Author: CSNews

Convicted Cocaine Trafficker Caught Posing As Herbal Tea Seller As NDLEA Sweeps Nine States

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By Asiwaju Adekunle Saheed Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency have arrested a convicted cocaine trafficker who had disguised himself as a herbal tea businessman, in a sweeping series of operations that spanned nine states across the country. The suspect, 34 year old Dunu Bethel Ebubechukwu, was arrested at Article Market in Ojo, Lagos, following an intelligence led operation that traced him after the interception of 1.2 kilogrammes of cocaine concealed in phone chargers destined for Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. NDLEA spokesman Femi Babafemi said Ebubechukwu had previously been arrested in 2011 at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport after ingesting cocaine and heroin under a different name, and was convicted and sentenced to five years in prison before changing his identity and returning to trafficking. Alongside the arrest, NDLEA operatives intercepted a 20,000 litre fuel tanker fitted with a concealed compartment for drugs in Ondo State, recovering 165 bags of cannabis weighing over 2,145 kilogrammes after the driver abandoned the vehicle and fled into the bush. At the Lagos airport, the agency recovered 966,200 tablets of Tramadol valued at more than ₦1.1 billion hidden among second hand trousers, while at Tincan Port, 598.08 kilogrammes of cannabis infused cookies and gummies were seized in a 40 foot container. Further operations across Adamawa, Kogi, Taraba, Kaduna, Bauchi, Ekiti and Enugu states led to the recovery of large quantities of tramadol, methamphetamine, cannabis and other controlled substances, along with the destruction of a four hectare cannabis farm in Ekiti State. The coordinated sweep underscores the scale of ongoing efforts by Nigerian authorities to disrupt drug trafficking networks operating across the country’s land, sea and air routes.

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After 20 Years, Nigeria Finally Unlocks Billions In Financing For Local Shipowners

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By Asiwaju Adekunle Saheed More than two decades after it was established, the Cabotage Vessel Financing Fund is finally being unlocked for Nigerian shipowners, marking what officials describe as a major step toward building a stronger, Nigerian owned shipping industry. Under the CVFF, each successful applicant will be able to access up to $25 million in financing to acquire vessels, subject to the applicable assessment and approval process, addressing a financing gap that has long limited the growth of local shipping companies. Officials say access to affordable, long term financing at low interest rates will allow Nigerian shipowners to acquire modern vessels, expand their fleets and compete for coastal and offshore contracts currently dominated by foreign operators. The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency has been directed to work closely with 12 approved Primary Lending Institutions to accelerate disbursement of the fund to qualified applicants, with the number of participating banks expanded from five to 12. So far, NIMASA has received 92 applications, with 20 forwarded to the Primary Lending Institutions and one already reviewed and forwarded for approval, while a new CVFF Application Portal has been launched to make the process more transparent and accessible. Officials say the disbursement could help build a stronger indigenous fleet, stimulating activity in shipyards, marine engineering, vessel maintenance and other supporting industries, while creating more than 30,000 direct and indirect jobs. Beyond vessel financing, the government says it is also investing in people, with 222 seafarers receiving free professional training, 333 cadets completing academic training, 135 cadets obtaining Certificates of Competency and 7,059 Nigerian seafarers placed onboard vessels to gain sea time experience.

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Tinubu Signs NPERA Act, Splits Nigeria’s Ports Into Regulator And Operator

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By Asiwaju Adekunle Saheed The Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Gboyega Oyetola, has announced major reforms to Nigeria’s port sector following President Tinubu’s assent to the NPERA Act 2026, a move set to reshape how the country’s ports are regulated and run. Under the reform, management of Inland Dry Ports has been transferred from the Nigerian Shippers’ Council to the Nigerian Ports Authority, while the Shippers’ Council itself will transition into the newly created Nigeria Ports Economic Regulatory Agency, known as NPERA. A Ministerial Committee has been set up to oversee the transition, with the changes designed to separate regulation from operations for the first time in the sector’s history. NPERA will now serve as the independent economic regulator, focusing on port charges, service standards, competition and dispute resolution, while the Nigerian Ports Authority handles the day to day running and integration of seaports and Inland Dry Ports. Officials say the goal is to remove overlap, avoid conflict of interest and make the system more transparent for investors and port users navigating Nigeria’s maritime space. For ordinary Nigerians, the reform is expected to translate into fairer port charges, faster cargo clearance and lower costs of goods, while also attracting fresh investment and allowing goods to be cleared closer to inland cities such as Ibadan and Kano. In simple terms, the government says it is building a port system that is faster, cheaper and more competitive, as part of a broader push to grow Nigeria’s Blue Economy.

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Martin Ødegaard Settles A Fiery London Derby As Arsenal Edge Past Chelsea

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By Asiwaju Adekunle Saheed Arsenal defeated Chelsea at the Emirates Stadium in a fiery London derby, with Martin Ødegaard scoring the decisive goal in a match that swung on moments of composure amid chaotic spells of pressure from both sides. Arsenal 2 – 1 Chelsea Declan Rice was instrumental in calming his teammates during the tensest periods of the match, helping Arsenal see out the win despite sustained late pressure from a determined Chelsea side. Chelsea’s new coach Xabi Alonso admitted his side felt the pain of the defeat, describing it as a lesson for his rebuilding squad as they continue adjusting to his methods early in the season. The result keeps Arsenal firmly in contention at the top of the table, while Chelsea will need to regroup quickly if they are to avoid falling further behind in the early standings. For Alonso, the derby defeat offers a clear marker of the work still required to shape Chelsea into the side he envisions, even as encouraging signs emerged in patches of the performance.

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NELFUND Slams Fake Claim That Loan Defaulters Face Life Imprisonment

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By Asiwaju Adekunle Saheed The Nigerian Education Loan Fund has dismissed as fake news a circulating image claiming that President Bola Tinubu announced life imprisonment for students who fail to repay their education loans after graduation. In a post on its official X account, NELFUND shared the doctored image, which purportedly showed the front page of a newspaper dated Thursday, May 27, 2027, and urged the public to disregard the claim entirely. The fabricated headline read that all students who fail to repay their loan after graduation would go to jail for life, a claim NELFUND stamped with a large red fake overlay to counter its spread. The Fund noted it has previously issued clarifications dismissing similarly fabricated circulars, including false notices about suspended upkeep payments and claims that beneficiaries must begin repayment while still in school. NELFUND was established under the Student Loans Access to Higher Education Act, signed into law by President Tinubu and re enacted in 2024, and administers interest free loans to eligible Nigerian students in public tertiary institutions. Under the law, repayment becomes due two years after a beneficiary completes the National Youth Service Corps programme, and only when the beneficiary is gainfully employed, with monthly deductions capped at 10 percent of gross income and unemployed beneficiaries able to seek extensions through a sworn statement.

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942 Forest Guards Graduate In Plateau, Charged To Defend Nigeria’s Forests With Vigilance

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By Asiwaju Adekunle Saheed The Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Waidi Shuaibu, has charged 942 newly trained forest guards from Borno State to combine vigilance with diligence as they assume duty as the first line of defence in protecting the nation’s forests. The charge was delivered at the graduation ceremony held at the shooting range of Maxwell Khobe Cantonment in Bassa Local Government Area of Plateau State, marking the conclusion of six weeks of intensive training. The training covered physical fitness, surveillance and weapons handling, preparing the 942 graduates to commence duties aimed at protecting forests and curbing criminal activities within forested areas. Representing the Chief of Army Staff, the General Officer Commanding 3 Division, Major General Maxwell Dangana, expressed concern over the increasing encroachment of criminal elements into forests, describing them as valuable natural resources requiring protection. He urged the forest guards to discharge their responsibilities with diligence and professionalism, while respecting the fundamental rights of citizens in the course of their duties. The newly trained guards later demonstrated their skills in weapon handling and physical fitness, drawing applause from dignitaries and other guests present at the ceremony.

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Katsina Leadership Doubles Down On Empowering Women And Youth Through Enterprise

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By Asiwaju Adekunle Saheed State leadership in Katsina has reaffirmed its commitment to empowering women and young people through entrepreneurship, describing their economic participation as central to the growth of the state’s economy. Speaking at the fourth CEOs Round Table Summit and Exhibition organised by the Initiative of Innovative Youthpreneurs Sustainable Development in Katsina, officials stressed that empowering women is not only about supporting individuals and families but an investment in the state’s economic future. The state’s focus, according to officials, rests on providing three critical links for successful entrepreneurship, capacity, market and finance, noting that access to funding alone is not enough without the skills to manage businesses and access to viable markets. Katsina is also investing in skills acquisition, vocational training, agriculture and enterprise development to help young people convert their ideas into productive livelihoods, with officials noting that such opportunities also help reduce idleness and strengthen security. Entrepreneurs were encouraged to embrace technology, mentorship and innovation while modernising traditional trades and developing markets for products made in Katsina, as part of a broader push toward sustainable economic growth. Organisers of the summit were commended for creating a platform connecting entrepreneurs with business leaders, mentors and new opportunities, with officials pledging continued support to help residents become job creators rather than job seekers.

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Troops Rescue Two Kidnap Victims And Arrest Suspect In Nasarawa And Benue

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By Asiwaju Adekunle Saheed Troops of the Joint Task Force, Operation Whirl Stroke, have rescued two abducted victims and arrested a suspected kidnapper in separate operations carried out across Nasarawa and Benue States. According to a statement signed by the Acting Media Information Officer, Lieutenant Ahmad Zubairu, troops of Sector Two arrested a suspect identified as Adamu Lamu at Agyaragu in Nasarawa State, following information provided by a victim who had earlier escaped his abductors. The victim, Nehemiah Elisha, later sighted one of his suspected abductors at a market in Agyaragu and immediately alerted troops deployed in the area, leading to the suspect’s swift arrest and handover to the police for further investigation. In a separate operation on September 6, troops of COAS Intervention Battalion XI rescued a kidnapped victim, Vincent Nyado, along the Umene Torkula Road in Benue State, after finding him tied and abandoned by the roadside. Preliminary information indicates Nyado had allegedly been abducted by suspected terrorists who fled into surrounding bushes on sighting the approaching troops, abandoning their victim in the process. Operation Whirl Stroke said it remains committed to stemming the rising tide of violence across the North Central region and Taraba State, urging members of the public to continue providing credible and timely information to security agencies.

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Ernest Bai Koroma Returns Home To Sierra Leone After Two Years In Nigeria

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By Asiwaju Adekunle Saheed Former Sierra Leone President Ernest Bai Koroma has returned to his country after more than two years of temporary stay in Nigeria, marking the conclusion of a lengthy diplomatic process. Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu Ojukwu, accompanied Koroma to Freetown on the instruction of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, according to an official statement on the development. Former President Olusegun Obasanjo also joined the delegation accompanying Koroma back to Freetown, lending additional weight to the diplomatic gesture surrounding his return. The statement, signed by Dr Magnus Eze, Special Assistant on Communication and New Media in the office of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, described the return as marking the successful conclusion of a regional diplomatic and confidence building process. Koroma had relocated to Nigeria in January 2024 following engagements by the Economic Community of West African States aimed at promoting peace, stability and political understanding in Sierra Leone. His return closes a significant chapter in the regional effort to manage political tensions in Sierra Leone, with Nigeria’s role in the process being held up as an example of ECOWAS diplomacy at work.

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