…Reaffirms commitment to improved welfare packages for personnel

The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Egbetokun, has extended heartfelt felicitations to the Police Officers’ Wives Association (POWA) on the occasion of its 2025 Annual National Convention, which commenced today, July 30th, in Lagos State.

The three-day event, scheduled to run from July 30th to August 1st, 2025, is themed “Unlocking POWA Potentials and Transformational Leadership.” It promises to be a landmark moment in POWA’s journey, reinforcing its role as a driving force for empowerment, innovation, and national development.

In a statement issued by the Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, the IGP praised the visionary leadership of Dr. (Mrs.) Elizabeth Egbetokun, National President of POWA, for her unwavering commitment to repositioning the Association to meet contemporary challenges and opportunities.

The convention’s opening ceremony, held at the prestigious Eko Hotels and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos, was attended by dignitaries including senior government officials, traditional rulers, the diplomatic corps, development partners, women leaders, and high-ranking police officers.

Key highlights of the 2025 Convention include empowerment programs, sporting activities, and initiatives focused on improving the mental, physical, and economic well-being of POWA members. These events aim to nurture a new generation of empowered women leaders within the police community, fostering stronger families and contributing to national stability.

IGP Egbetokun reiterated the unwavering commitment of the Nigeria Police Force to the welfare of its personnel, both serving and retired. He emphasised that the leadership of the Force remains resolute in implementing comprehensive welfare reforms that reflect the sacrifices and dedication of police officers and their families.

The IGP further encouraged POWA to sustain its momentum and continue fostering strategic partnerships that promote the well-being and resilience of police families across the country.

…. As Marwa meets Alausa for collaboration on the war against substance abuse

Compulsory drug integrity tests for students of tertiary institutions and the review of the current secondary school curriculum to include drug education are part of agreements reached between the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency and the Federal Ministry of Education when the NDLEA Chairman/Chief Executive, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (rtd), led a delegation of his management team to a meeting with the Hon. Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Olatunji Alausa, in Abuja on Wednesday, 30th July 2025.

According to a press release on Wednesday, 30th July 2025, signed by the NDLEA Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, Marwa had, during the meeting, commended the minister for his proactive approach to his job while highlighting the devastating effect of substance abuse on the country’s youthful population. He noted that the fight against illicit drugs is a fight for the souls of the Nigerian youth.

“The purpose of this visit is to seek collaboration with this esteemed ministry in our collective efforts towards drug control in Nigeria. Our focus will basically be on schools and educational institutions. There are millions of our children who are under the supervision of this ministry, and it’s very critical. The drug scourge, as we all know, is very high in Nigeria.

So, we’re actually fighting for the souls of our children. Now, we also know that drug use is exacerbating criminal activities. That is, the Boko Haram, the terrorism, the banditry, and so on.

“We know that without drugs, they wouldn’t be able to do what they are doing, because they wouldn’t do all these criminal activities in their right senses. So, in our own way, we are contributing to the fight against insecurity in the country. Now, through law enforcement action, we have continued to deal mortal blows to the drug cartels. We know that through the seizures, arrests, convictions, and asset forfeitures, we’re doing our best.

“Supported by President Bola Tinubu, within the last two years, we have made arrests of 40,887 criminal elements, gotten 8,682 convicted, and seized 5,507 metric tonnes of illicit drugs. In fact, from January last year to the present, opioids, mostly tramadol, that we have seized are in excess of one billion pills, which are worth more than N1 trillion.”

While stating that the president is also supporting the agency to build seven rehabilitation centres in addition to the existing 30 centres in NDLEA commands nationwide, Marwa noted that President Tinubu has also approved the construction of one model rehab centre in each of the geopolitical zones in the country.

He listed three key areas he wants the Ministry and NDLEA to collaborate on to effectively check the menace of substance abuse among Nigerian youths. According to him, “The first suggestion we have is for a review of the drug education curriculum in secondary schools. Even though we’re told of the existence of this in the past, because of the complexity of drugs, the dynamism of it, and the new psychoactive substances that have come to play, we feel that it is time to consider a review of this drug education curriculum.

“Another area we were thinking of suggesting is to introduce stand-alone drug abuse prevention programmes in schools, secondary schools. Not the curriculum this time, but programmes that stand on their own, lectures, competitions, involving the parents, and so on. And then the third area we were thinking of is to adopt a drug testing policy in tertiary institutions, because we want a policy to keep our campuses clean. Several vice chancellors have come on their own to seek both our guidance and participation in conducting drug tests for their students. So, what we are suggesting now is drug tests for new students, for students returning from vacations, and random tests. This will make the children avoid taking drugs, knowing fully well that if they do and they are found out, there will be consequences. And the consequences do not necessarily mean rustication.”

In his response, the minister commended Marwa for his steadfastness and commitment to the service of Nigeria. “Thank you for your service to Lagos. And beyond that, General Buba Marwa has committed his life to serving this country. Since I met him 30 years ago, he’s still been serving the country. And you could see the passion in the way that he laid out the problems in the country and what he wanted us to do. And as he was talking, I made a note, and it was as if I had seen his prepared comments. Thank you so much for making this visit.”

He noted that the drug scourge is a huge problem that must be tackled head-on.

“When the youths get into drugs, they won’t go to school, and even when they go to school, they are not getting a functional education. And at the end of the day, what happens? Their level of critical thinking is lower. Their ability to make informed decisions in the later part of their life becomes significantly reduced. So, they become unemployable. And what happens? You now have that vicious cycle. They’re not functional. They’re not useful to themselves. All they do is resort to criminality. Once you use drugs, you’re likely to have a dysfunctional family. So, it’s a huge menace that we need to tackle, and tackle very quickly.”

Talking about the areas of collaboration, the minister said, “I would suggest we form a technical working group, an inter-ministerial working group between our ministry and NDLEA.

As a result, I would also like to create a Substance Use Prevention Unit in the ministry
“We’re reviewing the curriculum now for secondary school. And that’s why I’ve asked the director of Senior Secondary School to come and be here, and then we’ll find a way to cascade it down to the primary school. But we need to get both primary school and secondary school and add this to their curriculum. But the one for secondary school, we can do that now. We’re just developing their new curriculum now.

“Also, on the stand-alone school programmes, I agree with you fully. We should also design ongoing programmes in our schools. That we can roll out and cascade down. You also said something very important about the drug test policy in tertiary institutions. We will do it.

We have to do it. We do not have a choice. At least, we’ll start with tertiary institutions, for their fresh and returning students as well as random testing.”

The minister also assured that two agencies under the ministry, UBEC and TETFUND, would partner with the NDLEA Academy in Jos as part of efforts to deepen drug education in basic, secondary, and tertiary institutions across the country.

Following the minister’s directive, the permanent secretary in the ministry, Mr. Abel Oluwamuyiwa Enitan, announced the takeoff of the new Substance Use Prevention Unit while giving the vote of thanks.

The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Egbetokun, on Tuesday received a high-powered delegation from the ECOWAS Network of Electoral Commissions (ECONEC) at the IGP Smart Conference Hall, Force Headquarters, Abuja. The visit marked a strategic follow-up dialogue on the implementation of electoral policies ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 General Elections.

According to a press release signed by the Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, the delegation was led by Mrs. Davidetta Browne Lansanah, Chairperson of the National Elections Commission of Liberia, and included top electoral officials such as Dr. Bossman Asare, Deputy Chairman of the Electoral Commission of Ghana; Mr. Chinedu Chinedu, Senior Programme Officer at ECONEC; and Prof. Bolade Eyinla, Chief Technical Adviser to INEC, alongside other representatives and partners of the network.

In her remarks, Mrs. Lansanah commended the Inspector-General for granting audience to the delegation and acknowledged the pivotal role played by the Nigeria Police Force in safeguarding electoral processes. She emphasised that the visit aimed to engage in constructive dialogue around key issues raised in the 2023 general elections report and to strategise on implementing recommendations in preparation for the 2027 elections.

In response, IGP Egbetokun expressed gratitude to the delegation for the visit and underscored the critical responsibility of the police in ensuring the credibility of Nigeria’s democratic process.

He outlined the three essential phases of police involvement in elections: pre-election activities such as managing campaigns and mitigating conflicts; election day duties including personnel deployment and protection of electoral materials; and post-election responsibilities like maintaining law and order, investigating electoral offences, and prosecuting offenders.

The IGP reiterated the Nigeria Police Force’s unwavering commitment to neutrality, fairness, professionalism, and the protection of democratic values. He also highlighted the importance of sustained collaboration between electoral management bodies and security agencies, noting the positive feedback from international observers regarding the Police Force’s role in recent elections.

The engagement further reinforces the ongoing partnership between security agencies and electoral stakeholders aimed at enhancing the credibility, safety, and integrity of Nigeria’s electoral system.

When President Bola Ahmed Tinubu appointed Kayode Egbetokun as the Inspector-General of Police, many keen observers of Nigeria’s security sector viewed it as a bold and strategic decision.

Months into his tenure, it is becoming increasingly evident that IGP Egbetokun is not just a seasoned officer; he is an administrator with deep institutional knowledge and a clear vision for reforming the Nigeria Police Force.

What sets Egbetokun apart is his nuanced understanding of the internal dynamics of the Force.

Having served in various command and administrative roles, from operations to research and planning, he understands both the frontline and the policy corridors.

He is not merely reacting to challenges; he is proactively reshaping the Force for long-term effectiveness.

From welfare-driven mass promotions to advocacy for exiting the Contributory Pension Scheme in line with the demands of rank-and-file personnel, Egbetokun’s administration reflects emotional intelligence and responsiveness to the needs of his officers.

His reforms have not just boosted morale; they are laying a foundation for a more professional, people-oriented police service.

IGP Egbetokun’s emphasis on training, discipline, intelligence-led policing, and community relations demonstrates a holistic grasp of modern policing. In an era where security is a complex, evolving challenge, Nigeria cannot afford guesswork.

Fortunately, in Egbetokun, the country has a man who knows what the job requires and how to deliver it.

Indeed, Egbetokun knows a great deal about police administration, and he is putting that knowledge to good use.

…Targeting proceeds of crime‘ll serve as punishment and deterrence—Marwa

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) on Tuesday, 29th July 2025, conducted a public auction of forfeited houses, which were either acquired through proceeds of drug trafficking or used as an instrumentality of committing the crime.

According to a press release signed by the NDLEA Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, the exercise, which took place at the Agency’s National Headquarters in Abuja, had pre-qualified auctioneers, bidders, representatives of civil society organisations and the media, as well as other government agencies in attendance.

Speaking at the occasion, Chairman/Chief Executive of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd.), who was represented by the Agency Secretary, Mr. Shadrack Haruna, said the exercise forms part of the Agency’s strategic efforts to dismantle drug trafficking networks by depriving offenders of both liberty and illicit wealth in strict compliance with legal frameworks and due process.

He reaffirmed the Agency’s resolve to pursue drug offenders not only through prosecution but also by targeting all assets acquired through the proceeds of crime. According to him, “this auction is part of our broader commitment to transparency and justice. Beyond prosecuting drug offenders, we are committed to ensuring that the financial incentives that drive these crimes are neutralised through legal forfeiture. This serves as both punishment and deterrence. When drug traffickers know they stand to lose everything, including their ill-got assets, it sends a stronger message than imprisonment alone.”

The auction involved the forfeiture of eight properties across Lagos, Kano, Ondo, and Ogun. Two of the houses located in Lekki and Ikorodu areas of Lagos were stepped down from the process due to notices of appeal received after the processes had begun. Six other properties were auctioned to pre-qualified bidders, with only two sold at over N139 million following successful bids above their reserved prices. Others either failed to receive any bids or attracted offers below the benchmark.

Speaking at the bidding exercise, Umar Yakubu of the Centre for Transparency and Integrity Watch, commended the NDLEA for conducting a process that was open, credible, and compliant with international best practices. He noted that the level of transparency observed was commendable and reflective of a strong institutional culture that prioritizes public accountability. He further encouraged the Agency to amplify such efforts as a public education tool to underscore the consequences of drug crimes.

In his remarks, Director, Proceeds of Crime Management in NDLEA, Jerry Iorwa Aernan noted that participating auctioneers were pre-qualified by the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) and had met the required integrity checks to ensure that disposed assets are not returned to original owners through the back door. He emphasized that successful bidders must pay 10 percent of their bid value within fourteen days to confirm their interest, while the full payment is expected within a stipulated timeframe.