Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has revealed that an attempt to embrace smoking as a young man could have led him down a destructive path, stating, “I could have become addicted.”

Obasanjo made the disclosure on Sunday during the Fly Above The High anti-drug campaign conference held in Abeokuta, Ogun State.

Obasanjo, who admitted he once attempted smoking, claimed that his inability to tolerate it saved him from a path of potential addiction.

“If I had persisted, I could have become addicted. Once you get involved, it is difficult to get out,” Obasanjo said.

The former president also spoke on the troubling rise of drug abuse in West Africa, a problem he said he encountered firsthand as Chairman of the West African Drug Commission under the Kofi Annan Foundation.

Obasanjo stated that members of the commission crisscrossed West Africa with the belief that the region was free from drugs, which he said came mainly from Latin America and go to North America and Europe.

“But to our dismay, displeasure, and pain, at the end of the exercise, we found out that West Africa has equally been a centre for drug consumption in a very bad way,” he added.

“That was more than 10 years ago, so the situation has since gone worse. And whatever applies to West Africa applies to all other parts of Africa.”

The former president, however, warned Nigerian youths to steer clear of psychoactive drugs, adding that “There’s nothing drug can do for you except destruction.”

He also urged those already addicted to psychoactive drugs to seek help and warned the society against stigmatisation.

In 2023, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency reported that approximately 14.3 million Nigerians are involved in drug abuse.

The agency said 14.3 million Nigerian drug abusers are within the age range of 15 and 64 years, adding that more women are now involved.

Head Coach Justine Madugu has called up CAF Awards nominee, goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie, defenders Osinachi Ohale and Ashleigh Plumptre, midfielders Christy Ucheibe and Jennifer Echegini, and forwards Gift Monday and Rinsola Babajide among a list of 20 players for Saturday’s international friendly match against the Les Bleues of France.

US-based defender Michelle Alozie, Turkey-based Oluwatosin Demehin, midfielder Adoo Yina and forwards Mercy Omokwo and Ifeoma Onumonu are also invited to the encounter scheduled for the Stade Raymond Kopa in the city of Angers, with kick-off set for 9.30pm France time.

Midfield lubricator Toni Payne, now with Everton Ladies in England, as well as Rofiat Imuran and Shukurat Oladipo – who both starred for the Falconets at the FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup in Colombia in September – will also fly to France for the big match.

Captain Rasheedat Ajibade, who is also a CAF Awards nominee, is out as a result of injury.

While the Bleues are happy to take the game as part of their preparations for the League of Nations in the spring and the 2025 UEFA Euro Women Championship in Switzerland in the summer, the Falcons will welcome the encounter as part of the process for blooding a new squad, as well as another test ahead of the 2025 Women Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco next summer.

Already pitched with Tunisia, Algeria and Botswana in Group B of the Africa Cup final tournament, Madugu will be grateful for the stern test that the Les Bleues will provide for his nine-time African champions in Angers.

All the invited players will fly directly to France for the match, to be joined by the coaching crew and backroom staff.

SUPER FALCONS FOR LES BLEUES CHALLENGE:

Goalkeepers: Chiamaka Nnadozie (Paris FC, France); Anderline Mgbechi (Rivers Angels); Rachael Unachukwu (Nasarawa Amazons)

Defenders: Osinachi Ohale (Pachucha Club de Futbol, Mexico); Michelle Alozie (Houston Dash, USA); Ashleigh Plumptre (Ittihad Ladies, Saudi Arabia); Rofiat Imuran (London City Lioness, England); Sikiratu Isah (Nasarawa Amazons); Oluwatosin Demehin (Galatasaray Sportive, Turkey)

Midfielders: Jennifer Echegini (Paris Saint Germain, France); Toni Payne (Everton Ladies, England); Josephine Mathias (Nasarawa Amazons); Christy Ucheibe (SL Benfica, Portugal); Shukurat Oladipo (FC Robo Queens); Adoo Yina (Nasarawa Amazons)

Forwards: Blessing Nkor (Pyramids FC, Egypt); Gift Monday (Coasta Adeje Tenerife Egatesa (Spain); Ifeoma Onumonu (Montpellier FC, France); Omorinsola Babajide (Coasta Adeje Tenerife Egatesa (Spain); Mercy Omokwo (Bayelsa Queens) 

The usage of the Contactless Passport Application System app would commence on the 1st of December, 2024.

The Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) announced this in an update it provided on its official X account on Sunday evening.

“The Contactless Passport Application System app is now available on Google Play store as “NIS Mobile”,” NIS announced.

“Please remember that the worldwide usage would commence from the 1st of December, 2024.”

According to the statement, the current Geo-fencing feature means it is only available for use by Nigerians in Canada and the United States of America (USA).

The Federal Government, meanwhile recently partnered with the United Kingdom (UK) to strengthen security in Nigeria and also work on a lasting contactless biometrics solution.

The Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo disclosed this in a statement on his official X account after meeting with the Home Secretary of the UK, Rt Hon Yvette Cooper early November.

Tunji-Ojo said the FG’s commitment to building strategic partnerships that enhance security and public service delivery was reinforced after the meeting.

“We discussed mutual goals to strengthen security, efficiency, and service delivery, showing our administration’s dedication to sustainable development through cooperation and shared purpose,” he said.

“In line with our initiative to extend contactless biometrics solution to the UK, having successfully launched in Canada with impressive success rate, I also led senior officials, including the Permanent Secretary, Dr. Magdalene Ajani, on an oversight visit to the Nigeria High Commission.”

According to Tunji-Ojo, the visit reaffirms the federal government’s support for the attachés working to improve their services to Nigerians abroad.

The NIS decided to implement the contactless biometric solution process for passports and visa applications to ease challenges associated with the process and curb corruption.

Tunji-Ojo while presenting a scorecard of his achievements within one year in office had explained that the contactless biometric system allows applicants to apply for passports or visas from the comfort of their homes or offices.

He added that they would do this without visiting any passport office, particularly for Nigeria’s consulates, where the number of applications often exceeds the daily capture capacity.

“With the contactless biometric solution, you won’t need to go to the embassies to book an appointment anymore because of the new system,” the minister explained.

“The era of resource wastage in the passport process is over. In Canada, for example, over 16,000 applications are received as against 260 captures per day.”

Tunji-Ojo was joined in the meeting with the UK Home Secretary, Cooper by key Nigerian officials including the Comptroller General of Immigration, Kemi Nandap and the Controller General of Fire Service, Engr. Abdulganiyu Olola Jaji.

Dangote Petroleum Refinery on Sunday announced a N20 reduction in the ex-refinery price to marketers, with prices moving from N990 to N970 per litre.

The Group Chief Branding and Communications Officer of the Dangote Group, Anthony Chiejina, disclosed the new pricing in a statement, describing the development as a gesture of appreciation to Nigerians and the government for their unwavering support.

With the drop in the price of crude oil, the price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) should slightly decrease, given that crude oil is a major determinant of the eventual price of petroleum products.

“As the year comes to an end, this is our way of appreciating the good people of Nigeria for their unwavering support in making the refinery a dream come true. In addition, this is to thank the government for their support, as this will complement the measures put in place to encourage domestic enterprise for our collective well-being,” Chiejina said.

The refinery, which commenced operations earlier this year, has been pivotal in reshaping Nigeria’s downstream petroleum landscape.

Chiejina assured that the Dangote Refinery would continue to maintain stringent quality standards for its products while working to address Nigeria’s fuel supply challenges.

“We are determined to keep ramping up production to meet and surpass our domestic fuel consumption, thus dispelling any fear of a shortfall in supply,” he added.

Gov. Bassey Otu of Cross River has appealed to labour unions in the state to shelve their planned industrial action over the implementation of the new minimum wage.

The governor said his administration remained committed to the implementation of the new wage of N70, 000 recently signed into law by President Bola Tinubu.

The governor made the appeal during the 5th edition of the State Solemn Assembly held Saturday night at U.J. Esuene Stadium, Calabar.

Represented by his deputy, Dr Peter Odey, Otu said his government would continue to prioritise welfare of workers in the state.

It would be recalled that labour unions in the state had on Wednesday issued notice of 2-day warning strike scheduled to commence midnight of Sunday.

The unions attributed the planned action to the breakdown of negotiations between it and the government.

The organised labour threatened that after the warning strike the industrial action would continue with a December 1 panned nationwide strike.

“I appeal to the leadership of organised labor and all affiliates of the NLC (Nigeria Labour Congress) and TUC (Trade Union Congress) to suspend their planned strike.

“I enjoin them to support the government in the quest to improve the lots of our people,’’ Out said.

He urged the people of Cross River to sustain their support and prayers for the administration to achieve its ‘People First’ mantra.

Gov. Francis Nwifuru of Ebonyi has ordered the arrest and prosecution of six state Ministry of Health members of staff for allegedly diverting materials meant for the ministry.

Nwifuru in a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Dr Monday Uzor, on Sunday, ordered the arrest of one Ndukwe Ayansi and five others over the issue.

The statement indicated that the governor while inspecting projects cited an articulated vehicle loading registers, books and other materials from the warehouse of the Ministry of Health.

“Nwifuru stopped and made inquiries but not satisfied with answers given to him.

“The governor probed further and discovered that patients’ data registers, cards and other documents were being moved into the vehicle.

“He also discovered that all the documents had been sold without government approval,” Uzor said.

The governor, according to him, described the action as sabotage of  government’s efforts at repositioning the health sector.

“You are selling government documents without approval on a Saturday afternoon.

“The state’s hospitals in the rural areas are in need of registers data entry forms and hospital cards.

“Unfortunately, you are selling the ones produced by the government,” he said.

Uzor further said that the suspects had been handed over to the police while investigation continued