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  • World Drug Day: UNODC urges Nigeria to adopt empirical prevention

     

     Mr Danilo Campisi, Deputy Country Representative, United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC)

    World Drug Day: UNODC urges Nigeria to adopt empirical prevention

    Prevention
    By Ibironke Ariyo
    Abuja, June 19, 2024(NAN) The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) has called for urgent and evidence-based measures to tackle drug abuse in Nigeria.

    Mr Danilo Campisi, Deputy Country Representative, UNODC Country Office in Nigeria made the call at a press briefing organised by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) on Wednesday in Abuja.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the World Drug Day is celebrated annually on June 26 globally.

    Campisi emphasised the need for scientifically-backed strategies to address the growing drug problem in Nigeria.

    He said that the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, or World Drug Day, was aimed to promote global cooperation and action towards a drug-free world.

    Campisi said that this year’s theme, “The Evidence Is Clear, Let Us Invest In Prevention”, was particularly relevant for Nigeria, where youth involvement in drug use was alarmingly high.

    According to the 2018 National Drug Use Survey, drug use prevalence in Nigeria stands at 14.4 per cent, three times the global average, with the highest rates among those aged 25 to 39.

    “Projections indicate a 40 per cent increase in drug use in Africa by 2030, primarily due to the continent’s youthful population.

    “The global drug problem presents a multifaceted challenge that touches the lives of millions worldwide.

    “From individuals struggling with
    substance use disorders to communities grappling with the consequences of drug trafficking and organised crime, the impact of drugs is far-reaching and complex.

    “Central to addressing this challenge is the imperative to adopt a scientific evidence-based approach that prioritises prevention and treatment,” he said.

    Campisi, however, said that UNODC had worked with the Government of Nigeria to adapt and implement evidence-based prevention measures.

    This, he said, included the highly successful UNPLUGGED, a school-based Drug Prevention Programme implemented together with the Federal Ministry of Education.

    “This initiative was developed in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Education and supported by the MTN Foundation.

    “Implemented in 110 Unity Schools and several states, including Kebbi, Bayelsa, and Kaduna, the program has shown significant success in reducing substance use among students and improving their academic performance.

    “However, the UNPLUGGED program currently reaches only two per cent of the school population, prompting calls for broader adoption by state governments and private schools.

    “In addition to UNPLUGGED, UNODC has piloted other effective programmes in Nigeria. These include the Strengthening of the Family Programme and Strong Families, which focus on building family resilience against substance use,

    “Other are the Line Up Live Up (LULU), a sports-based prevention program targeting out-of-school youth, and the Drug Education for School Children program, aimed at sensitising young students about the dangers of drug use, “ Campisi said.

    The UNODC representative commended the European Union for its support in adapting and evaluating the UNPLUGGED program in Nigeria.

    He reaffirmed the UNODC’s commitment to provide technical and normative support for these evidence-based prevention and treatment programs.

    NAN reports that the press briefing was organised ahead of the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

    ICA/NNO/BRM

    ==================

    Edited by Nick Nicholas/Bashir Rabe Mani

  • Security: Kogi Govt set to recruit 1, 050 hunters

    Security: Kogi Govt set to recruit 1, 050 hunters

    Security
    By Thompson Yamput
    Lokoja, June 19, 2024 (NAN) The Kogi Government is set to recruit 1, 050 hunters to beef up security in the State.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports in Lokoja that this followed the State House Assembly’s approval of the government’s request on Wednesday at plenary for the recruitment of that seizable number of hunters.

    The commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Mr Salami Ozigi-Deedat, had sent a letter to the house for the recruitment of 50 hunters each in the 21 Local Government Area of the state.

    In the letter the state government gave reasons for the proposed recruitment to include shortage of security personnel in the state and the need to curb crime and criminality in the state.

    The assembly speaker, Alhaji Umar Aliyu, read the letter sent out during plenary on Wednesday.

    Aliyu reminded the house of their previous resolve to recruit hunters, given the security challenges in the state

    According to him, there is serious shortage of manpower in the state, and that the government’s request was in the right direction.

    Consequently, in a voice vote, the legislators unanimously approved the recruitment of the 1, 050 hunters.

    The house directed that the payment of salaries of the hunters would be made by the Caretaker Chairmen of the 21 local governments. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

    TYC/SH

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    edited by Sadiya Hamza

     

  • Explosions occur at ammunition depot in Chad

    Explosions occur at ammunition depot in Chad

    Explosions

    Yaounde, June 19, 2024 (Xinhua/NAN) Explosions has occurred on Tuesday night at an ammunition depot in the Chadian capital N’Djamena, authorities reported on Wednesday.

    “A fire broke out in a military ammunition warehouse located in Goudji, causing major explosions.

    “We urge the population to remain calm,’’ Koulamallah Abderaman, Chadian government spokesman and foreign minister, said on social media.

    The exact cause of the explosions remained unclear at the time of the report . (Xinhua/NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

    COO/AMM
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    Edited by Cecilia Odey and Abiemwense Moru

     

  • COVID-19 hit German Olympic qualifying in athletics

    COVID-19

    Munich, June 19, 2024 (dpa/NAN) Corona virus infections have hit some athletes ahead of the German Athletics Championships, which acted as a last chance for Olympic qualification.

    German Athletics Association head of sport Jörg Bügner said on Wednesday that infections had been reported following this month’s European Championships in Rome.

    The majority of these were among the support staff but also among the athletes, he said in anonymity.

    COVID-19 cases have plummeted over the last two years.

    Few sporting events have been affected, in contrast to the height of the pandemic, which even led the Tokyo Olympics to be delayed by a year.

    The team have allocated 23 places via direct qualification for the Paris games, which runs from July 26 to Aug.11.

    Konstanze Klosterhalfen, the German 5,000 metre runner, is expected to return in at the German championships in Braunschweig.

    After missing out on defending her title at the European Championships due to illness.

    “I am positive that she’ll get the hang of it for the Olympic Games,’’ said Bügner.

    Germany won 11 medals at the European Championships including gold for Olympic champion long jumper Malaika Mihambo. (dpa/ NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

    COO/ROT
    ======

    Edited by Cecilia Odey/Rotimi Ijikanmi

  • Why we target assets of drug barons, traffickers – Marwa

     

    The Secretary, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) Shadrach Haruna with the Deputy Country Rep, United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) Danilo Campisi.
    Drug

    By Ibironke Ariyo

    Abuja, June 19, 2024 (NAN) The Chairman, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), retired, Brig.-Gen. Buba Marwa on Wednesday justified the decision of the agency to go after assets of drug barons and traffickers.

    Marwa said this at a news briefing in Abuja to begin the week-long activities to commemorate the 2024 International Day Against Drugs and Illicit Trafficking.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that June 26 every year is set aside to commemorate the day.

    NAN also reports that the theme of the 2024 World Drug Day (WDD) is: “Evidence is Clear, Let Us Invest in Prevention”.

    Represented by Mr Shadrach Haruna, the Secretary of the agency, the NDLEA chairman said that the decision was part of ongoing offensive against illicit drugs peddlers and cartels in the industry.

    According to him, the offensive against drug cartels and traffickers inaugurated in January 2021, has till date continued to yield the desired result with the arrests and prosecutions of several barons.

    He said that in April, two serial traffickers got life imprisonment.

    According to him, our prosecution efforts have continued to achieve successes in courts given the painstaking investigations and diligence in the prosecution of cases.

    “Our water tight case preparations are unassailable. This has been further strengthened with our forfeiture regime with the passage of Proceeds of Crime Act (POCA 2022).

    “Aside from conviction, the assets of the convicts used as instrumentality of the crime or the proceeds derived from the crime are forfeited to the Federal Government.

    “Indeed, a civil action in rem could be maintained against assets reasonably suspected to be proceeds of crime in which case the burden of proving the lawful origin of the asset will be on the defendant, who claims ownership of the asset.

    “This diligent and painstaking preparation of investigations and prosecutions explains the success of the high conviction rate,” he said.

    Speaking on the drug demand reduction efforts of the agency, Marwa said that the flagship programme, War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) was built on the whole of society approach to preventive action against drug abuse.

    He said that the approach had been a tremendous success as an effective tool of advocacy for social action and an awareness-driven vehicle.

    This, he said was for public engagement and collaboration against illicit trafficking and abuse, which aligned with the theme for the 2024 WDD.

    He said that the WDD observed on June 26 every year, “was an important day for the global community, and an occasion during, which current efforts against illicit drug problems were given policy direction for the next 12 months.

    Marwa said that the theme emphasised the importance of preventing people from falling into the danger of experimenting with illicit drugs and subsequently into the trap of dependence on psychoactive substances.

    According to him, prevention is an important aspect of the effort to curb the menace of abuse of illicit drugs in the society.

    “At NDLEA, prevention as ably anchored in our War Against Drug Abuse (WADA), social advocacy programme is a priority area for us.

    “Within our modest means and with the support of the Federal Government and our various stakeholders, we have invested in prevention by various means over the past three years.

    “This is part of the reforms being undertaken in the agency.” he said.

    Marwa expressed gratitude to the federal and state governments for the support given to the agency in various ways in the onslaught against drug traffickers.

    He acknowledged that the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) had been a strong support for the agency as well as the foreign partners, including the U.S.-Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).

    Others he said included the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL), the British Border Force, National Crime Agency (NCA) of United Kingdom, and the Nigerian Armed Forces.

    The rest are the Nigeria Customs Service, the Nigeria Police  Force (NPF), Immigration, NAFDAC, NFIU, NACA, FRSC and Civil Defence, among others.

    In his remarks, UNODC Country Deputy Representative, Mr Danilo Campisi called on government at all levels and other stakeholders in Nigeria to invest in drug use preventive measures.

    Campisi said that this would help to avoid a 40 per cent rise in the population of drug users in the country, especially among the youth.

    According to him, projections show that by 2030, there will be a 40 per cent increase in the use of drugs in Africa based on the population of young people.

    “This is extremely concerning, if we consider that 2030 is only six years away.

    “We are all familiar with the saying prevention is better than cure and considering the data and projections, it has become even more critical for Nigeria to invest heavily in drug use preventive measures.

    “I do not think it will be an exaggeration to describe this as a national emergency.

    “If the country is to take on the challenge of this projected increase in drug use, it is imperative that it adopts scientific evidence-based approaches that prioritise prevention and treatment. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

    ICA/DCO/EEE

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    Edited by Deborah Coker/Ese E. Eniola Williams

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

  • Sickle Cell: Prevention remains most effective management – Physician

    Sickle Cell

    By Chidinma Ewunonu-Aluko

    Ibadan, June 19, 2024 (NAN) Dr Folajimi Senjobi, a Family Physician at the University College Hospital (UCH) Ibadan, says prevention remains the most effective form of sickle cell disease management.

    Senjobi, said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Ibadan, as the world marks Sickle Cell Day.

    The family physician said that the general advocacy for prevention of the disease was for people with genotype AS, AC, SC, or SS to get married to and or procreate with partners with genotype AA.

    “If the problem is taken care of at the primary levels, then, fewer incidences of sickle cell diseases will occur.

    “We need to pay attention to the following: regulation compliance with care, risk management for the disease, health crises management in our facilities.

    “Prevention remains the most effective form of the disease management.
    Know your genotype and that of your partner before you agree to get married,” Senjobi said.

    He noted that sickle cell disease continue to be a ‘Big Bull’ yet often overlooked by global health concern.

    Senjobi said that the disease was affecting millions of people worldwide, especially in the malaria endemic regions of the world.

    According to him, the day is observed annually to raise awareness about this condition to mitigate against it.

    Senjobi explained that Sickle cell disease is a genetically acquired blood disorder caused by a mutation in the hemoglobin `A’ gene, leading to the production of abnormal blood hemoglobin ‘S’.

    This, he added, resulted in rigidity of the red blood cells that could obstruct blood flow.

    “Symptoms include severe pain episodes (sickle cell crises), low blood levels, fatigue, swelling in the hands and feet, frequent and recurring infections, delayed wound healing and delayed growth in children.

    “Treatment focuses on managing symptoms and preventing complications, including pain relief medications, blood transfusions, and hydroxyurea to reduce crises.

    “In severe cases, a bone marrow transplant may offer a cure,” he said. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
    CC/DE/IU

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    Edited by Dorcas Jonah/ Isaac Ukpoju

  • 2024 Olympic Games: No challenges in Boxing camp-Official

    2024 Olympic Games: No challenges in Boxing camp-Official

    Boxing

    By Babatunde Ogunrinde

    Lagos,  June 19, 2024 (NAN) Dapo Akinyele, the Secretary General, Nigeria Boxing Federation (NBBF), on Wednesday denied claims that the Olympic bound team are facing challenges in camp.

    Akinyele told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that all is well in camp and that the boxers have intensified their training  since the camp started.

    “All is well in camp, we are not facing any challenges at all, in fact we also learnt of the so called challenges through the media but all this is not true.

    “We have two boxers in camp, Omole Dolapo and Cynthia Ogunsemilore are currently training ahead of the Paris Olympic Games to hold July 26 to Aug. 11,” he said.

    NAN reports that members of the Nigeria boxing Federation, officials and athletes are currently training at Ilaji Hotels and Sports Resorts in Oyo state.

    The boxing federation had camped at the same venue for the last African Games where they won eight gold and two silver medals.

    The venue was chosen by the ministry of sports developments for athletes to intensify preparations for the Games.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

     

    BAO/JPE

    =======

    Edited by Joseph Edeh

  • U.S., Nigeria working toward convening maiden energy security dialogue – Envoy

    Amb. Geoffrey Pyatt, U.S. Assistant Secretary of State, Bureau of Energy Resources.

    Envoy

    By Mark Longyen

    Abuja, June 19, 2024 (NAN) Amb. Geoffrey Pyatt, U.S. Assistant Secretary of State, Bureau of Energy Resources, said the U.S. and Nigeria are working closely toward convening a maiden Energy Security Dialogue (ESD) in 2024.

    Amb. Pyatt announced this at a digital news conference on Wednesday following a U.S.-Angola energy security dialogue to strengthen U.S.-Africa Energy Partnerships in Luanda, Angola.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Angola ESD was the first in-person dialogue in sub-Saharan Africa to be held during U.S. President Joe Biden’s administration.

    Pyatt said that the U.S.-Nigeria ESD would border on a broad agenda, including decarbonisation of fossil energy production, acceleration of clean energy deployment, and liquified natural gas.

    He said other issues to be discussed during the event would be the challenges of the global gas market, critical minerals, energy access, grid interconnections, and partnerships.

    The U.S. envoy said Deputy Secretary of State, Kurt Campbell, had discussed the prospective dialogue with Nigerian government officials during his recent visit to Nigeria, after which he took it up.

    “And then I followed up at the Corporate Council for Africa summit meeting in Dallas just a few weeks ago, where I joined Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield for our meeting with the Nigerian foreign minister.

    “So, I think our governments are agreed that we want this to happen. We want it to happen in 2024, and I’m hopeful that we will have an announcement in the next couple of weeks about the specific timing.

    “Much like the dialogue with Angola, our dialogue with Nigeria would be built around a broad agenda, including decarbonization of fossil energy production, acceleration of clean energy deployment, LNG and the global gas market, critical minerals, issues of energy access and grid interconnections,” he said.

    According to him, the dialogue will also involve a business element, whereby U.S. and Nigerian companies come together to explore opportunities and push their governments to accelerate the deepening of their energy partnerships.

    He noted that for most of Sub-Saharan Africa, the number one energy priority was energy access; how to deliver the expanded volumes of energy that citizens needed to meet the aspirations for uplifting their situation.  

    The envoy said the U.S. was partnering with Sub-Saharan African countries in providing massive access to energy, adding that American companies were already partners in that regard, operating in Angola, Mozambique, and Nigeria, among others.

    He said the most crucial issues on the U.S-Africa energy partnership agenda include tackling climate change challenges and addressing energy transition through partnerships.

    “We also understand, and this is painfully clear, in a country like Angola, where you see the impact that the climate crisis has on traditional agriculture and weather patterns. 

    “And so, taking climate action and being as ambitious as we can in our targets to reduce the carbon footprint of the energy that we produce, the energy that the world needs, is job number one. 

    “We want to ensure that we support, in Africa in particular, a just energy transition.

    “Every country is going to have its energy mix and a unique endowment of natural resources,” he said.

    Amb. Pyatt said that Nigeria and Angola as two of Africa’s largest oil producers, are important countries with a globally significant capacity to produce crude oil, hence their ESD significance.

    “They are also countries whose crude oil economies have been significantly impacted both by Russia’s weaponization of its energy resources and also the role of China. 

    “When I was in Angola, we talked a lot about the fact that Angola owes about 17 billion dollars to China for years and years of checkbook diplomacy. 

    “So we want to talk to both governments about their role in the global energy matrix, our partnership, the role of the United States as a major oil producer, and how we see energy,” he said.

    “Our energy security interests are impacted by the disruptions created by Russia’s weaponisation of its energy resources and how our producers are responding to that,” he added.

    NAN recalls that the State Department had in June 2023 announced the formation of an energy security dialogue with Nigeria to advance collaboration on shared energy and climate goals, saying it would host it this year. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

    YEN/YEE

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    (Edited by Emmanuel Yashim)

  • Food inflation: Group urges urgent action to protect FCT farmers

     

    Emergency

    By Felicia Imohimi

    Abuja, June 19, 2024(NAN) Smallholder Women Farmers Organisation of Nigeria (SWOFON) has urged the FCT administration to declare state of emergency on insecurity in order to ensure safety of farmers.

    Mrs Olabisi Ogedengbe, SWOFON Coordinator, Gwagwalada, FCT, made the call at a news conference organised by WSOFON on Wednesday in Abuja.

    The conference was tagged “Emerging challenges affecting smallholder women farmers in the FCT.’’

    According to Ogedengbe, such declaration will address looming food crisis and inflation in the territory.

    Ogedengbe, who decried the alarming insecurity and farmer-herders clashes in FCT, said the challenges had made smallholder women farmers vulnerable and finding difficulties to access their farmlands and incurring losses.

    She identified the security challenge as a contributing factor to the current hike in cost of food among others in the country.

    Ogedengbe alerted that the livelihood conditions of most smallholder women farmers were deteriorating, reaching a point where they struggled to provide food, access healthcare, infrastructure and afford their children’s education.

    “The conference is to draw the attention of Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) and Nigerian Government to the impact of the challenges affecting smallholder women farmers in FCTA.

    “In light of the escalating economic challenges and the concurrent food crises and inflation, SWOFON deemed it imperative to highlight the severe effects on smallholder women farmers in the territory.’’

    Ogedengbe said recent data from the National Bureau of Statistics, indicated that the food inflation rate in January 2024 was 35.41per cent on a year-on-year basis.

    “The figure is 11.10per cent points higher compared to the rate of 24.32per cent recorded last year January.

    “Similarly, the Cable news in May 2024, reported that FCT experienced food inflation rate at 38.38per cent

    “The rise in food inflation on a year-on-year basis started with COVID -19 pandemic and exacerbated by increases in prices of bread and cereals, potatoes, yam and other tubers, oil and fat among others,’’ she said.

    She called on FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, and the FCTA to deliberately invest massively in agriculture to ensure food and nutrition security.

    Mrs Comfort Sunday, SWOFON Coordinator, FCT Chapter, identified other challenges faced by the women as barriers to land ownership and control.

    Sunday said most times some of the farmlands were taken over by government for commercial purposes thereby limiting women farmers ability to invest in and benefit from agricultural activities.

    She frowned at the disparities in access to and release of quality seeds, fertilisers, water pumps, solar borehole, Nafsak sprayers and other inputs between male and female farmers.

    According to her, the disparities make it difficult for women farmers to engage in dry seasoning farming, impacting in low agricultural production and food insecurity.

    Sunday said women farmers were disproportionately affected by climate change impacts such as erratic rainfall, droughts and soil degradation describing the challenge as threaten food security and livelihoods.

    She said the farmers lacked resources to implement adaptive measures to environmental challenges threatening food security and livelihoods.

    The coordinator called for reforms to land tenure policies to ensure equitable access to land for women, including legal support and advocacy for land rights.

    “There should be timely release of farm inputs to smallholder women farmers by all tiers of government for this rainy season farming.

    “Federal Government and FCTA should as a matter of urgency provide subsidies and support to our farmers for easy access to inputs such as quality early maturing seeds, seedlings, feeds, organic fertilisers, and pesticides.

    “This will help increase food production, improve farmers’ livelihoods, and stimulate economic growth in the agricultural sector, “(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

    FUA/CJ/

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    Edited by Chijioke Okoronkwo

     

     

  • Ribadu lauds community-led Islamic Centre project in Yola

    Project

    By Ibrahim Kado

    Yola, June 19, 2024 (NAN) The National Security Adviser (NSA), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, has commended his community, Bako Ward of Yola South Local Government Area of Adamawa, for the ongoing construction of an Islamic Centre Complex.

    Ribadu gave the commendation in Yola on Wednesday, after inspecting the ongoing project, which consists of a mosque, Islamic learning centre and other facilities.

    He commended members of the community and other philanthropists who worked for the realisation of the project.

    He called for more efforts and financial support to enable completion of the complex, “which is currently at 80 per cent completion.”

    The NSA advised members of the community, particularly the youths, to use the complex, when completed, as a rallying point and to advance learning for their educational growth and development.

    “We complain a lot about eroding values. A lot of it is because we have abandoned proper learning and inculcating morals in our young ones.

    “I hope this place will help address that,” he said.

    He pledged to support the project to meet the aspiration of the community.

    Alhaji Ahmadu Baminda, a community leader and member of the Mosque Project Committee, explained that Ribadu was invited to the project site to see the community’s efforts and to seek his support.

    The goal, according to him, is to galvanise more support to ensure the completion of the project.

    “We appreciate all you are doing as an illustrious member of this community.

    “We hope that you will help us so that the dream of our community to have a befitting Islamic centre is realised,” he said. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

    IMK/FDY

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    Edited by Philip Yatai