Author: Daily Post Nigeria

The Commander of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, Abia State Command, CN Chilee Chigbu says the Command operates one of the largest and most effective rehabilitation centres in Nigeria, where rehabilitation of individuals affected by drug abuse is handled.

The Commander, who stated this during her visit to the State Coordinator of National Directorate of Employment, NDE, Mrs Nwachukwu Tessy, emphasized the need for sustained support in the recovery process of rehabilitated drug addicts.

She stressed that rehabilitation alone is not enough without proper reintegration into society and appealed to the NDE to introduce skill acquisition programmes for individuals currently undergoing treatment at the NDLEA rehabilitation centre.

According to CN Chilee, equipping the rehabilitated drug users with practical skills will help them cope better during and after their recovery from addiction.

He further urged the NDE to consider providing employment opportunities for rehabilitated individuals, noting that gainful engagement is key to preventing relapse and ensuring they remain productive members of society.

In her response, the State Coordinator of the NDE, Abia State, assured the NDLEA of the agency’s readiness to collaborate effectively.

She stated that the NDE has professional trainers spread across the State who are well-equipped to support skill acquisition programmes covering over eighty different vocational skills.

NDLEA, NDE partner to rehabilitate drug addicts in Abia

Diezani Alison-Madueke, a former petroleum minister accused of benefitting form proceeds of corruption in the UK in exchange for granting government contracts has denied taking bribes.

Diezani, 65, told Southwark Crown Court on Monday that she had “tried to push back on corruption” in a country plagued by it since the days it was a British colony, BBC reports.

Several Nigerian businessmen are alleged to have bankrolled huge spending sprees, including more than £2m at luxury store Harrods and £4.6m on refurbishing homes in London and Buckinghamshire.

However, Diezani Alison-Madueke said that the cost of services laid on for her while on official duties were later repaid.

“I can state categorically that at no point did I ask for, take or receive a bribe of any sort from these persons and did not abuse my office,” Alison-Madueke told the court.

“I always sought to act impartially.”

NNPC

She said money spent on her behalf was reimbursed by the state-owned Nigerian National Petroleum Company, NNPC.

She added that that a service company was set up in London to handle the logistics because the financial structure of the NNPC was in a mess.

“They paid for all my hotels, chauffeurs… to allow me to perform the job that I did,” she said.

In court on Monday, the former minister said she was not aware at the time that one of her chauffeurs had delivered £100,000 in cash to her, adding that the money had had nothing to do with her.

The court heard how Alison-Madueke had risen quickly through the ranks at Shell, becoming the first senior female executive in its Nigerian operation.

This was despite her not wanting to work for the multinational company because of its treatment of her father, she said, who had once also been a senior employee.

At Shell

“I found the job uncomfortable to put in mildly, ” she said, explaining that her father, who was a tribal leader, had once unsuccessfully taken legal action against Shell “for apartheid practice in West Africa.”

She told the court how when she worked at Shell, the company was having big problems dealing with oil spills in the Niger delta area where her family was from. She didn’t believe the company had done enough “to make good on the devastation that they had caused”.

Asked about concerns with her own security, she said Nigeria was a “very patriarchal society” so to have a “woman sitting at the helm was a major no no.”

She added that she was “under dire threats of kidnap” and that members of her family had been seized.

Alison-Madueke denies five counts of accepting bribes and a charge of conspiracy to commit bribery.

Also on trial, oil industry executive Olatimbo Ayinde, 54, denies one count of bribery and another count of bribing a foreign public official.

Meanwhile, Alison-Madueke’s brother, former archbishop Doye Agama, 69, denies conspiracy to commit bribery.

From Kehinde Akintola, Sunday Ejike and Yekini Jimoh | Lokoja THE African Democratic Congress (ADC) Caucus in the House of Representatives on Monday called for prosecution of Chairman of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Joash Amupitan over allegation bothering on partiality and inconsistencies as election umpire. Chairman of ADC caucus, Honourable Victor Ogene disclosed […]

•To shed light on Nigeria’s food security roadmap

By Emeka Anaeto, Business Editor

Nigeria’s agriculture value chain and food security would take the center stage of economic discussions set to happen at the 2026 edition of Vanguard Economic Discourse. 

The Honorable Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Sen. Abubakar Kyari, is headlining the event as the Chairman while using the platform to shed light on the challenges and prospects of sector.

The theme of this year’s edition of the Vanguard Economic Discourse is ‘‘Food Security and Socio-economic Stability: Options for Nigeria’s Agriculture Sector Rebound’’.

The 2026 event is scheduled to hold next week, Wednesday, April 22, 2026 at the Civic Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos starting by 9am.

Sen. Abubakar Kyari would be joined at the event by key stakeholders in the sector comprising of both national and international key leaders in public and private sectors. 

Dr. Hussein Gadain, ECOWAS/ Nigeria Resident Representative of the United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organisation (UN/ FAO) is setting the stage for incisive discussion as the Keynote Speaker.

A group of eminent stakeholders in the Nigeria’s agriculture and food value chain have been assembled as panelists.

The Panel session would be headed by the Honorable Minister of Livestock Development, Alhaji Idi Muktar Maiha. 

Other Panel members are: Mrs Dede Ekoue, Country Director, International Fund for Agricultural Development, IFAD, in Nigeria; Dr Mrs Moji Davids, Managing Director, Xtralarge Farms & Resorts; Mohammed Magaji, President, All Farmers Association of Nigeria, AFAN; and Arc. Kabir Ibrahim, President of Nigeria Agribusiness Group, NABG. 

The eminent stakeholders would also include representatives of financial institutions with the Agric Desks of Commercial Banks in the formal and networking sessions.

Sen. Abubakar Kyari, an accomplished public sector executive, is known to have brought some clarity in Nigeria’s agro-sector policy initiatives and several programmes have been initiated to address the difficulties faced by farmers and food entrepreneurs under his mandate. 

In August 2023, he was appointed the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security. 

Since assuming office, Kyari has driven Nigeria’s food systems transformation through mechanization, partnerships, climate-smart agriculture, large-scale dry-season farming, fertilizer distribution, and policy reforms that strengthen value chains development and encourage private sector investment growth. 

He actively collaborates with global partners such as AfDB, FAO,  IFAD, ISDB, GIZ, AGRA and the World Bank, and serves as Vice Chair of the 48th IFAD Governing Council, shaping international dialogue on sustainable agriculture and food security.

The Vanguard Economic Discourse has gained traction in the past eight years as a major public-private sector platform for reviews and cross-fertilization of economic development ideas by Nigeria’s public and private sector leaders.

The post Agric Minister headlines Vanguard Economic Discourse  appeared first on Vanguard News.

The Federal Government has tasked the Technical Working Group on Contagious Bovine Pleuro-Pneumonia (CBPP) to intensify nationwide vaccination efforts aimed at achieving total eradication of the disease across the country. CBPP a bacterial disease of cattle that causes severe pneumonia, is often fatal, and leads to significant livestock production losses in affected regions globally. Its […]

Former Governor of Anambra State and the Labour Party presidential candidate in the 2023 general elections, Peter Obi, has said he would declare war on terrorists and reject negotiation as a response to insecurity if elected president.

Drawing on his record as Anambra State governor, he argued that decisive action can restore safety across Nigeria.

Obi made the comments in an interview with Arise TV on Monday, during a discussion focused on the country’s worsening security situation, including the recent killing of Brigadier-General Oseni Braimah and several soldiers in a Boko Haram/ISWAP attack in Benisheikh, Borno State.

“No nation will lose about 10 of its senior officers without a response. I will declare war on the terrorists. There is nothing like negotiation,” he said.

Obi said the approach that worked in Anambra during his tenure as governor remained the template he would apply nationally.

He recalled going directly to former President Olusegun Obasanjo to seek authority to act.

“I had to come here and tell President Obasanjo, this is what I want to do and you must allow me to do it,” he said, adding that the results were verifiable.

He named former army commander, Jarrell Enenche, and the late security officials John Haruna and Commissioner Bello as witnesses to the outcomes.

He cited a former Inspector-General of Police as confirmation that the strategy worked.

“The IG, Abubakar, came and said for five years, we have not had issue of major robbery or kidnapping in Anambra State,” he added.

Obi argued, however, that military force alone was insufficient and that the roots of today’s insecurity lay in decades of policy failure.

“What you are seeing today is the cumulative effect of leadership failure over the years, erosion of governance, erosion of values, abandoning the youth, education, social trust, everything,” he said.

He outlined a two-track response: immediate decisive force combined with long-term institutional rebuilding.

“You start building while you are pushing. You bring governance, justice, people are punished if they do the wrong thing,” he said.

When the interviewer noted that he would need to become president to execute such plans, Obi did not dispute the point, pressing instead on the allies he would need and his commitment to front-line leadership.

He named northern political figures, including former Kaduna governor Nasir el-Rufai and former Kano governor Rabiu Kwankwaso, among those he would work with, saying he intended to “be in the north.”

He ended with a direct pledge on leadership style. “I am not going to lead from the back. People will see, they will feel it.”

Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Obafemi Hamzat, has commenced preliminary political consultations with the Governance Advisory Council, GAC, in what observers see as early positioning ahead of the 2027 governorship contest in the state.

Hamzat revealed via his X account that he met with members of the influential council on Monday, describing the engagement as a platform for meaningful dialogue on the future direction of Lagos.

“I had thoughtful conversations about the future of Lagos and the kind of leadership it requires. I value the experience and guidance shared. This is about listening, learning and working with others to build a stronger Lagos,” he wrote.

The development has drawn renewed focus on succession politics within Lagos, where the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, is known for its structured internal consultation process, which often shapes candidate emergence well before formal primaries.

The GAC remains a key decision-influencing body within the party’s Lagos chapter. Led by Tajudeen Olusi, the council comprises veteran politicians and major stakeholders, including President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Senator Oluremi Tinubu. It plays a significant role in strategic decisions such as succession planning, zoning arrangements and endorsements within the state’s political framework.

Hamzat’s meeting with the council is widely viewed as part of the customary early consultations that precede major political contests in Lagos, where aspirants typically engage key stakeholders years ahead of elections.

Meanwhile, reactions on social media have begun to frame the engagement as a potential endorsement, with some unverified claims suggesting that consensus may already be forming within the party.

A Lagos-based political commentary platform alleged that the meeting was marked by emotional moments, claiming that a GAC member from Lagos East, Otunba Alebiosu, popularly known as Bush, was visibly moved after Hamzat purportedly secured the council’s backing as the APC’s preferred candidate for the 2027 governorship election.

However, these claims remain unconfirmed.

Hamzat meets GAC ahead of 2027 Lagos governorship race

The Commandant of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, FCT Command, Olusola Odumosu, has been awarded an honorary Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree in Security and Strategic Studies.

According to the Command’s Public Relations Officer, DSC Monica Ojobi, the honour was conferred during the 8th Combined Convocation Ceremony of Nasarawa State University, held on April 11, 2026, in recognition of his contributions to security administration, strategic leadership, and national development.

As head of the NSCDC in the FCT, Odumosu has led initiatives aimed at improving collaboration among security agencies, protecting critical national assets, and promoting community-driven security approaches within Abuja and its environs.

He has led efforts to address evolving security challenges through both practical engagement and strategic coordination.

The FCT Command of the Corps described the achievement as a milestone that reflects the importance of continuous learning in tackling complex security issues.

It expressed confidence that the academic accomplishment would further strengthen his capacity to contribute to national security and institutional development.

The Command also commended Nasarawa State University for promoting academic excellence and recognising contributions in the field of Security and Strategic Studies.

FCT NSCDC Commandant Odumosu Bags Honorary PhD is first published on The Whistler Newspaper

 

The Ogun State chapter of the All Progressives Congress, on Monday, adopted the senator representing Ogun West Senatorial District, Solomon Adeola, popularly called Yayi, as its governorship candidate for the 2027 general elections.

The decision to field the lawmaker as the party’s governorship candidate was announced at a state strategic caucus meeting presided over by the state chairman of the party, Yemi Sanusi, and held at the party secretariat in Abeokuta.

The meeting was attended by Governor Dapo Abiodun, former governors Chief Olusegun Osoba, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, and Gbenga Daniel, despite his reported suspension by the party since August last year.

Others present included Senator Iyabo Obasanjo; Gboyega Isiaka, who represents Imeko/Afon Federal Constituency and is also a governorship aspirant; and other serving and former members of the state House of Assembly and National Assembly.

Abiodun, at the event, announced Adeola as the party’s consensus governorship candidate and urged other aspirants to rally round him, stressing the need for party unity over personal interests.

The announcement was followed by jubilation among party members, who chanted, “Yayi ni jo, Yayi ni jare.”

In his acceptance speech, Adeola thanked party members for the confidence reposed in him, pledging not to disappoint the party.

He said, “Now is all the sacrifices that my brothers have put together to ensure this day comes to pass.

I believe in oneness and the unity of our dear state and Ogun West by extension.

“I know the vision for this state. I know how passionate and how central this state is to the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“As far as maintaining our status aside from being the fastest-growing economy in Nigeria, all efforts that have been put in place to ensure that we reposition this state and take our pride of place in the comity of states in this country are well recognised.

“Your Excellency, my dear leaders who are here, I want to assure you that I will not let you down.

“I promise to keep the flag flying. I promise to retain and maintain the unity, peace, and progress that have taken place in Ogun State for the last three years and beyond. I can assure you I will not derail.

“I will not derail the ship I am about to take over. I will make sure that it does not derail, and by the special grace of God, I will do my best, my utmost best, to keep every member of our great party together, to keep the state together, and to ensure that irrespective of our political alignment, we are one indivisible family.”

Yayi added, “Going forward from today, Your Excellency and all the leaders of the party, I want to assure you that a new Ogun State is born, and everything that needs to be done to keep us together, to keep us as one indivisible entity, so that we can take Ogun State to the promised land and to the next level we all desire, will be done.”

The state chairman, Yemi Sanusi, said the meeting was convened to preserve party unity before, during, and after the primaries.

He stressed the importance of rancour-free primaries, noting that the caucus meeting was aimed at carrying all stakeholders along and ensuring the party remained united ahead of the 2027 elections.

The PUNCH had reported on March 24, 2026, that the APC is moving toward a consensus arrangement to settle on the Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Obafemi Hamzat, as its governorship candidate for the 2027 election in Lagos State.

The report added that party stakeholders also favoured the Yayi for Ogun State, and the senator representing Oyo South Senatorial District, Sharafadeen Alli, for Oyo State.

The purported decisions, according to that report, emerged from a meeting of APC stakeholders from the three states with President Bola Tinubu in Lagos during the Sallah holiday.

Following the consensus, Iyabo Obasanjo, on Monday, suspended her governorship ambition.

In a statement she signed and made available to journalists, the daughter of former President Olusegun Obasanjo stated that she had decided to put her ambition on hold following the party’s pick of Yayi as consensus candidate.

The former lawmaker representing Ogun Central between 2007 and 2011 congratulated Yayi and wished him well in his future endeavours.

Obasanjo equally thanked the party leaders and all her supporters across the state, praising them for their unwavering steadfastness and unprecedented support while her consultation across the state lasted.

She stated that “At the Ogun APC caucus meeting held today, April 13, 2026, Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola (Yayi) was announced as the consensus candidate of our party for the 2027 gubernatorial election.

“I congratulate him and wish him every success. I also thank the state and national leaders of our great party for the opportunity to participate in the nomination process.

“Based on these developments, I have decided to suspend my gubernatorial aspiration.

“To my supporters across Ogun State, I am deeply grateful for your calm, steadfast support and unwavering trust throughout this journey. Together, we move forward with patience, strength and hope.”

Former Super Eagles captain, John Obi Mikel, has slammed Arsenal players for not showing up against Bournemouth in the Premier League at the weekend.

The former Chelsea star insisted that the Gunners stars were hiding from the ball during the encounter at Emirates Stadium.

Recall that two goals from Alex Scott and Eli Junior Kroupi gave the visitors the victory against the Premier League leaders.

“He (Arteta) talked about the fans, bring your dinner, bring your lunch and bring everything and come to the game, the fans did,” Obi Mikel said on the Obi One podcast.

“But you know who fail to show up the f**king Arsenal players.

“Everything seems to be going wrong. The players started hiding from the ball because the pressure was there.”

Arsenal will now face Sporting CP in the Champions League quarter-final second leg tie on Wednesday, before facing Manchester City in the Premier League at the weekend.

Fans showed up, players didn’t – Obi Mikel slams Arsenal stars for hiding from ball