None Of Our Helicopters Crashed, It Was An Unmanned Helicopter

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July 1, 2024

By Ayodele Oni

The Nigerian Airforce has explained that it was an unmanned helicopter that lost control in Kaduna on Monday.

Director of Public Relations and Information of the NAF, Air Vice Marshal Edward Gabkwet, in a statement says no helicopter crash occurred.

“Rather, a NAF unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) experienced a mishap after take-off for a mission, at a location near Rumji village, and about fifteen kilometers from base.”

The statement explained that since it is an unmanned vehicle, there was no casualties on board or on ground.

The statement pointed out that preliminary investigation has since commenced to ascertain what may have caused the mishap.

“The NAF frowns at the propensity to always rush to press in the name of ‘breaking news ‘ without hold of the complete facts”, the statement said.

It advised media outlets to avoid the attitude as it negates the principle of developmental journalism, balanced reporting and fairness.

The statement also advises Media practitioners to always seek clarification from authorized military outlets before rushing to the press.

Kirikiri Prisons Hit By Cholera Outbreak, 25 New Cases Recorded

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Akinwale Kasali

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July 1, 2024

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By Akinwale Kasali

The Kirikiri Maximum Security Prison in Lagos, has been hit by the outbreak. 25 confirmed cases are already recorded.

This has contradicted the Nigerian Correctional Service’s earlier claim of no cholera cases in custodial centers nationwide.

Katsina State has recorded 118 suspected cases, according to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC).

Prof. Akin Abayomi, Lagos State Commissioner for Health, had said that there are urgent medical and environmental measures being implemented by the State Government to contain the outbreak.

On the Kirikiri incident, Abayomi said, “We supplied Kirikiri medium prison with intravenous fluids, infection prevention, and other health consumables.

“Additionally, the World Health Organisation donated 10,000 doses of pharmaceuticals already delivered to the prison to support prison health facilities with prevention strategies for about 3,200 inmates if required.

“Immediate water and sanitation issues have been corrected and there are ongoing inspections of other correctional facilities in the state.”

Addressing the source of the original outbreak two weeks ago, Abayomi said it had been traced to unregulated street beverages and contaminated water supply.

He said many samples taken from popular street beverages purchased by undercover environmental officers from the Environmental Protection Agency and the Ministry of Health in the affected areas confirmed the presence of vibrio cholera bacteria, which is the cause of cholera.

“All the containers had no NAFDAC accreditation numbers, indicating they are small cottage backyard informal production units.

“Identifying the precise location of manufacture has proven difficult and the directorate of environmental health is planning to seal any such unregulated manufacture and make arrests of anybody involved with the manufacture or distribution of beverages without NAFDAC numbers,” Abayomi said.

The Commissioner, also, said there was no need for the public to panic and expressed optimism that with continued collaboration, vigilance, and commitment from all stakeholders, the state was taking decisive actions to combat and control cholera.

However, the NCDC data shows a worrying trend, with 1,528 suspected cases, 65 confirmed cases, and 53 deaths across 31 states since the beginning of the year.

The Federal Government has established a multi-sectoral cabinet committee to combat the epidemic, headed by the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Ali Pate.

The Director of Epidemiology, Katsina State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, Dr Kabir Suleiman, said the 118 suspected cases returned negative.

He said, “Based on our records, around March this year, we had a cholera outbreak in Kusada Local Government Area. There were 68 suspected cases, where we had two confirmed cases with one death.

“The situation was effectively managed by the government, together with the development partners,” he said.

Suleiman added that recently, about 118 suspected cholera samples were taken for laboratory tests.

According to him, all the cases were negative, adding, “So, for now, we don’t have new cholera cases. But the state is fully prepared for any emergency.

“We can coordinate any outbreak that can affect the state at any time.”

The Director said the State, together with some of the development partners, had the required equipment to fight the disease.

“We have all the needed equipment to treat such outbreaks. We have maintained our system at alert. The Rapid Response Teams, including surveillance and notification officers, have already been trained in the proper detection and management of such diseases.

“In terms of prevention and control, we are taking measures to curtail the spread of the disease to other places in the state,” he said.

Suleiman also said the government had established ‘Oral Rehydration Points’ at the 34 comprehensive health centres for admission and treatment of cholera cases.

“We also have a normal routine surveillance system working throughout the day to take care of emergencies like cholera,” he said.

Ondo State PDP Pardons, Recalls Suspended Youth Leader

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Ayodele Oni

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July 1, 2024

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By Ayodele Oni

As part of measures to put its house in order ahead of the November 16, 2024 Gubernatorial election in Ondo state, the People’s Democratic Party, (PDP) State Working Committee (SWC) has lifted the suspension of the State Youth Leader, Folorunso Makinde.

Makinde has been on suspension for months over alleged disrespect to the party’s constitution.

Makinde was suspended as State Youth Leader as a fall out of the “Aketi Must Resume Or Resign” protest spearheaded by the Youths Wing of the PDP.

This decision taken at a meeting of the SWC held on Monday at the State Secretariat, Akure

According to a statement issued by the State Publicity Secretary, Kennedy Peretei, the suspension was lifted in the spirit of general reconciliation to reposition the party for victory at the poll.

He has since shown remorse and has been accordingly reabsorbed into the SWC.

The PDP spokesperson said the party will leave no stone unturned in its march to Alagbaka Government House, come November this year.

Rescue Operations Ongoing At NAF Jet’s Crash Site In Kaduna

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Suleiman Anyalewechi

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July 1, 2024

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By Suleiman Anyalewechi.

Rescue and evacuation efforts are underway at the crash site of a Nigerian Airforce jet in Tami village ,Igabi Local Council of Kaduna State .

The NAF jet on a routine surveillance mission crashed at about 5 am local time on Monday July 1, after developing some technical faults.

No lives were lost.

The Pilot of the crashed aircraft survived, having successfully manoeuvred through emergency protocols before the jet crashed.

The timely intervention of locals, who offered assistance, insured there was no casualty.

Witnesses, mainly locals said a loud bang from the crashed jet alerted concerned villagers who subsequently trooped enmass to the scene.

“We heard a loud noise and rushed to the scene .We were surprised and relieved to see the pilot emerge unscathed” one local stated.

Rescue operations have been activated with some NAF personnel coordinating .

Preliminary investigations have also commenced to ascertain the immediate and remote cause(s) of the crash .

No official statement has been issued by the NAF hierarchy, as efforts are currently geared towards securing the crash scene to avoid loss of vital components of the jet.

Minimum Wage: 25 States Face Bankruptcy – Govs; It’s A Lie – Labour

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Tosin Olatokunbo

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July 1, 2024

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The Nigerian Governors Forum, NGF, has warned that at least 25 states in the country will be bankrupt if they implement the new minimum wage.

The umbrella body of the 36 state governors in the country made the observation in a report, according to Punch.

The governors, who recently rejected the N62,000 new minimum wage proposed by the federal government for Nigerian workers, said some states are already in a big financial strain because of the huge recurrent expenditures which has continued to pile up.

The NGF’s position, analyst insist, will further spark fresh confrontation between the Organised Labour which is demanding higher pay for their members, and the government.

Sources in the unions informed the magazine on Monday that the state governments have the capacity to pay only if they can plug financial holes, stressing that the new wage was long overdue.

“We all know what many state governors are doing with public funds. The level of corruption in many states needed to be addressed if the governors are serious on the issue of new minimum wage. They have the capacity to even pay more than our demand for N250,000,” one of the labour leaders said.

The magazine reported the demand of N250,000 as the new minimum wage by the organsied labour in the country led by the Nigerian Labour Congress, NLC, and Trade Union Congress, TUC, even though experts on the issue insist that the new wage should be around N100, 000.

The state governors insist that the financial problem facing them will get worse, if they are forced to implement the N62,000 recommended by the tripartite committee set up by the government to advise it on the issue.

The Committee include federal and state government representatives, and the private sector.

President Tinubu, had two weeks ago, announced that the federal government had put the Committee’s on hold to allow for consultations with the governors.

The governors met on the issue last week following which they issued the report, the newspaper said.

According to the report, the current financial strain already left 11 states in a very difficult position. The states are Abia, Ekiti, Gombe, Imo, Katsina, Kogi, Oyo, Plateau, Sokoto, Yobe, and Zamfara.

The new minimum wage will increase states’ recurrent expenditure by 50 percent, according to the report, adding that only 10 states will be able to remain financial stable after they have paid the N62,000 minimum wage.

The states are Anambra, Bayelsa, Borno, Ebonyi, Gombe, Imo, Jigawa, Kaduna, Lagos, and Rivers.

According to the documents, sighted by The PUNCH, Abia, with an employment size of about 58,631 workers, pays N5,837,899,980.40 as wage monthly. Anambra has a 20,541 employment size and pays N1,824,851,308.96 monthly as wages, apart from N894,480,399.62 as pension obligation and N579,694,680.33 for debt servicing.

Bayelsa boasts of 48,213 workforce, paying N5,802,435,178.58 monthly, with N1,194,528,784.40 as pension obligation and N3,535,787,992.48 as debt servicing, totalling N10,532,751,955.46 as total recurrent expenditure monthly.

Benue has about 13,366 workers in its workforce and pays N2,040,184,471.85 as monthly wage, N76,838,634.62 for pension, and N64,685,126,826.08 for debt servicing, totalling N66,802,149,932.56 monthly.

Delta has about 50,871 workers, offering N8,973,081,853.50 as wages, N1,499,886,303.39 as pension, and N72,417,433,139.00 as debt servicing, accumulating to N82,890,401,295.89 in a month.

Jigawa has about 44,831 workers in its employ and pays N2,795,662,113.02 as wages, and N345,987,843.12 as a pension, totalling N3,141,649,956.14 monthly on recurrent expenditure.

Katsina, Kwara and Niger have 19,062, 36,048 and 22,225 workers, with accumulated N139,294,944,565.27, N4,457,268,675.54 and N2,653,614,213.35 monthly recurrent expenditure respectively.

The report further stated that, Abia has a total recurrent expenditure of N111,983,979,958.62, against a total revenue of N147,637,730,867.73.

For Adamawa, the recurrent expenditure stands at N70,369,399,885.57, against a total revenue of N109,722,949,684.65, while Akwa Ibom boasts of a high revenue of N444,288,683,000, with recurrent expenditure of N235,144,539,000.

Of the states, Lagos has the highest total revenue, amassing N1,243,778,878,170 in 2022, with a recurrent expenditure of N621,043,036,000, followed by Delta, with N702,020,717,460.08 and a recurrent expenditure of N377,905,100,451.83.

Rivers amassed N525,588,159,714.88 in 2022, with recurrent expenditure of N186,974,715,774.87; Kaduna had a total revenue of N222,349,875,000 and expenditure of N95,987,999,472.10; Ogun, N297,249,009,626.83, recurrent expenditure of N178,519,010,628.42 and Oyo, with total revenue of N247,156,776,739.70 and recurrent expenditure of N152,077,804,384.65.

Meanwhile, the NLC and TUC have warned that state governors would not be allowed to determine the new minimum wage without consultation with the organized labour in the country.

CBN: Account For N100bn Dirty Notes, SERAP Demands From Apex Bank

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Tosin Olatokunbo

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July 1, 2024

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The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project, SERAP, has called on the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, to account for the N100 billion dirty and bad notes kept in its various branches across the country.

SERAP which has threatened to drag the CBN to court over the issue, made its position known in a statement issued by its Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare at the weekend.

Other allegations made against the apex bank include its failure to account for the over N7 billion meant for the construction of the CBN Dutse branch in 2010, the close to N5 billion budgeted for the renovation of the CBN Abeokuta branch back in 2009, amongst others.

The dirty notes were meant to be destroyed, according to the rights body, but their whereabout have not be known, calling on the apex bank to shed lights on the issue.

According to SERAP, the Office of the Auditor-General of the Federation, had made the allegations against the CBN in a report.

Describing the allegations as ‘grim’, the anti-corruption body stated that they are breach of public trust and accountability.

The allegations, if true also violates the Nigerian Constitution, SERAP said.

SERAP said, “We would be grateful if the recommended measures are taken within 7 days of the receipt and/or publication of this letter. If we have not heard from you by then, SERAP shall take all appropriate legal actions to compel you and the CBN to comply with our request in the public interest.”

“According to the recently published 2020 audited report by the Auditor General of the Federation (AGF), the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has since 2017 been keeping over N100 billion [N100,672,999,000.00] ‘dirty and bad notes’, and other large sum of cash awaiting examination in various branches of the CBN.”

Financials sector analysts insist that dirty notes are still very much in circulation despite billions of naira spent by the CBN to print new currencies.

For instance, the CBN had claimed in report that it spent close to N100 billion to issue new notes in 2022.

Appointments: Shun Nepotism, Sani Tells Tinubu

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Tosin Olatokunbo

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July 1, 2024

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Rights activist Shehu Sani has urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to eschew nepotism for competence while making federal appointments.

The former senator representing Kaduna Central said the president should priotise competence rather than where the potential appointees come from before appointing such into positions.

Sani made the remark on Sunday, on Channels Television Politics Today, stressing that former President Muhammadu Buhari based most of s his appointments on nepotism.

Recall that the former president was trenchantly criticized by not a few Nigerians for appointing more Northerners into key federal government positions, such as the military and Presidency.

Recently too, President Tinubu has also been dragged by not a few Nigerians for priotising people from the south west, where he hails from, in crucial federal government appointments.

In fact, some Nigerians familiar with the issue accused Tinubu of appointing predominantly persons from state Lagos in his appointment to key government positions.

Tinubu was a former governor of Lagos state where he served a maximum of eight years in office between 1999 and 2007.

Speaking yesterday, Sani, who recently accused some key northern leaders of trying to stop President Tinubu’s re-election, in 2027 said competence must be key in appointing persons to office if the country was to move forward.

According to him, President Tinubu must not replicate Buhari’s administration who kept officials in office even when they were not competent, he said performance should guide Tinubu on whether to retain appointees of not.

The activist said, “I will advise President Tinubu to be careful not to make the mistakes of President Buhari, and I believe he is experienced to understand this.

“Under Presdient Buhari, you have ministers that were appointed into office for the whole of eight years; they were with him for the first tenure and the second tenure, and there was no cabinet reshuffle, no removal. Even if there was a removal, it takes three to four months to replace a minister. That was the way the country was governed.

“Under Buhari, we have seen nepotism at its peak where people were appointed into office and left there even if they did nothing.

“Service chiefs were retained in office despite their failures, and by retaining them, you destroyed the careers of those behind them. For many years, many officers were retired to appoint one person.

“If this country has to move forward, we must treat the issue of competency as the qualification for appointment.”

Meanwhile, the magazine reported that Zamfara state government, last week, rejected the appointment of Mrs Maryam Ismaila as a federal permanent secretary allegedly because her parents were Christians.

How Police Officer Rejected N150m Bribe To Have Peace Of Mind

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The Source

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July 1, 2024

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By Gideon Njoku

Ibrahim Ezekiel Sini, a Superintendent of Police, has given the Nigeria Police Force a reason to celebrate. In a Country where a few bad eggs in the Police have given Nigerians reasons to not trust the Police and to dismiss the otherwise hardworking and respectable institution as corrupt, SP Sini is a breath of fresh air.

The Officer looked a Lagos-based business tycoon, Akintoye Akindele, in the face, and literally told him to jump into the Lagos Lagoon with his bags of money.

Sini was in charge of a team put together by the Inspector General of Police to investigate a case against Akindele. While he was arraigned in August 2023 at the Federal High Court, Abuja, and remanded at the Kuje Correctional Centre, he sought for a way out. And as far as he was concerned, money talks, and there is no better way to use it than to buy over the Head of the IGP’s Investigative Team.

He, therefore, approached SP Sini, and offered him a whopping, mouth-watering sum of N150 million to do two things for him. One is to pave a way for him to escape from the Country. And the second is to write a compromised report in his favour. He tempted Sini and asked him if he didn’t want to be rich. To show seriousness, he dropped an initial N50 million for the Officer.

But Sini looked him in the eye and rejected the bribe money.

The businessman was alleged to have swindled Summit Oil International Ltd to the tune of $5,636,397, as well as N73,543,764. It is the petition written by the firm against him that the IGP asked Sini and his team to investigate.

Last Friday, a group of appreciative Nigerians, led by the Commissioner of Police, Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Ben Igweh, organised a dinner in honour of SP Sini.

After all the Commendation, the Officer was given already processed paper for a plot of land in Abuja.

According to CP Igwe, Sini has brought honour to the NPF.

The Chief Executive Officer of Vegas Homes, Prince Chukwuemeka Okoye, who was one of the organisers of the dinner, agreed with CP Igwe. He described Sini’s conduct as exemplary which has brought honour to himself and the NPF.

Speaking, a delighted and appreciative Sini said he rejected the bribe in order to have a peace of mind, and uphold his family’s name as well as to keep the integrity of the NPF.

He said: “I am very happy to be here and I want to appreciate the organisers of this programme. They have beat my imagination and they have added more grease to my elbow.

“Yes, I remember when the incident happened, the person in question asked me: ‘Do you want to be rich? He said, this is an opportunity for you to be rich.

“So what I said was that it depends on the kind of riches. I would like to have money that I can lay my head down and sleep at night. I don’t want to have something that will make me think twice and be running from one hole to another. So, I would like to do justice and have peace of mind.

“So, I decided to do the right thing so that I can have peace of mind and also stand to do what is right for myself, for my organisation, that is, the Nigeria Police, and also for the country at large.”

Not a few people said they would recommend SP Sini for not only a recognition by the IGP, a special promotion to the next rank by the Police Service Commission, but a National Honour by President Bola Tinubu.

NDLEA Intercepts N 7.5 Billion Worth Of Hard Substances At Onne Port, Arrests 60 Abuja Fun Seekers

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Suleiman Anyalewechi

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June 30, 2024

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By Suleiman Anyalewechi

About 6 ,125 cartons of the opioid drug, codeine with a street value of over N 7.5 billion were?, on Saturday, June 29, intercepted by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency NDLEA at Onne Port Rivers State.

This is even as the regulatory agency on Friday, June 21, arrested two Doha- bound passengers at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos, for testing positive for ingestion of hard drugs.

A statement issued on Sunday, June 30 ,2024, by the NDLEA Spokesperson, Femi Babafemi, said the codeine seizure which was effected at the Onne Ports Complex, in PortHarcourt was made from six containers.

The NDLEA noted that the huge seizure is the third in the last four weeks of intense and concerted operations.

According to the statement, the giant stride was enabled by the availability of credible intelligence, followed by diligent tracking of the consignments from the ports of departure by the agency’s Special Forces, working in synergy with the Onne Command of the NDLEA and other sister security agencies ,including the Nigeria Customs Services NCS.

At the end of examinations of the six seized containers, the NDLEA further stated, about 6 ,125 cartons containing one million and fifty thousand ( 1.050,000 ) bottles of codeine syrup ,weighing 157 ,500kilograms were recovered .

The two apprehended Doha- bound passengers, Aikhomoun Daniel a.k.a (Oladapo Olarenwaju )and Ayigoro Waheed Omobolaji, were on board a Qatari Airways Flight. Luck, however, ran out on them at the screening point of Terminal 2,:following the discovery that they had ingested illicit substances.

In the end ,while Ayigoro excreted 60 wraps of class A cocaine substances weighing 660 grams, Daniel discharged 90 wraps of same class of substances with a weight of 1,022 kg.

“Further investigation revealed that Aikhomoun Daniel actually stole the identity of his late uncle who once based in Germany, a decision he claimed he took to get a Schengen visa to enable him free access to Europe, while his real name is Oladapo Olanrewaju.

“No less than 40 .32kg of loud, an imported strong strain of cannabis was on Friday ,June 28 ,recovered in a black Toyota Tacuma truck along Lekki-Ikoyi road ,when the driver jumped off the vehicle after noticing that NDLEA operatives were on his trail.

“In Abuja, NDLEA operatives Friday night ,disrupted a drug party dubbed “Go Hard or Go Home, Pick Your Poison ” where sixty (60) suspects comprising 25 males and 35 females were arrested at an apartment in Sun City Estate in the Federal Capital Territory .

“The raid followed credible intelligence about the drug party organized by one Stanley Ikechukwu who was arrested at the venue .

“At least six of the suspects ,Victoria Adoga,Hamza Yari,Joanne EsseinJoy ,Sochima Valentine ,Jago Imole and Charles Indobuibisi were arrested with different quantities of ecstasy and cannabis” the NDLEA stated .

Chairman of the Agency, Mohammed Marwa, a retired Brigadier General ,has directed that 20 of the suspects who tested negative for drugs be released unconditionally.

However, 33 suspects found to have tested positive are to be released on bail and will report at the Agency’s FCT Command Headquarters on Monday, July 1, for commencement of rehabilitations.

Ondo SWAN, NDLEA Preach Against Drugs Among Sportsmen

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Ayodele Oni

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June 30, 2024

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By Ayodele Oni

Sports Writers Association Of Nigeria (SWAN), Ondo State Chapter, and the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, (NDLEA), have intensified efforts to check the menace of drugs among sports professionals.

To this end, the two bodies organized a sensitisation programme to combat drug abuse among athletes, their fans and the general public.

The event which held at the indoor Sports Hall of the Ondo State Sports complex, Akure, brought together athletes, coaches, and stakeholders from various games.

While declaring open the programme with the theme: “Drug Abuse-Battling A Menace In Nigerian Sports” Ondo State Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development, Mr Saka Yusuf-Ogunleye, commended the organisers for putting together the event at the right time when the whole world is preparing for 2024 Olympics.

The Commissioner represented by his Special Adviser, Mr Daodu Alex, said the State Government is ready to partner with concerned stakeholders and Agencies to have a drug abuse free society.

He said: “I admonish the convener of this event (SWAN) and their partner to ensure they take this advocacy beyond this hall.

“Let us take it to schools so that we will be able to educate the upcoming athletes the danger in taking performance Enhancement tablets.”

The NDLEA Commander in Ondo State, Mr Kayode Raji, emphasized the urgent need to address the escalating issue of drug abuse within the sports community.

“We are not here to deliver speeches, we are here to save lives,” he stated in his welcome remarks.

“Drug abuse has destroyed many lives, and it is no longer a distant issue, but one that is now prevalent among us.

“The consequences are limitless. Drug abuse is gradually infiltrating the sports community, and now is the time to step in and sensitize athletes about its dangers.”

Raji further highlighted the NDLEA’s commitment to eradicating drug abuse and providing support for those affected.

“Preventive measures and support systems are in place, and we are dedicated to ensuring that athletes have the resources and knowledge to avoid the pitfalls of drug abuse.”

Lawrence Adegbehingbe, an Olympian, and one of the Speakers at the event, stated that the pressure on athletes is immense, driving them to use substances to meet unrealistic performance expectations.

He emphasized that sensitization on drug should begin at home, with parents setting positive examples. He also expressed his gratitude to SWAN and the NDLEA for organizing the event.

In his lecture, a senior Civil Servant in the State, Mr Bunmi Akinsemola said doping is as old as sports itself,saying, “it’s not clear whether it started with animals in chariot racing.” adding that the essence of doping is to cheat.

“Even the ancient Olympics are not spared from the allegations of the use of herbal infusion before races, use of alcohol in modern Olympics was not uncommon.”

Akinsemola noted that performance enhancement tablets can’t help athletes’ career but cut it short, saying,” International Olympic Committee stripped Marion Jones of five medals (three gold ,two bronze) she won in Sydney over drug use.

Earlier in his welcome address, the Chairman of SWAN, Ondo State Chapter, Mr. Segun Giwa, highlighted the significant threat drug abuse poses to the sports industry.

He stressed that sports writers must not be complacent and should play an active role in raising awareness and educating athletes.

Giwa called for stronger government support and the creation of a drug-free sports culture that values hard work, dedication, and fair play.

“Let us all work together to create a drug-free sports culture in Nigeria. A culture that values hard work, dedication, and fair play. A culture that produces champions who inspire us with their talent, their character, and their integrity.”