General News
How MTN, NDLEA and UNODC Are Arming Nigeria’s Youth Against Drug Abuse

The grand finale of the 2025 MTN Anti-Substance Abuse Programme (ASAP) National Quiz Competition was more than a celebration of youthful intellect; it was a stark reminder of a pervasive national emergency that threatens Nigeria’s social fabric, economic productivity, and future generations.

MTN, NDLEA and UNODC
By engaging secondary school students from nine regions in a rigorous examination of drug risks, from cannabis, tramadol, cocaine, methamphetamine, etc., the event showcased that substance abuse is not a localised malaise but a systemic threat demanding federal-level intervention.
With prevalence rates tripling global averages and youth at the epicenter, this crisis is profoundly relevant to every Nigerian, amplifying the imperative for evidence-based prevention like the MTN ASAP initiative.
What elevates substance abuse to a national issue is its scale, ubiquity, and cascading impacts, as evidenced by data from the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and the World Health Organization (WHO).
According to the NDLEA’s 2018 National Drug Use Survey, conducted in partnership with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), approximately 14.3 million Nigerians aged 15 to 64, or 14.4% of that demographic, engaged in drug use within the past year. This figure dwarfs the global average of 5.6%, positioning Nigeria among the world’s hotspots for psychoactive substance consumption.
Cannabis remains the most abused illicit drug, with over 11 million users nationwide, but emerging trends reveal a shift toward synthetic opioids like tramadol and codeine-containing syrups, often peddled in schools and communities.
The NDLEA’s enforcement data further illustrates the crisis: between 2010 and 2019, the agency seized over 56,000 kilograms of drugs, arrested more than 85,000 individuals for related offenses, and secured over 16,000 convictions, yet these interventions barely dent the proliferation, with only a 20% prosecution success rate in recent years.
This national scope renders initiatives like the MTN ASAP Quiz profoundly relevant, aligning seamlessly with Federal Government strategies to prioritise prevention over punishment. The FG’s cornerstone framework, the National Drug Control Master Plan (NDCMP) 2021-2025, emphasises evidence-based education, community sensitisation, and youth empowerment to invest in prevention and break the cycle of organised crime, a theme echoed verbatim in the 2025 quiz.
In this context, the quiz’s triumph crowning Government Day Secondary School, Borno, as champions amid applause from NDLEA’s Assistant Commander General of Narcotics Mr. Bashir Muhammad and UNODC’s Project Lead Dr. Akanidomo Ibanga transcends competition. It embodies the FG’s vision of arming youth with “knowledge that no drug peddler can defeat,” as Muhammad aptly stated. As Honourable Chief Ezechukwu Obonna, Imo State’s Special Adviser on Narcotics, reinforced from an active operation: “Prevention is far more effective than reaction.
“Today, you students have shown that investing in your knowledge yields immediate and lasting dividends.” In Dr. Ibanga’s closing charge to finalists, he said, “Return to your schools and communities as ambassadors,” this mirrors WHO recommendations for peer education to curb the 20-40% youth prevalence.
Ultimately, substance abuse’s national footprint, evident in NDLEA’s seizure metrics, WHO’s youth vulnerability data, and FG’s NDCMP blueprint, affirms the quiz’s relevance as a scalable model. As the event concluded with prizes in hand and resolve in hearts, the message rang clear: prevention isn’t optional, it’s the frontline defense in a war we cannot afford to lose.
General News
NRS Extends Saturday Tax Office Operations Nationwide Ahead of Rev360 Rollout

The Nigeria Revenue Service (NRS) has announced the extension of weekend tax office operations across the country as part of preparations for the rollout of the Rev360 Phase I Tax Administration System.

In a public notice issued in Abuja on May 7, the Service stated that all Emerging, Medium, Large, and Government Business Offices nationwide will now open on Saturdays from May 8 to June 27, 2026.
According to the notice, the offices will operate between 10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m.
The NRS explained that the initiative is aimed at providing additional taxpayer support and improving service delivery during the implementation of the new tax administration platform for Medium and Emerging Taxpayer segments.
The Service noted that the extended Saturday operations are designed to assist taxpayers requiring guidance with the new system, facilitate seamless compliance during the June peak Companies Income Tax filing period, and improve access to tax services outside regular weekday hours.
It encouraged taxpayers to take advantage of the initiative to resolve tax-related matters, seek necessary guidance, and ensure timely compliance with their tax obligations.
“The NRS remains dedicated to delivering efficient, transparent, and taxpayer-focused services,” the statement read.
The notice was signed by Zacch Adedeji, PhD, Executive Chairman of the Nigeria Revenue Service. “You say Transformation, We say Rev360.”
General News
NCS, Gowon University Partner on Research, Development

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) and the Yakubu Gowon University have moved to formalise a strategic alliance aimed at advancing national security research, border management studies, and student welfare.

Comptroller General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, made this known during a visit by the University’s Vice Chancellor Professor Hakeem Fawehinmi, to the headquarters of the agency yesterday in Abuja.
Adeniyi noted that the collaboration marks a significant step in bridging the gap between paramilitary operations and academic research. “I have a long institutional history with this university,” CGC Adeniyi remarked.
He noting that previous attempts to sign a formal Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) were interrupted by leadership transitions and that the Service is now committed to a phased implementation of support, focusing on projects with the highest impact on the learning environment.
Adeniyi said “For us, beyond legacy, what matters most is impact. We understand the realities facing Nigerian universities, from transportation challenges to infrastructure gaps.
“Our interest is to support initiatives that will create a conducive learning environment and positively impact students.”
He also stressed the importance of the university in relation to its status of the nation’s capital u University. He pledged to support the institution in meeting the demands of its 40,000-strong student population.
Responding, Professor Fawehinmi highlighted the university’s Centre for Defence and Migration Studies as a critical hub for the partnership.
He suggested that the centre could provide the NCS with specialised research into national security and executive training for officers.
“Support in areas such as mass transit buses, ICT infrastructure, research facilities, and professional collaboration will significantly strengthen our capacity,” the Vice Chancellor noted, adding that as the only conventional public university in the Federal Capital Territory, the institution carries enormous responsibilities.
General News
CRMI Warns of Risks, Sees Gains in UAE Exit from OPEC

Chartered Risk Management Institute of Nigeria (CRMI) has highlighted potential benefits for Nigeria such as increased production flexibility, expanded market share, and improved revenue prospects following the United Arab Emirates’ decision to exit the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC).

However, the Institute cautioned that these opportunities come with significant risks, including exposure to price volatility, reduced protection from coordinated supply management, intensified competition, and mounting fiscal pressures.
In a statement signed by Victor Olannye, registrar/chief executive officer, described the development as a major shift in global oil governance, with far-reaching implications for market stability and international energy dynamics.
Olannye noted that the move could trigger increased oil price volatility, heightened geopolitical tensions, and disruptions across global energy supply chains.
He urged corporate organisations, public institutions, financial bodies, and risk professionals to reassess their risk frameworks and strengthen resilience in response to evolving global realities.
He identified key risks to include a potential weakening of OPEC cohesion, oil price instability, geopolitical uncertainty, supply chain disruptions, macroeconomic volatility, and the possibility of further exits by member states.
In line with its mandate to promote sound risk management and support national development, the Institute advised corporate organisations to implement robust risk management frameworks, adopt dynamic hedging strategies, and diversify their business portfolios.
Financial institutions and investors were also urged to reassess energy-related risks, strengthen portfolio diversification, and enhance risk disclosure practices.
CRMI further called on government and policymakers to reinforce fiscal buffers, accelerate economic diversification, and promote the transition to renewable energy.
Individual risk professionals were encouraged to upskill in geopolitical risk analysis and energy economics while developing expertise in scenario planning and predictive analytics.
The Institute emphasised the need for stakeholders to reposition proactively to navigate the evolving geo-economic landscape. It also projected possible scenarios, including fragmentation of global oil governance structures, increased reliance on market-driven pricing mechanisms, and an acceleration of global energy transition efforts.
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