News

Reps Direct NEMSA, ICRC, NAPTIN, NIWA Others To Stop All Concession Processes

Published

1 year ago

February 29, 2024

Gloria Ikibah

…frown at inability of agencies to send in comprehensive submissions

By Gloria Ikibah

The House of Representatives has directed the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC), Nigerian Electricity Management Services Agency (NEMSA), National Power Training Institute of Nigeria (NAPTIN), Nigeria Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) and other federal government agencies to suspend all ongoing concession processes until all ongoing investigation has been concluded.

This was the resolution of the Joint House Committee on Public Assets and Special Duties On “Calls for memorandum from relevant government agencies and the general public to the investigation and assess the performance of public private partnership programmes and concession agreement from 1999- till date”, during its inaugural investigative hearing on Thursday at the National Assembly Complex, in Abuja.

The committee also frowned at the inability of the ICRC, NEMSA, NAPTIN, and NIWA to send in their submission and full documents as requested by the panel.

They said it is supposed to be a comprehensive report, with date and time of concession and expected to yield revenue.

Consequently, a member of Committee, Rep. Saidu Abdullahi, moved the motion to halt all process of. Concession.

He said: “If we all agree that the concession process should be suspended pending the investigation or they should go ahead.

“We should put it to them. Let them know that it is a resolution by this committee that all other pending concession processes be suspended until after this committee has concluded its work”.

Chairman, Committee on Special Duties, Rep. Kabir Tukura Ibrahim, put the motion to a vote and it was unanimously adopted.

He said: “So, anything regarding this concession should be suspended pending the outcome of everything that we are doing here. This goes to all the agencies here present.

“I have seen a submission of NAPTIN is very skeletal, it’s not informative, it doesn’t carry what we required for us to work with. Please do a detailed report, let it encapsulate all of the necessary areas of the concession that you are going into.

“This should not be accepted, it’s an insult to this committee to bring this submission before the House of Representatives. Please lets do better.”

Earlier in his speech, while declaring the investigative hearing open, Speaker of the House, Rep. Abbas Tajudeen said the exercise marked a crucial milestone in the House’s dedication to appraise the efficacy of the Public Private Partnership (PPP) Programmes and Concession Agreements from 1999 till the present day.

Represented by his deputy, Rep. Benjamin Kalu, the Speaker said the objective of the investigative hearing is explicit, to meticulously dissect the triumphs, challenges, and overall impact of PPPs and Concession agreements on our public infrastructure and services.

He said: “While PPPs have indeed played a crucial role in propelling development, it is imperative that their effectiveness undergoes a comprehensive analysis. Therefore, this hearing presents a platform for transparent dialogue, insightful discussions, and collective efforts to rectify any shortcomings and build upon successes.

“As we set off on this journey of investigation and evaluation, we should remain mindful of the public interest we are duty-bound to serve. Your insights and expertise are vital in shaping recommendations that will steer the course of future policies and practices. Hence, I encourage active involvement, constructive discourse, and a mutual commitment to transparency and accountability.

“Together, let us ensure that the outcomes of this hearing not only provide a comprehensive understanding of past performances but also lay a solid foundation for more effective and equitable Public Private Partnerships in the future”.

News

Reps Committee Vows Action on Insecurity in Plateau State

Published

1 minute ago

June 25, 2025

Gloria Ikibah

By Gloria Ikibah

The House of Representatives Ad-hoc Committee mandated to convene a Special Security Conference on the security challenges in Plateau State, has reaffirmed its commitment to tackling the persistent security challenges facing Plateau State and other affected regions across the country.

Chairman of the committee, Rep. Hammed Waheed who gave the assurance in Abuja during its inaugural meeting stated that its goal is to develop practical and sustainable solutions to the rising insecurity affecting communities in the North Central state and beyond.

As part of its strategy, the panel announced plans to consult widely with a range of stakeholders. These include security agencies, traditional rulers, community leaders, civil society organisations, youth and women groups, academics, and political figures. The committee emphasized that such inclusive engagement is crucial to crafting meaningful responses to the complex security landscape.

The lawmakers noted that the outcomes of these engagements would guide actionable recommendations aimed at restoring peace and stability to Plateau and similar flashpoints nationwide.

He said: “We are all witnesses to the unfortunate and recurring cycle of violence that has left many communities in sorrow, displaced countless families, destroyed livelihoods, and eroded trust among ethnic and religious groups.

“These tragic developments are not isolated—they reverberate beyond the Plateau, affecting neighbouring states and undermining national stability. It is for this reason that the House of Representatives, at its plenary on the 8th day of May, 2025, in its wisdom and responsiveness to the yearnings of our people, mandated the formation of this Committee.

“Our assignment is clear: to convene a Special Security Conference that will bring together critical stakeholders—security agencies, traditional rulers, community leaders, civil society organisations, youth and women groups, researchers, and political actors—to engage in sincere, in-depth discussions and generate sustainable solutions.

“This is not just another conference. It is an opportunity for truth-telling, healing, dialogue, and decisive recommendations. Our aim is not just to diagnose the problem—much of which we already know—but to chart new pathways towards lasting peace, security, justice, and reconciliation.

“As members of this Committee, we must discharge our duties with integrity, impartiality, and utmost sensitivity. We will be expected to: engage stakeholders across affected communities and beyond; identify root causes and trigger points of the conflicts; design the framework and agenda for the Conference; ensure inclusion, giving voice to all segments of society and produce a comprehensive report with actionable recommendations.

“We must remember: the eyes of the people are on us. This task is not about politics—it is about people. About communities. About peace. About the soul of our nation. Let us work collaboratively and diligently. Let us listen more than we speak. Let us lead with empathy and courage.”

News

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

Published

19 minutes 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

30 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.