General
UK, Nigeria Strengthen Collaboration in War on Drugs
By Adedapo Adesanya
The United Kingdom Home Office International Operations (HOIO) has said its collaboration with Nigeria in the fight against substance abuse and illicit drug trafficking is yielding positive results.
It pointed to the streak of successes being recorded by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in recent times.
The Head of UK Home Office International Operations, Ms Victoria Pullen stated this when she led her colleague, Mr Kristoffer Hawksfield on a courtesy visit to the Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Mr Mohamed Marwa to sign a renewed Memorandum of Understanding between HOIO and NDLEA in Abuja on Monday.
She thanked Mr Marw for “excellent cooperation” between the two countries.
“The issue of drug trafficking is a huge global issue, and like many big challenges such as drug trafficking, it takes a huge global effort to try and counter that. I think it’s evident by some of the recent successes and the volume of some of the illicit commodities that your teams are finding that that cooperation is working exceptionally well currently, and we are currently really enjoying working with your team on those successes.”
According to her, “the willingness of your teams to work with us and do things differently and try things differently, which fortunately is leading to those successes, and we like the way that you’ve worked with the UK and the levels of engagement that we’ve enjoyed with the teams.”
She said the commissioning of the NDLEA Marine Command Headquarters built and donated by the UK government in Lagos last week was a significant marker in the cooperation between the Agency and HOIO.
“We look forward to seeing the results of that level of investment that will bring significant benefits to you in Nigeria by being able to stop those drugs from permeating your society, and also in the global space because the more that we help you to interdict and take out of the system here, the less that’s going into countries around the world and into society.
“Our team has got nothing but very, very positive things to say about the relationship that we have with you and your teams, and we very much look forward to the future and building on those and making them a lot better”, she added.
On his part, Mr Marwa expressed appreciation to the UK government for supporting Nigeria’s efforts to curb the scourge of illicit drug trafficking, especially with the building and donation of a Marine Headquarters facility to the agency last week, and a similar operational facility at the MMIA Command in Ikeja Lagos last year.
“I am most delighted to meet Ms Victoria Pullen in person, as it allows me to express profound gratitude on behalf of myself, the agency and the country for the tremendous assistance, both tangible and intangible, that we have received from the Home Office International Operations (HOIO), in particular, and the British Government in general,” he said.
“Since we kicked off the reform of NDLEA three years ago, we have enjoyed an increasing partnership with the Home Office International Operations. Among our international partners the Home Office International Operations is one of our major partners whose contributions immeasurably enhance the capacity of NDLEA and invariably impact our performance positively”, he added.
He used the opportunity to ask for more support from the UK government.
“We continue to seek more of your assistance in our quest to combat illicit drug trafficking on our shores and also to contribute to our common goal in fighting the activities of transnational criminal organizations.
“The new refreshed MOU, which we are about to sign after the remarks, is a testament to our strong partnership, and we are looking forward to boosting our existing relationship to help us achieve our common and shared responsibility of tackling the drug problem. Now, the NDLEA in the last three years or so has made tremendous impacts, and I must say that instrumental to that is the support from the UK.
“We have made, in three years, over 52,000 arrests. We have made seizures of over 8,000 tons of illicit substances and convictions of over 9,000. That’s a very significant success in court. Given the volume of traffic of travellers between the UK and Nigeria, there is a need for the sharing of intelligence and actionable data further collaboration in that respect will further strengthen our relationship. So, I’m excited that we’re signing a new MoU here today.”
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
The chief executive of Netnaija Media Enterprises, Mr Emmanuel Analike, has been arraigned before a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja by the Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC).
The suspect appeared before Justice Suleiman Liman on Wednesday over allegations bordering on copyright infringement.
He was accused by the NCC of using his online platform to make movies and others not belonging to him available for users to download on the internet.
According to the agency, Mr Analike has infringed copies of audio-visual materials distributed online via his website for online users. Netnaija is an online movie and music download site.
The prosecution counsel, Ms Gladys Isaac-Ojo, who works with the NCC, told the court that the defendant committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 44 (1) (a) of the Copyright Act, 2022.
However, Mr Analike pleaded not guilty to the charges preferred against him, prompting his counsel, Nnemeka Ejiofor, seek his bail.
The lawyer informed the court that the application was filed on Monday and supported by 23 paragraphs of affidavits and a written address.
But the judge refused to give a bench ruling and adjourned the ruling of the bail application to Monday, March 9, 2026, ordering the remand of the Netnaija chief in Kuje Correctional Centre.
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
Entries for the 2026 edition of the world’s largest green business ideas competition, ClimateLaunchpad, have opened.
In 2025, the programme, organised by Climate KIC, received over 2,700 applications from 40 countries. The winning ventures gain prize money, investor connections, and access to a global cleantech network.
This year’s edition is expected to be bigger and better, with climate innovators, green venture builders, and entrepreneurs from around the world given the opportunity to apply.
Since its inception in 2014, the programme has supported nearly 5,000 ideas across 97 countries, and this year, it is expanding its presence in Asia with Singapore hosting both the regional final and global grand final for the first time.
Participants move through several stages, including an initial mini-course to refine the concept, an intensive multi-day Boot Camp led by expert trainers, targeted coaching to perfect value propositions and investor pitches, national and regional finals, and a place at the global grand final, with prizes and access to a global climate network.
“Strengthening ClimateLaunchpad’s presence in Asia marks a profound new chapter for this programme and for the climate innovation movement more broadly. Asia is where so much of the world’s climate and nature future will be shaped, through business leadership, public-private partnerships and long-term strategic thinking,” the chief executive of Climate KIC, Kirsten Dunlop, stated.
“We look forward to supporting this momentum with new business ideas and innovation ecosystem collaborations across more than a dozen countries.
“This expansion opens space for deeper cross-cultural connections and for first-time founders to turn sparks of imagination into solutions that serve both people and planet,” Dunlop added.
Also commenting, the chief executive of Better Earth Ventures, Ms Rebecca Sharpe, said, “We are proud to host ClimateLaunchpad’s regional and global grand final in Singapore and to convene an international group of climate entrepreneurs from more than 50 countries.
“Climate solutions are emerging from every corner of the world, and bringing them together creates the kind of cross-border exchange and collaboration this moment demands. Our focus is to ensure early-stage founders have the structure, ecosystem access and support needed to move from idea to credible impact.”
By Adedapo Adesanya
Nigeria has finally approved the use of an alphanumeric digital postcode system for the country, 17 years after it was first considered.
According to the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Mr Bosun Tijani, the system was okayed at the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting on Wednesday, chaired by President Bola Tinubu, in line with the ministry’s strategic blueprint.
He said working in collaboration with the Nigerian Postal Service (NIPOST), the ministry will introduce a modern, geospatially intelligent addressing system that improves accuracy across the country and enables faster and more reliable mail and parcel processing.
“Beyond strengthening postal operations, the Digital Postcode System will also serve as an important national enabler supporting better national planning, improved emergency response, more efficient logistics and e-commerce, and the delivery of government services.
“As our digital economy continues to grow, foundational systems such as this play an essential role in building the infrastructure required to connect people, businesses, and services more efficiently across the country,” he said.
He noted that the approval represents another step forward in the Mr Tinubu-led administration’s commitment to building the enabling environment to support a modern, inclusive, and globally competitive digital economy.
On her part, Ms Tola Odeyemi, the Post Master General and chief executive officer of NIPOST, said the implementation is a foundational step toward building the digital infrastructure required for a modern economy.
“First conceptualised in 2009, this initiative is finally becoming a reality in 2026 under the leadership of President Bola Tinubu and the Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr Bosun Tijani,” she wrote on X, formerly Twitter.
“A digital postcode system is more than a postal reform. It is critical national infrastructure that enables e-commerce, logistics, emergency services, financial inclusion, security, urban planning, and effective public service delivery,” she added.
By introducing an alphanumeric addressing framework, Nigeria will now be able to identify locations with far greater precision across cities, towns, and rural communities.
“This will significantly improve how goods, services, and digital platforms reach Nigerians everywhere.
“This milestone reflects a shared commitment by the Federal Government to strengthen Nigeria’s digital backbone and unlock new opportunities for innovation, commerce, and national development,” she further stated.
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