Drug war: Marwa, UNODC experts harp on alternative development strategy
Representative of Director-General, Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC), Mr Emmanuel Kwaya (M) with other dignitaries and participants, during the Annual Raw Materials Quiz Competition for Secondary Schools in Nigeria, Abuja on Friday
The Commission of the Economic Community of West African States has suspended the membership of the Republic of Niger until constitutional order is restored in the country.
This was contained in a statement by the regional organisation following the decisions taken at the summit of Heads of State and Government held on Sunday in Abuja.
The statement read, “Until the 64th Ordinary Session held on December 10, 2023, the Conference of Heads of State and
Aformer governor of Anambra State, Dr Chukwuemeka Ezeife, has died at the age of 85. Chief Nwakaire Ezeife, who announced the passage of the elder statesman on behalf of the family yesterday, said he died at the Federal Medical Centre, Abuja, on Thursday,
“On behalf of the Ezeife Dynasty of Igbo-Ukwu, I wish to announce
Government considered the situation in Niger as a coup attempt and continued to consider Mohamed Bazoum as the president of the Republic of Niger.
“Due to this position, Niger was not suspended from ECOWAS’ decisionmaking bodies, and members of the Bazoum government were authorised to represent Niger in ECOWAS’ statutory meetings.
On Sunday, the ECOWAS leaders’ meeting in Abuja asked the military junta in Niger, which came to power via a coup on July 26, to release the deposed president in exchange for the lifting of the sanctions imposed on the country. the promotion to glory of our most distinguished son, Okwadike, Dr Chukwuemeka Ezeife, CON.
“More details about the deceased and the arrangements for his state burial will be announced later,” he said.
Meanwhile, President Bola Tinubu has sympathised with the Ezeife family, the people and government of Anambra State on the passing of Chief
The proposal was, however, rejected by the leader of the junta, Omar Abdourahmane Tchiani, who reiterated that Bazoum would not be released.
After the summit, the bloc presented the proposal to lift the sanctions in exchange for the freedom of the deposed president, while asking the junta to shorten the duration of the transition period it set at three years.
Tchiani agreed to the last request, without however, specifying the new duration.
The sub-regional body also announced that it would retain the sanctions imposed on Niger.
Chukwuemeka Ezeife, a former governor of the state.
This was contained in a statement by the president’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale in Abuja.
Tinubu extolled the towering influence of the former federal permanent secretary in Nigeria’s political landscape, as well as his leadership credentials, describing his passing as a painful loss.
The chairman/chief executive officer of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Brig-Gen Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd) has harped on the imperative of an alternative development strategy to curtail illicit drug production, and trafficking and protect the environment from exploitation by drug cartels.
Marwa stated this while highlighting the need for concerted and collaborative efforts in curbing illicit drug trafficking at an NDLEA Special Purpose Committee meeting on the Alternative Development Project in Nigeria held at the national headquarters of the agency in Abuja.
The same position was canvassed by other experts from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) office in Vienna, Austria and Nigeria, as well as other stakeholders across the country who spoke at the meeting, a statement by NDLEA spokesman, Femi Babafemi has said.
“Without doubt, illicit drug cultivation and production have contributed significantly, not only in threatening the national and global security but also in modifying the natural ecosystem with severe consequences evidenced in environmental degradation, which has impacted negatively on the climate and human health,” Marwa declared.
The NDLEA boss who was represented by his Special Adviser on National Drug Control Master Plan, NDCMP, Otunba Lanre Ipinmisho, identified crop substitution, as well as education as vital tools that the agency will employ towards achieving the objectives of the programme.
Ex-Anambra gov, Ezeife dies at 85, Tinubu mourns