By Our Reporter

Barely 24 hours after governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, commissioned the Rapid Response Squad, the Kano State Multi-Agency Task Force on Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking has seized approximately 3,180,000 capsules suspected to be Pregabalin in the Sabon Gari area of Kano.

The seizure followed credible intelligence received through one of the reporting platforms linked to the Task Force Command and Call Centre, just hours after the Rapid Response Squad was officially launched by the state Governor.

A statement issued by Lamara Garba, Secretary, Media and Publicity Committee, Kano State Multi-Agency Task Force on Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, on Saturday said that, acting swiftly on the intelligence, operatives of the Squad identified and searched a residential apartment at No. 13 Apple Avenue, Normansland, Sabon Gari, in Fagge Local Government Area, which was suspected to be used for illicit activities.

During the operation, the operatives recovered approximately 3,180,000 capsules suspected to be Pregabalin and arrested a 34-year-old man identified as Gregory Ogbuji.

The suspect, who is said to be associated with SEEMARK PHARMA LTD, registered under number 2012546, has been charged under Section 249 of the Penal Code. Another suspect allegedly connected to the operation is currently at large.

The Chairman of the Task Force, Muhuyi Magaji Rimin Gado, Esq., described the seizure as a significant early result of the Rapid Response Squad, stressing that it demonstrated the importance of intelligence-led enforcement and effective communication between the public and law enforcement agencies.

According to the Task Force, Pregabalin has emerged as one of the most widely abused drugs in Kano State. Its operational experience indicates that approximately eight out of every 10 drug-related operations involve suspects dependent on or abusing Pregabalin.

The Task Force described the development as a serious public health and security concern, stressing that sustained enforcement, public vigilance and community cooperation would be critical to tackling the growing challenge of substance abuse and illicit drug trafficking in the state.

The latest operation is one of the first major outcomes of the investment in establishing and equipping the Rapid Response Squad, which was designed to provide a coordinated and rapid response to reports of drug abuse, illicit trafficking, thuggery and other related crimes.

The Chairman warned individuals and groups involved in the illicit drug trade to desist, assuring residents that the Task Force would continue to take firm action against offenders without fear or favour.

He also expressed appreciation to members of the public for their prayers, cooperation and continued support, urging residents to make full use of the Task Force’s reporting platforms and Command and Call Centre to provide credible information on suspected drug abuse, trafficking, thuggery and other criminal activities.

He said the cooperation of residents remained essential to strengthening public safety and advancing the state government’s “Kano First” agenda.

By Chidera Orji

The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has rejected the recent publication by Ikeja Electric (IKEDC) in which the distribution company allged that the several Band A feeder outages recorded on 3rd and 4th November 2026 were attributed to “grid instability” , which was assigned to TCN as the responsible party.

The TCN in a strong worded statement signed by the Management of the agency clearly noted that the attribution by Ikeja Electric was inaccurate and misleading, for the following reasons:

1. Root-cause determination is not the mandate of a DisCo.
   By virtue of Section 67 of the Electricity Act 2023, the determination of the root cause of disturbances, shortfalls and interruptions on the national grid falls exclusively within the defined functions of the Nigerian Independent System Operator (NISO). IKEDC, like every other market participant, has no authority to make such determinations, and NISO has made none attributing the outages in IKEDC’s notice to TCN.
2. NISO has already stated the true position.
   In its public clarification of 5 November 2026, NISO attributed the current decline in power generation to constraints in gas supply to thermal power stations and reduced output from hydroelectric stations due to lower reservoir inflows. NISO explained that this reduced available generation, which in turn reduced the energy allocated to DisCos and led to fewer hours of supply and increased load shedding across distribution networks. The impact on each DisCo varies with available generation and its allocation.
3. The facts are inconsistent with the “grid instability” claim.
   The shortfall in supply to IKEDC’s customers is a consequence of reduced generation and the resulting allocation, not of any failure of TCN’s transmission network. TCN can only transmit the energy made available to it and cannot transmit energy that is not generated.
4. The records for all feeders supplying IKEDC confirm the national picture NISO described. Of the interruptions recorded on 1 and 2 November, 68% were frequency-control load-shedding arising from low generation. A further 26% were due to IKEDC’s non-compliance with load allocation by the National Control Centre (NCC) of NISO, or to faults and works on IKEDC’s own network. The remaining 6% were TCN planned maintenance, switching or a line limitation. None of the recorded interruptions was a TCN equipment fault or trip.

TAN said that the ” feeders named in IKEDC’s notice do not support the claim either. Of the 46 interruptions recorded on the 33kV feeders named in the notice, 29 were frequency-control load-shedding arising from low generation, and 14 were recorded against IKEDC: 9 for non-compliance with load allocation and 5 for faults or trips on its own network. The other 3 were scheduled TCN maintenance on the Ogba–Alimosho line on 1 November. On 2 November, for example, the Rack Centre feeder was interrupted by a cable fault on IKEDC’s network, which its own crew repaired. IKEDC’s notice itself assigns several of these feeders, including MTN, Iju Water Works and Rack Centre, to IKEDC (“IE”) for 33kV faults.

” IKEDC’s position is therefore out of step with the true state of the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry. Attributing shortfalls caused by generation constraints to TCN misinforms customers, undermines public confidence and obscures the real challenges that all stakeholders must work together to resolve.
TCN therefore urges IKEDC and all other DisCos to desist forthwith from making unfounded claims about the causes of supply shortfalls to their customers. DisCos should communicate based on verified information from NISO, the body responsible for the operation of the grid.

TCN also urged electricity customers to refer to NISO’s official platforms for accurate information on the state of the NESI, while also sympathising with customers affected by the reduced hours of supply.

The agency said that It remains committed to transmitting all available energy safely, reliably and efficiently within the prevailing operational constraints, and to working with NISO, generation companies and DisCos to improve the situation.

By Usuak Imoh

President Bola Tinubu has approved the long-awaited Ibom Deep Seaport project in Akwa Ibom State.

Tinubu announced the approval on Friday while responding to a request by Governor Umo Eno during a reception and rally held in his honour at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium, Uyo.

The President, who was in the state to inaugurate projects executed by the Eno administration, said the development must promote inclusive growth, create economic value and bring progress to the people.

“Now, development must be even inclusive and reasonable, must bring progress and create economic value. I heard from my friend, my governor, my pastor, on behalf of the people and leadership of Akwa Ibom, request for Ibom’s deep-sea port,” Tinubu said.

After repeating the request, the President asked the crowd, “Will you vote?”

He subsequently declared, “Okay, It’s approved.”

The approval followed a pledge by Eno that Akwa Ibom would deliver two million votes for Tinubu’s re-election in 2027 if the Federal Government delivered the seaport.

“Give us Ibom Deep Seaport, we will deliver two million votes. This deep seaport is capable of unlocking the economy of the state, the South-South region and Nigeria at large,” the governor said.

Eno described the seaport as the most important economic demand of the people of Akwa Ibom, saying it would transform the state’s maritime, industrial and employment landscape.

He said the people of the state had remained loyal to Tinubu since 2023 and were asking him to fulfil his promise to build the facility.

Tinubu had, during his 2023 presidential campaign rally at the same stadium, promised to build the deep seaport, citing the Lekki Deep Seaport, developed during his tenure as Lagos State governor, as an example of what he hoped to achieve in Akwa Ibom.

Eno said the project, conceived during the administration of former Governor Victor Attah as the Ibaka Deep Seaport and Industrial City, had remained unrealised for decades despite featuring in successive presidential campaigns.

“This seaport would serve as a major transhipment hub. It will create thousands of jobs for our people. It will open Akwa Ibom to international trade and investment,” he said.

The governor also said Akwa Ibom had aligned with the Federal Government by joining the All Progressives Congress to attract greater federal presence and development.

He assured Tinubu that the state would mobilise support for his re-election in 2027, saying the seaport would be a major dividend of his administration.