latest
NDLEA Launches Community Program To Curb Cannabis Farming Across Nigeria.
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has launched a nationwide initiative to reduce illegal cannabis farming while helping communities build sustainable livelihoods.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
NDLEA Chairman and CEO, Brigadier General Mohamed Buba Marwa (rtd), said the program aims to boost local economies, promote peace, strengthen national security, and provide farmers with legal income opportunities.
Described as the first of its kind in Africa, the program began with a pilot project in three cannabis-growing communities in Ondo State last week. Beyond replacing illegal crops, it seeks to develop agricultural value chains, ease pressure on law enforcement, increase food production, and improve Nigeria’s global image in drug control.
Marwa called on governments, community leaders, traditional rulers, civil society, and development partners to support the program. He urged communities involved in illegal cultivation to adopt legal farming practices and work with the NDLEA to build productive livelihoods.
The pilot received strong backing from host communities, where local leaders hailed it as a source of hope. Early results show farmers are willing to switch to legal crops, which could reduce poverty, improve food security, and strengthen community stability.
Highlighting the scope of the issue, Marwa said data from the 2018 National Drug Use Survey showed 14.4% of Nigerians aged 15–64, about 14.3 million people, had used at least one psychoactive substance in the past year, with cannabis being the most common. Field studies also identified nearly 8,900 hectares dedicated to cannabis farming in high-risk areas of the Southwest.
Cannabis poses significant public health and social challenges, particularly among youth, including long-term health problems, addiction, crime, and strain on healthcare systems. Over the past five years, cannabis accounted for more than 75% of the 15 million kilograms of drugs seized by the NDLEA.
Marwa expressed confidence that the program could reverse these trends if consistently supported and confirmed it aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda. He also thanked international partners, including the UNODC, IITA, and various foundations, for their support.
Ondo State Governor Dr. Lucky Ayedatiwa and Minister of Agriculture and Food Security Senator Abubakar Kyari attended the launch. The NDLEA plans to expand the program nationwide to create safer, healthier, and more productive communities across Nigeria.
The 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) began nationwide on Thursday, with over 2.2 million candidates expected to participate across accredited centres.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
The exam, conducted by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), will run from April 16 to April 22 in multiple daily sessions.
JAMB Registrar, Prof. Is-haq Oloyede, urged examination officials to remain highly committed and professional, noting that the success of the exercise depends largely on their dedication.
He gave the charge during a virtual final briefing for technical officers ahead of the examination, where he also praised staff, ad hoc personnel, service providers, and technical advisers for their roles in the successful conduct of the mock exam.
Oloyede said many of the issues recorded during the mock exercise were due to poor assessment of centres by some technical officials.
He further stated that incentive packages would be awarded to teams that perform exceptionally, particularly in handling exam materials and submitting timely reports.
Reiterating JAMB’s zero-tolerance stance on malpractice, he warned candidates against bringing prohibited items into examination halls.
He also disclosed that biometric verification and real-time monitoring systems have been deployed to protect the integrity of the exercise.
Candidates whose biometrics cannot be verified, he added, will be rescheduled to write the exam at approved centres.
Meanwhile, a NAN correspondent monitoring proceedings at Aduvie International School, Jahi, reported that the first session scheduled for 8:30 a.m. began slightly behind schedule at about 8:40 a.m.
The Commissioner of Police for the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), CP Ahmed Muhammed Sanusi, on Thursday inspected security deployments at Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) Computer-Based Test (CBT) centres across Abuja.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
According to the FCT Police Command spokesperson, SP Josephine Adeh, the inspection is part of proactive measures to ensure a smooth, peaceful, and hitch-free conduct of the ongoing examinations.
The UTME is scheduled to run nationwide from April 16 to 18, 2026.
During the exercise, CP Sanusi assessed security arrangements put in place to safeguard candidates, examination officials, and CBT facilities.
He also engaged with centre supervisors, assuring them of adequate security presence throughout the examination period.
Adeh added that the CP reaffirmed the command’s commitment to maintaining law and order, warning that any attempt to disrupt the examinations would be met with decisive action in line with the law.
Over 700 former terrorists who have undergone deradicalisation and rehabilitation are set to be reintegrated into their communities.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
The Nigerian military has also dismissed reports alleging that beneficiaries of Operation Safe Corridor are being recruited into military institutions.
According to African Independent Television, the Coordinator of Operation Safe Corridor, Brigadier-General Yusuf Ali, made this known during a media tour of the Deradicalisation, Rehabilitation and Reintegration Centre in Gombe, North-East Nigeria.
He said many Nigerians still misunderstand the Federal Government’s structured counter-terrorism initiative, which is designed to restore peace in communities affected by insurgency.
Brigadier-General Ali explained that the programme focuses on rehabilitation and peaceful reintegration of repentant individuals into society.
During the tour, some of the participants also shared accounts of their involvement in offences that led to their admission into the programme.
The facility inspection was part of preparations for the graduation of over 700 clients who have completed the deradicalisation and rehabilitation process and are set for reintegration.
-
latest8 months ago“Social Media Erupts As Jim Iyke Declares Rita Dominic Nollywood’s Most Beautiful”
-
latest2 years agoEdo Political Showdown: Oshiomhole Appears At Presidential Villa As Tinubu Hands APC Gubernatorial Flag To Okpebholo (Photos & Video)
-
entertainment2 years agoLove Knows No Age American Woman Defends Marriage To Young Nigerian Man “I’m Not 70”
-
latest2 years agoOlumide Akpata Strikes Again: Drops Killer Track, Sends Edo State Into Frenzy!(Video)
-
Politics2 years agoNigerians React As Pastor Adeboye Foresees Passing Away On A Sunday After Enjoying A Satisfying Meal Of Pounded Yam
-
latest2 years agoFG Identifies 31 States At Risk Of Heavy Flooding In 2024: See Full List
-
latest2 years ago5 NYSC Corpers Perish In Fatal Road Accident Returning From Camp
-
Politics2 years agoBREAKING: Inspector-General Of Police Summons Top Police Commanders For Crucial-Security Challenges