NDLEA DISMANTLES ABUJA DRUG BUNKS, ARRESTS 132, RECOVERS 220KG ILLICIT SUBSTANCES. (PHOTOS). #PRESS RELEASE.

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 NDLEA dismantles Abuja drug bunks, arrests 132, recovers 220kg illicit substances  -Marwa hails operation, vows to sustain crackdown in FCT, other states  In a non-stop two-week offensive action against traffickers and dealers, operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have successfully dismantled several drug joints and bunks within and around the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja where a total of 132 suspects were arrested and 220 kilograms of assorted illicit substances recovered. The wel-coordinated raids jointly conducted by the Agency's Directorate of Operations and General Investigation (DOGI) and the FCT Strategic Command from llth to 25th April 2026 were launched to dismantle illicit drug hubs contributing to substance abuse, trafficking, and associated criminal activities in the capital city after weeks of intelligence and surveillance across all identified hotspots. Areas where notorious drug joints were raided, dismantled and suspects...

ANAMBRA ASSEMBLY HOLDS PUBLIC HEARING ON LANDMARK IGBO APPRENTICESHIP BILL. (PHOTO). #PRESS RELEASE


 Anambra Assembly Holds Public Hearing on Landmark Igbo Apprenticeship Bill


By Chizoba Okeke 

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In a decisive move to reform and modernize one of Igbo society’s most enduring economic traditions, the Anambra State House of Assembly has held a public hearing on the proposed Igbo Apprenticeship Bill, 2024.


The bill, which seeks to formally regulate the 'Igba Boi' system, a time-honored model of mentorship and entrepreneurial training among the Igbo proposes a standardized apprenticeship duration of seven years and mandates basic education for all apprentices.


A bill being sponsored by Honourable Ejike Okechukwu, member representing Anaocha two constituency, said the legislation aims to introduce structure, transparency, and legal safeguards into a system that has, for decades, launched countless youths into successful business ownership.


 Key provisions of the bill include compulsory written agreements between masters and apprentices, the creation of a centralized database of participants, and the establishment of a formal dispute resolution mechanism.


Opening the hearing, Speaker of the House, Right Honourable Somtochukwu Udeze, underscored the significance of the bill in preserving cultural heritage while addressing longstanding gaps. “This initiative will protect all parties involved, discourage abuse, and sustain a practice that is not only cultural but economically strategic,” Udeze said.


In his remarks, Honourable Innocent Ojike, Chairman, House Committee on Commerce, Trade, and Industry, emphasized that regulating the apprenticeship system would enhance investor confidence and align the practice with global best practices.


Stakeholders at the public hearing including market leaders, established business mentors (Masters), and former apprentices (Umuboi) hailed the initiative as a welcome development. Many expressed optimism that the bill would reinforce the legacy of the Igbo apprenticeship model as a powerful engine of economic empowerment across generations.


If passed into law, the Igbo Apprenticeship Bill 2024 could become a model for other states, formalizing a grassroot system that has propelled many from apprenticeship stalls to boardrooms.


* Okeke is of the Ministry of Information, Anambra State *

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