Category: General News

 

–  Recall Akpoti-Uduaghan has filed a N100 billion defamation suit against Akpabio.

Earlier, Akpoti-Uduaghan said she had refrained from speaking publicly on the issue and other senate developments.

Flowerbudnews

Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, the senator representing Kogi Central, has claimed that her challenges in the senate started when she turned down Senate President Godswill Akpabio’s sexual advances.

Akpoti-Uduaghan voiced this allegation while speaking in an interview with Arise TV on Friday.

“The Senate President made a mistake by not allowing me to speak on that Order 10,” Natasha said.

“The Senate President has the right to allocate seats, and senators should adhere, but for a senator to invoke Order 10, it means their privileges have been trampled upon, and that can be raised anywhere at any time.

“So, once a senator shouts Order 10, even if they are being dragged on the floor, they are supposed to be heard.

“Once I raised Order 10, the Senate President ought to have allowed me to speak. He could have used his discretion to move that complaint to the Ethics and Privileges Committee or overrule it, but he failed to do that. Instead, he ordered the Sergeant-at-Arms to remove me from the chambers and prepare for my suspension.

“I did mention that in the Senate, I have been dehumanized, maligned, and all that, and I believe that this situation was just the straw that broke the camel’s back.

“Many people do not know what I’m about to say, and I’m going to speak my truth while the Senate President is allowed to counter it.

“It all started on December 8, 2023, a day before my birthday and his. We were all in Akwa Ibom, and he held my hand, saying he wanted to show me around his house. My husband was walking behind us.

“I noticed that he hastened his pace while still holding my hand, and then he got to a particular sitting room and said, ‘Do you like my house?’ I said, ‘Of course, sir, every room is beautiful.’ He then said, ‘Now that you are a senator, I’m going to create time for us to come and spend quality moments here—you will enjoy it.’

“When I turned to look at my husband to see if he had heard that or not, the Senate President also turned and said, ‘Let me show you my chapel as well.’

“That evening, we left his house at about 11 PM, and my husband asked what the Senate President told me. I wondered whether I should tell him what the Senate President said about bringing me there to ‘have a good time’ or if I should just let it go because I knew how much my husband adored him.

“In February, I wanted to move a motion for the investigation of anti-corruption practices at Ajaokuta Steel Company. I listed that motion five times, but it was only on the sixth attempt that it was approved. Many senators can testify to that. Each time the motion was listed, he would say, ‘Senator Natasha, we can’t take this motion because the good of the Senate does not accommodate it.’

“He kept doing that, so I went to his office and said, ‘You know how important the Ajaokuta Steel Company is to me and my people. I’ve noticed that you have repeatedly stepped down this motion.’ He replied, ‘Natasha, I’m the Chief Presiding Officer of the Senate. You can enjoy a whole lot if you take care of me and make me happy.’

“At that point, I said I would pretend I didn’t hear that. He then said, ‘The ball is in your court.’ When I got home, I told my husband to speak to the Senate President to allow my motion to go through.

“You know when a student keeps failing because they refuse to sleep with a lecturer? That is exactly what I have been facing, in simple terms.

“Regarding the nightclub incident, I believe that was not a slip of the tongue. He had told me that there are a number of ways we can have fun if we travel.”

On February 20, the lawmaker disrupted plenary by rejecting her assigned seat, defying Senate President Godswill Akpabio’s order, and repeatedly raising a point of order despite being overruled.

On Tuesday, the upper chamber referred her to the committee on ethics, privileges, and public petitions for disciplinary review.

This is a developing story…

 

The agreement, signed on Wednesday at the Makkah Halal Forum in Saudi Arabia, aims to boost investment

Vice President Kashim Shettima, represented by Deputy Chief of Staff Senator Ibrahim Hassan Hadejia, described the partnership as a “game-changing opportunity”

Nigeria has signed a cooperation agreement with Saudi Arabia’s Halal Products Development Company (HPDC) to establish itself as a major player in the global halal market, valued at $7.7 trillion.

The agreement, signed on Wednesday at the Makkah Halal Forum in Saudi Arabia, aims to boost investment, technical cooperation, and market access in key sectors such as food production, pharmaceuticals, finance, and livestock.

Vice President Kashim Shettima, represented by Deputy Chief of Staff Senator Ibrahim Hassan Hadejia, described the partnership as a “game-changing opportunity” to position Nigeria as a global halal economy powerhouse.

“This collaboration is an important step in our ambition to not only tap into the lucrative halal market but to establish Nigeria as a leading global player,” Shettima said. “We are committed to leveraging this collaboration to create jobs, attract foreign investment, and diversify our economy in line with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.”

The agreement was signed by HPDC’s Chief Executive Officer, Fahad Alnuhait, with Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Commerce, Dr. Majid bin Abdullah Al-Qasabi, and other top officials in attendance.

The partnership is expected to drive economic growth in Nigeria by enhancing halal product standards and creating new opportunities across various industries.

 

The Director General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, on Wednesday raised the alarm over threats to her life and that of the agency’s staff.

She called on the authorities to protect the operatives who daily navigate a great deal of hazards while carrying out their assigned responsibilities.

This comes as the NAFDAC boss prescribed the death penalty for counterfeit and illicit drug peddlers in the country.

Prof. Adeyeye disclosed this while  addressing newsmen at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, where she had gone to speak on the agency’s recent large-scale enforcement operation across three major open drug markets—Onitsha, Aba, and Lagos—describing it as the biggest in NAFDAC’s history.

She also disclosed that the value of the seized illicit and fake drugs was estimated at about N1 trillion.

Recall that Prof. Dora Akunyili was haunted by drug cartels due to her relentless efforts to combat counterfeit drugs in Nigeria during her tenure as the Director-General of NAFDAC from 2001 to 2009.

Her personal motivation stemmed from the death of her sister, who died after receiving fake insulin. Akunyili’s campaigns led to the closure of open-air medicine markets and the confiscation of large quantities of fake drugs, which earned her numerous threats and an assassination attempt in 2003.

Her actions significantly disrupted the operations of drug cartels, making her a target for retaliation.

Narrating the agency’s challenges, the NAFDAC DG said, “I told you about the attempted murder about six months ago. One of our staff in Kano—his child was kidnapped because the father was doing what he was supposed to do. Fortunately, the child escaped.

“For me, I have two policemen living in my house 24/7 in Abuja and Lagos. I don’t have a life. I cannot go anywhere without police, and to me, that is not my way of living. But I don’t have a choice because we’ve got to save our country. Nonetheless, I also use common sense.”

Meanwhile, the NAFDAC DG explained that the seized consignments of banned, expired, unregistered, substandard, and falsified medical products will be destroyed publicly in each of the locations where they were seized after the exercise.

She called for speedy work by the National Assembly to expedite the amendment of NAFDAC ACT NI LFN and Counterfeit and Fake Drugs and Unwholesome Processed Foods C34 ACT to include LIFE SENTENCE & DEATH PENALTY in the penalties for crimes committed under these Acts.

“With the signing into law of the Proceeds of Crime Act (POCA) for the forfeiture of assets, the assets recovered from suspects will be treated as proceeds of crime after their conviction by the courts.

“We use this opportunity to call on the National Assembly to expedite the amendment of NAFDAC ACT NI LFN and Counterfeit and Fake Drugs and Unwholesome Processed Foods C34 ACT to include LIFE SENTENCE & DEATH PENALTY in the penalties for crimes committed under these Acts,” she stated.

Adeyeye described the exercise as “purely an enforcement operation to protect public health and rid our country of falsified and substandard medical products.”

“Many people are dying, and many have died as a result of the activities of fake drug peddlers.”

Shedding more light, Prof. Adeyeye said the ongoing crackdown on the illicit drug trade by operatives of the agency has also resulted in the seizure of 87 truckloads of banned, expired, and substandard medical products, including USAID and UNFPA-donated antiretroviral drugs, male and female condoms.

She said the value of the seizures is at least N1 trillion and could be much higher after assessment.

The operation was executed in Ariaria and Eziukwu Markets (Aba), Bridge Head Market (Onitsha), and Idumota Drug Market (Lagos).

She said it was part of NAFDAC’s National Action Plan (NAP 2.0) 2023-2027, aimed at eliminating counterfeit medicines, improving regulatory compliance, and safeguarding public health.

Prof. Adeyeye revealed that the exercise, which commenced on February 9, 2025, involved 1,100 security operatives, including military personnel, police, and Department of State Services (DSS) agents.

According to her, the security forces cordoned off the markets to prevent traders from concealing or smuggling out illegal products.

She affirmed that the operation uncovered shocking violations of drug storage and distribution regulations, including “diverted donated medical supplies: Large quantities of USAID and UNFPA-donated antiretroviral drugs and condoms, meant to support Nigeria’s HIV/AIDS response, were found expired and repackaged for sale. These life-saving medications were either improperly stored or deliberately resold for profit, undermining global efforts to combat HIV/AIDS in Nigeria. Significant volumes of Tramadol, Flunitrazepam (Rohypnol), Nitrazepam, and Diazepam—drugs linked to rising drug abuse, crime, and insecurity—were seized.”

The Director General said the sheer volume of these narcotics was deemed sufficient to destabilize national security.

Also, the NAFDAC boss said a large quantity of Tafradol, recently banned in India after a BBC undercover investigation exposed its illicit export to Africa, was discovered in Onitsha.

According to her, the drug, unapproved anywhere in the world, has been widely abused in Nigeria.

Prof. Adeyeye noted that vaccines, prescription medicines, and thermolabile drugs (requiring cold storage) were found stacked in toilets, staircases, and rooftops at dangerously high temperatures.

Similarly, Oxytocin injections and other essential medicines were stored under extreme heat, rendering them ineffective and potentially harmful.

Some warehouses were packed with pharmaceuticals in rooms with no windows, where temperatures could reach 40°C, accelerating chemical degradation.

On fake, expired, and unregistered drugs, she disclosed that banned and expired drugs were hidden in plumbing and wood plank sections of Onitsha’s Bridge Head Market, far from the authorities’ usual focus, while unregistered and falsified products were found in over 7,000 shops screened during the operation.

The Director General announced that so far, 40 arrests have been made, with suspects facing prosecution.

The National Security Adviser (NSA), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, coordinated security forces for the operation, ensuring strict compliance.

She also said a database of the offending shops and their owners has been compiled for further legal action.

According to her, the seized drugs will be publicly destroyed in the three cities after the exercise.

She spoke of plans by NAFDAC and the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria (PCN) to relocate all open drug markets within the next year to six Coordinated Wholesale Centres (CWCs), one per geopolitical zone.

Culled from The Guardian

Oyo Govt, UNICEF Unveil Innovative Health Insurance Scheme for Primary School Students.

 

By Olatunde Ajayi

 

Oyo State Government and UNICEF launched a health insurance scheme for public primary school pupils. The scheme, supported by UNICEF, aims to improve access to quality healthcare for underprivileged children.

 

Speaking at the event in Ibadan, the state Deputy Governor, Adebayo Lawal, urged Oyo State Health Insurance Agency,OYSHIA, to expand its efforts to capture more pupils across the state.

He also praised UNICEF’s interventions and encouraged other organisations to follow suit.

Also, the Executive Secretary of Oyo State Health Insurance Agency (OYSHIA), Dr. Sola Akande, said the scheme will initially cover 10,000 pupils.

He noted that various health insurance schemes have already provided access to quality healthcare services for over 250,000 residents.

“In effect, the purchasing power and quality of life of about 2.5 per cent of the residents of the state has improved through the activities of OYSHIA,” he said.

UNICEF’s Chief of Lagos Field Office, Ms. Celine Lafoucriere, emphasised that affordable and quality healthcare is every child’s fundamental right.

She praised the initiative for promoting universal health coverage and ensuring no child faces financial obstacles in accessing healthcare.

“Universal health coverage is more than a healthcare goal; it’s a social and economic necessity.

“When children have access to healthcare, they can focus on education, grow into productive adults, break the cycle of poverty and contribute to the success of the nation.

“At UNICEF, equity is our guiding principle, ensuring equal opportunities for every child. This scheme exemplifies this by focusing on public primary school children, especially in hard-to-reach areas,” she said.

Other dignitaries, including the Chairman of the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) Dr Nureni Adeniran, and the Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), Oyo State Wing, Mr Raji Oladimeji, commended the initiative and assured their support for its success.

 

 

 

 

By Taiye Olayemi

The National Insurance Commission (NAICOM) has stated that insurance companies are now required to cover the costs of every case it resolves.

This decision was made at the Insurers’ Committee Meeting held in Lagos on Wednesday.

Mrs Ebelechukwu Nwachukwu, Head of the Communication and Stakeholders Management Sub-committee, said the commission had said that the move aimed to sanitise the insurance industry.

Nwachukwu, also Managing Director of Rex Insurance Ltd., stated that the regulator noted this decision would help reduce complaints from policyholders.

She noted that NAICOM said it would also promote accountability among insurance companies.

She said the NAICOM Commissioner had expressed concern over the high number of unresolved insurance claims, in spite of efforts to improve settlement processes.

“The NAICOM Commissioner wants insurance companies to engage their brokers and customers to reduce outstanding claims,” she said.

She added that the regulator emphasised compliance with Nigeria’s Data Protection Regulations and urged practitioners to undergo training on data protection.

“Given the global digital transformation, NAICOM sees the need to develop cyber insurance products,” she said.

She noted that NAICOM was collaborating with NITDA and the Nigeria Data Protection Agency to achieve this.

“Operators should begin engagements to roll out cyber insurance products,” she added.

Nwachukwu explained that NAICOM remained committed to creating an enabling environment for insurance practitioners.

She said that NAICOM was discussing ways to secure Nigeria’s aviation industry, given recent risks.

“NAICOM urges support for enforcing third-party motor insurance and seeks collaboration on its innovation lab,” she said.

On regulatory compliance, she encouraged practitioners to meet requirements and ensure credibility in filing financial statements and returns.

“The NAICOM Commissioner spoke on solvency control, stressing that CEOs must educate boards on the required solvency levels for insurance companies,” she said.

She added that the current framework would be reviewed as it is based on existing capital requirements. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)