Six thousand Nigerians in foreign jails over drug offenses

Director-General, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, Mr Femi Ajayi, weekend, said over 6,000 Nigerians were serving various jail terms across the globe for drug related offences.

Ajayi told the Abike Dabiri-Erewa-led House of Representatives Committee on Diaspora Matters in Abuja that Nigeria had more of its nationals in prisons outside the country than any other African country.

Ajayi who listed some of the countries as Iran 4,000, Brazil 500, Thailand 500, Malaysia 300, said the list was more than that "but that was what we have for now."

He said the bulk of those caught for drug related offences outside the country were from the South-East with majority coming from Anambra State.

"I don't know what we can do about the large number of our brothers from the South-East who indulge in this illicit business. Can you believe that of the 500 Nigerians in Thailand prisons, 480 of them are from the South-East and 450 from it are from Anambra State?"

Ajayi further said the agency had been facing many challenges hindering the optimal performance of its duties as an enforcement agency on drug related matters.

He listed these challenges to include poor funding, lack of necessary equipment, uncooperative attitude of some collaborative agencies, lack of capacity building for staff and difficulty in tracking down drug barons.

"For instance in 2011, our capital budget was N84.5 million but only N61 million was released. Our overheads also reduced from N630 million in 2011 to N600 million despite the fact that our staff strength increased from 3,200 to 5,300," he said.

Ajayi said that Nigeria has not been able to buy a single scanner for its airport commanders since inauguration of the agency but rely on donation from advanced countries, despite the fact that a scanner costs only N30 million.

He said another major challenge confronting the agency was that it was not allowed at the sea port where most of the couriers now use to transact their illegal business.

Said he:"The fact that we were sent out of the seaports will facilitate the entry of more drugs into the country and worsen the situation. "

Ajayi, who pleaded with the committee to assist it solve some of its challenges, said there was need to have a drug attaché in some specific embassies abroad to see to the drug related offences in those countries as the image of Nigeria was involved.

Hon. Dabiri-Erewa, who decried the bad image the increasing number of Nigeria prisoners abroad was giving to the country, asked the agency to come up with a comprehensive plan for its operations.

Vanguard

Related stories: 1,000 Nigerians detained in Chinese prisons

Video - Nigerian criminals using Asian women as drug mules

457 Nigerians in Brazilian prisons

Suicide bomber attacks church in Jos, Nigeria

A suicide bomber has blown himself up outside a church in the central Nigerian city of Jos, witnesses said, while gunmen also attacked a church in the country's northeast.

The blast happened on Sunday morning at an evangelical church in the city of Jos, a restive city on the dividing line between the nation's Muslim north and Christian south, causing unknown injuries.

Police have not yet commented on the apparent attack.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility, although attacking churches has become a trademark tactic of Boko Haram, an armed group that seeks to impose Islamic law in Nigeria.

Meanwhile, gunmen opened fire on a church in northeastern Nigeria on Sunday, spraying the congregation with bullets and killing and wounding many of them, witnesses said.

"Three gunmen came to the premises of the church and started firing at people outside the church before going into the main building to carry on their killings ... Many people have been killed and wounded," said witness Hamidu Wakawa, who was at the church in Biu Town, Borno state.

Police said they did not yet have any details on the attack.

Al Jazeera

Related stories: Bomb blast at Church in Bauch, Nigeria - 9 dead

Boko Haram attack church at Kano University - 20 confirmed dead

Video - Bomb blast near Church in Suleja

Super Eagles move up in FIFA rankings

Nigeria, propelled in part by Sunday's win over Namibia, moved up three places in the latest Fifa Rankings to 60th place in the world, and 11th on the continent.

The move is an improvement from last month, where the Super Eagles were dragged down by draws and a loss to Egypt. Super Eagles beat Brave Warriors of Namibia in a 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifier 1-0

Cote d'Ivoire dropped one place in the world rankings but held on to their place as Africa's top team. They are followed by Ghana, who dropped three places to 25 in the world.

African champions Zambia are the only one of the continent's top five from last month to drop out following their loss at Sudan. Their place is taken by Libya, who moved up four places to fourth, just behind Algeria.

Nigeria 2014 World Cup qualifying group opponents Malawi, Kenya and Namibia are outside of the top 20 on the continent, and away from the world's top 100.

Nigeria's next opponents Malawi are the highest ranked of the three at 107 in the world and 27th in Africa, Kenya are at 111 in the world and 29th in Africa while Namibia are way down at 134 in the world and 41st in Africa.

AFRICA'S TOP 20

16 1 Côte d'Ivoire

25 2 Ghana

32 3 Algeria

42 4 Libya

43 5 Mali

43 6 Zambia

46 7 Tunisia

48 8 Egypt

49 9 Gabon

59 10 Sierra Leone

60 11 Nigeria

63 12 Senegal

64 13 Cameroon

67 14 Guinea

68 15 South Africa

70 16 Morocco

72 17 Benin

77 18 Cape Verde Islands

83 19 Congo

84 20 Angola

Vanguard

Related stories: FIFA send their condolences for Rashidi Yekini's passing

Super Eagles drop rank in FIFA rankings

Video - Investigation begins on crashed Dana Airliner

Nigerian airline Dana Air has had its licence suspended after a crash killed all 153 people on board one of its planes as well as others on the ground.

An investigation was launched after the local flight from Abuja plunged into a busy suburb of Lagos on Sunday.

The focus is now on whether the plane was too old to fly and whether Dana Air and the Civil Aviation Authority carried out all the necessary inspections before take-off.

Al Jazeera

Related stories: Nigerian government suspends Dana Air indefinitely 

Video - Dana Air crash major setback for Nigeria's aviation industry 

Nigerian government suspends Dana Air indefinitely

The Federal Government has suspended the operating licence of Dana Airlines "as a precaution" following last Sunday's crash which claimed over 160 lives, including tenants of a residential building.

Meanwhile, the Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB) will this week send a team of its investigators to the United States with the recovered Flight Data Recorder (FDR), also known as the "Black Box", for further analysis.

The Black Box, an electronic device, is used to record any instructions sent to any electronic systems on an aircraft.

The device records specific aircraft performance parameters, while the cockpit voice recorder (CVR) records the radio conversation between the cockpit crew and others, including the air traffic control personnel.

The data recorded by the FDR is used for accident investigation. It is also used for analysing air safety issues, material degradation and engine performance.

The captain of the ill-fated Dana 992 flight was said to have complained about engine problems and requested emergency landing but could not make it to the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos State.

It crashed on a two-storey building at Iju-Ishaga, Agege area of the state, after losing control with the control tower.

THISDAY learnt that already, the conversations on the CVR are being transcribed at a secure location in the country and the investigative team will travel with the recovered materials to the US "before weekend", according to aviation sources.

Minister of Aviation, Princess Stella Oduah, Tuesday evening said the Federal Government suspended the operating licence of Dana Airlines "for safety reasons".

Speaking on the telephone with THISDAY in Abuja, the Special Assistant to the Minister on Media and Public Affairs, Mr. Joe Obi, said: "The decision to suspend the airline for now even though investigation has commenced is for safety and precautionary reason."

While the minister did not specify how long the suspension would take, she said government had the primary duty of ensuring safety of its citizens, provided it was done in the general interest of the country.

The Senate had earlier demanded the immediate suspension of the Director General of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Dr. Harold Demuren, and other top officials of aviation regulatory agency to allow for an unfettered investigation into the crash.

The upper chamber of the National Assembly had also urged the NCAA to immediately ground all planes in the fleet of Dana Airlines operating in the country pending the outcome of the investigation into the mishap.

At the end of the heated debate, the Senate directed its Committee on Aviation to jointly sit with the House of Representatives Committee on Aviation to conduct a thorough investigation into the crash.

The joint investigation is also aimed at ascertaining the airworthiness of all aircraft operating in the country to ensure that they conform to global safety standards.

The Senate also directed the Ministry of Aviation to release without any further delay the reports of all previous air mishaps in the country and prosecute all those indicted in the reports.

The Senate President David Mark directed that the resolutions of the motion should be communicated to the Presidency without delay.

Also Tuesday, the House of Representatives vented their anger and disillusionment on the operators of Dana Airlines over an alleged negligence.

At a stage during the session filled with emotional outbursts, the Speaker, Hon. Aminu Tambuwal, said that there was an overwhelming outcry and demand for thorough investigation of the crash.

He directed the committee on aviation to commence probe of the incident and to unearth all issues that might inhibit the smooth and safe operation of the aviation industry.

This Day

Related stories: Video - Dana Air crash major setback for Nigeria's aviation industry

 President Goodluck Jonathan declares 3 day mourning for victims of Dana Air plane crash in Lagos, Nigeria

Video - All passengers dead in airline that crashed into building in Lagos, Nigeria