🇳🇬NigeriaWest Africa
NDLEA intercepts 10,000 captagon pills in Kwara, makes other significant drug seizures nationwide
via Punch Nigeria4 min read
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency NDLEA has reported the interception of 10,000 captagon pills in Kwara State. This seizure marks the second time the stimulant drug, widely abused in the Middle East and linked to funding criminal groups, has been found in Africa by the NDLEA, the first being five years ago at Apapa Port. The latest interception occurred on April 21, 2026, along Bode Saadu Road, Kwara State, where operatives recovered the pills from a passenger, Nasiru Mu’azu, 33, along with Tapentadol. In a separate operation at the same location on April 24, 2026, 155,900 capsules of tramadol, 6,000 ampoules of tramadol injection, 3,000 tablets of co-codamol, and 9,000 tablets of bromazepam were found concealed in a trailer, leading to the arrest of Aminu Isah, 24. Other significant seizures include 1.043 kilograms of cocaine ingested by Eze Prince Emeka, 33, in Oyo State; 1,196,000 pills of pharmaceutical opioids in Edo State with the arrest of Osagie Igbinibo, 43, and Omijie Malik, 44; 810 kilograms of Arizona cannabis in Lagos with the arrest of Rasheed Ibuowo, 40; 154.5 kilograms of skunk in Bauchi State with the arrest of Muktar Bello, 35; and 466.8 kilograms of skunk in Ekiti State from Layit John Matthew, 56. Additionally, 20,000 kilograms of cannabis were destroyed on farmlands in Cross River State, and 394 improvised explosive device components were seized in Niger State from Mohammed Aliyu, 26. The Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mo
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The Capital Market Solicitors Association CMSA announced its 2026 Annual Business Summit, themed "Structural Resilience and Market Permanence," will focus on strengthening Nigeria’s capital market, deepening investor confidence, and promoting sustainable growth. Scheduled for July 1, 2026, in Lagos, the summit aims to explore how Nigeria can sustain capital market growth through institutional reforms, regulatory efficiency, technological innovation, and stronger investor protection mechanisms. Simisola Eyisanmi, Chairman of the CMSA, explained that discussions will cover institutional governance, capital adequacy, market trading procedures, regulatory reforms, technological integration, sustainable financing, and long-term strategies. She clarified the distinction between the capital market, a broad ecosystem, and the stock exchange, a platform for trading securities. Eyisanmi emphasized that both are regulated by the Securities and Exchange Commission SEC and urged Nigerians to ensure financial institutions are licensed. She also highlighted the well-defined dispute resolution process for investors, starting with the SEC and potentially escalating to the Investments and Securities Tribunal IST. The IST has been invited to participate in the summit to raise awareness of its role. For small and medium-sized enterprises, Eyisanmi pointed to opportunities like the Growth Board of Nigerian Exchange Limited and the NASD Over-the-Counter Securities Exchange. Mohammed Abubakar SAN,
Must ReadAs the 2026 FIFA World Cup commences in North America, many Nigerians are experiencing disappointment due to the Super Eagles' absence from the tournament for the second consecutive time. Despite the World Cup's expansion to 48 teams and increased qualification slots for Africa, Nigeria failed to secure a spot. This has led to frustration among fans like Soyemi Tosin, a Nigerian living in the UK, who had saved money to watch the Super Eagles play in person, and Precious Ogbolu, a Nigerian resident in Canada, who had hoped to see the team play in his host city. The absence also impacts content creators and influencers, who face significant financial losses from missed sponsorship and engagement opportunities. Nigeria's failure to qualify stems from an inconsistent campaign in a group many considered favorable, marked by multiple coaching changes and a heartbreaking elimination in the continental play-offs. Critics, including former Super Eagles captain John Obi Mikel and midfielder Sunday Oliseh, attribute these issues to structural problems and mismanagement within the Nigerian Football Federation. Social media reflects a mix of grief, frustration, and anger, with many questioning how a country with such talent could miss out while 10 other African nations qualified. The economic impact is also felt by businesses like viewing centers, bars, and hotels that typically benefit from increased patronage during major tournaments. Despite the widespread disappointment, some hope rem
Must ReadThe Dangote Petroleum Refinery has decreased operations at its gasoline-producing unit by approximately 34 percent since May 21, according to a Reuters report citing industry monitor IIR Energy. This reduction is attributed to a combination of feedstock constraints and technical problems. The refinery's Residue Fluid Catalytic Cracking Unit, crucial for gasoline production, has been operating below its maximum capacity but is expected to return to full production by mid-June. Initially, the refinery faced difficulties due to the type of crude being processed, leading to insufficient feed for the RFCCU. Subsequently, a technical issue emerged with the unit's flue gas slide gate valve, with repair work nearing completion. Despite the reduced output, fuel availability and pricing in the domestic market have not been impacted. However, gasoline exports from the Dangote refinery have significantly declined, dropping to 17,000 barrels per day in May and averaging about 10,000 barrels per day in June, a sharp decrease from April's 81,000 barrels per day. The Dangote refinery, with a 650,000 barrels per day capacity, aims to end Nigeria's reliance on imported refined petroleum products and position the country as a major exporter.