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NDLEA Launches Online Portal for Drug Test, Visa Clearance to Boost Transparency

Shehu Danladi
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NDLEA Launches Online Portal for Drug Test, Visa Clearance to Boost Transparency

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has unveiled a new digital platform designed to simplify and secure its Drug Integrity Test and Visa Clearance Certificate processes across Nigeria.

NDLEA Chairman, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd), launched the portal  Drug Integrity Test and Visa E-Administration System (DITViCAS)  on Tuesday in Abuja, marking what he described as a paradigm shift in the nation’s war against drug abuse and trafficking.

Represented by the agency’s Secretary, Mr. Shadrach Haruna, Marwa said the innovation aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda and underscores NDLEA’s commitment to efficient, transparent, and technology-driven public service delivery.

“For years, obtaining NDLEA visa clearance certificates required physical appearances, lengthy paperwork, and verification delays,” Marwa said. “With this digital platform, those bottlenecks are gone. Applicants can now apply from anywhere, book appointments online, and receive certificates within days.”

According to him, the portal accessible via www.drugandvisa.ndlea.gov.ng automates all drug integrity testing and visa clearance processes, providing real-time verification and eliminating certificate falsification.

The system also allows private medical centres to partner as accredited testing centres, offering applicants greater flexibility in booking appointments and completing tests.

“With the e-certification system, transparency is guaranteed. It ensures integrity in our drug clearance and visa certification process,” Marwa stated.

He explained that the initiative extends to students of tertiary institutions, job applicants, and even prospective couples, enabling voluntary drug integrity tests to promote prevention rather than punishment.

“Our advocacy for the Drug Integrity Test is built on prevention an early-warning system to help individuals seek help before dependence sets in,” he noted. “It’s a compassionate, data-driven approach to protecting families, workplaces, and the nation’s future.”

Marwa emphasised that the NDLEA’s broader strategy is to digitise all its operations, strengthen inter-agency collaboration, and sustain momentum in its flagship War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) campaign.

He urged stakeholders from employers to educational institutions to embrace the new system, stressing that its success depends on collective support.

“With technology as our ally, we are better equipped, stronger, and more determined to win the war against drugs for the sake of our youth and national integrity,” he declared.

Nigeria Ranks 96th as US Drops Out of Top 10 in Global Passport Power Index

Shehu Danladi
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Nigeria Ranks 96th as US Drops Out of Top 10 in Global Passport Power Index

For the first time in two decades, the United States passport has fallen out of the world’s top 10 most powerful passports now ranked 12th according to the Henley Passport Index 2025.

The latest ranking, which measures global travel freedom based on visa-free or visa-on-arrival access, shows Nigeria placed 96th, tied with Ethiopia, Lebanon, and Myanmar, granting access to only 44 destinations.

At the top of the chart, Singapore retained its dominance, offering visa-free access to 193 countries, followed by South Korea (190) and Japan (189).

Analysts attribute the U.S. slide to tightening visa policies in several nations, including Brazil and China, while Asian and Middle Eastern countries continue to expand travel partnerships through strategic diplomacy.

The UK also dropped to 8th place, its lowest since 2015, while China climbed to 64th, reflecting its growing global influence. The United Arab Emirates continued its impressive rise, now among the world’s top 10 most mobile passports.

At the lower end, Afghanistan remains the weakest passport, offering access to just 24 countries, followed by Syria (26) and Iraq (29) underscoring the widening gap in global mobility.

The Henley Passport Index, compiled from exclusive data provided by the International Air Transport Association (IATA), serves as the world’s most authoritative measure of passport strength and international accessibility.

NLC’s Solidarity with ASUU May Derail Education Reforms, Lawmaker Warns

Saladin Babagana
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NLC’s Solidarity with ASUU May Derail Education Reforms, Lawmaker Warns

Deputy Spokesperson of the House of Representatives, Hon. Philip Agbese, has cautioned the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) against joining the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) in its ongoing strike, warning that such action could disrupt the Federal Government’s sweeping education reforms.

Agbese said the reforms, championed by the Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, were beginning to yield tangible results and deserved time to stabilize.

His comment follows a four-week ultimatum by the NLC threatening to mobilize in solidarity with ASUU if the government fails to address unresolved issues in the tertiary education system.

Speaking with journalists after Tuesday’s plenary, Agbese urged restraint and dialogue, stressing that constant industrial actions have repeatedly derailed progress and hurt students.

“In developed countries, when progress begins to show, the people allow time for consolidation before raising new demands. That’s what we need now in our education system,” he said.

The Benue lawmaker commended Dr. Alausa for introducing reforms that promote transparency, accountability, and innovation. He cited key milestones such as the expansion of tertiary admission quotas from 750,000 to one million students and the harmonization of tuition policies under the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND).

He also highlighted initiatives like the Nigeria Education Sector Renewal Initiative (NESRI) Roadmap, the Students Loan Scheme, and the World Bank-supported AGILE project as evidence of ongoing transformation in the sector.

“These initiatives are already yielding visible results, and the least we can do is sustain the momentum rather than disrupt it with another strike,” Agbese emphasized.

The lawmaker appealed to ASUU to abandon its “repetitive strike tactics” that have disrupted the academic calendar and inflicted hardship on students and families, urging the union to embrace dialogue instead.

He reaffirmed the National Assembly’s commitment to mediate between the government and stakeholders, saying, “Our doors remain open. Let’s strengthen the system through cooperation, not cripple it through strikes.”

Tinubu: EFCC Recovered N500bn, Secured 7,000 Convictions in Two Years — No Ally Shielded

Saladin Babagana
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Tinubu: EFCC Recovered N500bn, Secured 7,000 Convictions in Two Years — No Ally Shielded

President Bola Tinubu has said the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) recovered over ₦500 billion and secured more than 7,000 convictions in the past two years under his administration.

Speaking through Vice President Kashim Shettima at the opening of a three-day capacity-building workshop for judges and justices, jointly organised by the EFCC and the National Judicial Institute (NJI) in Abuja, Tinubu attributed the milestone to his administration’s commitment to transparency and non-interference in anti-corruption efforts.

“We have prioritised public accountability by strengthening anti-corruption agencies and granting them full independence to execute their mandates,” he said.

Tinubu explained that recovered proceeds of corruption were being channelled into developmental projects and social investment programmes, including the students’ loan and consumer credit schemes.

He reaffirmed that his administration would not shield any political actor or public official from investigation or prosecution.

“No person or group can accuse this administration of shielding political allies. Both the judiciary and anti-corruption agencies have full autonomy to restore sanity and uphold justice,” Tinubu said.

He urged the judiciary to uphold integrity and patriotism in the discharge of its duties, stressing that corruption affects all Nigerians regardless of status.

“There are no special roads or hospitals for judges. We all suffer the same consequences of corruption. That is why the fight against it must be collective,” he added.

Tinubu called for closer collaboration among the executive, legislature, and judiciary to strengthen the anti-corruption drive, insisting that Nigeria’s progress depends on justice and transparency.

“A Nigeria free of corruption is possible if we all commit to doing what is right and ensure offenders are held accountable,” he said.

Reps Move to Shield Dangote Refinery, Strategic Investments from Hostile Union Actions

Saladin Babagana
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Reps Move to Shield Dangote Refinery, Strategic Investments from Hostile Union Actions

The House of Representatives has called on the Federal Government to develop a national policy framework to protect strategic private investments from what it described as “adversarial and unlawful union activities.”

The resolution followed a motion jointly sponsored by Hon. Alhassan Ado Doguwa and Rep. Abdussamad Dasuki at Tuesday’s plenary, in response to the recent industrial dispute between the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) and the Dangote Refinery in Lagos.

Doguwa, who led debate on the motion titled “The Need to Protect Strategic Private Investments from Adversarial Unionism,” lamented that the strike action by PENGASSAN disrupted operations at the $20 billion Dangote Refinery the world’s largest single-train facility leading to an estimated loss of 200,000 barrels of crude oil daily over three days.

He said the disruption worsened fuel scarcity across the country, triggering long queues at filling stations and economic losses.

“The Dangote Refinery is not just another private enterprise; it is a strategic national asset with the capacity to guarantee energy security, reduce import dependency, create jobs, and conserve foreign exchange,” Doguwa said.
“Any disruption of such magnitude has direct implications for the economy and the wellbeing of Nigerians.”

He noted that the refinery, located within the Lekki Free Trade Zone, operates under the Nigeria Export Processing Zones Authority (NEPZA), which, by law, regulates employment within the zone. Section 18(5) of the NEPZA Act stipulates that employment in the Free Zone is governed by rules made by the Authority and not by general labour laws.

Doguwa argued that any union action outside this framework violates the law and could discourage foreign and local investors.

Supporting the motion, Rep. Dasuki warned that recurring disruptions at key industrial facilities could erode investor confidence and undermine Nigeria’s economic diversification agenda.

Following deliberations, the House resolved to:

  1. Urge the Ministries of Labour and Employment; Industry, Trade and Investment; and Justice to develop and implement a policy framework to safeguard strategic investments from unlawful union activities.
  2. Direct the Ministry of Justice and NEPZA to enforce full compliance with Section 18(5) of the NEPZA Act.
  3. Mandate the Committees on Labour, Industry, and Justice to engage stakeholders to design a balanced framework that protects workers’ rights while preserving key investments.
  4. Require the Committees on Labour, Industry, and Legislative Compliance to report back within four weeks.

Lawmakers across party lines warned that unchecked industrial actions targeting national assets like the Dangote Refinery could cripple the economy and urged unions to prioritize dialogue over disruption.

Naira Wobbles as Dollar Nears ₦1,500 in Parallel Market

Mosali Edunosa
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Naira Wobbles as Dollar Nears ₦1,500 in Parallel Market

Nigeria’s currency traded mixed on Tuesday, with the naira hovering around ₦1,470 per US dollar at the official market while the parallel market in Lagos saw the greenback selling for as high as ₦1,495.

Data from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Nigerian Foreign Exchange Market (NFEM) showed that the mid-market rate remained between ₦1,468 and ₦1,470, reflecting relative stability in the official window despite tight dollar supply.

However, street traders across major cities maintained higher rates as strong demand from importers, travellers, and retail buyers continued to widen the gap between official and black-market prices.

Analysts attribute the persistent spread to limited liquidity in the official market and expectations of future volatility in the naira-dollar exchange rate.

While the currency has recorded slight improvements in recent weeks appreciating marginally from mid-October’s ₦1,475 benchmark businesses and individuals say the parallel market remains the true indicator of market pressure.

For now, the widening gap between the two rates continues to highlight the challenges of ensuring FX stability in Africa’s largest economy.

NLC Gives FG Four Weeks to End ASUU Crisis, Threatens Nationwide Strike

Gladys Phillip
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NLC Gives FG Four Weeks to End ASUU Crisis, Threatens Nationwide Strike

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has issued a four-week ultimatum to the Federal Government to conclude negotiations with the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and other tertiary institution-based unions or face a nationwide strike.

NLC President, Joe Ajaero, disclosed this during an interactive session with labour correspondents after a meeting with leaders of the affected unions at the NLC headquarters in Abuja.

Ajaero condemned the government’s no-work-no-pay policy against ASUU members, describing it as unjust and provocative.

“We have decided to give the Federal Government four weeks to conclude all negotiations in this sector. The problems go beyond ASUU. If after four weeks there is no resolution, the organs of the NEC will meet to declare a nationwide action involving all unions,” he warned.

He added that the NLC would henceforth adopt a “no pay, no work” stance, stressing that workers cannot continue to suffer for the government’s failure to honour agreements.

“The era of signing agreements and threatening unions for demanding implementation has ended,” Ajaero stated.

ASUU had last week announced an indefinite strike after the expiration of a 14-day ultimatum issued to the government on September 28, citing unresolved issues around staff welfare, salary arrears, infrastructure decay, and non-implementation of the 2009 ASUU-FGN agreement.

Despite claims by Education Minister, Prof. Tahir Mamman, that government had released ₦50 billion for earned academic allowances and budgeted ₦150 billion for needs assessment, ASUU rejected the measures as inadequate.

The NLC reaffirmed its solidarity with ASUU and other education unions, warning that the failure to resolve the crisis could trigger a total shutdown of the country’s workforce.

“We will not allow public tertiary education to collapse. The government must respect collective agreements and prioritise the welfare of workers,” Ajaero said.

The emergency session resolved to intensify mobilisation across all labour affiliates ahead of a possible nationwide strike if government fails to act within the four-week window.

Dangote, Modular Refineries Now Strategic National Assets — Reps Committee Declares

Nnenna Nwankwo
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Dangote, Modular Refineries Now Strategic National Assets — Reps Committee Declares

The House of Representatives Committee on Petroleum Resources (Downstream) has declared the Dangote Refinery and other modular refineries across Nigeria as assets of strategic national interest, calling for collective efforts to protect and promote them.

Chairman of the Committee, Hon. Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere, stated this in Abuja, stressing that with the operations of these indigenous plants, Nigeria now boasts expanding refining capacity and industrial growth across the energy value chain.

He highlighted the 650,000 barrels-per-day Dangote Refinery as Africa’s largest, transforming the regional energy landscape, while praising Indorama Petrochemicals’ expansion to 2.8 million metric tonnes of urea annually and Waltersmith Modular Refinery’s ongoing upgrade from 5,000 to 50,000 barrels per day.

“These developments, supported by over $13 billion in new upstream investments in 2024 alone, signal renewed investor confidence in Nigeria’s energy sector,” Ugochinyere said.

The lawmaker commended the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) for enforcing the Domestic Crude Oil Supply Obligation (DCSO), ensuring local refineries have access to crude before exports.

“This bold step moves Nigeria from policy rhetoric to practical support for domestic refining, job creation, and energy independence,” he added.

Ugochinyere revealed that the Committee plans to introduce new legislative measures, including a Refinery Protection and Promotion Bill to classify refineries as strategic national assets. The bill would guarantee local refineries first right of refusal for crude allocations and streamline regulatory bottlenecks.

He also addressed labour disputes involving the Dangote Refinery, urging dialogue over disruption.

“No reform can succeed without industrial harmony. Labour and operators must embrace dialogue in the national interest. The House Committee stands ready to ensure peace, fairness, and mutual respect in all engagements,” he said.

Ugochinyere reaffirmed that the Committee’s ultimate goal is to protect jobs, sustain businesses, and strengthen Nigeria’s energy sovereignty through a stable, investor-friendly downstream sector.

Supreme Court Reserves Judgment in PDP Governors’ Suit Against Tinubu Over Rivers Emergency Rule

Roland Edet
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Supreme Court Reserves Judgment in PDP Governors’ Suit Against Tinubu Over Rivers Emergency Rule

The Supreme Court on Tuesday reserved judgment in a suit filed by some Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governors challenging President Bola Tinubu’s declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State.

A seven-member panel of justices, led by Justice Inyang Okoro, announced the decision after parties adopted their written addresses.

The plaintiffs, represented by the Attorneys-General of 20 states, are suing the Federal Government and the National Assembly. However, the Delta State Government the 5th plaintiff withdrew from the suit without objection from the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), Lateef Fagbemi, SAN.

Arguing for the plaintiffs, Eyitayo Jegede, SAN, clarified that their contention was not about the President’s constitutional power to proclaim an emergency but the extent to which such a proclamation could affect the offices of the Governor, Deputy Governor, and State House of Assembly.

In his defence, Fagbemi maintained that Rivers State was in deep political crisis, warranting urgent presidential intervention. He said the suspension of the Governor, his deputy, and the Assembly was a temporary, extraordinary measure to restore order.

“The President had a constitutional duty to act swiftly. The plaintiffs have failed to prove otherwise,” Fagbemi submitted, urging the court to dismiss the case.

Counsel to the National Assembly, Charles Yohila, aligned with the AGF’s position and also called for the dismissal of the suit.

After hearing both sides, the apex court reserved judgment to a date that will be communicated to the parties.

CAN Slams Presidency Over Misleading Statement, Reaffirms ‘Christian Genocide’ in Nigeria

Toyin Adebayo
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CAN Slams Presidency Over Misleading Statement, Reaffirms ‘Christian Genocide’ in Nigeria

The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has faulted a statement credited to the Presidency which, it said, misrepresented its stance on the killings of Christians across the country, reaffirming that the violence amounts to a “Christian genocide” that has persisted for years without justice.

In a statement on Tuesday signed by its President, Archbishop Daniel Okoh, CAN said it became necessary to issue a clarification following “misleading reports” that trailed the courtesy visit of Barrister Daniel Bwala, Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Media and Policy Communication, to the CAN Secretariat at the National Christian Centre, Abuja, on Monday, October 20, 2025.

According to CAN, Bwala’s visit was to seek understanding of the Christian body’s position in the wake of global reactions to U.S. Senator Ted Cruz’s comment describing the sustained attacks on Christians in Nigeria as a Christian genocide.

“During the meeting, Barrister Bwala acknowledged that both Christians and Muslims have suffered from insecurity, noting that the current administration inherited the challenge and is working to address it,” the statement explained.

However, CAN expressed shock at a press release reportedly issued after the visit, titled ‘Presidency Debunks Western Christian Genocide Narrative in Dialogue with CAN Leadership’.

“That portrayal is completely false and grossly unfair,” Archbishop Okoh declared. “The meeting was recorded by CAN’s media team, and at no point did I or any member of the leadership describe the killings as a ‘so-called Christian genocide.’ Referring to the tragedy in such terms trivialises the pain of countless Christians who have lost loved ones, homes, and places of worship in targeted attacks.”

Reaffirming its long-standing position, CAN maintained that the killings are targeted and systematic.

“Across parts of Northern Nigeria and the Middle Belt, Christian communities have suffered repeated, organised, and brutal attacks which have left thousands dead, villages razed, and families displaced,” Okoh said. “These are not random crimes but a continuing pattern of violence that has gone on for years without justice or closure.”

The statement added that Bishop Mike Akpami, CAN’s Director of Planning, Research and Strategy, presented verified data from www.orfa.africa, detailing consistent and targeted assaults on Christians across Africa, including Nigeria.

CAN also clarified inaccuracies in some reports, stating that Rev. Dr. Uzoaku Williams and Dr. Celestine Aharanwa were not at the meeting.
Those in attendance included Archbishop Daniel Okoh (President), Rev. (Dr.) Stephen Panya Baba (Vice President), Apostle (Prof.) Samson Fatokun (General Secretary), Dean Rev. Emmanuel Nicodemus Ozumba (Director of Education, Women & Youth), Dame Comfort Otera Chigbue (Director of Legal & Public Affairs), Bishop Mike Akpami (Director of Planning, Research & Strategy), Prophet Commodore Abimbola Ayuba (Director of National Issues & Social Welfare), Rev. Dr. Simon Dolly (Secretary, North Central Zone), and Dr. Victor Ivoke (Senior Special Assistant to the CAN President).

CAN further called on the Federal Government and security agencies to act with urgency, fairness, and transparency to halt the killings and bring perpetrators to justice.

“We urge media professionals and government officials to speak with truth, empathy, and responsibility,” the statement concluded. “Careless words can deepen wounds and undermine peace.”

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