
Thai police have arrested Nigerian national Nwaiwu Ifeanyi, a suspected drug kingpin, after discovering approximately 1.5 million baht over N67m hidden in his bathroom ceiling during a Saturday night raid. Ifeanyi, 46, is accused of supplying cocaine in the capital. He was apprehended near Silom Soi 1, with officers recovering about 27g of cocaine from him. Three other suspects linked to the drug trafficking ring were also arrested: Swiss national Thomas Giubibini and Thai men Thanayot Asawamethi, 35, and Nattawat Wangkitjinda, 34. In total, police seized around 30g of cocaine, a car, 1.5m baht in cash, foreign currency worth 15,000 baht, and jewellery valued at 400,000 baht. Ifeanyi had resided in Thailand for over 17 years on a family visa obtained through a Thai spouse, though police suspect the marriage was a sham to provide legal cover for his activities. Investigators stated he allegedly coordinated drug sales via encrypted chat groups, which they infiltrated to track his movements. The suspect reportedly resisted arrest but later confessed. This arrest follows the apprehension of another Nigerian in Thailand, Ukoma Nuzbech, less than three months prior, for allegedly fleeing a drug trafficking trial.
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Must ReadAs the world observes World Environment Day, a critical discussion for Nigeria and West Africa centers on financing agriculture to address climate change. Historically, African farmers relied on natural signs to guide their planting, but these signals have become unreliable due to changing weather patterns. The desert is expanding, Lake Chad is shrinking, and unpredictable rains cause severe flooding, impacting livelihoods. These are not isolated incidents but local manifestations of a global climate phenomenon, primarily affecting those who produce food. The article argues that agricultural finance is climate finance, emphasizing that direct investment in the land and the people who work it is the most impactful climate action for the region's financial sector. Despite agriculture being the foundation of the economy and employing the most people, it receives a disproportionately small share of bank lending due to perceived risks. However, advancements in financial tools, such as cash-flow facilities, value-chain models, warehouse-receipt systems, and weather-index insurance, are making the sector more bankable and resilient. These instruments, which promote irrigation, drought-tolerant seeds, and better storage, are crucial for farmers to adapt to a harsher climate. The author, Mannir U. Ringim, Executive Director, Business Banking at Union Bank of Nigeria, stresses that managing these risks requires collaboration among governments, development finance institutions, insurers
Must ReadAgbaibor, a month-old orphaned forest elephant, was rescued after being found near a palm oil plantation bordering Okomu National Park in Edo State, Nigeria. Forest elephants are critically endangered, with only an estimated 200 remaining in Nigeria, about 40 of which are in Okomu. Park authorities and the African Nature Investors ANI conservation group are caring for Agbaibor, a costly operation that involves specialists from Zambia and a monthly expenditure of four to five million naira approximately $3,600 on milk powder, oats, and supplements. The rehabilitation process is expected to take three to five more years, with plans to build a new enclosure deeper inside the park to gradually reintroduce him to wild herds. Okomu National Park, a vital rainforest ecosystem, faces increasing pressure from logging, poaching, farming, and expanding human settlements, which fragment the reserve and increase human-wildlife contact. Conservation groups emphasize engaging local communities, as economic hardship often drives people into protected forests. Former illegal logger Godstime Christopher, now an ANI ranger, uses camera traps to monitor elephants and identify poachers, stating that the training changed his mentality. Caretakers like Joshua Aribasoye are dedicated to Agbaibor's well-being, viewing their role as crucial for preserving Nigeria's remaining wildlife.

A recent survey by Nigeria's Federal Ministry of Communication, Innovation and Digital Economy indicates that over four in five Nigerians support some form of social media regulation for children. The results of the 2024 poll, titled “Proposed Social Media Age Regulation in Nigeria,” were released by Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy Bosun Tijani at a roundtable in Lagos. The survey, which gathered views from 585 Nigerians, found that 83.4% of respondents supported regulating children's social media use, with 64.8% advocating for outright regulation and 18.6% preferring a different minimum age. A significant 64.5% favored a minimum social media age of 16 or 17 years, higher than the global standard of 13. The survey also highlighted widespread concern, with 93.5% of respondents expressing great or extreme worry about children's safety on social media platforms. The most prevalent online risks identified were exposure to harmful content 90.9%, digital addiction 83.6%, and online grooming 82.4%. Furthermore, 97.6% supported a duty-of-care framework for platforms. Minister Tijani emphasized the need for effective age restrictions and coordinated efforts from government, parents, and digital platforms to protect children online. The Nigeria Data Protection Commission's National Commissioner, Dr. Vincent Olatunji, also stressed the importance of balancing internet access for education with safeguards against cyberbullying, harmful content, and mental healt

Author and financial educator Yemisi Adepoju has released her new book, "Broke After Pay Day," which aims to help individuals break free from debt cycles and chronic financial stress. Launched at RovingHeights Bookstore in Lagos, the book addresses the behavioral and emotional patterns contributing to poor money management. Adepoju, drawing from her experience as chairperson of a cooperative society since 2015, observed widespread financial instability among employees across various income levels, noting that even high earners struggle with debt. The book is designed to help readers confront habits like impulsive spending, lifestyle inflation, peer pressure, and emotional decision-making. Adepoju stated her goal is to equip readers with practical tools for financial stability and debt escape, emphasizing that financial freedom is achievable regardless of personal circumstances. The eight-chapter book combines storytelling with practical exercises, including a chapter titled "Who chop my salary?" which illustrates how quickly a salary can disappear. Adepoju stresses the importance of budgeting, discipline, and delayed gratification, asserting that poor money habits persist irrespective of income size. She advises that investment discipline is crucial for long-term financial freedom, suggesting that investment proceeds, rather than immediate income, should fund lifestyle needs. Real estate entrepreneur Tope Mark-Odigie highlighted the neglected aspect of budgeting, while Dolapo