Headlines

The National Agency for Food, Drugs Administration and Control, NAFDAC, has confiscated banned pharmaceutical products, valued at millions of naira, in Onitsha, Anambra State, during a raid.

The agency also bust factories manufacturing fake alcoholic beverages in Enugu and Imo states.

NAFDAC’s Director, South East Zone, Martins Iluyomade, revealed this while briefing newsmen in Awka on Wednesday.

He said drugs intercepted in Onitsha included 892 bottles of codeine syrup, 26 packs of Rohypnol tablet (Flunitrazepam) and 16 packs of swings tablet (Flunitrazepam).

Others were six rolls of Teka Tramadol capsules 100mg, 10 packs of Super Terpentol tablet 200mg and eight packs of Osaka Tramadol capsules 100mg.

Iluyomade applauded the Coordinator of NAFDAC in Anambra, Louis Mmadubuatta,
for a successful operation, saying the drugs posed grave public health danger.

According to him, the drugs were dangerous psychoactive substances, especially Rohypnol, which, he said, was largely used by kidnappers, rapists, cultists and ritualists, on their victims.

“These are controlled drugs which should not be found in an open market or in the hands of individuals,” he said.

Iluyomade said other breakthroughs made included the discovery of a factory under the name BEST IJAW at Ibagwa Aka, in Igboeze South Local Government Area of Enugu State, which specialised in the production of an unapproved dry gin.

He said the factory had eight PVC containers filled with substances suspected to be ethanol and drums of substances equally suspected to be ethanol.

Telecommunication companies will disconnect more Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) numbers not linked to National Identification Numbers (NIN) on Friday, March 29, 2024, the Nigeria Communications Commission has said.

LeadingReporters gathered that the Director of Public Publicity at the NCC, Reuben Mouka, confirmed that there would be no changes to the deadline for the next phase of disconnection. Mouka stated that the deadline remains unchanged and there are no plans to extend it.

The NCC’s directive for disconnection is being rolled out in stages, with the second phase set for March 29, 2024, continuing as previously announced.

The initial phase took place on February 28, 2024. Subsequently, whilethe third phase is slated to begin on April 15, 2024.

“We issued a publication that you can refer to. We specified certain deadlines and stipulated that subscribers who do not comply with the directive would be barred. And that has not changed.”

Mouka said at the last deadline on February 28, 2024, about 40 million lines that were not linked to NIN were barred.

MTN Nigeria reported that over 4.2 million lines were disconnected from its network after the February 28 deadline.

The NCC has reiterated its commitment to enforcing regulatory measures aimed at enhancing security and regulatory compliance within the telecommunications sector.

The SIM-NIN linkage initiative is a crucial step towards improving the integrity of subscriber data and enhancing security measures within the telecommunications industry.

The NIN-SIM linkage policy was initially introduced by the Nigerian government in December 2020. This directive requires all telephone line users in Nigeria to associate their SIM cards with their NIN.

In December of the previous year, the NCC issued a directive stipulating that all telecommunications operators in Nigeria, including major providers like MTN, Airtel, and Globacom, among others, must enforce complete network barring on all phone lines for which subscribers have not provided their NINs by February 28, 2024.

Barely two weeks ago, the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project issued a warning to take legal action against the NCC if it did not revoke the directive instructing network providers to block the phone lines of individuals who have not linked their SIM cards to their NINs.

In an open letter addressed to the Chief Executive Officer of NCC, Aminu Maida, SERAP emphasised the necessity for further consultation and the establishment of an efficient process to enable Nigerians who have yet to link their SIM cards to their NINs to do so.

Dated March 9, 2024, and signed by the Deputy Director of SERAP, Kolawole Oluwadare, the letter condemned the directive to network providers, asserting that it constitutes a severe infringement on citizens’ rights to freedom of expression, information, and privacy.

Last week, the National Identity Management Commission and the NCC issued a joint statement unveiling a strategic partnership aimed at simplifying the NIN-SIM linkage procedures for telecommunications subscribers nationwide.

Both agencies reaffirmed their dedication to enhancing the processes involved and improving efficiency regarding the NIN and SIM card linkage initiative.

They acknowledge the importance of this initiative in bolstering security measures and enhancing service delivery across the country.

Last December, the Central Bank of Nigeria announced its intention to freeze accounts lacking a BVN, or NIN, starting April 2024.

It also mandated that all BVNs or NINs linked to accounts or wallets be electronically revalidated by January 31, 2024.

Since the issuance of this directive by the apex bank, deposit money banks have been actively utilizing their communication platforms to urge customers to update their NIN and BVN details.

In the circular by the CBN, it instructed banks to place a “Post no Debit” restriction – which prevents customers from making withdrawals, transfers, or any other debits “for all existing Tier-1 accounts/wallets without BVN or NIN.”.

‘Post No Debit’ is a term used to describe a restriction imposed by banks on specific accounts, preventing customers from making withdrawals, transfers, or any other debits from such accounts.

“Effective immediately, any unfunded account/wallet shall be placed on ‘Post No Debit or Credit’ until the new process is satisfied. Effective March 1, 2024, all funded accounts or wallets shall be placed on ‘Post No Debit or Credit’ and no further transactions permitted.”

President Bola Tinubu has approved the appointment of DIG Johnson Babatunde Kokumo (retd) as the new Coordinator of the National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons under the Office of the National Security Adviser.

Kokumo’s appointment was disclosed by Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, in a statement on Tuesday.

According to Ngelale, Kokumo is a seasoned and accomplished law enforcement professional with over 30 years of experience in crime prevention, management, analysis, and control.

He was Deputy Inspector-General of Police, Force Criminal Intelligence and Investigations Department, Force Headquarters, Abuja, from 2022 to 2023.

The President expects that the new coordinator will deploy his immense experience and expertise in efforts to revamp the centre and evolve new strategies to bring lasting solutions to the menace of arms proliferation which is a significant driver of insecurity in the country.

Florida Governor, Ron DeSantis, on Monday, March 25, signed a law restricting social media access for minors under 14.

The bill will prohibit children younger than 14 from joining social media in the state, reports NBC News.

Those who are 13 years old and younger will not be able to open a social media account in the state, and 14- and 15-year-olds will need parental consent to use such platforms.

The bill, HB3, also directs social media companies to delete the existing accounts of those who are under 14.

Companies that fail to do so could be sued on behalf of the child who creates an account on the platform.

The minor could be awarded up to $10,000 in damages, according to the bill.

Companies found to violate the law would also be liable for up to $50,000 per violation, as well as attorney’s fees and court costs.

“Ultimately, [we’re] trying to help parents navigate this very difficult terrain that we have now with raising kids, and so I appreciate the work that’s been put in,” DeSantis said in remarks during the bill-signing ceremony.

DeSantis said: “We’re trying to help parents navigate this very difficult terrain that we have now with raising kids.”

Speaker of the Florida House, Paul Renner, said that social media is fraught with risks from traffickers and paedophiles, and that “social media platforms have caused a devastating effect on the mental well-being of our children.”

Most platforms require users to be 13 or older, though they do little in terms of enforcement.

Across the country, there has been rising concern about the effects of social media on child and teen development and learning.

But the law has also sparked concerns among those worried it sets a precedent for restricting free speech online.

DeSantis, who ran an unsuccessful campaign for president and dropped out in January, has argued many times that parents should have more control over decisions affecting their children, particularly in education.

Parental rights legislation in Florida and other states has sought to give parents more input in areas deemed controversial, especially education around LGBTQ topics in schools.

While the social media ban gives parents oversight on the matter, others say that the government should stay out of such fights altogether.

DeSantis previously vetoed a stricter social media ban, which would have blocked access for those under age 16.

Parental rights legislation in Florida and other states has sought to give parents more input in areas deemed controversial, especially education around LGBTQ topics in schools.

While the social media ban gives parents oversight on the matter, others say that the government should stay out of such fights altogether.

DeSantis previously vetoed a stricter social media ban, which would have blocked access for those under age 16.

A terrorist has been reportedly seen in a viral video displaying some money collected from his victims as ransoms and uploaded on Tiktok, a social network.

The video was shared by Zagazola Makama, a counter-insurgency expert and security analyst in Lake Chad, in a series of posts on his X handle on Monday.

According to Makama, the user of the account has over 3000 followers, noting that some of them are bandits who openly show off their rifles and are dressed in military or police uniforms.

He further lamented that the Tiktok platform has given space for insurgents to promote their campaign of terror without any form of restrictions.

He wrote: “Audacity: Bandit on Tiktok flaunting and showing off ransom money he collected from his victims.

“The user of the account has 3000 followers, some of them are bandits who openly show off their rifles and are dressed in military or police uniforms.

“Tiktok platform has given room for insurgents to promote their campaign of terror without being restricted.”

Watch video below

The Nigerian Army is set to release more than 200 detainees cleared of links to the Boko Haram sect.

The detainees were arrested by the military in the heat of insurgency.

It would be recall that bandits recently released all the 287 pupils and students abducted from Kuriga in the Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna State, Northwest Nigeria.

After, the release however, the government has stated categorically that no amount was paid for the release of the pupils.

Meanwhile, Daily Trust finding shows that they would be handed over to the Borno State Government for proper reintegration into the society.

The event will take place at Giwa Barracks in Maiduguri, the state capital, on Tuesday morning.

” Not fewer than 200 cleared Boko Haram suspects that are being cleared of any wrongdoing by security operatives, and they will be hand over to the Borno State Government for rehabilitation and reintegration.

“The handing over ceremony is set to be this morning (Tuesday) at 10: am at Giwa Barracks,” a source told Daily Trust.

The source said the State Commissioner for Women Affairs, Zuwaira Gambo, and her Information and Internal Security counterpart, Prof Tar Umar, will receive the clear detainees on behalf of the state government.

Neitizen has reacted that the release of the ex – Boko haram members could be connected to the release of the pupils.

A viral video on Monday night has shown how a heavy rain washed away the newly-built Ochanja Market Road in Anambra State.

The road was said to have been inaugurated by the state government about a week ago.

Shared by a user, chude_, the video revealed the road’s asphalt coating displaced, scattered pieces, and waterlogged areas.

Chude captioned the video, “When we complain e go be like say we too dey talk, just one rainfall, look at Soludo’s road.

“This is the same Ochanja-Iweka Road they were celebrating its newly constructed needless roundabout some weeks ago. Shame dey catch me.

“Just look at the state of the road after just one rainfall. What exactly did we do to deserve this #CCSoludo?”

Ochanja Market is located in the Woliwo community in Onitsha South, Anambra State.

watch video below;

One of the  governorship aspirants of the All Progressives Congress in Ondo State, Paul Akintelure, is dead

Akintelure, a medical doctor, was said to have passed on in the early hours of Tuesday, during a brief illness in Lagos.

The state Publicity Secretary of the party, Mr Alex Kalejaiye, confirmed the news of his death to our correspondent.

The details of the death were yet to be revealed.

“It is true, I can confirm it. We would issue a statement about it shortly.” the APC spokesperson said

Details later…