Category Nigeria News

In a raid on a nightclub in the state’s Victoria Island neighborhood, NDLEA agents detained Lagos socialite Mike Eze Nwalie Nwogu, alias Pretty Mike.

Femi Babafemi, a NDLEA spokesman, said more than 100 suspects were detained while the drug party was taking place, in a statement released on Sunday.

During the operation that took place on Sunday, October 26, 2025, Babafemi claimed that cartons of prohibited substances, including loud and laughing gas, were recovered from the location.

According to him, NDLEA agents acting on credible intelligence entered the club on Saturday night at 11 p.m. before swooing into the crowd at 3 a.m. based on accepted operating procedures.

READ MORE: NDLEA detains six suspected marijuana shipments and arrests six suspects.

“Over 100 suspects, including Pretty Mike, the club’s owner, were detained and taken into custody for screening,” according to the statement. At the party and the club’s store, the statement read, “Cartons of illicit substances, including loud and laughing gas, were recovered.”

“The raid was conducted in response to information about the drug dealer. Despite Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), NDLEA operatives who were present at the party between 11 p.m. on Saturday, October 25 and 3 am, however, disrupted the gathering.

A total of 70 parcels of cocaine, which were packed in walls of cocoa butter and body cream containers bound for London, United Kingdom, were discovered at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Ikeja, Lagos, with three suspects detained in a number of follow-up operations across Lagos, according to the anti-narcotics agency.

On Wednesday, October 22nd, a 35-year-old Lesotho national, Lemena Mark, attempted to fly 103.59 grams of methamphetamine to the Philippines from the Akanu Ibiam International Airport (AIIA) Enugu. NDLEA said it thwarted the attempt.

“The cocaine consignments, which weighed 3.60 kilograms, were discovered on October 14th, 2025, during the examination of cargoes transported as personal effects to London, UK on an Air Peace flight.

While investigations lasted for two weeks and led to the arrest of two key suspects in relation to the attempted shipment of the concealed Class A drug to the UK, a cargo agent, Lawal Mustapha Olakunle, was immediately apprehended.

The African bloc of the National Committees of the International Press Institute (IPI) has agreed to host the first meeting in Nigeria.

Mohammed Idris, the minister of information and national orientation, confirmed this at a meeting in Vienna, Austria over the weekend.

He had a conversation with Raheem Adedoyin, a member of the IPI Executive Board representing Nigeria and Africa, and Marton Gergely, the chairman of the IPI Executive Board, Scott Griffen.

The African bloc’s inaugural meeting will be held in Nigeria. We should lead as we always do, Idris said.

A regional network within the International Press Institute named the IPI African Bloc was established to address the needs of Africa’s distinct media and press freedom issues.

Prior to this, the Board had approved the creation of regional blocs of national committees to serve specific regional needs within the global IPI community.

READ ALSO: Federal Varsity Kontagora’s Prof. Haruna Is First VC of Federal Varsity.

The minister noted that Nigeria was able to host the 2018 IPI World Congress and General Assembly in Abuja, noting that the nation was “ready for another world-class hosting.”

Although there is no set release date for the event, Griffen disclosed that Adedoyin and the IPI Nigeria National Committee will work together to finalize the arrangements.

Gergely, the chairman of the IPI Executive Board, described Nigeria as “a leading light in democratic governance with a free press.”

The Nigeria National Committee’s “robust press freedom engagements” across the continent were praised by IPI Executive Director, Griffen.

The Minister brought up the IPI Nigeria National Committee’s long-standing request to the organization to support the Nigerian Institute of Journalism (NIJ) in Ogba, Lagos during the meeting.

He explained to the IPI leadership that the Institute founded the NIJ in 1971 while Alhaji Lateef Jakande served on the institute’s board of directors, and that Aremo Olusegun Osoba, a former governor and IPI leader, is currently chairing its Governing Board.

Another fuel-filled tanker overturned on Saturday morning in Takalafiya, Lapai Local Government Area of Niger State, a few days after a fatal tanker explosion that killed 45 people in Essa community.

A tanker traveling from Lagos to Kano lost control and flipped during the incident, which took place around 8 a.m.

A potential fire outbreak was avoided by the Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University (IBBU) Fire Service and NSCDC staff’s swift response.

According to eyewitnesses, NUPENG members from the Lapai Chapter of the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) also showed up at the scene to assist with rescue efforts and ensure safety compliance.

To prevent wastage and lessen environmental risks, some of the spilled fuel was carefully recovered and stored in containers. No injuries were reported, and traffic flow resumed shortly after the scene was cleared.

Niger State Tanker Explosion Death Toll Hits 45

The national emergency management agency (NEMA) notes that Lapai’s swift containment contrasts starkly with the October 21 explosion at the Essa community along the Bida–Badeggi–Agaie Road in Katcha Local Government Area, which resulted in the deaths of 45 people and the severe burns of 63 others.

Hussaini Isah, NEMA’s head of operations in Minna, claimed that residents rushed to scoop fuel from a crashed tanker on a dangerous stretch of highway. 12 men, 27 women, and 6 children were among the victims.

Governor Umaru Bago has since approved providing all victims with free and comprehensive medical care, while Mohammed Idris, the minister of information, has expressed the condolences to the people of Niger State.

Despite challenging terrain and weak communication networks, emergency personnel from NEMA, NSEMA, NSCDC, FRSC, Police, DSS, and local volunteers were dispatched to the Essa scene.

Professor Farouk Haruna has been appointed as the Federal University of Education, Kontagora in Nigeria,’s first substantive vice Chancellor.

Following the fifth meeting of the Council in Kontagora, Professor Francis Faduyile, the pro-Chancellor and Governing Council chairman, made the announcement.

Faduyile informed journalists that Professor Haruna was chosen after a rigorous selection process that involved six candidates shortlisted.

He claimed that the new vice Chancellor, who previously held the positions of acting vice Chancellor, provost, and chairman of the committee of provosts, brings a wealth of experience.

He anticipates that the new Vice Chancellor’s inauguration will take place on November 4, 2025.

Also read: Prof. Mohammed Othman’s appointment as FUDMA Vice Chancellor

The Pro-Chancellor assured Kontagora’s staff, students, and parents that the campus is still safe for both learning and living on the security front.

“I’ve visited Kontagora a lot,” I said. People live and work there without fear because it is peaceful. According to Faduyile, the university environment is conducive and safe for students.

He referred to the university as one of the nation’s fastest-growing teacher education centers, which offers a sizable number of Ph. holders of degrees and cutting-edge facilities of education.

The school, which was formerly a College of Education, was upgraded to a Federal University of Education in 2021 and began accepting students in March 2025.

The Federal University of Education, Kontagora now has its first substantive leadership position to help the school achieve academic excellence with this appointment.

In the meantime, Niger State Governor Umaru Bago praised Haruna for taking the vacancy of the Federal University of Education Kontagora (FUEK) as the substantive Vice-Chancellor (VC) for the next few months.

The governor described the newly appointed Professor Haruna as a seasoned scholar in a message sent through his chief press secretary, Bologi Ibrahim, adding that his appointment is appropriate and deserving.

He claimed Haruna possesses the qualities of an innovative and transformative leader.

The newly appointed VC will take the institution to a remarkable height, the governor predicted.

Governor Bago praised the appointment of the new vice chancellor and pledged to support his success.