Rick Swart, the new consular representative for the 17 southern states, will be arriving in Lagos, according to the U.S. Mission.
Swart arrived on Wednesday, according to a statement from the US Mission Nigeria on Friday.
Swart is in charge of overseeing and leading U.S. government initiatives that advance regional priorities, deepen trade and investment ties, and strengthen people-to-people connections.
Consul General Swart said, “It is an honor to serve in Nigeria.” I’m looking forward to getting to know the people in the area, meet the people, and experience the culture while advancing our two countries’ shared goals of safer, stronger, and prosperous.
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JoEllen Gorg, who has been in charge of the Consulate General for the past seven months, is taking over. Will Stevens, the immediate-adjacent consular general, completed his tour of duty in November 2024.
Swart has worked in a variety of diplomatic capacities, most recently as the U.S. Embassy in Chad, as a career member of the Senior Foreign Service.
His diplomatic responsibilities include those of the United States Mission to the United Nations in Geneva, Assistant Consul General in Baghdad, Iraq, and Chargé d’Affaires, a.i. in the Republics of Chad, Congo, and Burundi. Other assignments include domestic assignments in Washington, D.C., where several cross-saharan Africa issues are at the forefront, as well as overseas trips to London, Manila, and Dubai.
He worked in the private sector on architectural and design projects in Asia and Africa before joining the State Department in 2002. In Mali, he also served as a volunteer for the Peace Corps.
Swart thanked JoEllen for her outstanding leadership and work in promoting our close partnership with the Nigerian people in the area during his announcement.
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) seized 16 containers filled with illegal drugs worth a staggering $20.5 billion in what officials claim is one of the largest pharmaceutical interceptions in recent years.
The Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adeniyi, who led journalists through the inspection of the intercepted items during a press briefing at the Customs Area 2 Command Headquarters, announced the seizure Friday at the Onne Port in Rivers State.
In an effort to avoid being discovered, Adeniyi claimed that the containers, 11 of which contained dangerous and unregistered drugs, were hidden beneath layers of legitimate consumer goods like tomato paste, ceiling fans, plumbing materials, and even car parts. Over 1.3 million bottles of Codeine syrup, 12.6 million tablets of Tapentadol/Tramadol, and a number of other unregulated prescription drugs with high abuse potential were included in the illegal contents.
Adeniyi said, “This is a calculated attempt to exploit Nigeria’s trade channels and flood the market with potentially dangerous substances,” citing the potential catastrophic harm to public health.
Intelligence-Led Interception
According to him, the Customs’ intensified intelligence-led enforcement efforts were the result of close cooperation with other national regulatory bodies, including the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), and the Office of the National Security Advisor.
The organization conducted what it called targeted interdictions at high-risk corridors and port entrances, efforts that culminated in the intercept of these 16 containers, which were supported by the Nigeria Customs Service Act 2023.
Parmi the seized drugs on file were: 1, 301, 000 bottles of Codeine Syrup (100ml), 9.3 million bottles of Really Extra Diclofenac, 12.6 million bottles of Trodol (225mg), 210, 000 bottles of Hyergra (200mg), 717, 360 bottles of Bisoveu, and 2.2 million bottles of Bassuka (50mg), respectively.
Adeniyi compared the drugs to “moles that were hidden beneath things like 118 ceiling fans, 97, 200 tomato paste cans, 2, 610 plumbing fixtures, and even 2, 268 Smart Tech vehicle parts.” This level of concealment demonstrates how sophisticated smuggling syndicates are getting.
Threat to national security and public health
The Customs boss warned that the unregulated distribution of these drugs could lead to an increase in drug addiction, worsen Nigeria’s public health crisis, and bolster criminal networks that thrive on the illegal drug trade.
“Unregulated drugs compromise treatment outcomes and lead to public safety being destroyed. This poses a threat to national security beyond just a health issue.
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NAFDAC Applauds Customs’ Vigilance
Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, the NAFDAC Director-General, praised the Customs for their accomplishments at the event. She referred to the seizure as a “critical line of defense” against the entry of dangerous goods into homes and pharmacies in Nigeria.
They must maintain vigilance on the frontline of import control. If allowed in, these products could have caused astronomical harm to our communities,” she claimed.
Adeyeye promised that NAFDAC would carry out thorough laboratory analyses of the seized pharmaceuticals and adhere to stringent regulatory standards for distribution, inspection, and certification.
A Consensus for Smugglers
The Customs Comptroller-General’s stern warning to smuggling networks operating within and around Nigeria’s borders came to an end.
Let’s make it known that criminal activity cannot enter Nigeria’s borders. We will use the full force of the law to prosecute violators.
Ola Olukoyede, the EFCC’s executive chairman, has urged key players in the anti-graft fight to join forces with the Commission to combat the threat of naira abuse in the nation.
He made an appeal on Friday during a meeting with important stakeholders, including , music producers, musicians, non-governmental organizations, media, bureau de change operators, legal practitioners, security agencies, and others.
He claimed that the EFCC’s Lagos Zonal Directorate 1’s program was a result of the nation’s growing trend of Naira mutilation and abuse.
The Naira, according to the EFCC boss, serves as a powerful symbol of national pride and sovereignty. It is also a means of exchange.
He continued, “The Naira is a symbol of our sovereignty,” underscoring that Nigeria’s economic stability and national image are directly affected by its value and integrity. How we handle it determines how much of our people we respect.
He also criticized the widespread use of stamping, mutilation, and spraying as a form of social behavior.
“Over the past year, the EFCC and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) have increased enforcement and public awareness campaigns to combat Naira abuse. He cited the establishment of a Task Force on Dollarization and Naira Abuse, as well as the prosecution of offenders, including prominent public figures and celebrities.
Olukoyede also refuted the widespread notion that “cultural practice” is to spray Naira, particularly at social events.
He claims that it is impossible for me to throw my hard-earned money into the air because I work for a living. He said that ignorance of the law is a crime, and that it is not an offense.
Naira abuse is a criminal offence under the CBN Act and the Foreign Exchange (Monitoring and Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, which expends substantial resources replacing defaced or mutilated notes.
Therefore, he urged entertainers, influencers, and stakeholders in the creative industry to make use of their platforms to promote the proper handling of the Naira, stating that “let one of your opening lines serve as a reminder to your fans that spraying or stamping on the Naira is a crime.” We must stand up and defend our currency’s integrity.
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The Bola Tinubu administration’s policy of implementing strategic enforcement, responsible asset recovery, and public enlightenment was also reaffirmed by the anti-graft Czar at the same time.
Further, he further explained that flagship social investment initiatives like the National Education Loan Fund (NELFund) and the Consumer Credit Scheme (Credicorp) already have committed the sum of N100BN in recovered proceeds from crime.
He cited instances of recovered assets being used to finance development projects like the NDDC’s Bayelsa skill acquisition center and liaison office and the transformation of a seized property into the Kachia Federal University of Applied Sciences.
Lanre Issa-Onilu, director general of the National Orientation Agency, praised the creative sector for its significant contributions to national development.
He also urged industry stakeholders to acknowledge and take pride in their significant influence on the nation’s values and image.
He asserted that the abuse of the Naira is unethical and not just unlawful. We as citizens must demonstrate civic responsibility and cohesion. Our choices must be in line with the National Values Charter. We must use values as our guide in everything we do.
Issa-Onilu claimed that the NOA’s intervention is in line with both the National Values Charter and the Nigerian Identity Project’s (NIP) and its main objective of upholding civic responsibility, patriotism, and respect for national symbols.
The Naira is not confetti, they say. It serves no purpose other than to add prestige. Respect is a requirement for this valuable national asset. Issa-Onilu remarked, “You honor Nigeria when you honor the Naira.”
He stated that the NOA is committed to a national campaign to change attitudes.
According to him, “ongoing efforts include multilingual media sensitization, school outreach, market advocacy, and the deployment of the agency’s AI-powered voice/chat assistant CLHEEAN, which provides real-time civic information on crime, abuse, health, and patriotism via www. noa. gov. ng”.
The DG stressed that “this campaign must be national in scope but local in execution. Calls on traditional leaders, religious institutions, influencers, market unions, and especially the youth to become champions of national values. Everyone has a part to play in restoring the Naira’s dignity. Let’s rekindle the trend of respect for our currency.
The Commission’s wider campaign to uphold Nigeria’s economic values and the dignity of the Naira was reflected in the sensitization program, which brought together key players from the entertainment, financial, and regulatory sectors.
Nine farmers were killed on Friday in Zamfara state by a criminal gang, according to a state official and two residents.
According to the sources, motorcycle-riding “bandits” kidnapped 15 farmers outside Jangebe village in Talata Mafara district and rounded up a group of farmers working on their fields.
In spite of poverty and the government’s neglect, armed gangs have spread to Nigeria’s rural hinterlands. They rob, loot, and burn villages, exact taxes, and carry out ransom kidnappings.
According to Talata Mafara district political administrator Yahaya Yari Abubakar, “bandits attacked the farmers and killed nine of them.”
Abubakar, who was present at the nine killed’s funeral, said, “The attackers kidnapped around 15 other farmers, and they are still in contact.”
According to Abu Zaki, a Jangebe resident, the village’s vigilante self-defence group’s leader and his five comprades, along with three residents, were among the victims.
Bello Ahmadu, a second resident, said the same number of people are now afraid to visit the farm because they fear being attacked.
More than 300 girls were kidnapped in the village in 2021 as a result of the widespread abduction of the girls.
Following the release of the girls, authorities demanded a ransom.
In an unrest that started as a result of disputes between herders and farmers over land and resources, bandits have established camps in a vast forest that borders Zamfara, Katsina, Kaduna, and Niger states.
The situation has gotten worse and the criminal gangs’ cooperation has gotten worse, with jihadists who are currently waging a separate, 16-year-old-armed insurrection in the northeast.
In order to assist the military in battling the gangs, Zamfara’s state government has recruited vigilantes and anti-jihadist militias.
The African Democratic Congress (ADC), according to Darlington Nwokocha, interim national secretary of the Labour Party (LP), notifying the party that it is unaware of any coalitions involving opposition figures like Peter Obi, Atiku Abubakar, Nasir El-Rufai, and others. The LP has its internal structure and has not yet merged with any alliances.
Nwokocha distanced the party from the ADC-led coalition, which hopes to overthrow the All-Party (APC) in the 2027 general elections.
“Well, I don’t know about that, and I’m not sure if the rings have been opened up to me.”
Already the Labour Party has the tools for internal coalition, according to the article. When asked if the Labour Party was ready to join the coalition, Nwokocha claimed on Channels Television’s Politics Today that the party was becoming “extremely strong.”
Nwokocha noted Peter Obi’s involvement in the coalition activities does not equate to the party joining any alliance, even though the former Anambra governor is still revered as the party’s 2023 presidential flagbearer.
Peter Obi is a person, he says. We respect him because, like everyone else, he carried our flag in 2023.
We respect him in that way. Even if he makes a decision to relocate, it does not indicate that he has joined ADC or something similar. He is a mature person who should be open to discussion; it is possible to cross-pollinate ideas.
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Abure’s Tenure Was Expired
Julius Abure, the party’s national leader, is captured in a photo.
Nwokocha cited a “political accident” as the cause of the formation of the interim leadership in response to the leadership crisis in the Labour Party. He affirmed that Julius Abure’s tenure as National Chairman had come to an end.
Abure was, of course, our nation’s chairman. You should forget everything when your term is up. Additionally, the interim National Working Committee steps in if a political accident turns fatal.
There is no other thing to do after the term has ended, aside from creating an interim committee. The interim national secretary stated that the party cannot operate in a vacuum.
Nwokocha responded when asked if he was concerned that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) still recognized Abure as chairman on its website. “Putting your picture in a location does not make you the owner of the location,” Nwokocha said.
Have they (INEC) permitted him to attend any meetings? He has never been permitted. He has tried every method, but they have never let him attend the meetings.
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On November 26, 2022, Alex Otti addressed the Aba Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines, and Agriculture (ACCIMA).
In response to a question about Alex Otti’s role at Friday’s NEC meeting, he clarified that Otti was a legitimate NEC member in accordance with the party’s constitution.
He is a NEC member, he says. There are irregularities, and constitutions vary. The NEC is the next organ in the Labour Party constitution, followed by the NWC.
It is now the NEC, in place of the Administrative Arm of the National Working Committee. Since the National Working Committee was sacked in total, the NEC is made up of three members from the EUC, three from the NLC, and any elected governor and their deputy.
These are the National Convention’s statutory members. He said that the NEC, to which Otti belongs, is next in the hierarchy of our constitution.
Nwokocha further revealed that INEC had been properly informed of the NEC meeting and that Usman, the party’s former leader, was in an emergency and would return before the weekend was up.
He argued that the court had already decided the issue, adding that the focus should be on resolving it internally.
You can’t resolve a dispute that the Supreme Court has already resolved. The impact is different between political and legal resolution. Going to court to seek legal resolution is a requirement for legal resolution. He claimed that internal political resolution is carried out.
When asked if the Abure-led faction’s comments concerned him, he replied, “No, they are our former members. They have been suspended. We will forgive them for whatever reason, even if they come back and say “we are sorry.” Do they not belong to Nigeria?
Nenadi Usman/LP photo combination
Nwokocha made his remarks shortly after the Labor Party’s National Executive Committee (NEC), which was led by Governor Otti, appointed Senators Darlington Nwokocha as interim national secretaries and Senator Nenadi as interim national chairman.
A temporary working committee will be established to manage party affairs until a new executive is elected at a national convention.
The schedule for the congresses’ ward, local government, state, and zonal meetings, which culminated in the national convention, was also approved.
On the same show, Kennedy Ahanotu, the Labour Party’s National Youth Leader, criticized the appointments, calling them “unconstitutional” and “illegal.”
He cited the Electoral Act and the constitution of the Labour Party to insist that Abure continue to be the party’s leader.
Since the 2023 general elections, the Labour Party has been at odds with its leadership.
The death of Mr. Ezekiel Imoleayo Adeniran, the Registrar of the University of Medical Sciences, Ondo (UNIMED), has been confirmed by the Ondo State Police Command.
Olusola Ayanlade, the command’s public relations officer, confirmed the incident in a phone call with Channels Television.
The university registrar died early on Thursday, July 17, according to Ayanlade, adding that Fanibi, Akure Division, of the Command, was the site of the incident.
He said, “I can confirm the death of the man.” Two men forced a substance into another person’s mouth using the information I have at my disposal. An autopsy will do that, but I can’t confirm to you that the substance was poisonous.
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According to Ayanlade, the investigation has been thorough and has been moved to the State Criminal Investigative Department. He urged people to share relevant information with the police about the criminals responsible for the wicked act.
Isaac Oluyi, the university’s public relations officer, has also confirmed Adeniran’s death.
He described the incident as shocking, saying that it had sparked a nationwide mourning flurry among the University students.
Oluyi stated that the late registrar had been working at his place of worship on July 14, 2025, and that the cause of his death was still unknown.
