Category: Health and Environment

By Salisu Sani-Idris

The Brazilian Trade and Investment Promotion Agency (ApexBrasil), has expressed willingness to collaborate with the National Agency for the Great Green Wall ( NAGGW) on forest and desert conservation.

Its President, Mr Jorge Viana, stated this in his remark when he led the agency’s delegation on a courtesy visit to the office of the Director-General of NAGGW, Alhaji Saleh Abubakar, on Thursday in Abuja.

He also said that the agency would deepen its partnership with the NAGGW to explore other areas of synergy for the mutual benefit of both countries.

Viana , who extended an invitation to the director-general of NAGGW to attend COP30 in Brazil,emphasised on the opportunity to strengthen bilateral ties between Nigeria and his country.

Saleh, while welcoming the delegation, acknowledged the long-standing relationship between Nigeria and Brazil.

He provided an overview of NAGGW, including its Pan-Africanist nature, member countries, the 11 frontline states, and the region’s population of approximately 80 million.

Saleh said the agency was working assiduously to combat desertification, promote sustainable land use and build resilience against droughts across the 11 frontline states.

He also highlighted the agency’s successes under the Great Green Wall initiative, including the restoration of degraded lands, reforestation efforts, and community empowerment programmes.

The NAGGW boss accepted the invitation to attend COP30 and proposed a technical session between Apex-Brazil representatives and NAGGW Directors to further explore more areas of collaboration. (NAN) (www.nannewd.ng)

 

By Flowerbud News

The National Agency for Food, Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has advised youths and adolescents to avoid drug abuse to avoid the consequences.

The Director-General of NAFDAC, Prof. Christiana Adeyeye, gave advice during the inauguration of NAFDAC Consumer Safety Club (NCSC) at the Community Secondary School, Okpuno, Awka, on Friday.

Adeyeye was represented by Mr Uche Madubuatta,  the Coordinator of NAFDAC in Anambra.

She said that NCSC was one of the agency’s special public enlightenment strategies targeting youths in an effort to eradicate fake/substandard regulated products.

She said  that NAFDAC was taking the campaign against drug abuse to the grassroots by re-establishing NCSC in secondary schools.

Adeyeye said that NAFDAC would collaborate with school teachers to work with students to ‘catch them young’ and prevent life of addiction and destruction.

“We enjoin you to be agents of change by propagating the right virtues that can lead to behavioural change.

“Use your membership of NCSC to assist in information flow on NAFDAC regulatory activities and promote the fight against drug abuse, and fake and counterfeit products.

“NAFDAC’s mission is to mould a future generation that is not only empowered to be upright, but demand uprightness from others,” she said.

The director-general described drug abuse as excessive use of psychoactive drugs, such as alcohol, or consumption of illegal drugs which could lead to physical, social or emotional harm.

She listed negative consequences of  drug abuse by teenagers to include drug dependence, poor judgment, high-risk sexual behaviour, mental health disorders and poor academic  performance.

“A recent household drug use survey revealed that prescription drug abuse is a fast-emerging public health problem.

“It is estimated that 14.4 per cent or 14.3 million Nigerians are victims of drug abuse, this is alarming,” she said.

The NAFDAC team was received by Mrs Maureen Onwuemenam, the Principal of the school, who thanked the organisation and assured  it that she would ensure the efforts  would yield desired results.

NAN

By Flowerbud News

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), on Thursday destroyed substandard and falsified goods estimated at N1,367 billion in Abuja.

Speaking during the destruction exercise, the NAFDAC Director-General, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, said that the exercise was part of  the agency’s routine operations across all the zones of the federation and FCT.

Adeyeye, represented by Mr Festus Ukadike, a Director in the D-G’s office, said that the goal was  rid the country of some of the agency regulated goods that are of low qualities in the supply chain.

She said that in 2024, the agency achieved remarkable progress, making substantial seizures that underscored its commitment to safeguarding public health.

“We carried out several destruction exercises across the zones,  including investigation and enforcement.

“Our relentless pursuit of justice against counterfeiting cartels has resulted in the seizure of over 6,000 bags of re-bagged rice in the FCT alone.

“These deceitful cartels aim to exploit and harm the unsuspecting Nigerian populace for economic gain,” he said.

Adeyeye said that NAFDAC had zero tolerance for such activities,  adding that it had initiated thorough investigation to ensure that all involved face appropriate sanctions.

“Some of the goods to be destroyed are psychoactive and controlled substances, antibiotics, antihypertensives, antimalarials, herbal snuff, and herbal remedies, including drugs seized from hawkers.

“We also have food products like cookies vegetable oil, non-alcoholic beverages, and items from supermarkets with labelling only in foreign languages, lacking English translation, ” she said.

She said that there were also cosmetics product, chemicals and expired and unwholesome products voluntarily submitted for destruction by Non-Governmental Organisation (NGOs) and Association of Community Pharmacy of Nigeria (ACPN) .

Adeyeye said that NAFDAC had significantly ramped up its Post-Marketing Surveillance and Enforcement activities to checkmate the threats posed by counterfeit medicines and foods to national security.

She said that the agency was proactively engaging political, traditional, faith-based organisations and institutions, journalists and the public to galvanise support in the fight against substandard and falsified products.

Mr Gamagira Mohammed, the FCT Coordinator, Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON), commended NAFDAC for its determination to rid the country of fake and substandard goods and medicine.

Isiaku said that SON would continue to strengthen collaboration with NAFDAC to ensure that standards are enshrined in the Nigerian culture.

Salary Orakwelu, Chairman, Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN), Abuja branch, also commended NAFDAC, saying that the ultimate goal of all food regulatory agencies is to take care of consumers.

She assured NAFDAC of her Society’s unwavering support.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the destruction exercise was done in the presence of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF), Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Department of State Security (DSS).

Otherrs the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), SON,  PSN, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), and Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC).

NAN

By Flowerbud News

The Institute of Human Virology Nigeria (IHVN) has enhanced its leadership capacity by inducting two seasoned professionals, Prof. Ahmed Mora and Paul Usoro, SAN, into its Board of Directors.

 

 

By Flowerbud News

Lagos:  The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control on Thursday said the agency will focus on five strategic pillars to further safeguard the nation’s health.

(NAFDAC DG, Prof. Moji Adeyeye)

Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, the Director-General of NAFDAC disclosed this at a news conference organised in Lagos to outline its focus for 2025.

Adeyeye listed the pillars as strong governance and leadership, maternal, newborn and child health, institutionalisation of best practices, safety and quality of regulated products and monitoring of the supply chain.

She said: “Reflection on the past seven years has brought into focus the many accomplishments that have been achieved in NAFDAC and so many others to be attained.

(Ever caring;  Prof. Adeyeye, appreciates, rejoices with then retiring NAFDAC North West Zonal Director, Mrs Josephine Dayilim)

“This realisation has sharpened my focus on how to strategically work towards continued strengthening of the regulatory system as a needed path toward safeguarding the health of the nation.”

According to her, NAFDAC will continue to unlock the value chain through strengthening the industry with a focus on access to quality regulated products.

She said that strong governance and leadership would ensure that its workforce stays highly motivated and disciplined, while training remains a premium for staff.

The DG emphasised that the agency would pay more attention to the safety and quality of regulated products for maternal, newborn and child health and nutrition.

She said this would help to prevent postpartum haemorrhage and maternal deaths and drastically reduce child morbidity.

“Great emphasis will be placed on paediatric antimalarials and antibiotics.

“Manufacturers will be incentivised to develop paediatric medicines and handheld toward achieving WHO prequalification,” she said.

(Prof. Adeyeye in far away South Korea to strengthen collaboration for a better protection of the health of Nigerians)

Adeyeye, however, noted that the agency was extremely under-staffed.

“The number of staff that an agency has or should have depends on the population of the country because it is easier to regulate a country with one million than a country with 300 million people.

(Prif. Adeyeye working hard to expand MAFDAC’s International collaboration and status)

“I’m just giving an example based on our population; we are supposed to have nothing less than 10,000 staff; we have about 2,000 right now.

(Prof Adeyeye formalising and Strengthening collaboration with local  sister agencies to enhance NAFDAC task of safeguarding health of Nigerians)

(NAFDAC DG, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, in a loving pose with hubby, Senator Adeyeye, a sign of a stable, happy home and support – resulting in tremendous achievements and transformation in NAFDAC)

“We burn candles on both ends, overstress ourselves because we have to safeguard the health of Nigerians.

“We are not asking for 10,000 staff now; we are just asking for double or triple what we currently have,” she said. NAN

By Taiye Olayemi

Quilox Club in collaboration with the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) on Tuesday launched campaign against the circulation of fake drinks in night clubs.

Mr Akinlabi Peller, the Chief Operating Officer of Quilox Club, during a news conference in Lagos, said the campaign was launched in commemoration of the club’s 11th anniversary.
Peller noted that the management of Quilox came up with the campaign to sensitise local club owners on the need to desist from circulating fake drinks, considering its grievous repercussions.
“Over the past 11 years, we have upheld the distribution of authentic drinks which are registered with NAFDAC, we purchase our drinks right from the production companies.
“To ensure our effort is not sabotaged, we have our own serial number we paste on already purchased drinks for the club.
”And after consumption of those drinks, we dispose the bottles to ensure they are not reused by producers of fake drinks.
“This is what we want other club owners to emulate so that we can successfully clamp down on distribution of fake drinks with NAFDAC,” he said.
On the club’s 11th anniversary, Peller said there would host a 36-hour non-stop party in celebration of the milestone, starting from Dec. 22.
“We are happy that Quilox is 11 years now, we have maintained the same name and venue over the years, we remain grateful to our supporters and fans,” he said.
Shaba Mohammed, Director, Investigation and Enforcement, Lagos Directorate, NAFDAC, said that before any product could be introduced to the market, it must be registered with the agency.
Mohammed, who was represented by Mr Kunle Ojo, Assistant Director, Water and Drink Division at NAFDAC, said that in December, no fewer than ten outlets had been locked for sales of fake drinks.
He commended Quilox for adhering to NAFDAC’s warning against the circulation of counterfeit drinks over the years.
He said: “NAFDAC is partnering with Quilox so that jointly we can fight this counterfeiters, so that our society will be free from all these counterfeit products.
“NAFDAC has zero tolerance for unregistered products and fake products, we have a lot of sanctions against any club that we find any unregistered product, we usually seal those clubs.
“NAFDAC cannot do it alone. It has to be collective effort, we have to come together and fight these menace, that is the reason we urge the public to always give us information whenever they observe any activity where fake items are produced.
Also, Mr Olushola Farinloye, Managing Director of Quilox, noted that drinks procured by the club were usually acquired directly from the production company. (NAN) (nannews.ng)

By Flowerbud News

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) says Eziukwu Market, also known as Cemetery Market, Aba, Abia is centre for fake and substandard products production and distribution.

By Flowerbud News

By Flowerbud News

The Institute of Human Virology Nigeria (IHVN) has donated 146 units of personal protective equipment (PPE) to Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Fire Service stations in Asokoro and Kuje Area Council.

The institute said this was part of efforts to enhance prompt response to fire emergencies in the FCT.

Speaking during the donation, the Deputy Director of Administration at IHVN, Mr Olafadehun Abiodun, on Monday in Abuja, emphasised the importance of firefighting as a critical public service provided by the government.

Abiodun said, “We have been collaborating with the FCT Fire Service for some time now. During this collaboration, we identified certain gaps that needed to be filled.

“While we understand the government cannot do everything, we felt it necessary to step in and assist in bridging these gaps.”

He further revealed that IHVN had donated similar equipment to other fire stations the previous day, including the NJI Fire Station, the Games Village Station, the Asokoro Headquarters, and the station at Kuje.

“We are donating a total of 146 units of firefighting equipment, providing two PPE kits per officer for 73 officers.

“Prior to this, we conducted capacity-building training for the firefighters on the proper usage of the PPEs.

“It was during this training that we identified the gaps and decided to step in to bridge them,” he explained.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that earlier in 2024, IHVN had partnered with the Africa Fire Mission (AFM) and the FCT Fire Service to train more than 25 safety and security officers on “Advancing Firefighting Operations, Tactics, and Leadership.”

Abiodun emphasised that the donation was a follow-up to the training facilitated by the Africa Fire Mission, urging the fire service officers to make judicious use of the equipment to enhance their service delivery.

In his response, Mr Zacheus Adebayo, Acting Director of the FCT Fire Service, expressed gratitude to IHVN for its support.

Adebayo highlighted the risks firefighters face daily, including exposure to naked wires, smoke, and elevated temperatures.

“This donation comes at the right time, especially as we are in the dry season when fire outbreaks are at their peak.

“We are doing everything possible to minimise the impact of these outbreaks, and this support from IHVN is greatly appreciated,” he said.

Similarly, the Head of Operations of the FCT Fire Service, Adesina Abioye, also expressed appreciation to IHVN and assured that the equipment would be put to good use.

Abioye called on other well-meaning individuals and organisations to emulate IHVN’s gesture by supporting the Fire Service with essential equipment.

NAN reports that the donated PPEs include jackets, trousers, gloves, helmets, and boots, all aimed at enhancing the safety and effectiveness of firefighters in discharging their duties.

NAN