A 44 year-old businessman, Ezemokwe Chukwuebuka has been arrested for ingesting 53 wraps of cocaine while on his way to Tehran Khomeini, Islamic Republic of Iran.
The suspect was arrested by the operatives of the National Drug Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) at the Port Harcourt International Airport (PHIA) another
This is barely two weeks after a 60-year-old businessman Chinedu Okigbo heading to Iran with 65 pellets of cocaine in his stomach was caught at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano.
The spokesman of NDLEA, Femi Babafemi said Ezemokwe was arrested on Saturday 7th June while trying to board Qatar Airways flight QR1434 flying to Tehran Khomeini in Iran via Doha. After a body scan proved positive to ingestion of illicit drug, he was placed on excretion observation during which he expelled 53 wraps of cocaine in six excretions with a total weight of 1.172 kilogrammes.
He said the suspect claimed to have gone into the criminal trade two years ago, moving between the West African sub-region and Iran.
He disclosed that similarly NDLEA operatives at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) Lagos in the early hours of Saturday intercepted an Italy bound passenger Edobor Ali on an Air France flight.
He noted that the NDLEA officers in collaboration with the Aviation Security of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), discovered drug consignments hidden in the luggage of the suspect during baggage scanning at the tarmac.
He said the suspect was thereafter brought down from the aircraft for baggage identification after which a thorough search of the bag led to the discovery of 14,410 pills of tramadol 225mg and 200mg concealed in winter jackets.
In his statement, Ebodor said he lives in Italy where he was hired and sent on the all expense paid trip to Nigeria to courier the drug consignments to Milan, Italy for a fee of 2000 Euros.
Babafemi said at the Port Harcourt Ports in Onne, Rivers state, NDLEA operatives last Friday intercepted a shipment of 157,800 bottles of codeine-based syrup worth over N1.1 billion in street value, during a joint examination of a watch-listed container with men of Customs Service and other security agencies. The opioid consignments were hidden behind 257 cartons of ceramic sanitary wares.
He said at least, three suspects: Friday Achibong, 47; Abraham Anthony, 21; and Utibe Okon, 24, were arrested last Thursday 12th June when NDLEA operatives raided a warehouse in Obereakai, Odukpani local government area, Cross River state, where a total of 2,687 kilogrammes skunk, a strain of cannabis, was recovered.
He added that same day in Bauchi state, NDLEA officers acting on credible intelligence, arrested the duo of Iriemi Imonikhe, 49, and Sa’idu Ladan, 30, along Bauchi -Jos road after 195 blocks of skunk weighing 287 kilogrammes were discovered in their Toyota Camry car marked AKL 201 GG.
He said while 14 jumbo sacks of skunk weighing 560 kilogrammes were recovered from a wooden boat at Oniru beach in Lagos by operatives of the Marine Command of NDLEA last Thursday, officers of the Muhammadu Buhari International Airport Maiduguri same day arrested two businessmen: Ishaku Abdullahi, 30; and Buba Usman, 32, at the arrival hall of the domestic wing of the airport with various quantities of ecstacy pills and skunk packaged in fanciful wraps labelled as ‘Lychee’ and ‘Porro Legal’
Babafemi said the War Against Drug Abuse (WADA), social advocacy activities by NDLEA commands equally continued across the country in the past week.
Meanwhile, the Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (Rtd), while commending the officers and men of MMIA, PHIA, MBIAM, PHPC, Marine, Cross River, and Bauchi commands of the agency for the arrests and seizures of the past week, praised their compatriots in all the commands across the country for pursuing a fair balance between their drug supply reduction and drug demand reduction efforts.
Tourism
Tourism is more than travelling or visiting historical sites, waterfalls, mountains, and parks. It is an engine of global economies, a catalyst for social understanding, and a bridge that unites cultures.
The advent of technology and creativity has transformed tourism and its opportunities. Therefore, it is appropriate that this conference highlights the impact of AI, innovation, and creative industries on the tourism sector. Apart from its economic value, tourism has a potential to enhance local entrepreneurship and community development.
Small businesses such as store operators, local artisans, hospitality providers, and service industries tourism presents new opportunities for entrepreneurship. As Nigeria moves towards establishing itself as a top destination for business worldwide, we understand the importance of pursuing growth in terms of style, of our responsibility to protect the environment, and our Polish economic project. It is guided by commitment to sustainability, ensuring a more friendly policies, and opening to building, managing, and running our attractions and facilities.
Nigeria’s creative industries comprise in music, film, fashion, literature, and digital arts, and emerge as powerful drivers of economic growth, making significant contributions to job creation and income. Nigeria’s Hollywood is one of the largest examples. Similarly, the music and fashion industries As we chart a new course for tourism in Africa, one thing is clear.
The government cannot build the sector alone. It needs a partnership with the private sector. The sector’s growing complexity and opportunities demand this strategic partnership.
Nigeria supports adopting sustainable tourism practises across Africa, which reflect the country’s many challenges. By collaborating with regional bodies, such as the African Union, EOWAS, and UN Tourism, Nigeria encourages policies promoting cooperative tourism and retail in country activities. This collaboration includes sharing best practices, tourism training, developing joint marketing campaigns for sustainable tourism, and improving infrastructure to support inter-African travel.
Through this regional initiative, in the next few days, I urge you to focus on practical solutions and collaborative strategies that will strengthen inter-African travel, boost investment in tourism infrastructure, empower local communities, and improve tourism scoring in Nigeria, sustain a discomfort. On this note, on behalf of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, I thank you very much. I look forward to hearing from you.
Nigeria’s creative industry has emerged as powerful drivers of economic growth….
The country’s creative industry has emerged as powerful drivers of economic growth.
Currently, the sector is contributing hugely to the country’s Gross Domestic Products.
Besides, he said , tourism has the potential to enhance local entrepreneurship and community.
He therefore urged the private sector to join in the efforts at developing the industry.
“Tourism is more than travelling or visiting historical sites, waterfalls, mountains, and parks. It is an engine, a catalyst for social understanding, and a bridge that unites cultures. The advent of technology and creativity has transformed tourism and its opportunities.”
He added, “ Apart from its economic value, tourism has the potential to enhance local entrepreneurship and community. Small businesses such as store operators, local artisans, hospitality providers, and service industries tourism creates new opportunities for entrepreneurship.
“Nigeria’s creative industries, comprising music, film, fashion, literature, and digital arts, have emerged as powerful drivers of economic growth, making significant contributions to the country’s GDP, job creation, and economy.”
He also added: “As Nigeria moves towards establishing itself as a top destination for business worldwide, we understand the importance of pursuing growth, returns, and sustainability. Of our responsibility to protect the environment, our host economic priority is guided by a commitment to sustainability, ensuring a more friendly policy cycle, and opening to building, managing, and running our attraction sector.”
He therefore charged that the conference highlights the impact of AI, innovation, and creative industries on the tourism sector.
He stressed that “The government cannot build the sector alone. It needs a partnership with the private sector. The sector’s growing complexity and opportunities demand this strategic partnership.
“Nigeria supports adopting sustainable tourism practices across Africa, which reflect the country’s unique challenges. By collaborating with regional bodies, such as the African Union, ECOWAS, and UN Tourism.
“This collaboration includes sharing best practices, tourism training, developing joint marketing campaigns for sustainable tourism, and improving infrastructure to support intra-African travel.
“Through these regional initiatives, Africa can push things in the next few years.”
He therefore urged the summit to focus on practical solutions and collaborative strategies that can strengthen intra-African travel. Boost investment in tourism infrastructure.Empower local communities. And equal tourism scoring achievements. Sustainable perspectives.”
Also speaking at the 68th meeting of the U.N. Tourism Commission, Senator Ireti Kingibe stressed the importance of women and girls in the sector.
She said: “Women and girls are central to the creative and tourism economies, whether as artists, entrepreneurs, educators, curators, or digital innovators.”
Kingibe however lamented that women are underrepresented and under-resourced.
“However, many remain underrepresented and under-resourced. As we champion AI and innovation, we must ensure that women are not left behind, but are intentionally supported through access to education, financing platforms that celebrate their voices,” she added.
She noted that the theme of the conference could not be more relevant.
“There’s a growing recognition that tourism is not merely about destination. It’s about people, identity, technology, and sustainable development.
“In Nigeria, we are at a critical juncture where innovation is reshaping tourism and the creative landscapes. From Lagos to Kano, Calabar to Abuja, digital platforms are enabling local artists to reach global audiences. AI is being used to enhance travel experience and heritage preservation.
“And young Nigerians are emerging as cultural entrepreneurs, storytellers, and digital trailblazers. Tourism can contribute significantly to Nigeria’s GDP and remains a vital sector for youth employment, cultural diplomacy, and economic diversification. Yet the full potential of this sector can only be unlocked through sustained investment in education, digital literacy, and policies that promote inclusive innovation,” she added.