Category: General News

 

-DG Says – NAFDAC exist to safeguard public health through legal and regulatory framework that would ensure the availability of safe, efficacious, and quality medicines.

– NAFDAC set up the Clean Report of Inspection and Analysis (CRIA) Scheme to ensure that products leaving high risk countries like China and India meet quality requirements before they are exported to Nigeria.

– – due process was not followed in ensuring that the manufacturer of the consignment of antileprosy drugs (Rifampicin) destined for Nigeria, obtained the necessary WHO-Backed quality assurance document from the Indian Regulatory Authority.

 

By Biola Lawal

Abuja (FLOWERBUDNEWS): The National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has reacted to a publication by the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) insinuating unnessary delay in allowing a consignment of leprosy drugs into Nigeria.

According to NAFDAC Director General, the report, which was titled ”Vital leprosy drugs due in Nigeria after year delay,” contained a lot of misinformation which had to be corrected to protect Nigeria and the Agency’s image and proficiency.

Flowerbudnews reports that the BBC report stated that the World Health Organization (WHO) had requested that NAFDAC lift its new testing policy and grant permission to import antileprosy medicines for patients who needed the medicines.

However, Prof. Adeyeye said that timely NAFDAC response was necessary ‘:to provide clear and accurate details on what transpired and to dispel the misinformation in circulation that NAFDAC prevented/delayed the entry of the medicines into Nigeria.”.

The NAFDAC DG stated:

NAFDAC was set up to safeguard public health through legal and regulatory framework that would ensure the availability of safe, efficacious, and quality medicines.

On the strength of this mandate, NAFDAC set up the Clean Report of Inspection and Analysis (CRIA) Scheme to ensure that products leaving high risk countries like China and India meet quality requirements before they are exported to Nigeria.

This policy has been in place since 2002 but was strengthened in 2020 to guarantee that the purpose of setting up the scheme is achieved.

For medicines to be exported to Nigeria, one of the requirements for processing the CRIA is the submission of a Certificate of Pharmaceutical Products (CoPP).

The CoPP is a quality assurance document presented as an export document to the receiving regulatory authority that a consignment of medicines has undergone validated quality and inspection checks by the regulatory authority of the exporting country.

The COPP certification scheme was developed by the WHO as an international voluntary agreement that provides assurance to receiving countries to rely on the document as a proof that medicines moving in international trade have undergone necessary Good Manufacturing (GMP) requirements and an attestation as meeting, quality, safety, and efficacy requirements.

The COPP is issued based on the WHO Guideline which requires that the issuing authority takes responsibility for assuring the receiving country that the certified data is authentic, that the manufacturing process of all batches of the medical products conform to GMP standards based on Inspections conducted by the issuing authority.

Unfortunately, due process was not followed in ensuring that the manufacturer of the said consignment of antileprosy drugs (Rifampicin) obtained this quality assurance document from the Indian Regulatory Authority.

To remedy the situation, the WHO requested a waiver of this important documentation requirement.

NAFDAC upon receipt of the appeal from the WHO, requested for the laboratory evaluation report of the consignment of Rifampicin from one of the NAFDAC approved CRIA Laboratories in India.

This was to ensure that the said products had satisfactory quality, safety, and efficacy results before they can be shipped to Nigeria.

On the strength of the satisfactory laboratory result and based on appeals, assurances, and the need to replenish stock out of the product for patients who need them, approval was granted for the release of the shipment of Rifampicin for export to Nigeria.

NAFDAC is currently working with local industry to reduce the over dependence on imported finished pharmaceutical products through regulatory systems strengthening and capacity building for local pharma manufacturers in Nigeria.

This is therefore to assure the public that NAFDAC will continue to ensure that only quality, safe and efficacious medicines are available for distribution, sale and use within Nigeria.Thank you.

 

(Prof. Mojisola AdeyeyeDirector General NAFDACNAFDAC: Customer-focused, Agency-minded)

Former Kaduna State Governor and founding member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Nasir El-Rufai, has confirmed his resignation from the ruling party.

 

El-Rufai announced his defection to the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in a post on his verified Facebook page on Monday.

The former governor said he had submitted his resignation letter from the APC to his ward in Kaduna and had concluded consultations with his mentors, colleagues, and loyalists before making the decision.

“As a founding member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), I have fond memories of working with other compatriots to negotiate the merger of political parties that created the APC. It had been my hope since 2013 that my personal values and that of the APC will continue to align up to the time I choose to retire from politics,” he stated.

 

El-Rufai accused the party’s leadership of ignoring internal concerns and stifling its democratic structures.

 

“Developments in the last two years confirm that there is no desire on the part of those who currently control and run the APC to acknowledge, much less address, the unhealthy situation of the party,” he said.

 

The former governor, who played a key role in the APC’s victories in 2015, 2019, and 2023, said he could no longer remain in a party that has “castrated its organs and treated its membership with contempt.”

 

He added that as a member of the SDP, he would work to unite opposition parties to challenge the APC in future elections, including the 2027 general election.

 

“Without prejudice to this decision, as a member of the SDP, I will focus on engaging with and persuading other opposition leaders and parties to join us and congregate under a unified democratic platform to challenge the APC in all elections and bye-elections between now and 2027 by the Grace of God,” El-Rufai said.

I therefore call on all our supporters and other persons concerned about our country’s future to join us in the SDP in the journey towards making Nigeria flourish as a beacon of pride for Africans and the Black Race

 

 

A legal practitioner, Festus Onifade, has called on the Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, to refrain from the planned electricity tariff review for customers in Bands A, B, C, D and E to avoid contempt of court.

Onifade, who urged Adelabu to maintain the current electricity tariff in the country, reminded him about a pending suit before the Federal High Court, challenging the electricity tariff hike for Band A customers and the classification of customers into bands in April 2024.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that Adelabu had, on Feb. 27, announced plans to review the current electricity tariff to address disparities in the current billing system.

The minister stated that under the current structure, customers in Band B enjoy 17-18 hours of electricity supply at N63 per kilowatt-hour, while those in Band A, with two hours more of supply, are charged N209 per kilowatt-hour.
According to Adelabu, the gap between the Band A tariffs and Bands B, C, D, and E is just too wide.

“We believe it’s not fair. It is not just, and we must be able to carry out some level of regularisation,” he had said.

Meanwhile, Onifade, in a letter dated March 6, received same date at the minister’s office and made available to newsmen on Monday in Abuja, urged Adelabu to halt the plan to increase the tariffs.

“We are writing to respectfully request that you direct the Ministry of Power and National Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) which are directly under your supervision to maintain status quo on the current electricity tariff pending the hearing and determination of the ongoing matter in court.

“You will recall that we filed a suit no: FHC/ABJ/CS/492/2024 Festus Onifade Vs. NERC & 2 Others, challenging the electricity tariff hike for Band A customers and classification of electricity consumers into Bands in April, 2024.
“This suit is still pending before the Federal High Court, Abuja.
“The need to maintain status quo has become necessary, in other to preserve the integrity of the court, ensure adherence to the principle of rule of law and protect the right of parties, particularly the consumers,” he said.
Citing previous cases to back his argument, the lawyer said: “This trite position of law has long been endorsed by our courts in chains of judicial authorities.”
He said the court had decided “that during the pendency of a suit, neither party is permitted to dispose of or encumber the subject matter in dispute.
“Such actions are considered contemptuous as they undermine the authority of the court and the administration of justice.
“We are confident that in view of the above, you will be guided to refrain from actions that can potentially disrupt parties’ position and cause an irreparable harm to consumers.
“I kindly urge you to consider this request and avoid being in contempt of the court and by maintaining the current tariff until the court’s verdict.”
NAN reports that Onifade had, on April 16, 2024, filed the suit on behalf of himself and customers living within the high brown urban areas of Maitama, Asokoro and Aso Villa, praying the court to stop the policy classifying them into Band A and increasing their electricity tariff.
The plaintiff, in the suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/492/2024 before Justice Inyang Ekwo, named NERC, Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) and the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) as 1st to 3rd defendants respectively.
He accused NERC of classifying customers living in less privileged areas to Bands B, C, D and E, thereby providing them with limited electricity supply, thereby breaching their rights to freedom from discrimination.
He also alleged that the policy and introduction of new tariffs were done without the knowledge of many distribution companies.
Onifade, therefore, prayed the court to declare as unconstitutional the classification of customers into bands and the subsequent increase in tariffs.
Justice Ekwo had fixed March 17 for the hearing.

 

 

 

BEIRUT,  (Xinhua)/Flowerbudnews: — Despite a ceasefire, the deep scars of the conflict between Isreal and Hezbollah are starkly visible across southern Lebanon, where vast swathes of critical civilian infrastructure have been laid to waste.

Among the most significantly damaged infrastructure is the Wazzani spring water pumping station project — the largest of its kind in the region. Its destruction has deprived dozens of towns of access to potable water, exacerbating the challenges faced by residents who have just returned after the end of the nearly 14 months of hostilities in November last year.

Wazzani Mayor Ahmed Al-Mohammad described the disillusionment among returnees, whose hope for a return to normalcy was dashed when they found the water pumping station, a lifeline for the community, utterly destroyed.

The mayor noted that the facility had been frequently targeted due to its strategically vital location near the Blue Line, the UN demarcation line between Lebanon and Israel.

Al-Mohammad complained that the repeated Israeli attacks on the pumping project had rendered all repair attempts futile.

Mohammad Ghamloush, an engineer with the South Lebanon Water Establishment, highlighted the staggering loss inflicted on the project.

“Israeli bulldozers leveled the entire site … the project has been erased,” he said. “To restore the water supply, we need to rebuild the entire facility, replace extensive sections of the pipeline network, and install new equipment.”

Mohammad Al-Mustafa, a 50-year-old livestock farmer, confirmed the dire consequences of the destruction, emphasizing that the water crisis has become critical, particularly for the many farms and villages that depend on this essential project.

“We’ve been forced to rely on agricultural wells powered by diesel pumps, which significantly increases our financial burdens amidst an already dire economic situation. Our homes have been reduced to rubble, our livestock has perished, and our orchards have been razed,” he lamented.

Adding to the returnees’ distress, Al-Mustafa said security concerns remain as Israeli troops threaten to fire at anyone attempting to approach the Wazzani River, which lies a mere 500 meters from his town.

Launched in 2001, the pumping station is designed to serve 40 towns. “Before its destruction, the facility was providing a minimum of 12,000 cubic meters of water daily, peaking at 45,000 cubic meters,” said Hashem Haidar, head of the South Council, responsible for assessing damage from Israeli strikes. Haidar urged a dialogue between Lebanese authorities and international stakeholders to facilitate the facility’s reconstruction.

A U.S.- and French-brokered ceasefire agreement has been in effect since Nov. 27, 2024, bringing an end to more than a year of clashes between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon triggered by the Gaza war.

Although the agreement mandates a full Israeli withdrawal from Lebanese territory, Israeli forces remain stationed in five key positions along the Lebanese border well past the February 18 deadline, raising serious concerns about the durability and sustainability of the ceasefire.

 

 

(NAFDAC Director General, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye)

 

By Biola Lawal
FLOWERBUDNEWS: The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has destroyed the
expired, falsified, controlled, unregistered, and banned medicines seized from the Idumota Open Drug Market during the recent three-week enforcement operation.

Flowerbudnews reports that the unwholesome confiscated products, valued at about N100 billion naira, were destroyed at the Lapite Dumpsite in Moniya, Ibadan, Oyo State.

The destruction is part of NAFDAC strategy to permanently safeguard public health by ensuring that the dangerous products were never recycled into the market, a senior NAFDAC official told Flowerbudnews.

A NAFDAC post on X disclosed that several suspects were apprehended in connection with the fake drugs etc during the exercise.

The Agency assured that those found culpable will face appropriate sanctions.

Commenting on the NAFDAC achievements against counterfeiters, an X user, Tunde Akerele said:

”These fake drug dealers and manufacturers are not supposed to be living among the humans, they are animals, they should be made to face the consequences and be made to face firing squads.’: (Flowerbudnews)

 

(Governor Mbah of Enugu state – commended by ECCIMA President for building a thriving economy in Enugu state)

–  “Gov. Mbah’s drive for enabling business environment has helped to attract number of multinational companies to establish in the state and to participate in this year’s Fair,”  Chief Odeiga Jideonwo said

 

By Flowerbudnews
Chief Odeiga Jideonwo, the President of the Enugu Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (ECCIMA), says he will restore fading glory and appeal of the Enugu International Trade Fair.

Jideonwo gave the assurance at the weekend during a press briefing in Enugu on the forthcoming 36th edition of the fair.

The 15 days long Fair, which will kick off on April 4 and end on April 14, is themed: “Developing Nigeria Industrial Sector/SMEs for Economic Advancement and Global Recognition”.

Jideonwo expressed optimism that the 36th Enugu International Trade Fair would be a success in spite of the challenging economic environment.

According to him, a number of strategies have been put in place by the Chamber towards ensuring that all stakeholders realised meaningful outcome from participation in this Fair, including a number of side attractions that would interest the public.

“We took a bold step for the first time in November, 2024 and signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with one of the marketing consulting companies in Nigeria, Xavier Communications Ltd, to develop a robust marketing plan and attract meaningful exhibitors/companies to the Fair.

“This move was in our quest to revive the glory of the Enugu International Trade Fair.

“We are particularly happy that this step has proven to be in the right direction as we have been receiving streams of enquiries and interests from corporate/multinational organisations and institutions declaring interest to participate in the forthcoming fair,” he said.

Jideonwo expressed optimism that the 36th Enugu International Trade Fair would be success despite challenging economic environment.

He expressed the hope that Gov. Peter Mbah of Enugu State would declare the fair open while the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, who coordinates the activities of the Chamber movement in the country, would also be on ground to give her blessings to the Fair.

“We are expecting high net worth personalities, captains of industries, business moguls of repute and economic policy makers making it to the fair in the opening ceremony as well as each special days at the fair.

“It is therefore with satisfaction that I let you know that the Chamber is making appreciable progress to ensure that the Fair is successfully held to the satisfaction of all stakeholders,” he said.

Jideonwo noted that the Chamber was very concerned about the upbeat of the economic affairs of the country pledging that the Fair would therefore provide the cleavages to gauge the economic situation.

“This included the attendant associated risks and opportunities that would be inclined to the business environment/landscape to make informed business and investment decisions,” he said.

The president commended Gov. Mbah for his efforts to build a thriving economy while urging all business and economic stakeholders to support these efforts.

“Gov. Mbah’s drive for enabling business environment has helped to attract number of multinational companies to establish in the state and to participate in this year’s Fair,” he said.

 

By Biola Lawal
Oshogbo (FLOWERBUDNEWS): Osun State Governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke has been honoured with the award of – Best Governor in the Health Sector for his remarkable achievements in improving quality of health services in the state.

Flowerbudnews reports that the Award was bestowed on the Governor by management of Telegraph Newspapers, led the Managing Director, Ayodele Aminu, moments ago at a simple but colourful ceremony.

Presenting the award to Gov. Adeleke, Aminu said that it was in recognition the Governor’s achievements of rehabilitating and upgrading over 200 primary health centres (PHCs) across Osun state.

The Telegraph Newspaper Boss also noted that the success of the Governor’s initiative – Imole Medical Outreach, which has over 70,000 beneficiaries among others, prompted the award.

(Flowerbudnews)

 

 

By TAYO MABEWEJE

In the grand theatre of Nigerian politics, where actors rise and fall like waves on a tempestuous sea, Governor Siminalayi Fubara strode onto the stage, not as a self-made hero but as a carefully groomed understudy.

Handpicked, dressed in borrowed robes, and handed the script of governance, he had one job—to play his role with wisdom. Instead, he tore up the script, mistook the murmurs of sycophants for the voice of destiny, and embarked on a reckless solo performance. The audience—history—watched in stunned silence.

Fubara’s ascent to power was the stuff of political fairy tales, but even in fairy tales, wisdom is the currency of survival. Like a man who inherits a thriving farm but insists on uprooting every tree to plant his own seedlings, he chose to rebel against the very foundation that secured his rise.

The Rivers State House of Assembly, a robust tree with deep political roots, refused to be felled. But rather than pruning and nurturing alliances, he picked up the axe. And so began his undoing.

When 27 lawmakers crossed the political aisle, Fubara, rather than outmaneuvering them with wit, responded with the grace of a bull in a china shop. He demolished the Assembly complex as if wrecking the building could erase the lawmakers’ legitimacy. He convened a four-man legislature, mistaking a puppet show for governance. He mistook silence for consent, forgetting that the walls of power have ears and that patience is the true weapon of political warriors.

Surrounded by flatterers who mistook chaos for courage, he was led deeper into the political wilderness. They clapped as he burned bridges, assuring him that smoke was the sign of victory. They cheered as he dismissed seasoned power brokers, forgetting that in Nigerian politics, loyalty is not gifted—it is negotiated. They convinced him that sheer defiance could stand where strategy was needed.

Then came the Supreme Court’s ruling—the gavel of reality crashing down. The judges peeled away the illusions, exposing Fubara’s actions as “brigandage and dictatorship.”

His supposed enemies returned, not as ghosts but as resurrected lawmakers, wielding the very power he had sought to snuff out. His budget, his decisions, and his government now dangled like a puppet on a string, controlled by the very Assembly he tried to silence.

To compound his troubles, the court also nullified his local government elections, proving that even in a kingdom of illusions, the law remains king. And as the final stroke, the Central Bank was ordered to halt funds to Rivers State until a legitimate budget was approved. A governor once flush with power now finds himself leading an administration on a financial ventilator.

Fubara’s tale is not one of betrayal by enemies but of self-inflicted wounds. He mistook thunder for applause, rebellion for independence, and flattery for wisdom. He had the opportunity to be a statesman, to grow into his role, to balance loyalty with ambition, but he threw it all away for the fleeting pleasure of defiance. Now, he stands as a cautionary tale in the book of Nigerian politics—a man who reached for the crown but lost his grip on reality.

In the end, politics is a chess game, not a boxing ring. Fubara entered the arena swinging, but the game was never about strength; it was about moves. And he, unfortunately, played his hand too soon, too loudly, and all wrong.