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NASS Mourns Member, Adjourns Plenary
The National Assembly, yesterday, cut short plenary sessions of both chambers in honour of one of its vibrant members, Hon Ossy Chinedu Prestige, who passed on over the weekend.
As the senators returned to the chambers for the first time since their recess, last year, President of the Senate, Dr Ahmad Lawan, expressed shock and sadness over the death of the member.
The Minority Leader of the Senate, Enyinnaya Abaribe, who expressed grief over the loss, lamented that the zone has lost one of its finest lawmakers, saying that Prestige was, “a major stakeholder, a political leader of repute and one personality that is beholden to all irrespective of differences in political party affiliation”
Prestige, until his death, represented Aba North/South Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives for two terms, having been first elected in 2015 and re-elected in 2019.
President of the Senate, Dr Ahmad Lawan, in a statement signed by his Special Adviser on Media, Ola Awoniyi, attested that Prestige was a good representative of his constituency in the National Assembly, and that he touched many lives through his business engagements and charity outreach such as the Prestige Ossy Foundation, and The Favoured Initiatives.
Lawan commiserated with his family, friends and political associates over their irreparable loss.
He also condoled with the Government and people of Abia State, and prayed that God Almighty would grant them the fortitude to bear the loss.
The Minority Leader of the Senate, Enyinnaya Abaribe, yesterday, declared that “Ossy’s death was a personal loss to him, being a bosom friend, brother and ally.
“I have lost a friend, brother, ally, a committed patriot, and a good natured Abian. I had wished in my heart and prayed that Ossy recovers to continue with his work in the House. We spoke severally while he was on sick bed, and he kept assuring me that he will be okay, and here we are with this sad reality. He will be sorely missed”, Abaribe said.
The minority leader, however, condoled with the family, the people of Aba North/South Federal Constituency, the government and people of Abia State on this huge loss.
Similarly, the House of Representatives adjourned plenary, yesterday, minutes after it resumed from its 2020 Christmas and New Year holidays.
The adjournment was to honour a fallen member, Hon. Ossy Prestige, whose death occurred on Sunday, February 7, 2021.
He was said to have been sick since the summer of 2020 and was flown to London for treatment.
The Speaker of the House, Hon Femi Gbajabiamila, while announcing the development to the House, expressed shock and regrets.
He said that though there were many announcements, including a letter from President Muhammadu Buhari informing the House about the appointment of the new service chiefs, the parliament would still not be sitting.
The speaker, however, gave hints of new Covid-19 safety measures to be announced, today.
He described Prestige as a friend and active member of the 8th and 9th House.
Gbajabiamila also gave brief details of his journey to London to visit the late lawmaker in a hospital.
The speaker said that at the appropriate time, the House would pay formal tributes and accord him the last respect.
He said, “You are well back from the recess. It’s good to see you back. We will be announcing tomorrow new Covid-19 protocols just to keep us safe. We need to take the necessary action.
“On a very sad note, we will not be doing any business, today. I have some announcements including a letter from Mr President on the new service chiefs. I am pushing all that for tomorrow.
“I want to announce the death of our colleague, Hon. Ossy Prestige.
“He’s been sick for a while since the summer of last year. I saw him in October of last year. We chatted and I announced to members to continue to pray for him. I think the minority leader also went to see him. Shortly, we lost communications until the family notified me a couple of days ago of his passage.
“When I went to see him in a UK hospital, he narrated to me how he travelled.
“He was a member of a powerful bloc in 8th assembly. He was a great guy.
“He shared something with me before he travelled to London. He kept telling me he had a dream and I will share that dream with you in good time.
“Our prayer is that God will comfort his family and also accept his soul. We will do a formal valedictory at the right time. We will do a minute silence for now.”
With the comments, the Speaker called the Majority Leader, Hon Ado Doguwa, to move the motion for adjournment.
Seconded by the Minority Leader, Hon Ndudi Elumelu, the House observed one-minute silence, and adjourned plenary to today.
By: Nneka Amaechi-Nnadi, Abuja
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has intercepted 1.63 million pills of tramadol concealed in two long trailers heading for Kano as it intensified efforts to dismantle a transnational drug trafficking syndicate operating along the Togo-Benin Republic-Nigeria corridor.
The agency also arrested an 80-year-old suspected drug dealer in Rivers State, a businesswoman linked to cannabis shipments from Canada, a Chadian woman, a couple and other suspects in coordinated operations across Lagos, Edo, Kogi and Rivers states.
The NDLEA’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, disclosed this in a statement, yesterday.
According to the statement, the latest intelligence-led operation came barely one week after NDLEA operatives recovered 558,900 pills of tramadol concealed in the false-bottom compartment of a truck that entered Lagos through the Togo-Benin Republic route.
Babafemi said, “Ongoing efforts to dismantle a transnational drug trafficking syndicate smuggling tramadol from Togo, through Benin Republic into Nigeria have yielded another success with the interception of two long trailers used to move One Million Six Hundred and Thirty (1,630,000) pills of tramadol 250mg concealed in fabricated compartments of the trucks across multiple borders into Lagos.”
He added that one of the two trailers was intercepted on July 2 along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, where operatives recovered 853,000 pills of tramadol 250mg concealed in a fabricated compartment beneath the cargo floor.
Babafemi said, “One of the two trucks already heading to Kano was tracked and located on 2nd July 2026 along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway where NDLEA officers recovered 853,000 pills of tramadol 250mg concealed in a fabricated compartment beneath the cargo floor of the trailer and arrested the 22-year-old driver Jabir Kabiru.”
He further disclosed that another trailer was intercepted two days later on the same route.
“Two days later, 4th July, NDLEA operatives acting on processed intelligence successfully tracked and recovered the second trailer from the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway while heading to Kano. A total of 777,000 pills of tramadol 250mg concealed in a fabricated compartment beneath the cargo floor of the truck were evacuated and the 22-year-old driver Muhammed Nuhu arrested,” the statement read.
According to Babafemi, investigations established a link between the three intercepted consignments.
He said, “Investigations revealed that all three trucks and consignments intercepted on 21st June, 2nd July and 4th July belong to the same transnational drug trafficking syndicate operating along the Togo-Benin Republic-Nigeria axis.”
The agency also intercepted 4.70 kilograms of Canadian Loud, a synthetic strain of cannabis, at the import shed of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos.
Babafemi said, “Two consignments of Canadian Loud, a synthetic strain of cannabis, with a combined weight of 4.70 kilograms have been intercepted at the import shed of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Ikeja, Lagos. The cargoes, which arrived the Lagos airport from Canada in cartons with ‘Odugwu’ boldly written on them, came aboard British Airways and Ethiopian Airlines flights on 24th June and 3rd July respectively.”
He said two cargo agents, Ali Rotimi Samson and Orimolade Oluwagbenga, were initially arrested in connection with the shipments, while another suspect, Edeh Onyeamachi Stanislus, was apprehended after arriving at a logistics company to take delivery of the consignments.
The Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction has denied claims that it has commenced registration for a purported ?50,000 National Support Allowance.
The ministry, in a public notice posted on its official X handle, yesterday, described messages, links and websites advertising the alleged programme as fraudulent.
It urged Nigerians to disregard such claims and verify information only through official government channels.
“The Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction has NOT commenced registration for any ?50,000 National Support Allowance,” the ministry said.
It added, “Disregard fraudulent messages, links and websites claiming otherwise. Verify any info only through official govt channels.”
The alert is in response to a circulating scam flyer that falsely claims the program is ongoing under President Bola Tinubu’s directives.
The fake advertisement, which includes text in Hausa and English, directs victims to a suspicious website (kluspz.com) for applications.
The ministry’s warning comes amid heightened concerns over digital fraud targeting vulnerable populations seeking social support.
Similar scams have previously surfaced around programs like N-Power, prompting questions from citizens in replies to the official post.
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has expressed its preparedness for a major national struggle for a comprehensive review of the national minimum wage.
NLC President, Comrade Joe Ajaero, hinted at this while making his remarks at the commissioning of the Comrade Godwin Abumisi Pensioners Legacy House and Multipurpose Hall in Abuja.
Ajaero said it is no longer acceptable to discuss the welfare of workers without also discussing the welfare of those who have completed their active years of service.
He advised workers and pensioners to get prepared for the ideological and economic battles that lie ahead.
According to the NLC president, “The Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP) is one of the proud affiliates of the Nigeria Labour Congress. Therefore, your struggle is our struggle, and your welfare remains a priority for the organised labour movement.
“We are currently in the preparatory stages for a major national struggle for a comprehensive review of the national minimum wage.
“However, let me state unequivocally that it is no longer acceptable to discuss the welfare of workers without also discussing the welfare of those who have completed their active years of service.
“Accordingly, the Nigeria Labour Congress will not only push for a new national minimum wage but will also demand the establishment of a national minimum pension. It is a historical injustice that men and women who devoted their youth, strength and productive years to the service of this nation should be condemned to live below the poverty line after retirement.”
Ajaero noted that the cost of living has risen astronomically as food, healthcare and transportation have become increasingly unaffordable.
“We cannot continue to allow our senior citizens to survive on pensions that have become poverty wages. Every retiree deserves to live with dignity after decades of faithful service to the nation,” he said.
He urged pensioners across the country to remain united and prepared as the process begins, adding: “This Legacy House should not merely be seen as a physical structure; it should become a centre for mobilisation, strategic engagement and solidarity as we prepare for the struggles ahead.”
The NLC president pointed out that the working class has always understood that “those who exploit workers are united in advancing their interests. We too must remain united in defending our collective interests and ensuring that government fulfils its obligations to both serving workers and retirees.”
He urged pensioners across the country to remain united and prepared as the process begins, adding: “This Legacy House should not merely be seen as a physical structure; it should become a centre for mobilisation, strategic engagement and solidarity as we prepare for the struggles ahead.”
The NLC president pointed out that the working class has always understood that “those who exploit workers are united in advancing their interests. We too must remain united in defending our collective interests and ensuring that government fulfils its obligations to both serving workers and retirees.”
He said the completion of the project should serve as a clarion call to all workers and lovers of the masses.
“We must not only build physical structures but also build a strong movement capable of compelling government to honour its commitments,” he said.
Ajaero further stated: “We will continue to demand the immediate payment of all outstanding pension arrears and the implementation of a pension regime that guarantees every retiree a life of dignity and security.
“Together, we shall continue to fight until every Nigerian worker and pensioner receives the justice, respect and welfare they deserve.”