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Why We’re Prioritising Fight Against Illicit Drugs – NSA

Published

1 year ago

June 4, 2025

The National Security Adviser, Malam Nuhu Ribadu, has said the Federal Government is prioritising the fight against illicit drugs due to its far-reaching impact on national security and the wellbeing of citizens.

He linked the use of illicit substances—especially among young people—to rising insecurity, noting that many terrorists are often serial abusers of narcotics. According to him, this fuels criminality and undermines national stability.

Ribadu said the government remains committed to supporting the ongoing inter-agency operation targeting illegal and counterfeit pharmaceuticals. He stressed that the goal is to rid the country of dangerous substances that harm society.

Speaking during an inter-agency meeting at his office in Abuja, the NSA explained that the initiative goes beyond law enforcement.

He described it as a long-term public health intervention with serious implications for national security.
He praised the discipline and collaboration shown by participating agencies, saying the success of the operation highlights what Nigerian institutions can achieve through joint action.

Ribadu also warned dealers in illicit substances that it will no longer be business as usual. He assured that the government would continue to back the fight until meaningful progress is made.
“There are good Nigerians working to make the society better,” he said. “What was achieved by the committee is a testament to that.”

He also urged agency staff to sustain the momentum. “Keep putting in your best to ensure we succeed in this critical fight,” he added.

The operation was coordinated by the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), in partnership with the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), and the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC).

The Director General of NAFDAC, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, disclosed that 207 containers of illicit and counterfeit drugs have been intercepted and destroyed so far through this joint effort.

She credited the NSA’s direct involvement with speeding up responses and bridging enforcement gaps across the agencies.

“If not for the swift intervention of the NSA,” she said, “these drugs might have ended up in markets and led to the deaths of many women and young people.”
Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, described the scale of the operation as unprecedented. He said it demonstrates the impact of coordinated institutional action.

NDLEA Chairman, Buba Marwa, also praised the NSA’s leadership and budgetary support, which he said enabled major seizures and disrupted criminal drug networks.

At the Abuja meeting, the NDLEA presented a certificate of destruction to Ribadu, recognising his role in coordinating the initiative.

In presenting the certificate, the committee said it was “for leading the destruction of drugs that might have ended up endangering people’s lives.”

In return, the NSA gave plaques to agency heads, stressing that illicit drugs are a critical factor fuelling criminality and instability across the country.

“The plaques should serve as a symbol of gratitude,” he said, “and I present them to the agencies on behalf of the President.”

Officials noted that the destruction of over 200 containers marks a major turning point in the federal government’s broader strategy to clean up Nigeria’s pharmaceutical supply chain.

They added that additional operations are already being planned and will be intensified in the months ahead.

Related Topics:Nigeria priority Security

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Rep. Abubakar Bichi Employs 100 New Islamic School Teachers in Bichi

Published

13 hours ago

September 29, 2026

Nigerian Tracker

The Federal lawmaker representing the Bichi Federal Constituency, Hon. Abubakar Kabir Abubakar Bichi, has inaugurated 100 new Islamic school teachers as part of efforts to strengthen Islamic education in the Bichi Local Government Area of Kano State.

The inauguration ceremony was held on Sunday, 27 September 2026, and marked the fourth batch of School Teachers employed under the lawmaker’s initiative bringing the total of number of teachers engaged through the programme to 600.

Before their employment, the 100 teachers underwent a special examination conducted at the directive of the lawmaker. Those who obtained the highest scores across the 11 wards of Bichi Local Government Area were selected for the teaching positions.

The lawmaker had previously supported the teachers by paying their monthly allowances as volunteers before formally employing them as full-time teachers in Islamic schools across the local government area.

Prominent Islamic scholars and dignitaries attended the inauguration ceremony, including Sheikh Habibu Dan Almajiri, Chairman of the Kano State Zakkah Commission; Dr. Nazifi Ishak, former Kano State Commissioner for Religious Affairs; Dr. Zahrau Muhammad Umar, former Commissioner for Women Affairs; and Sheikh Sanusi Sharif Bichi.

Also in attendance were the Chairman of Bichi Local Government Area, Alhaji Hamza Sule Maifata; the Director-General of the APC Campaign Council in Bichi, Alhaji Sani Mukaddas, and the Kano State APC Secretary, Prof. Yusuf Muhammad Sabo.

The Islamic scholars and other dignitaries commended Hon. Abubakar Kabir Abubakar Bichi for his efforts towards improving both Islamic and modern education in the Bichi Local Government Area.

Hon. Abubakar Kabir Abubakar has also previously engaged several youths in various sectors, including healthcare, environmental services, education and other community development activities, as part of his efforts to create opportunities for young people across Bichi Federal Constituency and Kano State.

The lawmaker, who serves as the Chairman of the House Committee on Appropriation, has consistently expressed his commitment to youth development and community empowerment through various initiatives across the constituency.

News

FG Seeks Fresh $1.5bn World Bank Loans As Nigeria’s Debt Hits N166.79tn

Published

1 day ago

September 28, 2026

Nigerian Tracker

By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa

The Federal Government is in discussions with the World Bank for three new loans worth a combined $1.5 billion, even as Nigeria’s total public debt climbed to a record N166.79 trillion by June 2026.

The proposed facilities consist of three $500 million loans targeting climate resilience, social protection and early childhood development.

The first is an additional $500 million for the Agro-Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes (ACReSAL) project, which would increase its total financing to $1.2 billion. The funds are expected to support land restoration, flood and erosion control, irrigation, water management and other climate-resilience measures across northern Nigeria.

Another $500 million facility is proposed for the Household Prosperity and Empowerment-Social Protection (HOPE-SP) project. It is designed to support poor and vulnerable households through cash transfers, an improved social registry and stronger social protection systems.

The third $500 million loan would finance the Nigeria Early Childhood Development programme, covering all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory. The programme aims to improve access to healthcare, nutrition, early learning, childcare, water and sanitation for children aged zero to five.

Meanwhile, figures from the Debt Management Office show that Nigeria’s public debt increased by N14.39 trillion , from N152.40 trillion in June 2025 to N166.79 trillion in June 2026. Domestic debt stood at N91.59 trillion, while external debt was N75.20 trillion.

Nigeria’s debt to the World Bank Group also rose to $20.73 billion by June 2026, accounting for about 38 per cent of the country’s $54.52 billion external debt.

Economist Adewale Abimbola said concessional loans could support development if properly structured and effectively utilised, stressing that the key issue was how the borrowed funds were deployed.

News

Report: Nigeria Records N166trn Public Debt

Published

3 days ago

September 26, 2026

Nigerian Tracker

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‎By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa
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‎The Debt Management Office (DMO) says Nigeria’s total public debt rose to N166.79 trillion as of June 30, 2026.
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‎The DMO published the latest public debt portfolio report on Friday.
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‎The figure represents a 9.4 percent or N14.39 trillion increase from the N152.4 trillion recorded at the end of June 2025.
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‎It also represents an increase of N7.44 trillion or 4.7 percent compared with the N159.35 trillion recorded at the end of the first quarter (Q1) of 2026.
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‎According to the latest report, the debt stock comprises N91.59 trillion in domestic debt, which accounts for 54.91 percent of the total debt stock, and N75.2 trillion in external debt, representing 45.09 percent.
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‎The debt office said domestic debt increased by N11.04 trillion (13.7 percent) from N80.55 trillion recorded in June 2025.
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‎The office said external debt also rose by N3.35 trillion (4.7 percent) from N71.85 trillion in the same period.
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‎According to the DMO, the federal government accounted for N152.77 trillion of the total debt stock, comprising N86.99 trillion in domestic debt and N65.77 trillion in external debt.
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‎On the other hand, states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) accounted for the remaining N14.01 trillion — N4.59 trillion in domestic debt and N9.42 trillion in external debt.
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‎In dollar terms, the agency said Nigeria’s total public debt stood at $120.93 billion as of June 30, 2026 — up from $99.66 billion recorded in June 2025.
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‎The DMO said the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) official exchange rate of N1,379 per dollar as of June 30 was used to convert the external debt to naira.
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