Nigeria Customs Handover of ₦511.4m Contraband Pharmaceuticals and Illicit Drugs

By: Manoah Kikekon 

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Federal Operations Unit (FOU) Zone ‘A’, has officially transferred confiscated illicit drugs and controlled medicines valued at ₦511.4 million in Duty Paid Value (DPV) to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC).

The official handover took place on Friday, 16 October 2026, at the FOU Zone ‘A’ headquarters along Mobolaji Bank Anthony Way, Ikeja, Lagos.

The contraband items surrendered to the regulatory and enforcement agencies included, Illicit Substances: 121 parcels of cannabis sativa (weighing 65.9kg), 4.3kg of hybrid cannabis, 900g of ground synthetic cannabis, 400g of cocaine, and 100g of crystal methamphetamine.

Pharmaceuticals: 57 cartons containing assorted codeine syrup.

Operational Evidence: 86 packs of specialized packaging material, two conveyance vehicles, and two male suspects arrested in connection with the trafficking operations.

Representing the Acting Comptroller of FOU Zone ‘A’, Deputy Comptroller of Customs (Enforcement) Oluwaseun Oguntuase stated that the intercepts were executed through targeted, intelligence-driven operations across major transit corridors and strategic points within the unit's coverage.

Detailing the operations, Oguntuase revealed that on 10 October 2026, customs officers stopped a Toyota Hiace bus along the Lagos–Benin Expressway near Ore, Ondo State, uncovering narcotics hidden within polythene bags. Earlier, on 7 October, another patrol team intercepted a vehicle along the Lagos–Ibadan Expressway, confiscating 57 cartons of illegally transported codeine syrup.

“The Nigeria Customs Service remains resolute in its mandate to protect the nation’s borders, safeguard public health, and support national security,” Oguntuase affirmed.

Taking custody of the narcotics on behalf of the NDLEA Lagos State Strategic Command, Deputy Commander of Narcotics Ganiyu Bolaji commended the NCS for its robust inter-agency synergy. He assured that the suspects, vehicle, and confiscated exhibits would be thoroughly processed and prosecuted according to statutory regulations.

Representing NAFDAC's Director of Enforcement, Deputy Director of Pharmaceuticals Edith Joseph formally accepted the seized codeine shipment. She lauded the Unit’s vigilance and reiterated NAFDAC's commitment to working alongside Customs to eradicate substandard and illegal pharmaceutical products from Nigerian markets.

Nigeria Customs Service Foils Wildlife Trafficking Attempt, Rescues Live Pangolins

 By: Manoah Kikekon

Operatives of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Federal Operations Unit (FOU) Zone ‘A’, Ikeja, have successfully saved three live pangolins from illegal traffickers during a targeted anti-smuggling crackdown near Oyo Dam at Igbo-Ora, Ogun State.

The successful operation unfolded on Monday, 12 October 2026, following actionable intelligence received by the unit. The endangered mammals were found hidden within a wire-mesh enclosure inside a heavy sack. Upon spotting the approaching Customs patrol officers, the fleeing smugglers abandoned the animals and escaped into nearby swampy terrain.

Representing Deputy Comptroller Oladapo Afeni, the Acting Comptroller of FOU Zone ‘A’, Deputy Comptroller in charge of Enforcement Oluwaseun Oguntuase lauded the team's swift and alert action. He emphasized that the interception marks a notable triumph in the agency's broader campaign to eradicate organized illegal wildlife trade and protect the nation's natural environment.

According to Oguntuase, the interception reflects the division's unwavering resolve to safeguard local biodiversity and dismantle the criminal syndicates exploiting Nigeria's land borders and aquatic routes.

"Pangolins enjoy strict international protection under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), which strictly governs global commerce in vulnerable wildlife. Illicit trafficking poses a grave threat to conservation and ecological balance. 

The three rescued pangolins have been safely transferred to the Greenfingers Wildlife Initiative Centre for professional care, rehabilitation, and sanctuary," he noted.

Issueing a stern caution to syndicates involved in illegal animal trafficking, the command warned that enforcement will only intensify. 

The service reiterated its commitment to expanding patrol operations, leveraging intelligence networks, and strengthening cross-agency partnerships to preserve endangered species and eliminate illicit wildlife supply chains.

2027: Bonu Solomon Launches Branded Fleet to Drive APC Grassroots Campaign in Badagry

 By: Manoah Kikekon

Hon. Bonu Solomon Saanu 

Hon. Bonu Solomon Saanu, the representative for Badagry Constituency I in the Lagos State House of Assembly, has introduced a dedicated fleet of branded cars and buses to support the newly established Starboy Movement. 

Following the launch, the lawmaker spearheaded the group's maiden door-to-door campaign in Badagry to build grassroots support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Lagos governorship candidate Dr. Kadri Obafemi Hamzat, and other All Progressives Congress (APC) contenders ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The political outreach kicked off on Saturday, following an open-air launch event opposite the French Language Village in Ajara, Badagry. The fleet will serve as operational transport to streamline political mobilization across local communities.

The Starboy Movement is structured to champion the re-election bid of President Tinubu, Dr. Hamzat's gubernatorial campaign alongside his running mate, Princess Damilola Sonayon James, as well as Senator Idiat Oluranti Adebule for Lagos West Senatorial District and other local APC candidates.

Addressing party faithfuls and youth supporters at the venue, Hon. Bonu pledged sustained financial and logistical support for the group, revealing that additional vehicles would be deployed as campaign activities intensify.

 The lawmaker appealed to aggrieved youths following the outcome of the party’s primaries, urging them to accept internal decisions, set aside grievances, and rally together to secure victory for all APC candidates.

Bonu reassured residents that despite not securing a spot on the ticket in the primaries, his dedication to the development of Badagry remains unchanged.

 Describing Dr. Hamzat as a trusted political mentor, he expressed confidence that a Hamzat governorship supported by Princess Damilola Sonayon James, a native of Badagry, as deputy would yield significant developmental benefits for the division.

Bonu urged the youth wing to educate community members on the key policies, economic reforms, and infrastructure achievements of the current administration.

He specifically cited major projects expected to transform the socioeconomic landscape of the area, including, Sokoto-Badagry Super Highway, designed to enhance regional connectivity and boost local commerce.

Landmark projects under Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, such as the newly completed housing estate in Ajara, extensive road construction projects, and the restoration of grid electricity to the Badagry West LCDA.

He also acknowledged existing APC support structures in the area notably the Renewed Hope Ambassadors, led by Lagos State Commissioner for Home Affairs, Hon. Ibrahim Layode, and the City Boy Movement, led by House of Representatives member Hon. Sesi Oluwaseun Whingan. Bonu called for seamless collaboration among the three groups to form a formidable, unified front.

Following the official ceremony, Hon. Bonu personally led Starboy Movement members on a house-to-house canvassing drive through the Ganyingbo and Aklakumo communities.

Zoomlion to Acquire 45 Hectares in Badagry for Waste Recircling Facility

 By: Manoah Kikekon 

 

Zoomlion Nigeria Limited, a subsidiary of Ghana’s prominent conglomerate Jospong Group of Companies, in strategic partnership with the Lagos State Government, has visited the Erekiti community in the Badagry Local Government Area of Lagos State to acquire 45 hectares of land for the construction of a modern waste processing and recycling facility.

A delegation from the company, alongside key community stakeholders, conducted an inspection of the proposed site on Wednesday, October 21, 2026, where they held discussions regarding the intended operational framework of the land.

During the site visit, a representative outlined the project scope and utility

"The facility we want to construct is 45 hectares on this side of the road. This is to help reduce the waste issues we have in Lagos. What we are going to do is that we are going to receive waste from the surrounding municipalities to sort them, process them, then recycle them.

"We are basically recycling them to reduce the burden of waste we have on the landfill, and we are going to create another engineered landfill here on this facility."

He added that, "within the facility, we have the main sorting plant, workers' changing room, canteen, administration building, and we have other facilities embedded in the 45 hectares."

Construction of the multi-million naira infrastructure is scheduled to commence in October and is expected to span a period of six months.

Local involvement and consultations are already underway. Speaking with News Peddlers, a resident disclosed  "The company took some of our community leaders to Ghana last week to see what they are already doing there. The government has invited the community leaders and the landowners for negotiations where proper compensations were discussed."

The community representative, Mr. Abu Mekiti, stated via telephone "That land has been acquired by the government long ago, and as of the moment, there are no aggrieved community residents. An agreement has been reached on the employment percentage, specifically ensuring our people are considered for key roles and not restricted to minor jobs."

Community stakeholders, however, highlighted vital infrastructural needs during the engagement, particularly emphasizing the urgent reconstruction of the primary access road leading into Erekiti. Residents expressed concern that an increased volume of heavy-duty waste haulage vehicles coming from various parts of Lagos State would further exacerbate the current poor condition of the road if left unaddressed.

About Zoomlion and the Jospong Group

Zoomlion Nigeria Limited is a prominent waste management and circular economy firm operating in Lagos State. As a subsidiary of the Ghanaian conglomerate Jospong Group of Companies, Zoomlion operates under a major concession agreement ratified by the Lagos State House of Assembly in February 2026 to modernize the state's environmental and waste infrastructure.

The parent organization, Jospong Group of Companies, stands as one of Ghana's largest and most diversified private enterprises. Founded in 1995 by Ghanaian businessman and industrialist Dr. Joseph Siaw Agyepong, the group has expanded from modest beginnings into an international powerhouse. Today, the Jospong Group operates across more than 29 countries primarily throughout Africa, Asia, and the Middle East employing approximately 10,000 workers across more than 76 subsidiary operations.

Blue Lagos Hosts Riverine Women Leaders’ Dialogue 2026, Govt Reaffirms Support for Coastal Communities

 By: Manoah Kikekon 

The Blue Lagos Sustainability Initiative hosted its inaugural Riverine Women Leaders’ Dialogue 2026, bringing together women leaders from coastal and riverine settlements across Lagos State to engage directly with state officials on critical issues affecting their livelihoods, community development, and safety.

The engagement, held on Friday, 23 October 2026, at the Ijegun Egba Ferry Terminal in Satellite Town, Oriade LCDA, was centered on the theme “Women’s Participation, Leadership and Inclusion in the Blue Economy.”

The event highlighted the pivotal role of inclusive governance and grassroots women's leadership in driving sustainable coastal development, particularly in underserved riverine areas that face unique socio-economic and infrastructural challenges.

Serving as the principal government representative, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Blue Economy, Mr. Damilola Emmanuel, addressed the gathering, listening to primary concerns raised by the women leaders regarding healthcare, education, community infrastructure, and economic welfare.

Reassuring the delegates of the administration's commitment, Mr. Emmanuel emphasized that urgent local issues would be prioritized while systemic matters would be referred to appropriate government bodies.

“Direct communication between the government and grassroots stakeholders is vital. The concerns raised today regarding healthcare, education, and development in our riverine communities will be communicated to the relevant agencies for swift attention, ensuring no community is left behind.”

Outlining the vision of the organizers, the Team Lead of Blue Lagos, Mr. Saheed Adesanya, highlighted ongoing welfare and infrastructure projects designed to uplift coastal populations. He noted that ongoing initiatives include medical outreach, access to clean water infrastructure, safety equipment, and financial empowerment.

“Our commitment remains focused on practical, people-centered interventions that directly respond to the needs of underserved populations,” Adesanya stated. “With continued collaboration alongside the Office of the Special Adviser on Blue Economy, we are expanding our outreach to ensure sustainable growth across all riverine communities.”

Echoing these sentiments, the Woman Leader of Blue Lagos, Olori Ololade Asani, emphasized the central role women play in the local coastal economy

“Women in riverine communities are the backbone of family welfare, local commerce, fisheries, and community leadership. This dialogue was organized to give them direct access to key policy-makers so their voices, recommendations, and concerns are reflected in the development of Lagos State’s blue economy.”

As part of the initiative, participating women leaders received empowerment and safety packages, including essential foodstuffs, life jackets, solar torchlights, branded attire, and stipends.

Expressing gratitude on behalf of the participants, Olori Shittu Rashidat of the Ibasa-Ijegun Egba Kingdom praised the platform for bridging the gap between local communities and state authorities:

“We are truly grateful to Blue Lagos for bringing women leaders together and providing us with this opportunity to interact directly with Mr. Damilola Emmanuel. Receiving assurances that our community needs are being heard gives us confidence that our voices matter in shaping the future.”

The dialogue concluded with a renewed pledge from both community leaders and state representatives to foster ongoing partnership, ensuring sustainable development, heightened safety, and enhanced economic inclusion for all riverine communities in Lagos State.

ACPN Urges Nigeria Government to Adopt ‘Pharmacy First’ Protocol for Early Ebola Detection

 By: Manoah Kikekon 

The Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria (ACPN) has called on the Federal Government to urgently adopt a nationwide ‘Pharmacy First’ protocol. The initiative seeks to position community pharmacies as frontline centres for the early identification of suspected Ebola cases and other infectious disease outbreaks across the country.

According to the association, Nigeria can significantly strengthen its epidemic preparedness by integrating community pharmacists into the national disease surveillance network. Leveraging their widespread presence will enhance early detection, ensure timely patient referrals, and relieve intense pressure on secondary and tertiary healthcare facilities.

In a position statement issued following a press conference and signed by its National Chairman, Pharm. Ezeh Ambrose, the ACPN urged federal and state health authorities to formally recognise community pharmacies as indispensable partners in primary healthcare delivery and epidemic surveillance.

The association maintained that deploying the proposed protocol across all 774 local government areas in Nigeria would bring symptom identification directly to the grassroots, especially in underserved communities with limited access to conventional hospitals.

“We consider it necessary to sensitise and mobilise the Federal Government to approve specific investment plans to leverage the Pharmacy First Initiative as a front-line Ebola detection protocol, which stands as one of the best mechanisms to catalyse Universal Health Coverage (UHC) in Nigeria.”

The ACPN highlighted that the 'Pharmacy First' model extends the scope of community pharmacy practice far beyond dispensing medications. Under the framework, practitioners will participate in early symptom recognition, public health education, basic health screening, and prompt referral of individuals displaying symptoms consistent with Ebola or other viral infections.

By serving as accessible first-contact points, structured community pharmacies can identify potential cases early and guide patients to designated medical facilities for comprehensive assessment and testing.

This strategy aims to bolster referral pathways, improve contact-tracing efforts, and enforce isolation guidelines, thereby mitigating the risk of cross-infection in overcrowded hospital waiting rooms.

“At the centre of strategising for epidemic response and Universal Health Coverage, governments at all levels must structure community pharmacies to provide first-line Ebola screening and Primary Health Care services through better access to essential drugs and management of uncomplicated diseases, which ultimately reduces the burden of services on secondary and tertiary health facilities.”

To prepare for these expanded responsibilities, the ACPN called on community pharmacists nationwide to elevate operational standards, adopt modern practice frameworks, and invest in facility upgrades in line with Good Pharmacy Practice (GPP) guidelines.

“In view of changing times, Community Pharmacists must respond accordingly to explore investment opportunities with free funds to achieve the goals of Good Pharmacy Practice (GPP) in the realistic interest of patients.”

Addressing existing operational barriers such as policy gaps, lack of digital integration, and weak inter-professional collaboration the ACPN proposed a reform framework structured around five key priority areas

1. Establishing a unified national vision for epidemic preparedness.

2. Enhancing clinical quality and strengthening public trust.

3. Integrating digital technology and data-driven surveillance into daily pharmacy operations.

4. Fostering seamless collaboration with primary healthcare centres.

5. Building strategic partnerships with health insurance providers.

The framework includes standardized reporting tools enabling neighbourhood pharmacies to transmit real-time surveillance data directly to national epidemiological databases.

Citing global precedents, the ACPN referenced health systems like the United Kingdom's, where community pharmacy networks successfully sustained access to primary care and supported frontline clinical workflows during major health crises.

Pharm. Ezeh warned that failing to implement a proactive grassroots mechanism could undermine national containment efforts and expose healthcare workers and the general public to unnecessary dangers.

“We cannot afford to repeat past missteps where delayed grassroots surveillance allowed outbreaks to spiral out of control. If the Federal Government fails to integrate community pharmacies into this primary protocol, our major hospitals will inevitably become ground zero for cross-infection, overwhelmed before an outbreak is even fully mapped. Leaving community pharmacies out of the first line of defence is not just a missed opportunity; it is an unacceptable hazard to national health security.”

The ACPN chairman subsequently called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to issue an enabling executive directive for immediate nationwide implementation.

“Every day of delay places an unnecessary burden on our tertiary hospitals and leaves millions of Nigerians without accessible early detection. Community pharmacies are already fully staffed, equipped, and embedded across all 774 Local Government Areas. We require zero infrastructure expenditure from the government to deploy this immediately. We urge President Bola Tinubu to issue the enabling policy directive today, and our national network will activate the ‘Pharmacy First’ screening protocol within 48 hours.”

The ACPN concluded by calling on the Federal Ministry of Health and the Presidency to set up a joint task force to establish clear clinical guidelines, referral mechanisms, and coordination protocols. By integrating neighbourhood pharmacies into the broader epidemic response grid, Nigeria can establish a robust defense system right at the doorstep of its citizens.

Ministerial Positions are Bought for Billions: APC Spokesperson

 By: Manoah Kikekon 

Alwan Hassan, a spokesperson for the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council, on Arise News on Thursday, claimed that individuals historically paid multi-billion-naira sums to secure ministerial appointments before attempting to recoup those funds while in office.

Defending President Bola Tinubu’s hands-on management of state expenditures and government revenues, Hassan explained that close presidential oversight helps prevent the diversion of public funds.

“The way Asiwaju is hands-on on the expenditure of our revenue is fantastic and I love it. A lot of ministers pay billions and billions, you know, to get themselves appointed. The first thing they think of is how to recoup that money,” Hassan stated.

Clarifying his statement, Hassan stressed that he was referring to systemic practices that predated the current government rather than ministers serving in the present administration.

“But this is the truth I’m telling you about our country. Not just APC. Before APC, the biggest fraudulent people you arrest after every government are ministers,” he added.

Responding to inquiries regarding budget deficits and funding challenges, Hassan argued that President Tinubu’s direct intervention in capital expenditure decisions has yielded better financial discipline across federal organs.

“Whatever it is a budget is supposed to do in this country in the last three and a half years, Asiwaju has done it by himself. Why do we need ministers? Why do we need budget to be given to ministers?” he asked.

Hassan also used the platform to outline several operational milestones recorded by the current administration, asserting that these successes position the ruling party strongly ahead of the 2027 presidential polls.

Pension Reforms: The release of backlogged funds to settle outstanding terminal benefits for retired federal public servants, alongside the rollout of an exit benefit mechanism to eliminate delays in pension disbinsements.

Infrastructure & Technology: Federal investments aimed at boosting local electricity metering, transitioning toward electric vehicles, deploying surveillance drones for security, and ramping up domestic ammunition manufacturing.