COVER
Treat Drug Addiction as National Emergency-Rep
By Orkula Shaagee, Abuja
The Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Narcotic Drugs, Dr. Francis Ottah Agbo, has advised the Federal Government to stop treating the problem of narcotic drug addiction in Nigeria with kid gloves.
He said the earlier the Federal Government begins to see narcotic drug addiction as a national emergency, the better for country.
Media Adviser to the lawmaker, Mr.
Andrew Agbese, in a statement said Dr. Ottah made the call at a pre-budget meeting with the chairman of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and top management officials of the agency at the National Assembly complex, Abuja.Dr. Agbo, who represents Ado/Ogbadigbo/Okpokwu Federal Constituency, said the fight against narcotic drug addiction is so huge that it cannot be left for one agency alone to handle but must be supported by all to achieve the desired result.
The lawmaker, who lamented that the NDLEA is underfunded, underequipped and understaffed, stressed that these challenges make the agency a toothless bull dog.
He regretted that the NDLEA still uses civil war weapons to chase drug traffickers.
“As we speak, NDLEA still uses weapons used during the Nigeria-Biafra civil war, in the whole of Nigeria, we have only eight sniffer dogs even these dogs were donated to us by the Germans, we have very few scanners and all of these lack, hamper the smooth operation of the agency and only increased finding can bridge this gap,” the chairman noted.
Dr. Agbo, who is the spokesman of the minority caucus of the House of Representatives, said the House Committee on Narcotic Drugs is doing its best to empower the NDLEA to carry out its functions effectively and has proposed a restructuring of the laws establishing the Police Trust Fund Act to include the NDLEA as a beneficiary.
“We all recall that the NDLEA was established to investigate arrest and prosecute drug offenders, so it’s a policing institution.
“And we feel that one of the ways to make it have more resources for it to bark and bite is to include it as a beneficiary of the Trust Fund,” he said.
Hon. Agbo also said the NDLEA should be listed among the security agencies in the country.
He said, “If you look at the responsibilities of the NDLEA, you will agree with me that it is also a security agency.”
Dr. Ottah Agbo said the drug problem threatens all segments of the country especially the youths, and stressed that, “if we say the youths are the leaders of tomorrow then we must secure the future now by defeating illicit drug or else there may be no country that we can proudly call our own tomorrow, except all hands are on deck to fight this scourge.”
He said the problem of drug addiction poses existential threat to Nigeria more than corruption.
“We keep saying at the level of our committee here that if we fail to kill narcotic drug addiction, it will destroy Nigeria,” he added.
He assured the agency that all its estimates in the 2021 budget proposal would be dealt with expeditiously and passed on time for the agency.
A member of the committee, Mohammed Shamsudeen Bello, urged the agency to maintain close relationship with the committee to work out solutions to the challenges facing the agency.
He said the onus lies on the agency to work out a proper road map for making the agency more effective.
Chairman of the NDLEA, Col. Mohammed Abdullai (rtd), thanked the committee for the support to the agency and expressed hope that its staff strength would be boosted when it receives the go ahead for the second and third tranches of the recruitment exercise it has received approval for.
He said that will go a long way in addressing the shortfall in personnel in the agency.
The NDLEA boss said Nigeria has a big problem in its hands as it has overshot the global average of drug addiction which stands at five percent to 14 percent.
He said, “There is a big problem which we pretend not to know and hoping that a miracle will happen, this miracle will not happen, we must do something about this our 14 percent of our drug dependent cases.”
Col. Mohammed Abdullai (rtd) disclosed that the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) in the US which has existed for many years had in the past years, lost 39 personnel in line of duty while the NDLEA in five years, has lost 65 men in line of duty due to lack of equipment.
By Tony Obiechina, Abuja
Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) yesterday announced a review of the loan-to-deposit ratio (LDR) for banks from 65 percent to 50 percent to align with the current monetary tightening.
LDR is used to assess a bank’s liquidity by comparing its total loans to its total deposits.
An increase in the loan-to-deposit ratio allows banks to expand their credits to businesses and individuals, however, a decline in LDR reduces their ability to loan customers from depositors’ funds.
CBN disclosed the increase in a circular titled “Re: Regulatory Measures to Improve Lending to the Sector of the Nigerian Economy”, signed by Adetona Adedeji, CBN Acting Director, Banking Supervision Department.
“Following a shift in the b ank’s policy stance towards a more contractionary approach, it is imperative to review the loan-to-deposit ratio (LDR) policy to align with the current monetary tightening by the CBN,” the apex bank said.
“Accordingly, the CBN has decided to reduce the LDR by 15 percentage points to 50%, in a similar proportion to the increase in the CRR rate for banks.
“All DMBs are required to maintain this level and are further advised that average daily figures shall continue to be applied to assess compliance.”At the last monetary policy committee (MPC) meeting on March 26, the CBN retained the CRR at 45 percent and the liquidity rate at 30 percent.
By David Torough, Abuja
Gunshots rented the air as officials of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) yesterday invaded the Abuja residence of the immediate past governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello in a bid to arrest him.
The plot is at 9 Bengazi Street, Zone 4, Wuse District, Abuja.
Officers of the Nigeria Police Force and armed men dressed in black with the inscription “Special Forces” prevented operatives of EFCC from picking up the former governor of Kogi State, saying he had secured a court injunction against arrest by EFCC.
EFCC arrived Bello’s home at about 9:30am.
After hours of failed attempt to arrest Bello, the security operatives reinforced with backup support from the police and Department of State Services (DSS).
They were about seizing Bello when the governor of Kogi State, Usman Ododo arrived the premises.
Ododo spent few minutes and was zooming out when it was reported that he was driving out with Bello in his (Ododo’s) car.
Quickly, operatives opened fire causing protesters, journalists, onlookers and passers-by to scamper for safety.
Ododo and some security personnel as well as supporters showed up at Bello’s house around 2:30pm to voice their opposition to the invasion of Bello’s house.
Operatives blocked the roads leading in and out of the street causing traffic jam around the area.
Ododo arrived at Bello’s residence at about 2:30pm alongside several security operatives and youth supporters protesting against the siege to the ex-governor’s place.
EFCC has always had it rough while on mission to prosecute highly placed individuals especially formers governors.
While some of them resist arrest, some run to court to secure perpetual injunction against arrest.
Former Governor Peter Odili got a perpetual injunction against arrest.Rabi’u Kwankwaso, Abdul’aziz Yari, Bello Matawalle and others got restraining orders against EFCC.
The National Executive Council (NEC) meetng, the National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has passed a vote of confidence on its Acting National Chairman, Umar Damagum.
The party’s spokesman, Debo Ologunagba announced in a statement that the NWC took the decision at the end of its 584th meeting on Tuesday in Abuja.
He said the decision was reached in commendation of the efforts and commitment of Damagum’s ability to stabilize and reposition the PDP as the main opposition party in the country.
The party’s national executive meeting was slated for Thursday and the purpose of the meeting was to either affirm or replace Damagun.
“The Deputy National Chairman (South), Amb. Taofeek Arapaja presided over the motion for the Vote of Confidence on the Acting National Chairman, which was moved by the National Vice Chairman (South East) Chief Ali Odefa and seconded by the National Treasurer, Hon. Yayari Mohammed,” Ologunagba said.
Earlier, attempt to pass a vote of confidence on Damagun during the party’s caucus meeting in the House of Representatives on Tuesday met stiff resistance.
Lawmakers loyal to the party’s Acting National Chairman and FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike attempted to pass a vote of confidence on Damagun but were blocked.
The meeting convened by the Leader of the Caucus and House Minority Leader, Hon. Kingsley Chinda was held for about two hours at the National Assembly, Abuja ahead of today’s NEC meeting.
Last week, a group of 60 PDP federal lawmakers threatened to quit the party if the doctored list of Caretaker Committees in Rivers and 10 other states which was filled with members and loyalist of the All Progressive Congress (APC) is not nullified.
The group under the aegis of Opposition Lawmakers Coalition also demanded the resignation of the Acting National Chairman to pave way for a north-central person to emerge as Acting National Chairman of the party pending the conduct of convention as required by the party’s constitution.
Damagum was appointed the Acting National Chairman in 2023 following the suspension of the former chairman Iyorchia Ayu.
Ayu yesterday withdrew his appeal suit against the PDP and Terhide Utaan who took Ayu to court restraining him from parading himself as the National Chairman following his suspension by his ward.
The Withdrawal of Appeal was contained in Appeal No: CA/MK/88/2024 before the Court of Appeal in Makurdi dated April 15, 2024.“Take notice that the appellant in pursuant herein intends and does hereby wholly withdraws his appeal against all the respondents filed on 27th day of June 2023 vide notice of appeal dated the 26th day of June 2023,” the document reads.
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