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I Met Abia In Terrible Shape But I’m Not Complaining –Gov Otti

Published

1 year ago

February 29, 2024

ADMIN

The Governor of Abia State, Alex Otti, has lamented the condition the state was in when he took over reins of power last May, saying that it was left in a very bad shape by his predecessor, Okezie Ikpeazu.

When asked if he met the state in bad shape, he replied, “Absolutely, very, very bad shape, but I am not complaining. I have folded my sleeves and I am just dealing with what I met here.”

The governor was a guest on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Thursday.

He said that while he was not totally against debts, his grouse was that he did not see what the money borrowed by his predecessor was used for.

“My worry is not really about debt, it is about what the debt is used for. If you inherited a debt profile of N34.4 billion by May 29, 2015 and eight years later you ran that debt to about N192.2 billion; I really can’t see anything that you have done with the money, salaries were not being paid, pensioners were being owed, infrastructure was decaying, the place go into ruins, schools were run down completely, hospitals were dilapidated.

“So, the issue is where did the money go? If I am going to take debt, it is going to go into regenerative expenditure. But when you are taking loans and you are running the state into debt, just for consumption, you are not investing in the state; you are not paying salaries; that’s actually what I was talking about.”

On tax collection, Governor Otti said his administration has cleaned up the system by driving away miscreants from collecting taxes for the government.
He said that they have made it a duty that collection of any revenue cannot be made in cash.

“As a government, we do not patronise touts and we have also made it clear that people in Ariaaria market can only pay through the designated banks. Cash payments are no longer allowed. You do not pay for any revenue by cash, you can only pay through the banks,” he said.
Otti also reassured the people of Abia of delivering rail project which is one of the projects he promised during his campaign. He said the government has been in a discussion with a Chinese company and that the discussions are going well.

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Reps Order NAFDAC to Submit Records of Fines Collected from Traders Amid Extortion Allegations

Published

40 seconds ago

June 25, 2025

Gloria Ikibah

By Gloria Ikibah

The House of Representatives has directed the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) to submit all details of payments of fines collected from defaulting traders of fake and substandard drugs in an operation carried out against open outlets in the country.

The Acting Chairman of the Committee on Food and Drug Administration and Control, Rep. Uchenna Harris Okonkwo, gave the order when the Director General of the Agency, Professor Mojisola Adeyeye, appeared before it over allegations of extortion of traders by NAFDAC at the Onitsha Bridge Head Market.

The resolution was sequel to a motion by the Committee, when when it expressed worries over the Agency collection of N700,000 from thousands of traders in Lagos, Anambra and Kano States, where it carried out its operations.

The Director General of NAFADC was represented by Director, Investigation and Enforcement, Pharm. Shaba Mohammed, and Director South East, NAFDAC, Dr Lyon Obi Martins.

Rep. Okonkwo who commended the committee for appreciating NAFDAC’s efforts to clear fake drugs from circulation in Nigerian market, said the committee had received several petitions from stakeholders on recent investigative activities carried out during the general investigative operation on open drugs outlets in Lagos, Anambra and Kano.

He said: “Such of these allegations includes; The shutting down of the biggest drug market in West Africa located in Anambra State over non-compliance with the imposition of the payment of the N700,000 per shop; the alleged increment from N500,000 to N700,000 per shop; and the alleged payment of N2,000,000 as administrative charges for improper storage and handling of products in Idumota Lagos.

He emphasised that there was a need to inform Nigerians on the funds that the Agency has collected, realized and accrued during this exercise carried out in collaboration with the National Security Adviser (NSA).

“We would move a motion that the statement of accounts be provided to the committee although you mentioned that it’s still ongoing but we will give you an opportunity to have an interim statement of account provided, which starts from the dates of the investigation to June 30th, 2025. So June 30th, which gives you about a week or so from now, so far to provide the accounts, statement of accounts to the committee which states the funds that were paid, the accounts that the fund was paid to and whatever it is that had been accrued to date,” he added.

According to Okonkwo, it is crucial to ensure that the Coordinated Wholesale Centres (CWC) becomes a number one priority for NAFDAC and Pharmaceutical Council of Nigeria in coordination with the relevant states governments, and also the traders involved.

He therefore urged that the CWCs be built to modern satisfaction with all the necessary accommodation that would be needed in order to have a safe trading environment and storage environment for drugs, pharmaceuticals and the like within Nigeria.

This is as he called for strategies to address the problems of drug kingpins who were causing problems for the Agency.

“That’s motion number one. And then number two should be that for our committee, the Committee on Food and Drug Administration and Control, to have a first-hand monitoring on the positioning and the structures of the build of these CWCs in the relevant states so we make sure that these things are done accordingly to what Nigerians would benefit from.

“You mentioned some kingpins within these areas of operation. And I think it’s only proper for us to investigate further and know more about this and then see what exactly the security forces are doing in order to get these people prosecuted because they have become a major issue. They are part of the problem or rather they will, they are part of the problem of getting our nation sanitized from these counterfeit drugs, substandard drugs. So I would like for us to move a motion that whatever information in which NAFDAC has been able to discover based on that, that they should be able to share that with the committee. And as well, the committee would work with the relevant security agencies to see how we can flush these people out of the system in order to have a more sanitary system within Nigeria,” he stated.

Representative of the DG NAFDAC, in person of Director, Investigation and Enforcement, Pharm Mohammed, explained that of the N700,000 collected from the traders, N500,000 was for poor storage practice, while N200,000 was for the unregistered products which were found on them.

Mohammed said there were some violations that have not been implemented, and that open drug markets across Nigeria are illegal and pose serious health risks to the public.

According to her, the operation, described as the most extensive of its kind since 2007, was launched on February 9, 2025, and was prompted by both local complaints and international pressure over the prevalence of counterfeit drugs traced to Nigeria.

“We did not just wake up and launch the operation. It was in response to growing concerns, including alerts from the World Health Organization (WHO), and complaints from both local and international stakeholders about counterfeit drugs emanating from our markets,” he said.

He explained that the operation was preceded by consultations with the Office of the National Security Adviser and had the full backing of security agencies.

He said a total of 1,200 security personnel were deployed to enforce the operation at three major markets: the Itumota Drug Market in Lagos, Bridge 8 Market in Onitsha, and the Ariaria Market in Aba.

According to him, it was originally planned to last one week, but the crackdown extended to four weeks due to the scale of the challenge. Lagos operations lasted three weeks, while enforcement in the Southeast continued for a full month.

“All shops in the identified markets were sealed, regardless of whether or not counterfeit or substandard products were found. This was necessary to ensure a thorough and effective exercise. Only shops that complied with regulatory standards were reopened after the operation,” he said.

The NAFDAC DG emphasised that the very existence of these markets violated Nigerian law. Citing the Counterfeit and Fake Drugs and Unwholesome Processed Foods (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, she noted that drugs are not permitted to be sold in open markets.

“By the provisions of the law, these markets are illegal. Moreover, our inspections revealed that they do not meet the minimum requirements for the safe storage of pharmaceuticals. Many of the facilities had no ventilation, no windows, and in some cases, iron sheets were used to barricade spaces where drugs were stored. None of the products we encountered could be deemed fit for consumption,” he stated.

Mohammed revealed that all counterfeit and substandard drugs recovered during the operation were publicly destroyed, and that NAFDAC met with executives of the various market unions prior to the raid to inform them of the agency’s intentions and protocols for the enforcement.

News

U.S-Nigerian Delegations Launch New Commercial Partnership Framework

Published

11 minutes ago

June 25, 2025

Gloria Ikibah

By Gloria Ikibah

Senior officials from the governments of the United States and Nigeria, along with key business leaders from both countries, gathered in Abuja to mark the official launch of working group sessions under a new commercial and investment initiative. The gathering signals a renewed push to strengthen economic ties and foster cross-border collaboration in sectors critical to both nations.

The effort, operating under the United States–Nigeria Commercial and Investment Partnership (CIP), stems from a five-year Memorandum of Understanding signed in July 2024 by U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo and Nigeria’s former Minister of Industry, Trade, and Investment. Designed to boost cooperation in trade and investment, the CIP seeks to create long-term economic benefits on both sides of the Atlantic.

The event featured remarks from Ambassador Richard Mills, the U.S. Ambassador to Nigeria; Julie LeBlanc of the U.S. Department of Commerce; Nigeria’s Minister of Industry, Trade, and Investment, Dr. Jumoke Oduwole; and Ambassador Nura Rimi, Permanent Secretary of Nigeria’s trade ministry. Together, they emphasised the importance of ongoing dialogue and cooperation to drive mutual prosperity.

Ambassador Mills noted that the initiative ranks among the top priorities during his tenure, and said its launch “demonstrates our commitment to building a stronger, more dynamic economic relationship with Nigeria.”

Discussions centered around three core areas: agriculture, digital innovation, and infrastructure. Working groups made up of private-sector representatives from both countries have begun mapping out action plans, identifying regulatory obstacles, and selecting leadership for ongoing engagement.

U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary for Middle East and Africa, Thomas Bruns, highlighted the strategic intent behind the partnership.

He said, “By aligning on key sectors, we’re not just exchanging ideas, we’re setting the stage for practical, lasting outcomes that support job growth and innovation.”

The two nations agreed to review progress twice a year and to continue exploring new areas for collaboration. The next formal CIP meeting is scheduled for the fall of 2025.

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Civil Service Week: Aig-Imoukhuede Foundation Strengthens Public Sector Reform Efforts

Published

28 minutes ago

June 24, 2025

Gloria Ikibah

By Gloria Ikibah

The Aig-Imoukhuede Foundation has reinforced its commitment to public sector transformation in Nigeria by serving as the Diamond Partner at the inaugural International Civil Service Conference (ICSC), which will be held in Abuja from June 25 to 26, 2025.

The Foundation’s involvement in the conference underscores its ongoing partnership with the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (OHCSF), a relationship rooted in years of collaboration aimed at modernising Nigeria’s civil service. Key initiatives from the partnership include the co-development of the Federal Civil Service Strategy and Implementation Plan (FCSSIP25), digital reform programmes, and large-scale civil servant training initiatives.

Executive Vice Chair of the Foundation, Ofovwe Aig-Imoukhuede, said: “Our partnership reflects a shared vision of building a world-class civil service capable of delivering transformative iimpact.

“We believe in the role of a strong public sector in shaping Africa’s future, and we remain committed to nurturing leadership and innovation within Nigeria’s civil service”.

One of the highlights of the Civil Service Week celebrations is the expansion of the Emily Aig-Imoukhuede Endowment Fund, which recognises excellence in public service.

This year’s edition introduces two new award categories: the Presidential Civil Service Merit Award with a ₦500,000 cash prize and the EPIC Award from the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, offering ₦250,000. Since its inception, the Fund has distributed over ₦50 million in prizes to 111 outstanding civil servants.

In addition to recognition initiatives, the Foundation has played a central role in supporting the digitalisation of the OHCSF, a project that has sparked similar reforms across various ministries and agencies. Through signed Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs), the Foundation is working with other public sector institutions to extend these reforms and foster a digitally empowered civil service.

The upcoming conference will bring together public sector leaders from across Africa to exchange ideas, share reform strategies, and explore opportunities for cross-border collaboration.

The event is seen as a milestone in Nigeria’s civil service reform agenda and a step toward positioning the country as a regional leader in governance innovation.