In a major stride toward crushing international drug syndicates, Nigeria’s National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has signed a landmark Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the United Arab Emirates’ National Drug Enforcement Authority (NDEA) to choke off the transnational narcotics trade. In a statement released on Saturday, September 26, the NDLEA Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, disclosed that the pact was finalized on the sidelines of the ongoing 15th United Nations Congress on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice in Abu Dhabi, UAE. Speaking at the signing ceremony, the…
Category: Government
Bauchi, UNFPA Move to Strengthen Sustainable Health Financing
By: Bashir Hassan Abubakar The Bauchi State Government, with support from the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), has inaugurated a State Steering Committee on Actuarial Analysis to develop strategies for making healthcare more affordable, accessible, sustainable and equitable across the state. The committee, comprising representatives of health-related agencies, was inaugurated by the State Commissioner for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Mohammed Sani Dambam. The inauguration followed a three-day capacity-building workshop on health financing and actuarial analysis organised with UNFPA support in collaboration with the Bauchi State Health Contributory Management Agency…
Port Sanitation: NPERA to Enforce New Act via Fines, Prosecution as MACN Complies
The National Port Economic Regulatory Agency (NPERA) is set to strictly enforce its new 2026 regulatory Act using heavy fines and criminal prosecutions to sanitize Nigeria’s maritime sector. Speaking on the development, NPERA Director-General/CEO, Dr. Pius Akutah Ukeyima, MON, emphasized that the agency will no longer tolerate non-compliance, prompting immediate alignment from stakeholders as the Maritime Anti-Corruption Network (MACN) moves to comply with the new directives. Dr. Akutah disclosed this on Tuesday, September 23, 2026, at the NPERA Headquarters in Lagos during a courtesy visit by a delegation from the…
Custody Casualties: NSCDC Investigative Panel Begins Probe into 33 Mysterious Deaths
In the fallout of the shocking and mysterious custodial deaths of 37 suspected illegal miners arrested during an anti-mining sweep in Niger State, a high-powered investigative committee has officially commenced its sitting at the National Headquarters of the NSCDC to unravel the exact circumstances surrounding the tragedy. The panel was activated following a strict, urgent directive from the Commandant General of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Professor Ahmed Abubakar Audi, mni, OFR, who mandated an independent, unhindered process to examine the fatalities and establish the hard facts…
Blue Economy Vanguard: MARCON Honors NPERA’s Dr. Akutah with Lifetime Award; NIMASA, IMION, NPA to Speak
In a landmark recognition of regulatory excellence, the Director-General and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Ports Economic Regulatory Agency (NPERA), Dr. Akutah Pius Ukeyima, MON, is set to be honoured with the prestigious Maritime Correspondents’ Organisation of Nigeria (MARCON) Lifetime Achievement Award. The elite honour recognizes his monumental contributions to Nigeria’s maritime architecture, particularly his pioneering role in shaping port economic regulations and driving structural reforms across the industry. Dr. Akutah’s career highlights a transformative journey spanning the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) to the emergence of NPERA as the…
“Your Body, Your Dignity”: Bauchi Polytechnic Gets GBV Awareness Billboard
By: Bashir Hassan Abubakar The Bauchi State Ministry of Justice and the Abubakar Tatari Ali Polytechnic (ATAPOL) have jointly unveiled a new billboard to intensify awareness on Gender-Based Violence (GBV) within the institution. Erected at a strategic, high-visibility location on campus and boldly inscribed with the message “Say No to GBV: Your Body, Your Dignity, Your Right,” the billboard is designed to constantly engage students and staff. The initiative, supported by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), is part of broader stakeholder efforts to promote prevention and collective action against…
From Doorsteps to Health Facilities: Community Action Against Child Malnutrition
By: Bashir Hassan Abubakar In many communities across Northern Nigeria, traditional and community structures continue to wield considerable influence over household decisions, social behaviour and access to essential services. This makes the community not just a social structure, but a powerful platform for changing attitudes, challenging harmful practices and promoting healthier behaviours. It was against this background that the Bauchi State Government, with funding from the United States Government and technical support from the UNICEF Nigeria Bauchi Field Office, launched an intervention in April 2026 aimed at improving the health…
NPERA, NPA Launch Technical Talks Over Inland Dry Ports Transfer
The Nigerian Ports Economic Regulatory Agency (NPERA) and the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) have initiated high-level technical discussions to transition inland dry port oversight, a strategic realignment aimed at reinforcing Nigeria’s rapidly evolving marine and blue economy framework. The inter-agency session zeroed in on the technical mechanics of the transition, prioritising the clear delineation of regulatory responsibilities to eliminate systemic overlaps and prevent the duplication of regulatory functions. Speaking on the alignment, the Director-General and CEO of NPERA, Dr Akutah Pius, MON, emphasized that the directive from the Minister of…
NPERA Unleashes Strict Transparency, Accountability Upgrades to Purge Port Operations
The Nigerian Ports Economic Regulatory Agency is hardwiring transparency, strict accountability, and hyper-responsible asset management into its operational DNA as it formally takes the steering wheel as the nation’s definitive port economic regulator. The Director-General and Chief Executive Officer of NPERA, Dr. Pius Akutah, MON, disclosed this institutional pivot while hosting a high-powered delegation from the Civil Society Coalition for Transparency and Good Governance (CSCTGG), led by its Executive Director, Comr. Success Uko, at the agency’s Abuja Liaison Office. Dr. Akutah clarified that the Nigerian Shippers’ Council has fully transitioned…
NPERA Plots Youth Job Pipeline, Teams Up with Aromire-Eko Foundation for Grassroots Empowerment
The Nigerian Ports Economic Regulatory Agency is priming its corporate machinery to forge a strategic socio-economic alliance with the Aromire-Eko Empowerment Foundation, aiming to deploy targeted skills acquisition frameworks and stimulate youth employment pathways. The Director-General and Chief Executive Officer of NPERA, Dr. Pius Akutah, MON, FCILT, disclosed this tactical community development drive while hosting the foundation’s executive delegation, led by its chief, Prince Sijuade Ojora, at the agency’s corporate headquarters in Lagos. Welcoming the delegation, Dr. Akutah emphasized that NPERA prioritizes high-impact societal reinvestments, adding that the agency systematically…