Nation
Credible Data, Key To Tackling Drug Abuse -Marwa
The Chairman, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, (NDLEA), retired Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa, says the use of credible data is essential in the fight against drug abuse.
Marwa said this at the inauguration of the “West African Epidemiology Network on Drug Use (WENDU) Report of Statistics and Trends’’ on illicit drug use and supply 2018-2019, yesterday in Abuja.
This is contained in a statement issued by the NDLEA spokesperson, Mr Femi Babafemi.
According to Marwa, Nigerians are prepared to continue to provide credible data to sustain the fight against drug abuse.
He lamented that the number of people using illicit drugs in Africa might rise by 40 per cent by 2030.
According to him, the misuse of psychoactive substances such as alcohol, tobacco, cannabis, heroin, cocaine, methamphetamine and prescription medications, exert tremendous toll on the individual, families, communities and societies.
“Substance use has impacted negatively on public health, caused injuries, loss of income and productivity, family and community dysfunction and even death.
“Drug use around the world has been on the increase in terms of the overall number and the proportion of the world’s population that use drugs.
“The continuous increase in the types of new psychoactive substances being discovered globally is also worrisome,’’ he said.
The NDLEA boss said, according to the World Drug Report 2020, an estimated 269 million people representing 5.3 per cent of the global population was reported to have used drugs in 2018.
This he said was against 210 million in 2009 representing 4.8 per cent.
“The West Africa Sub Region is in the limelight at the international scene, because of its role as a transit hub for cocaine from South America, heroin from East Asia to Europe and its heightened tramadol, codeine and cannabis use.
“Furthermore, going by the projection of demographic factors, by 2030, the number of people using drugs is expected to rise by 11 per cent around the world and as much as 40 per cent in Africa alone,’’ he said.
Marwa said that the role of credible data in addressing the world drug problem could not be over emphasised.
He added that West African states, just like the rest of Africa, had been grappling with the problem of dearth of credible data on the trend of drug use in the sub region.
He assured that Nigeria would continue to play its role to support the sustainability of WENDU.
This, he said would be achieved by continuously providing credible data through its National Sentinel Network, the Nigerian Epidemiological Network on Drug Use (NENDU).
Marwa urged all ECOWAS member states to employ this well-articulated report for informed policy formulation, programming and monitoring of our interventions in the Sub Region for better outcome in our drug control efforts.
The Incorporated Trustees of the National Association of Plant Operators (NAPO) has filed a N500 billion lawsuit against the Minister of Labour and Employment, Muhammadu Maigari Dingyadi, and 10 others. The suit, marked NICN/ABJ/165/2024, was brought before the National Industrial Court of Nigeria, Abuja Division.
The claimants, including Comrade Harold I. Bestowe, Onyeka Chukwudi Christopher, and others, allege that the Minister and others have refused to grant NAPO’s application for registration as a trade union. They are suing on behalf of themselves and NAPO members nationwide.
The defendants in the matter include:
Minister of Labour and Employment,
Registrar of Trade Unions,
National Union of Civil Engineering Construction Furniture & Wood Workers (NUCECFWW),
Daewoo Engineering & Construction Nigeria Limited (DECN) and
Saipem Contracting Nigeria Limited.
Others are
Nigeria LNG Limited (NLNG),
Construction and Civil Engineering Senior Staff Association (CCESSA),
Trade Congress of Nigeria (TUC),
Nigeria Police,
Nigeria Police Service Commission,
State Security Service and Nigerian Army.
The claimants averred that NAPO was formed to represent the interests of heavy-duty plant operators across Nigeria.
They are seeking the following orders an order of certiorari quashing the refusal to register NAPO as a trade union- An order directing the issuance of a certificate of registration to NAPO,an order setting aside collective bargaining agreements negotiated between some defendant,an order directing the reinstatement of members whose employment was terminated due to their participation in NAPO’s trade union activities
The claimants had previously withdrawn a similar case (NICN/ABJ/166/2024) to avoid duplicity and ensure comprehensive adjudication of all issues in contention.
Akujobi Amadi
The late chairman of the Performing Musicians Employers Association of Nigeria (PMAN), Rivers State chapter, PHALGA Unit, Ediseimokumo Vining Ileberi, popularly known as VINTA 60 would be laid to rest this weekend in Port Harcourt.
The Tide Entertainment gathered that a candle night is scheduled to hold on the 30th May, 2025. of this month at 6 pm while the burial ceremony takes off with an open air service by 9:am the following morning.
According to the younger brother to the deceased, pastor Inemo Vining Ileberi, who disclosed this to the Tide Entertainment, the burial service would be held at the Prime Rose Estate playground, Okrika Water front, Port Harcourt.
Pastor Ileberi said that the burial service would be officiated by the living Faith Church .( Winners Chapel)
Meanwhile, the Public Relations officer of the Performing Musicians Employers Association of Nigeria, PHALGA Unit, Christopher Sokari Briggs has described the passing of the chairman as a great loss to the association, saying that the loss is a huge vacuum to the Port Harcourt Entertainment industry, especially to the Port Harcourt Township where he said that the impact of the late VINTA 60 was felt via his entertainment programme.
He further said that his contribution to the growth and promotion of entertainment in Port Harcourt would not be forgotten in a hurry, saying that the history of entertainment in Rivers State would not be complete with out the name, VINTA 60 being mentioned.
” VINTA would be greatly missed, he took entertainment to a height where the name,( VINTA 60 or V6) became an house hold name in the entertainment industry, especially in Rivers State. His annual programme tagged ‘Port Harcourt Town Carnival was remarkable’,” the P.R.O said.
Until his death V6 was a known Port Harcourt based artiste, an entertainment giant and coordinator of the PMAN, PHALGA Unit.
Earlier, the Governor of PMAN Rivers State, Moses Mabadaje popularly known as Mozzy B, has said a tribute night would be held in honour of the deceased immediately after the burial ceremony.
He said that PMAN, DJ’s and other entertainers would observe a tribute night in honour of their late colleague at the carniriv stand situated at Aggrey Road, Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
Meanwhile, a tribute song has been put in place to be performed by some Port Harcourt artistes, Show D, Don Christo, Yung, and Slim D to honour the Late VINTA 60.
It would be recalled that V6 passed on April 24, after a protracted illness. He is survived of his father, brothers, sisters, and three children.
Nancy Briggs
Amid the seemingly intractable crisis in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Chief Nyesom Wike, has accused Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, of betrayal, accusing the governor of instigating party members against him.
In a statement at the week-end, Chief Wike said the party had been enmeshed in a protracted crisis due to dishonesty and lack of trust amongst key stakeholders, with efforts to address issues and “enthrone fidelity to agreements” for the party’s progress.
“To this end, a meeting of the G5 was held in Lagos. In that meeting, I made it clear to the governor of Oyo State, HE Seyi Makinde, that he was the architect of our problems, pointing out to him that non-adherence to agreements reached was the bane of the party and that he was the chief culprit of this anomaly. At the end of the meeting, we resolved to bury the hatchet and make progress,” Chief Wike said.
The minister referenced an expanded meeting attended by the party’s key stakeholders, where he alleged that Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State was serially reneging on agreements.
“At the end of the meeting, we came to some resolutions, including (a) That Senator Samuel Anyanwu remains the national secretary of the PDP in tandem with the Supreme Court judgment; (b) All legal matters relating to Rivers State must be withdrawn by the national legal adviser; (c) The suit on the state of emergency be withdrawn forthwith; and (d) Nobody should deviate from the agreements so reached,” he said.
Chief Wike claimed he was begged to attend the stakeholders’ meeting at the Bauchi Government Lodge, which led to the formation of the reconciliation committee headed by former Senate President Bukola Saraki.
Alleging the violation of agreements reached before the Saraki-headed committee was constituted, the minister accused Mr Makinde of conniving with Peter Mbah of Enugu State to orchestrate the meeting of South-East leaders to recommend that if Ude Okoye was not adopted as secretary, they would pull out of the PDP.
The former Rivers State governor said, “Again, Seyi Makinde organised some people in the national secretariat to insist that the deputy national secretary should act as national secretary, in violation of the agreement earlier reached. To attempt to give credence to this farce, a letter was written by the deputy national secretary, calling for a meeting of the NEC of the party.
“Furthermore, the letter confirming the candidacy of the governorship candidate of the party in the forthcoming governorship elections in Anambra State, duly signed by the national secretary, Senator Anyanwu and the acting national chairman, was portrayed as rejected by the party through a rebuttal letter signed by the national publicity secretary, acting on the orders of Seyi Makinde and Peter Mbah.”
