Another suspect, Ademola Oyelakin, was also arrested same day with 770kg of the same psychoactive substance along Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.

A total of 11,786 pills of tramadol, molly, rohypnol and diazepam as well as 64 bottles of codeine syrup were recovered from the underground storage a suspect, Muhammad Warnos Abdullahi, dug in his bedroom at Marwa Coastal road, Lekki Phase 1 Lagos when NDLEA officers raided his home on Friday on October 25.

The suspect dug the illicit drug storage deep in his room, covered it with padlocked iron slate, a rug and then put his mattress on top to avoid detection.

In Plateau, a suspect Fadan Bindom, 39, was arrested at Pilgani Village in possession of 65.85kg cannabis and 18 grams of tramadol, while another suspect Sunday Agbata, 42, was nabbed at Pavwei – Rayfield Jos South local government area with 5,830 tablets and ampoules of bromazepam, diazepam and pentazocine injection on Wednesday, October 23.

A major distributor of illicit drugs in the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Abuja, Umar Muhammed, 40, was on Monday, October 21, nabbed following the earlier seizure of a consignment of 198.5kg cannabis linked to him at Wuse market park.

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In Edo State, NDLEA operatives recovered 640kg cannabis concealed in 80 jumbo bags of fresh vegetables at Ewu Junction, Irrua, Esan Central local government area and arrested a suspect, Austin Oruamen, 27, while  another suspect Adereti Kazeem, 35, was nabbed with 200 blocks of cannabis weighing 133kg at Obalayan, Ile-Ife, Osun State on Thursday, October 24.

With the same vigour, commands and formations of the agency across the country continued their War Against Drug Abuse, WADA, sensitization activities to schools, worship centres, work places and communities among others in the past week.

These include WADA sensitisation lecture to students and staff of Government Girls Secondary School, Tambuwal, Sokoto;  St. Mary College, Awka, Anambra state; Prime Rose Model Private College, Saki, Oyo state; Community Model Arabic College, Malumfashi, Katsina state; Community Junior Secondary School, Rumuomasi, Rivers state; and WADA advocacy lecture to Rugar Alhaji Manu Unguwan Sullubawa, Gombi, Adamawa state, among others.

While commending the officers and men of MMIA, Tincan, PHPC, Lagos, FCT, Osun, Plateau and Edo commands of the agency as well as those of DOGI for the arrests and seizures, Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd) stated that their operational successes and those of their compatriots across the country especially their balanced approach to drug supply reduction and drug demand reduction efforts were well appreciated.

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The first disbursement was done in 2023, during which 1,000 entrepreneurs in micro enterprises received N100,000 each, while those in the small scale categories received N350,000 each.

About 2,822 entrepreneurs are expected to benefit from the second phase.

Speaking at the event, which was held at the Obas’ Complex, Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta, Governor Dapo Abiodun noted that his administration’s blueprint specified a social contract with the people of the Gatewey State as encapsulated in the “Building Our Future Together” agenda, stressing that the second phase marked another milestone in his government’s commitment to supporting growth and development of the state’s Medium, Small and Micro scale Enterprises.

Governor Abiodun, who was represented by his Deputy, Engr. (Mrs) Noimot Salako-Oyedele added that these enterprises played a crucial role in promoting entrepreneurship, fostering innovation, and driving inclusive economic growth.

He added that the operational grant disbursement was aimed at supporting businesses within the state, particularly in the face of the harsh economic realities around the world.

He disclosed that beneficiaries were selected through the same strategic, all inclusive and methodical approach, which his administration is known for by carefully identifying genuine enterpreneurs nominated by key stakeholders in the society, such as chairmen of local governments, market men and women associations, Community Development Councils, organised private sector, National Youth Council, Association of People Living with Disabilities amongst others.

While appreciating President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for initiating the scheme, Abiodun reassured that the disbursement would be extended beyond June 2024 when it was initially supposed to end, urging beneficiaries to use the grants wisely and responsibly.

The governor added that the grant was given with the expectation of driving a positive change as well as contributing to the growth and development of our economy.

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Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Oludaisi Elemide noted that to whom much is given, much is expected, and implored beneficiaries not to see the grant as national cake but to use it for the purpose it was meant.

Earlier in his remarks, the chairman of the steering committee for OGCARES who is also Commissioner for Finance, Mr Dapo Okubadejo, said the disbursement, which started in 2022 was to mitigate the effect of Covid-19 pandemic by  providing support for small and medium scale business owners in the state, noting that 2,822 small and micro enterprises would benefit from the second phase.

While imploring them to make judicious use of the money, he said that the grant would also serve as social protection for the poor and vulnerable in the society and support agricultural businesses.

Also speaking, the ALGON chairman in the state, who is also the Chairman of Ijebu Ode Local Government, Hon. Emilola Gazal, appreciated the state government for its commitment and support towards developing the grassroots.

He said the grant was timely, especially at the time that many people were going through a lot of hardship in the country while advising beneficiaries to make good use of the money.

In their separate testimonies, chairman of the Association of all Business Owners of Nigeria, Dr Femi Egbesola and the Iyaloja General of Ogun State, Alhaja Yemisi Abass, represented by the Iyaloja of Obafemi Owode, Chief (Mrs) Ganiyat Oyelakin, commended Prince Abiodun for his developmental strides in the state, especially in empowering small and medium scale business owners, youths, farmers and market men and women.

He said that the OGCARES scheme had turned many beneficiaries to employers of labour.

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