Femi Babafemi, NDLEA spokesperson, said in a statement on Sunday said the suspect was arrested aboard a Qatar Airways flight through the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) Ikeja Lagos.

According to Babafemi, Peace, who claimed she travels to China to buy items for sale in Nigeria, was arrested on Sunday, June 21, 2026, at the departure hall of terminal 2 of the Lagos airport based on credible intelligence.

“A search of her check-in luggage led to the discovery of four large parcels of cocaine concealed in false bottom professionally created in her bag,” the statement reads.

“The parcels of the class A drug found hidden in the bag have a combined weight of 7.5 kilograms.”

Meanwhile, Babafemi said in another major interdiction operation, efforts by operatives of two special operations units of NDLEA tracking and monitoring a container laden with 195 big sacks of Canadian Loud, a strong strain of cannabis from Toronto, Canada, for over four weeks paid off on Wednesday, June 23.

He said 4,959 kilograms of the illicit drug consignment worth N12, 397,500,000 in street value, were recovered from the container during a joint examination of the shipment by officers of the Apapa strategic command of the agency, men of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), other security agencies and ports stakeholders at the Apapa ports complex, Lagos.

“The large illicit drug consignment which was loaded into a 40ft container comprising a Ford and a Nissan vehicle came under NDLEA tracking and monitoring system since 25th April 2026 when it arrived in Toronto, Canada via truck, Montreal via rail on 29th April, Tanger Med Morocco on 11th May, loaded on another vessel on 23rd May before arriving Tincan port Lagos on 4th June and discharged there 5th June before the container eventually left Tincan and arrived Apapa port on Monday 22nd June,” Babafemi added.

He also said NDLEA operatives in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, in a joint operation with their colleagues in Anambra unravelled a syndicate which plants illicit drugs in the luggage of unsuspecting passengers in motor parks.

He noted that the syndicate’s trick came to the fore when operatives in Abuja intercepted a consignment of methamphetamine in a Sienna bus coming from Nnewi Anambra state at Abaji, FCT on Saturday, June 20.

“During a search of the bus, a waybill package was recovered containing whitish substances suspected to be methamphetamine concealed inside a black nylon bag, which was also put into another sack of clothes with the phone number of the receiver written on it,” the NDLEA spokesperson said.

“A follow up operation conducted same day led to the arrest of the supposed receiver of the waybill Mrs. Gloria Peter at Utako motor park.

“She however vehemently denied knowledge and ownership of the package in her luggage. This led to a swift arrest of the loaders of the Sienna bus in Nnewi where one of them revealed that the drug package was put into the woman’s bag by him on the directive of the driver of the bus Abdurrazak Isah.

“His revelations made the driver to open up and mentioned one of his passengers Onyebuchi Victor Okoye as the actual owner of the drug. Onyebuchi was then picked up at Utako, FCT during another follow up operation. The illicit consignment weighed 467.7grams.”

“Operatives of a Special Operations Unit of NDLEA on Saturday 27th June acting on credible intelligence, arrested 57-year-old Ikechukwu Uwakwe at a motor park in Iddo, Lagos with 209.50kg Scottish Loud, a strong strain of cannabis. The illicit consignment was being taken to Enugu when it was intercepted.”

TWO BENIN REPUBLIC NATIONALS, NIGERIAN ARRESTED IN LAGOS

Babafemi said two nationals of Benin Republic, identified as Hossou Tito Julien, 30; and Mancellim Dossou, 19, and a Nigerian, Jackson ThankGod, were arrested in Lagos by NDLEA operatives following credible intelligence.

He said the suspects were nabbed on the Mile 2 Bridge when their truck conveying illicit drug consignment from Togo through Benin Republic was intercepted on Sunday, June 21.

“A thorough search of the truck led to the recovery of Five Hundred and Fifty-Eight Thousand Nine Hundred (558,900) pills of Tramadol 250mg, concealed in a fabricated compartment of the vehicle,” Babafemi said.

“Two suspects: Lucky Abonga and Osas Azamobo were also arrested along Lagos–Ibadan expressway on Friday 26th June while transporting 118kg skunk among other legitimate goods in a truck, which left Ebute Ero area of Lagos Island, heading to Onitsha, Anambra wtate.

“In another operation in Lagos, Helen Ese Idiji, 40, and Rashidat Sa’adullah, 53, were arrested same Friday 26th June at 15 Olumokun Street, Amukoko, with 28.8 kilograms of skunk recovered from them.

“Investigation revealed that the principal suspect, Helen stores her illicit consignments with the second suspect, Rashidat, from where she distributes to her customers.”

The post NDLEA arrests China-bound 38-year-old businesswoman with large consignment of cocaine first appeared on The Times of Abuja.

According to statement by Segun Tomori, the special assistant on media to Dele Alake, the minister of solid minerals development, the collaboration is aimed at unlocking the potential of Nigeria’s solid minerals sector through the establishment of electric vehicle factories in the country.

Tomori said this was part of the discussion when Yu Dunhai, the Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria, paid a courtesy visit to the ministry.

The minister’s aide quoted Alake to have emphasised the importance of closer ties between both nations in advancing Nigeria’s industrial growth.

The minister said that Nigeria is open for business to serious investors, stressing that investments in the nation’s mining industry are now focused on local value addition.

He urged the ambassador to encourage Chinese investors to commit to full-cycle investments, from extraction to processing, within Nigeria.

He said that Nigeria is a large market and has the potential to reduce reliance on fossil fuels through electric vehicle production.

“For years, our minerals have been exported raw to fuel foreign industrialisation. That must change,” the minister.

“We now prioritise local processing to drive Nigeria’s development. For instance, with the abundance of lithium, we want to see local manufacturing of electric vehicles and batteries.”

Alake highlighted the effects of the mining marshals established to combat illegal mining, stressing that the outfit has sent the right signal in the sector, raised awareness about the menace and has consequently improved compliance with regulations by both local and foreign operators.

“We have taken action against illegal operators, including some Chinese nationals. While isolated, such incidents undermine the good work of many compliant Chinese firms. We need your cooperation in ensuring that such culprits are brought to justice,” the minister asserted.

Alake stated that Nigeria appreciates its long-standing relations with China, acknowledging that most Chinese firms operate within legal and regulatory frameworks.

Responding, Dunhai expressed support for Nigeria’s local value-addition policy, pointing out that one of President Xi Jinping’s key priorities is promoting African industrialisation.

“Plans are underway to establish electric vehicle factories and other manufacturing ventures in Nigeria.

“Chinese companies are already deeply involved in Nigeria’s mining sector, from exploration to processing.

“We aim to deepen this collaboration, especially in line with President Tinubu’s eight priority areas, notably economic diversification through solid minerals,” he added.

He expressed concern over the actions of a few operators tarnishing China’s image, referencing a recent viral video involving a Chinese national allegedly bribing local security agents.

The ambassador emphasised that Chinese authorities have zero tolerance for illegal mining, noting that they are willing to cooperate with the Nigerian government to bring suspected offenders to justice.

He said that the embassy and the Chinese government have consistently warned Chinese companies operating in Nigeria to follow rules and regulations, implement corporate social responsibility, and adhere to environmental and safety standards.

He stated that China has always placed Nigeria in a very pivotal position in its foreign policy.

Dunhai noted that Presidents Bola Tinubu and Xi Jinping have agreed to elevate bilateral relations between the two countries to a comprehensive strategic partnership, creating new opportunities for cooperation during Nigerian leader’s state visit to China.

The post FG, China mulling electric vehicle factories in Nigeria, says Alake first appeared on The Times of Abuja.

The president spoke during a meeting with Nigerians living in the country, describing his visit as “very good and successful”.

Tinubu told members of Nigerians in Diaspora Organisation in China (NIDO China) and the Nigerian community at the China World Hotel, Beijing, that he has a very good team.

He stressed his efforts to strengthen cooperation in infrastructure, trade, finance, energy, green economy and mining during his discussions with President Xi Jinping, Premier Li Qiang, and his participation at the 2024 Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC).

He also urged Nigerians in China to continue to be good ambassadors of the country, noting that discipline is essential to building a successful society.

“What is uppermost in my mind is for you to continue representing Nigeria as good citizens, and I urge you all to be good ambassadors of our nation in China,” Tinubu said.

“We will always celebrate our diversity. We cherish it, but this diversity is our commitment to serve. If it is about service, we must be good citizens.

“I cannot tell you more, except from the embassy, that China is a very disciplined society, and we have to be disciplined too. Without discipline and commitment, we cannot build a nation that is respected everywhere in the world.

“We must exploit our diversity and be ready to do everything required of us within the laws of the communities that we live in and reflect a good image of our country.

“We want our children to be in good schools, not tattered huts and dilapidated buildings. We must make our teaching innovative and allow businesses of all kinds and sizes to flourish.

“One economic action leads to another, and it is in your hand to build our nation. Mine is to provide the leadership, and I am committed to doing just that.”

The president noted that while it is not always easy for a leader to have a national consensus on issues, he is ready to take the hard decisions to move the nation forward.

“We are focused, and I have a very good team,” he added.

Oche Barnabas, the president of NIDO China, commended Tinubu for his commitment to strengthening Nigeria-China relations, particularly in trade, investment, and people-to-people collaboration.

He expressed NIDO China’s support for Nigeria’s 4Ds initiative, launched by Yusuf Tuggar, the minister of foreign Affairs, earlier in the year.

He pledged that the association is eager to drive the initiative forward within the diaspora community.

He also requested President Tinubu’s assistance in advocating for Nigeria to be officially recognized as a native English-speaking nation, which would open up job and educational opportunities for Nigerians in China.

“Your Excellency, I wish to indulge your kind attention and use this rare opportunity to share a key challenge on behalf of the Nigeria community in China. Due to the peculiar nature of this country, the Nigerian community is mainly composed of students, expatriates, and businessmen,” Barnabas said.

“Our desire is that Nigeria is officially recognized as a native English-speaking nation in China. We believe your esteemed engagements with the high-level authorities can assist us in establishing this status.

“Presently, over 70 percent of available international jobs in China are reserved for native English speakers. In 2016, the local authorities listed South Africa as a native English-speaking nation.

“We believe Nigeria has a chance to receive similar recognition due to the fact that English language is our official language, and we are also blessed with Professor Wole Soyinka, who was awarded the nobel prize in literature in 1986.

“We believe the enhancement of our status will open more opportunities to allow more Nigerians to study and work in China, thereby increasing diaspora remittance to Nigeria.”

The post Tinubu: We’ll replicate China’s commitment to infrastructural development in Nigeria first appeared on The Times of Abuja.

President Bola Tinubu says the relationship between Nigeria and China has been elevated to a comprehensive strategic partnership.

Tinubu spoke in Beijing, the capital of China, when he met Xi Jinping, the Chinese president.

A statement by Ajuri Ngelale, presidential spokesperson, said the two leaders also agreed to build a high-level Nigeria-China community with a shared future.

President Tinubu’s official visit precedes his participation in the 2024 summit of the forum on China-Africa cooperation, scheduled to hold from September 4-6.

”This is an important visit for Nigeria and the rest of Africa, as I arrive in my capacity as the Chairman of ECOWAS. I thank you for the high-level of honour accorded to us,” the statement reads.

”Relations between China and Nigeria have indeed lasted for over half a century and should be further strengthened to advance our trade and economic development programmes.

”Nigeria holds great potential as the country with the largest population in Africa and is the biggest economy with a very young population that can drive economic growth and cross-sectoral programmes.

”We have upgraded the relationship to more than what is just strategic — but a comprehensive developmental partnership.

”This comprehensive strategic partnership should result in robust development, stability, and security in the West African sub-region. This is very crucial.”

Speaking on the economic reforms in Nigeria, Tinubu told the Chinese president that his administration remains committed to sustainable growth through the effective implementation of ongoing economic reforms.

”We believe that President Xi has demonstrably reformed the Chinese economy, and our reform programme in Nigeria is on a similar course. I am a reformer with verifiable antecedents,” he said.

”We have recognized the need to reform our economy, and we are doing so diligently across tax and tariff reviews, to various other segments of our nation’s economy.

”Trading and investment partners will have easy access to bring in their investments and seamlessly take their resources out,” the President stated.

In his remarks, President Xi noted the strong mutual understanding between Nigeria and China since the establishment of diplomatic ties over the past 50 years.

”We have found the path of seeking collective strength, through unity, and win-win cooperation,” the Chinese president said.

”China and Nigeria, as major developing countries, strengthening strategic coordination, will inject fresh impetus to China-Africa relations in the new era and spearhead common progress among Global South countries.”

The Chinese leader said the 2024 FOCAC summit provides an opportunity to reflect on mutual friendships and advance the consolidation of China-Africa relations.

He pledged that China and Nigeria would continue to work closely within the FOCAC framework as a model of cooperation between nations.

During the meeting, both presidents witnessed the signing of several Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) on various areas of mutual interest:

(1) Cooperation plan between Nigeria and China on jointly promoting the Belt and Road Initiative

(2) Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation in the peaceful application of Nuclear Energy

(3) Memorandum of Understanding on strengthening cooperation on Human Resource Development under the Global Development Initiative

(4) Memorandum of Understanding on Media Exchange and Cooperation

(5) Memorandum of Understanding between China Media Group and the Nigerian Television Authority

Earlier, on Monday in Beijing, President Tinubu visited the China Railway Construction Corporation (CRCC), during which he acknowledged the company’s role as a reliable partner in Nigeria’s infrastructure development programme, commending its ongoing railway projects in the country.

”It is equally very important that we give assurances to the Nigerian people across our local communities that the Ibadan-Abuja-Kaduna-Kano railway segments will be completed and done to the satisfaction of Nigeria and West Africa at large,” ‘ the president said during a meeting with the Chairman of CRCC, Dai Hegen,

”We will support your investment in solid minerals and other ventures in Nigeria. I am here to assure you that Nigeria is ready to do business with you.”

Hegen informed the president that CRCC has been involved in Nigeria for 43 years, implementing over 300 projects and training over 100,000 local workers.

”The Abuja-Kaduna Railway and Lagos-Ibadan Railway have transported approximately 9 million passengers and 180 tonnes of cargo. The Lagos blue line has transported over 1.6 million passengers,” he said.

The post I’m a reformer with verifiable antecedents, Tinubu tells Chinese president first appeared on The Times of Abuja.