Category: News
FG Plans to Regulate TikTok
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has discovered 70 parcels of cocaine hidden inside body cream containers at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) in Lagos, thwarting an attempt to smuggle the drug to the United Kingdom.
The NDLEA’s Director, Media & Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, who disclosed this in a statement on Sunday, explained that the cocaine consignments, weighing 3.60 kilograms, were discovered on October 14, 2025, during examination of cargoes packaged as personal effects on an Air Peace flight bound for London.
According to the statement, a cargo agent, Lawal Mustapha Olakunle, was promptly arrested, adding that investigations led to the arrest of two principal suspects linked to the attempt.

“In a follow up operation on 18th October, a female healthcare worker Ogunmuyide Taiwo Deborah was arrested following which Mutiu Adebayo Adebiyi, the Chief Executive Officer of a travel agency, Mutiu Adebiyi & Co, was arrested at his 23 Ladoke Akintola Street, Ikeja GRA Lagos office on Monday 20th October.
“In a similar development, attempt by a 35-year-old Lesotho national Lemena Mark to export 103.59 grams of methamphetamine concealed in a diabeta herbs coffee tea pack to the Philippines on an Ethiopian airlines flight from the Akanu Ibiam International Airport (AIIA) Enugu on Wednesday 22nd October was thwarted by NDLEA officers who arrested him and recovered the illicit drug,”the statement noted.
Babafemi explained that the Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd) has commended the officers and men of MMIA, AIIA, Lagos, for the arrests, and seizures.
He urged them and their colleagues across the country to continue with the ongoing balanced approach to the drug control efforts of the agency.
The National Examinations Council (NECO) has announced the creation of a new examination centre in London, United Kingdom, as part of its global expansion initiative to offer credible assessment opportunities to Nigerians in the diaspora.
Registrar and Chief Executive of NECO, Prof. Dantani Ibrahim Wushishi, who unveiled the centre during the Education Matters Conference UK 2025, said the initiative was developed in partnership with Barnfield Education Ltd.
In a statement on Sunday by NECO’s Acting Director of Information and Public Relations, Azeez Sani, the Registrar said: “The initiative aims to provide opportunities for Nigerian students and adult learners in the UK who, for various reasons, have been unable to complete secondary education or obtain equivalent qualifications.
“Our objective is to provide credible and accessible examination opportunities for Nigerians residing abroad in line with the Federal Government’s education policy on inclusivity and global engagement.”
The NECO chief described the new Senior School Certificate Examination centre as a strategic step toward extending NECO’s global footprint, adding that the Council now administers examinations in seven countries, including Saudi Arabia, with new centres awaiting accreditation in Egypt and Burkina Faso.
Wushishi noted that the London centre would empower Nigerians abroad, promote national pride, and strengthen the global recognition of NECO certificates, which are already accepted by several UK universities, including Birmingham City University and Leeds Trinity University, as well as institutions in the United States, Canada, India, China, and Russia.
Alausa said the move aligned with the Federal Ministry of Education’s goal of leveraging the diaspora as a vital educational resource.
The statement added that the Director of BEP Education and NECO’s UK partner, Dr John Ibanga, said the new centre would serve as an alternative pathway for Nigerian students in the UK who face challenges within the British education system, particularly those unable to obtain the General Certificate of Secondary Education.
Ibanga said: “Many Nigerian children encounter barriers in the UK system that limit their progression.
“This new NECO SSCE Centre provides a recognised alternative for both young learners and adults seeking academic or vocational advancement.”
During a courtesy visit to the Nigerian High Commission in London, the statement noted that the Registrar briefed the Mission on the establishment and accreditation of the new centre, stressing that the UK remains a strategic hub for expanding educational access to Nigerians abroad.
Responding, the Head of Political Affairs at the Mission, Ambassador Eche Abu-Obe, praised NECO’s move as a “timely and commendable effort” consistent with Nigeria’s policy on educational inclusivity and diaspora engagement.
Abu-Obe added: “The Mission will collaborate with NECO to advance Nigeria’s educational and developmental objectives in the United Kingdom.”
Former U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris has hinted that she may run for the White House again in the future.
“I am not done,” Harris told the BBC on Saturday, saying she could “possibly” still be president one day, her strongest suggestion yet that she was considering a third bid for the White House.
“I have lived my entire career as a life of service, and it’s in my bones,” she said.
Harris lost the 2024 election to Donald Trump after President Joe Biden’s withdrawal from the race just 107 days before Election Day.
In her memoir about her campaign, titled “107 Days,” Harris had signaled that she would not seek high office in the near future, suggesting that changing the system from within isn’t possible.
“I’ll no longer sit in DC in the grandeur of the ceremonial office.
“I will be with the people, in towns and communities where I can listen to their ideas on how we rebuild trust, empathy, and a government worthy of the ideals of this country,” she wrote.
But Harris told the BBC her young nieces would see a female president “within their lifetime for sure.” Asked if it could be her, she replied, “Possibly.”
Asked about polls that show her as an outsider to win a possible Democratic primary, she replied: “There are all kinds of polls that will tell you a variety of things. I’ve never listened to polls.”
“I certainly wouldn’t be sitting here,” she added.
In the memoir, Harris reflected on Biden’s decision to run for re-election and on his abrupt decision to suspend his campaign and endorse her, calling it “recklessness.”
She wrote that the “stakes were simply too high” to leave it up to Biden to make a “personal decision.”
The book also recounted her decision-making process for choosing a running mate, where she detailed why several prominent Democrats, including Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, Arizona Sen. Mark Kelly and Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, didn’t make the ticket.
The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors has announced plans to begin an indefinite nationwide strike on November 1, after the expiration of the 30-day ultimatum previously given to the Federal Government.
NARD President, Dr. Muhammad Suleiman, disclosed this in an exclusive interview with The PUNCH on Saturday.
Suleiman stated that the association’s National Executive Council reached the decision after reviewing the government’s response to their demands during its virtual emergency meeting.
He noted that the strike notice would be formally issued within 24 hours as mandated by the NEC.
“The NEC of NARD has declared total and indefinite strike action starting November 1st of 2025. As a matter of fact, the NEC said all the 19 points are our minimum demands, and there is no going back. The notice for the strike will be out maybe later today or tomorrow,” Suleiman said.
The looming strike is expected to heavily impact services in hospitals across the country where resident doctors form the backbone of clinical care.
NARD noted that resident doctors and medical officers across the country continued to endure excessive and unregulated work hours, spanning several consecutive days, which endanger both their health and patient safety.
The association also raised concern over the nonpayment of the outstanding 25 per cent and 35 per cent upward review arrears of CONMESS, which should have been settled by the end of August 2025, despite several engagements with the Federal Government.
NARD described as unjust the dismissal of five resident doctors from the Federal Teaching Hospital, Lokoja, saying the action came amid widespread burnout and the ongoing migration of medical professionals abroad.
Other grievances include the non-payment of promotion arrears owed to medical officers in various federal tertiary hospitals and the failure of the government to pay the 2024 accoutrement allowance, despite repeated assurances from the Ministry of Health.
It also cited bureaucratic delays in upgrading resident doctors’ ranks following successful completion of postgraduate medical examinations. The association said these delays have led to non-payment of new salary scales and accumulated arrears.
It further decried the exclusion of resident doctors from the specialist allowance, despite their vital role in delivering specialist-level clinical care to patients nationwide.
Similarly, NARD faulted the exclusion of medical and dental house officers from the civil service scheme, a policy that has denied them rightful emoluments, professional recognition, and timely payment of salaries.
The association also condemned the downgrading of newly employed resident doctors from CONMESS three Step three to CONMESS two Step two, which has resulted in salary shortages and arrears in several federal hospitals.
The Joint Committee of the Senate and House of Representatives on Constitution Review has endorsed the creation of a new state in the South-East, aimed at addressing the long-standing agitation over the region’s perceived political marginalisation.
The resolution was reached during the committee’s two-day retreat held in Lagos from October 24 to 25.
The committee, chaired by the Deputy Senate President, Barau Jibrin and co-chaired by Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, deliberated extensively on the long-standing demand for a sixth state in the region.
The committee also considered a wide-ranging proposal for constitutional amendments, including 55 separate requests for new states across the federation.
Addressing newsmen after the meeting, a member of the committee, Senator Osita Izunaso (APC, Imo West) described the decision as “a right step in the right direction,” noting that it would help address long-standing feelings of marginalisation in the South-East.
“The most important of all the approvals that we have gotten is that we have agreed today to give an additional state to the South-East to balance it six-six states per geo-political zone regardless of the North-West that has seven states.
“We have set up another committee to look at modalities to create more states for areas that need more states. These are the things that we have achieved today. An additional state for South-East is a major achievement of this final retreat of the National Assembly Constitution Review Committee,” he said.
Former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi has described internet fraudsters, commonly known as “Yahoo boys,” as talented individuals who need proper guidance instead of condemnation.
Obi emphasized that these individuals are creatives who lack proper direction, adding that they could contribute to innovation and national development.
Speaking in Onitsha, Anambra State on Saturday, he highlighted that while money is necessary, true wealth is based on integrity, character and purpose.
Obi said wealth should uplift individuals and society by promoting education, reducing poverty and creating opportunities for dignified lives.
“Some of our so-called Yahoo boys are geniuses who need redirection, not condemnation.
“Their creativity and courage, if properly guided, can drive innovation and national development.
“Real wealth uplifts both the individual and society, promotes education, reduces poverty, and creates opportunities for others to live dignified lives,” he said.