By staff Reporter Rukevwe Odeh

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has warned applicants undergoing recruitment into four agencies under the Ministry of Interior against paying for the mandatory Drug Integrity Test (DIT).

The agency said the Federal Government had already covered the cost of the exercise, urging candidates to disregard demands for payment from individuals or testing centres.

In a statement issued on Friday, October 30, NDLEA’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, said the Ministry of Interior had made a bulk payment to cover the testing of new recruits.

The affected agencies are the Nigerian Correctional Service, Nigeria Immigration Service, Federal Fire Service and Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps.

Babafemi stressed that no candidate or personnel participating in the exercise would be required to pay for the test.

He warned applicants against making payments to NDLEA officials, testing centres or through any other payment channel in connection with the exercise.

The agency explained that candidates would access the NDLEA Drug Integrity Test portal through designated links provided on their respective institutional recruitment portals.

Applicants are expected to complete the necessary registration and documentation on the NDLEA platform before proceeding for the test.

The agency said the arrangement was designed to ensure a smooth and transparent testing process without imposing additional financial obligations on candidates.

NDLEA also reaffirmed its commitment to working with the Ministry of Interior to ensure the effective implementation of the exercise.

The agency urged applicants to follow official instructions and avoid making payments to unauthorised individuals.

The warning comes amid the ongoing recruitment process into the four security and paramilitary agencies.

By staff Reporter Rukevwe Odeh

Nigeria’s military has recorded a 73.3 per cent reduction in attacks across its operational theatres in October 2026, according to the Defence Headquarters.

The military reported 98 attacks during the month, compared with 367 recorded in September, representing a decline of 269 incidents.

Director of Defence Media Operations, Major General Michael Onoja, disclosed the figures on Friday in Abuja while briefing journalists on military operations across the country.

He attributed the reduction to sustained military operations and the efforts of troops deployed across various theatres.

Military Operations Record Gains

According to Onoja, Operation Enduring Peace recorded the highest number of attacks in October, with 29 incidents.

Operation Hadin Kai followed with 27 attacks, while Operation Fansan Yamma recorded 24. Operation Whirl Stroke recorded 12 incidents, Operation Udo Ka recorded four, while Operations Delta Safe and Savannah Shield recorded one attack each.

Despite the reduction in attacks, the military reported that troops neutralised more than 217 terrorists and criminals, arrested 333 suspects and rescued 349 kidnap victims during the month.

The military also recorded the surrender of 70 insurgents and the recovery of 105 firearms and 3,174 rounds of ammunition.

49 Illegal Refineries Destroyed

Onoja further disclosed that military operations against crude oil theft resulted in the recovery of 756,837 litres of stolen petroleum products and the destruction of 49 illegal refining sites.

He said troops continued to respond to attacks across the various theatres, engaging assailants and repelling them through coordinated military operations.

However, the Defence Headquarters expressed condolences to the government and people of Taraba State over the killing of civilians in terrorist attacks in Binari, Karim Lamido Local Government Area, on October 23.

Chief of Defence Staff, General Olufemi Oluyede, assured Nigerians that the military would intensify efforts to apprehend those responsible and bring them to justice.

Oluyede also urged security agencies to strengthen intelligence sharing and joint planning while calling on troops to remain disciplined, respect human rights and comply with the rules of engagement.

He warned against complacency, particularly as the festive season approaches, and encouraged community leaders and residents to report suspicious activities to security formations or through the military’s toll-free line, 193.

By staff Reporter Rukevwe Odeh

ESDIAC Global Systems Limited has launched an upgraded telecommunications application offering local and international calls, eSIM services, airtime and data top-ups, as well as business communication solutions.

The company said the platform was developed to make telecommunications services more affordable and accessible, particularly for Nigerians who make international calls and travellers seeking mobile connectivity abroad.

Speaking at the product unveiling, ESDIAC’s founder and Chief Executive Officer, Austin Ugbebor, said the application offers international calls at ₦13 per minute, a rate he described as significantly lower than those charged by some major telecommunications providers.

He added that new users in Nigeria would receive one unit of calling credit to test the service.

According to Ugbebor, the platform’s pricing model eliminates certain charges associated with other international calling services, including connection fees and monthly deductions on unused account balances.

He also assured customers that complaints involving missing credits or incorrect deductions would be investigated, with affected subscribers reimbursed where their claims were justified.

App Allows Calls Without Internet Access

ESDIAC operates as an app-to-phone platform, enabling users to make calls to people who do not have the application or an internet-connected smartphone.

The company said this feature distinguishes its service from internet-based messaging applications that generally require both parties to use the same platform.

The application also offers eSIM services, allowing travellers to access mobile connectivity abroad without purchasing a physical SIM card in every destination.

Ugbebor disclosed that the company had partnered with major mobile network operators for subscriber authentication while maintaining its own communications infrastructure.

Company Addresses Data Privacy Concerns

Addressing concerns about data privacy and cybersecurity, the ESDIAC chief executive said the company was committed to complying with relevant data protection and telecommunications regulations.

He said subscribers’ information would not be shared with other organisations without appropriate authorisation, while access to call records would be subject to applicable legal requirements.

The company’s legal representative, Aja, said ESDIAC was registered in Nigeria in 2015 and established to make communication services more accessible and affordable.

He cited the Nigeria Data Protection Act 2023, which requires the protection of subscribers’ personal information, including when it is handled by third-party service providers and partners.

The company also disclosed that it had taken steps to host Nigerian users’ data locally in line with applicable requirements.

The company said it was exploring additional features, including video calling, while continuing to assess how best to implement the service within its technology and pricing model.

It also plans to expand its business communication services through a platform that would allow organisations to manage calls using a single business number.

According to the company, future developments include automated conversational agents capable of making calls and scheduling appointments.

The Special Adviser to the President on Economic Affairs, Dr Tope Fasua, described ESDIAC as a potentially useful development in Nigeria’s telecommunications market.

However, he noted that he intended to test the service himself after recounting an earlier experience with an eSIM that worked in London but failed to provide the expected connectivity in Bangkok.

ESDIAC said its application was first released in 2016, while the latest version represents an upgraded platform developed through years of technical work and testing.

The company added that it would continue to improve the service based on customer feedback as it seeks to expand in Nigeria and other markets.