipeline, operated by Oando Plc, in the same week.

In a statement by the Abua/Odual Council Chairman, Hon. Owolobi Michael Ofori said the blasts, suspected to be the handiwork of militants, have unleashed persistent gas leakage in the area, raising fears of fire outbreaks and toxic exposure as residents of Odau have largely deserted the community due to the dangerous situation.

According to him, some residents of the area have been hospitalised after inhaling the leaking gas, adding that the impact has spread to neighbouring communities, including Obedum, Emirikpoko, and Anyu in Abua/Odual LGA, as well as Oruma and Ibelebiri in Bayelsa State.

Hon. Ofori expressed deep concern over the plight of the affected residents and urged the operating companies to act swiftly.

The Council expressed its deepest sympathy to all affected persons and communities and remained gravely concerned about the safety, health, and welfare of residents whose lives and livelihoods have been disrupted by these incidents.

“We call on Renaissance Africa Energy Company Limited and Oando Plc to immediately deploy all necessary technical and emergency response resources to contain the fires, halt the gas leakage, secure the affected pipeline corridors, and mitigate further environmental and public health risks.” the Council Chairman Said.

The chairman also appealed to the two oil firms to provide immediate humanitarian assistance and relief materials to the displaced residents while work continues to restore normalcy.

The Council Chairman said he is working closely with security agencies and emergency responders to monitor the situation and coordinate necessary interventions.

The Council Boss advised Residents of the Local Government Area to remain calm, cooperate with authorities, and adhere strictly to safety directives.

Ofori further called on the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA), the Rivers State Government, and other relevant bodies to intervene urgently to prevent loss of lives and environmental damage.

Hon. Ofori assured that the council remains committed to the protection and welfare of its people and will continue to engage all stakeholders to resolve the crisis.

Enoch Epelle

Business

Fidelity Bank Collaborates YEIDEP To Empower Nigerian Students

Published

3 weeks ago

July 3, 2026

The Tide

Fidelity Bank Plc has reaffirmed its commitment to youth empowerment, financial inclusion and entrepreneurship through a strategic partnership with the Youth Economic Intervention and De-radicalization Programme (YEIDEP), a Federal Government-backed initiative aimed at equipping young Nigerians with the skills, support and opportunities needed to build sustainable livelihoods.

Under the partnership, the bank will support the enrolment of students and young people into the YEIDEP programme, which is designed to tackle youth unemployment, promote enterprise development and expand economic participation among Nigeria’s growing youth population.

The next phase of the initiative is scheduled to end today at Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, where the enrolment exercise for students and youths across the South-East that started since July 1st would be concluded at the university’s Convocation Arena.

The exercise is expected to reach more than 60,000 regular undergraduate students.

Speaking on the partnership, Fidelity Bank’s Divisional Head, Product Development, Osita Ede, said youth empowerment remains central to the bank’s vision of building a more inclusive and prosperous society.

He noted that Nigeria’s youths represent the country’s greatest asset and stressed that providing them with the right skills, opportunities and financial support is critical to unlocking their potential and driving national development.

According to Ede, the bank continues to provide young Nigerians with tools for success through its digital banking platforms, financial literacy initiatives, youth-focused products and strategic partnerships.

He added that Fidelity Bank recognises that limited access to funding, mentorship and business development support remains a major challenge for many aspiring entrepreneurs, and is committed to creating pathways that will help them overcome these barriers.

The bank said its support for YEIDEP aligns with its longstanding commitment to empowering Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), which it described as key drivers of economic growth and job creation in Nigeria.

Interested students and youths have been encouraged to open Fidelity Bank accounts and register for the programme through the bank’s dedicated online portal.

Nkpemenyie Mcdominic, Lagos

Business

NPA Launches Multi-Agency Taskforce To Combat Apapa Traffic Gridlock

Published

3 weeks ago

July 3, 2026

The Tide

The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) has launched a multi-agency task force to combat the resurgence of traffic gridlock choking the Lagos Port access roads, in a fresh push to restore seamless cargo evacuation and sustain recent gains in Port efficiency.

The intervention followed a stakeholders’ meeting convened by the Managing Director of NPA, Dr. Abubakar Dantsoho, on June 23rd, 2026, where security agencies, freight forwarders, truck operators and representatives of the Lagos State Government agreed on coordinated measures to eliminate the bottlenecks disrupting cargo movement.

At the meeting, stakeholders identified illegal extortion points, overlapping responsibilities among security agencies and other operational distortions as major factors responsible for the renewed congestion along the port corridor.

Speaking on the outcome of the meeting, the NPA’s General Manager, Corporate and Strategic Communications, Mr. Ikechukwu Onyemakara, said the Authority’s overriding priority is to guarantee the unhindered movement of cargo to and from the nation’s seaports.

According to him, the task force comprises the NPA, the Police, the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF), the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA), the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN), the Nigerian Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO) and the Association of Maritime Truck Owners (AMATO).

“The responsibility of the task force is to monitor truck movement on the Port access roads on a regular basis, identify any disruption capable of causing gridlock and immediately resolve such challenges,” Onyemakara said.

He stressed that members of the task force would not establish checkpoints along the corridor but would maintain strategic presence at designated locations to ensure compliance without obstructing traffic.

To enhance rapid response, Onyemakara disclosed that the task force has created a dedicated WhatsApp platform through which members can instantly report infractions or emerging traffic issues for immediate intervention.

On the long-delayed renewal of the Electronic Truck Call-Up (ETO) system contract, the NPA spokesman said the Authority is reviewing the terms to ensure a more robust contractual framework before awarding a fresh agreement.

He explained that although the previous contract had expired, the ETO platform remains operational under the management of the Truck Transit Parks (TTP) pending completion of the procurement process.

He expressed confidence that the renewal would be concluded soon.

Reaffirming the Authority’s commitment to maintaining free-flowing Port access roads, Onyemakara said efficient logistics remain central to the NPA’s drive to improve Nigeria’s Port competitiveness and preserve its growing international reputation.

“We are more interested in the free flow of logistics into our ports than anyone else because it is in our own interest,” he said

Nkpemenyie Mcdominic, Lagos