News
NDLEA operatives found illicit substances, arrested drug dealers in Senator Ashiru’s house- CEO Marwa
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, (NDLEA) has said that the recent attack on its image by Senator Oyelola Ashiru (Kwara South) was borne out of vendetta rather than on any altruistic motive or national interest.
The NDLEA Chairman, retired Brig.-Gen. Buba Marwa, said this on Monday in Abuja while addressing newsmen to respond to what he called disparaging statement by the lawmaker.
Marwa said that Senator Ashiru described the NDLEA as ”corrupt and compromised” during plenary last Tuesday.
Represented by the Director of Media and Advocacy, NDLEA, Mr Femi Babafemi, Marwa said that the agency was compelled to call newsmen due to the unfortunate development.
He said that the agency was duty-bound to respond to the unprovoked attack against it by the lawmaker during his contribution to the debate on a new bill for an Act to establish the “National Institute for Drug Awareness and Rehabilitation.”
He explained that the agency waited for a week hoping the lawmaker would clarify his position on such a weighty allegation against it.
“But failing to do that, the agency is left with no option than to come out and set the record straight for the benefit of other distinguished members of the senate, our local and international partners as well as the general public,” he said
According to him, there is no doubt that setting up another agency is within the power of the senate and if we are invited to contribute to the debate, we will be willing to offer our opinion.
“Though we cannot fault the powers of the senate on that, yet for a member of the upper chamber to have made such an unfounded and unwarranted categorical statement against the agency led us to look inward.
“This, however, made us to see what could have been responsible for such a carpeting general statement.
“What we found was shocking, and we concluded that his statement came from a place of vendetta and certainly not out of public interest or any altruistic motive.”
The NDLEA chairman said that in spite of the impression the lawmaker was trying to create about its image, the NDLEA had continued to receive accolades from local and international bodies.
This, he said was for its successes in the fight against substance abuse and illicit drug trafficking.
”Incidentally, the next day after the senator made the statement, NDLEA in Lagos commissioned a new Marine Command Headquarters building donated by the Government of the UK.
“A similar facility at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport was donated last year by the same British government.
“We have had other facilities donated by United States INL and executed by UNODC in the past 12 months. We have been receiving various supports from the governments of France, Germany and the US, among others.
“Suffice it to say that in the past three years, NDLEA has emerged as a regional leader among national drug law enforcement agencies.
“So, come to think about it, an agency so badmouthed by a lawmaker couldn’t have been attracting such international goodwill and commendation for being the most corrupt government agency in Nigeria.
”Against the background of our encounter with people linked to him, we want to believe that his invectives against NDLEA were borne out of vendetta and not any opinion made in the public interest,” he maintained.
Marwa said that the agency had been professional in its activities and interactions with citizens while carrying out arrests daily.
He said that the agency had made more than 52,000 arrests and got more than 9,000 convictions, in the past three years including three life sentences this year.
“And, as part of our mandate, we have engaged in over 7,000 awareness and sensitisation activities in schools, workplaces, worship centres and communities.
“There have been treatment and rehabilitation of more than 33,000 drug users including the last two persons arrested in the senator’s house.
“The personal house of the senator in GRA Ilorin, the capital of Kwara State, had been raided in recent past, where drugs and illicit substances were recovered while two of his aides: Ibrahim Mohammed and Muhammed Yahaya, were arrested. Based on credible intelligence and surveillance which confirmed that the senators house was being used as a drug joint for drug dealers and users, the house was raided by our operatives at 1:30pm on February 4, 2024 during which the two aides were arrested, while a third suspect escaped arrest.
“In another encounter with the senator, the Agency also received intelligence that some of his boys popularly known as Omo Senator operating from his home town, Offa, were equally dealing in illicit drugs. A raid was subsequently carried out on their joint in Offa where one of them, Oluwatosin Odepidan, was arrested and illicit drugs such as methamphetamine and cannabis recovered from him on June 11, 2023.
“The bid to get the Agency drop the case against Odepidan including a visit to the Kwara State Command headquarters of the Agency in Ilorin by the Personal Assistant to the senator, one Omoluabi, was rebuffed as Odepidan was promptly charged to court and prosecuted. Though the culprit jumped court bail in 2023, he was rearrested in 2024 after the court issued a bench warrant for his arrest. He was eventually convicted and sentenced in June 2024.
”Outside this country, NDLEA has become a reference for drug law enforcement.
“Therefore, the statement made by the senator in the country’s hallowed chamber in the course of a legislative debate, and made to justify the creation of another agency is motivated by malice.
“It is a gross misrepresentation of fact; and it is defamatory to the image of NDLEA. We believe the well-meaning public; our stakeholders and our partners can see through such calculated mendacity, “he added.
The NDLEA boss pledged that the agency would remain undeterred by the attack but would be relentless in ongoing effort to dismantle all illicit drug networks across the country.
According to him, if Sen. Ashiru has a personal grudge against NDLEA, it shouldn’t be cloaked as a matter of public concern.
“His statement of October 15, uttered in the hallowed chamber of the Nigerian senate, is a gross abuse of his position as a legislator of the Federal Republic.
“And we dare say that such will not deter us from our ongoing effort to dismantle all illicit drug networks.
”NDLEA since January 2021 has been on a journey of reforms, and so far, we are glad with the progress we are making.
”We are grateful to the federal and state governments for the support we have been enjoying,” he said.
News
Gov Alex Otti visits Nnamdi Kanu in Sokoto prison
Alex Otti, the Abia State Governor, on Sunday paid a visit to the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, at the Sokoto Correctional Centre.
The governor was accompanied by officials of the Sokoto State Government during the closed-door visit.
Nnamdi Kanu was recently moved to Sokoto after he was convicted on terrorism-related charges and handed a life sentence by a Federal High Court in Abuja.
Governor Otti had earlier promised to pursue every lawful and political avenue to ensure that Kanu gets justice. Sunday’s visit is seen as part of ongoing efforts by the Abia State Government regarding his case.
Details of the meeting were not made public as of the time of this report.
News
Terrorists abduct bride, bridesmaids in Sokoto attack
Armed terrorists have abducted a bride-to-be, her bridesmaid, and eight other residents from Chacho village in Wurno Local Government Area of Sokoto State
The Sokoto abduction occurred around 1:30 a.m., according to residents, when the attackers stormed the village. Most of the victims were women, with only one man also taken.
One resident sustained injuries and is receiving medical treatment. Villagers told reporters that the bride was preparing for her wedding scheduled for later that morning when the raid struck, plunging the community into shock and mourning.
A community member described the attack as “tragic,” noting the delay in security response. “Security operatives were alerted immediately, but they only arrived about an hour after the bandits had fled,” he said, expressing frustration.
Business
Dangote Refinery to supply 1.5bn litres of petrol monthly
….Writes NMDPRA, Engages Marketers to Stabilise Fuel Market
Photo caption: L R: Chief Executive Officer, Dangote Fertiliser Limited, Vishwajit Sinha; Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director, Dangote Petroleum Refinery, David Bird; President and Chief Executive, Dangote Industries Ltd, Aliko Dangote; Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, South South Development Commission, Usoro Akpabio, during the visit of SSDC members to the Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Fertiliser Plant in Lagos on Sunday, November 30, 2025.
Dangote Petroleum Refinery has announced plans to supply one billion five hundred million litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) monthly to the Nigerian market in December 2025 and January 2026, a move aimed at ensuring uninterrupted nationwide fuel availability through the festive season and into the New Year.
President and Chief Executive of Dangote Industries Limited, Aliko Dangote, disclosed the plans at the weekend, noting that the refinery will make available 50 million litres of PMS daily beginning December 1.
“In line with our commitment to national wellbeing, and consistent with our track record of ensuring a holiday season free of fuel scarcity, the Dangote Petroleum Refinery will supply 1.5 billion litres of PMS to the Nigerian market this month. This represents 50 million litres per day. We are formally notifying the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) of this commitment. We will supply another 1.5 billion litres in January and increase to 1.7 billion litres in February, which translates to about 60 million litres per day,” Dangote said.
Photo caption: L R: President and Chief Executive, Dangote Industries Ltd, Aliko Dangote; Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, South South Development Commission, Usoro Akpabio, during the visit of SSDC members to the Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Fertiliser Plant in Lagos on Sunday, November 30, 2025.
Speaking during a visit by the South-South Development Commission (SSDC) to the refinery and the Dangote Fertiliser complex, he stated that the facility currently has adequate stock and is producing between 40 and 45 million litres of PMS daily. He added that the daily supply of 50 million litres should dispel long-standing claims that domestic refineries lack the capacity to meet national demand.
Dangote also revealed ongoing engagement with petroleum marketers to strengthen distribution systems, including expanding the use of CNG-powered haulage.
“Our priority is to ensure Nigeria receives the products it needs. This is not driven by profit motives; it is about guaranteeing the availability of essential energy products. It is similar to the transformation we delivered in the cement sector,” he added.
He further noted that the refinery is progressing with its expansion plan to reach a capacity of 1.4 million barrels per day. More than 100,000 workers are expected to be involved in the expansion of both the refinery and the fertiliser complex. Dangote emphasised that the Group remains committed to its vision, driven by the strong public support for the company’s role in shaping Nigeria’s economic development.
During the visit, the Managing Director of SSDC, Usoro Offiong Akpabio, commended Dangote’s leadership and his continued contribution to strengthening Nigeria’s industrial capability, national energy security and long-term economic competitiveness.
She described the South-South region as Nigeria’s natural energy corridor, with vast crude oil reserves, gas infrastructure, maritime assets, agro-industrial activity and emerging industrial clusters. She noted that deeper collaboration between the region and the Dangote Group could unlock opportunities in product distribution, CNG infrastructure, petrochemicals, agriculture, and employment creation.
Akpabio added that such partnerships would advance the Federal Government’s energy stability agenda and position the South-South as a strategic growth hub for the Dangote Group.
“As the statutory development body for the South-South, SSDC is mandated to drive regional economic development, infrastructure integration, human capital advancement, and private-sector–led growth. In this regard, we stand prepared to support State-level policy and regulatory support for Ease-of-doing-business across our six states. Enabling environments for Dangote Group’s expansion into strategic sectors such as gas processing, agro-industrial value chains, renewable energy, logistics, and export-oriented manufacturing,” she said.
In a letter from the refinery’s Managing Director, David Bird, to the Authority Chief Executive of the NMDPRA, the company reaffirmed its readiness to host NMDPRA officials onsite at the refinery from December 1st to verify and publish its daily supply volumes. The refinery also sought the Authority’s support to ensure unhindered importation of crude, feedstocks and blending components, as well as smooth vessel loading for product evacuation.
“In the spirit of full transparency to the public we are willing to publish our daily production and stock volumes (online and print media),” Bird stated. “We seek the full support of NMDPRA to allow Dangote refinery to import our crude, feedstocks and blending components unhindered as well as support the lifting of our products by vessel. We continue to experience delays in vessel clearance which impacts not only the refinery operations but also our customers, adding unnecessary costs and inefficiencies”.
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