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NDLEA Intercepts 2.4m Tramadol Pills From Pakistan …Female Drug Dealer With 78 Bags Of Cannabis
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has intercepted 2,465,000 tablets of Tramadol at the MurtalaMuhammed International Airport in Lagos.
The pharmaceutical opioid weighed 2,256kg with an estimated street value of N1.04billion, the spokesperson, Femi Babafemi said in a statement, yesterday.
The seizure on October 7 was made barely a week after 13.5million pills of Tramadol, worth N8.8billion, were found in one of the mansions of a billionaire drug baron in Victoria Garden City (VGC), Lagos.
NDLEA said the latest seizure, a consignment of 52 cartons, came into Nigeria from Karachi, Pakistan, with six different airway bills via an Ethiopian Airlines flight.
The packages comprised seven cartons of 250mg of a brand called Tamral and 45 cartons of 225mg, branded as Tramaking.
Another bid to export 15 parcels of cannabis and 600grams of tramadol 225mg concealed in a sack of crayfish to Dubai, UAE, was thwarted.
The freight agent, Osahor Alex Ekwueme, is in custody.
However, weeks after operatives intercepted 5.20kgs of cannabis concealed in kegs of palm oil, going to Dubai, at the NAHCO export shed, the owner, IfeanyiEgbuwaohia, has been arrested in Igando, Lagos.
Though Ifeanyi works as a technician at Computer Village, Ikeja, he also belongs to a drug network in Dubai, where he sends illicit drugs for distribution.
Babafemi disclosed that hours after his arrest, another consignment of 2.60kgs of the same substance he sent for export to Dubai was intercepted at Lagos airport.
Another consignment of 1.30kgs of cannabis concealed in reconstructed engine blocks going to Dubai was seized at the SAHCO export shed.
Two suspects, Olatunji Kehinde Temiola and Osemojoye Femi Sunday have been arrested in connection with the shipment.
In Kaduna, a female drug dealer, Peace Ayuba, was on Friday arrested at Kakau Gonin Gora with 78 bags of cannabis sativa weighing 849.5kgs.
Similarly, NDLEA agents in Sokoto arrested 28-year-old OnyekaOwo with 443 bottles of codeine-based syrup.
Similarly, operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have arrested a female drug dealer, Peace Ayuba, with 78 bags of cannabis sativa weighing 849.5kgs at KakauGonin Gora area of Kaduna State.
The NDLEA spokesperson, Femi Babafemi, made the disclosure via a statement, yesterday.
Babafemi noted that the female drug dealer was arrested on Friday, adding that the NDLEA operatives also arrested a 28-year-old man with 443 bottles of codeine-based syrup in Sokoto State.
He stated that the NDLEA also secured the conviction of a notorious drug dealer in the Alaba Rago area of Ojo, Lagos State, Surajo Mohammed, ten months after his arrest by the anti-drug agency.üÿ
The NDLEA spokesman said Mohammed was sentenced to seven years imprisonment by a Federal High Court in Lagos presided over by Justice Yellin Dogoro on Thursday.
Babafemi disclosed that Mohammed was arrested with 941.15kgs cannabis on December 20, 2021, and arraigned in court in charge number FHC/L/370c/2021.
He said Mohammed was however given a fine option of N7million.
Speaking on the arrests and seizures, the NDLEA Chairman/Chief Executive, Brig.-Gen. Mohammed Buba Marwa (rtd), urged the operatives of the anti-drug agency and their compatriots across the country to remain steadfast, resolute, and unrelenting until the last gram of illicit drugs is taken away from Nigeria.
President Bola Tinubu has expressed confidence that the country would win the fight against insecurity.
The President gave the assurance at the Argungu International Fishing Festival in Argungu town, Kebbi State, on Saturday.
He noted that the relative peace currently being enjoyed in Kebbi and neighbouring states was the result of sustained investments in security intelligence, coordination among security agencies, and community engagement.
Tinubu assured farmers and fishermen of sustained federal support to guarantee food security and safety across the country.
“The peace we are witnessing today is not accidental. It is the outcome of deliberate and sustained efforts. I assure you that the fight against banditry, insurgency, and insecurity will be won.
“Our farmers, fishermen, traders, and families will go about their lawful activities without fear,” he assured.
The President commended the organisers of the festival for sustaining the cultural event for decades, noting that it had endured for 83 years despite social and security challenges.
Describing the Argungu festival as a powerful symbol of unity, resilience, and peaceful coexistence, Tinubu stated that it reflects the richness of the country’s culture and the opportunities to harness its natural and human resources for national growth.
He said, “Today, this festival stands as a powerful symbol of unity, resilience, and peaceful coexistence among our people.
“It reflects the richness of our culture, the strength of our traditions, and the opportunities inherent in harnessing our natural and human resources for national development.”
The President was received by a large crowd of residents, traditional rulers, fishermen, tourists, and government officials from across the country.
The President reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to youth and women empowerment, irrigation development, rural electrification, and agricultural productivity.
Earlier, the Kebbi State Governor, Nasir Idris, said his administration was determined to elevate the Argungu Fishing Festival to full international standards while pursuing aggressive development across critical sectors of the state.
The United States Embassy in Abuja and the Consulate General in Lagos will be closed today, in observance of Presidents’ Day.
The mission made this known in a notice shared on its official X page, yesterday.
“The U.S. Embassy in Abuja and the Consulate General in Lagos will be closed on Monday, February 16, 2026, in observance of Presidents’ Day,” the post read.
According to the embassy, Presidents’ Day was originally established to honour the birthday of the former US President, George Washington, but has evolved into a day to celebrate all U.S. presidents and their leadership in shaping the country’s history.
The embassy noted that the holiday also recognises the influence of U.S. presidents on global affairs.
In a related message, the mission highlighted that Washington created the first “Badge of Military Merit,” which later became the Purple Heart. The medal still bears Washington’s image today.
Presidents’ Day is observed on the third Monday of February annually in the United States as a federal holiday.
News
Guterres Backs Nigeria’s Bid For UN Security Council Seat …Hails Tinubu’s Reforms, Regional Security Role
United Nations Secretary-General, António Guterres, has charged Nigeria with spearheading Africa’s quest for a restructured global order, describing the country as uniquely positioned to lead the continent toward superpower status.
Guterres, who backed Nigeria’s bid for the world body’s security council seat, also praised the economic reforms of the President Bola Tinubu-led administration as well as Nigeria’s leadership in stabilising the Sahel and ECOWAS regions, despite facing its own security challenges.
The UN scribe made the remarks last Friday night during a high-level bilateral meeting with Vice President Kashim Shettima on the sidelines of the 39th African Union (AU) Summit in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Speaking during the meeting, Guterres said Nigeria’s large population, sustained democratic governance, vast natural and human resources, and longstanding commitment to multilateralism placed it in a unique position to lead Africa in the evolving global order.
“Given Nigeria’s demographic strength, democratic continuity and deep resource base, the country stands a real chance of leading Africa to becoming the next superpower in the evolving global architecture,” he said.
The UN Secretary-General and the vice president discussed key developments in Nigeria and the country’s expanding leadership role in promoting regional stability across West Africa and the Sahel.
Guterres commended the remarkable and outstanding reforms of the administration of President Tinubu, noting that Nigeria’s bold economic restructuring and security commitments have strengthened its continental standing.
The meeting focused on strengthening Nigeria–UN collaboration to advance global economic growth, peace and security, sustainable development, and a coordinated humanitarian response across Africa.
In his remarks, Shettima thanked the UN Secretary-General for his leadership in advancing global peace, noting that Africa has benefited immensely from his tenure, even as the United Nations undergoes internal restructuring.
“We remain committed to multilateralism and to deepening our partnerships with the United Nations and other global institutions,” the vice president said.
Shettima also reiterated Nigeria’s longstanding call for comprehensive reform of the United Nations system to reflect evolving global realities.
He emphasised that Africa must have stronger representation in global decision-making structures and declared that Nigeria deserves a permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council.
Both leaders pledged to deepen cooperation, with Guterres reaffirming the UN’s support for Nigeria’s reform agenda and its growing leadership role in advancing peace, security, and development across Africa.