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NAFDAC seizes drugs affected by Borno flood, promises compensation
A joint team from the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control and the Borno State Ministry of Health has raided warehouses in the Gamboru area of Maiduguri, seizing drugs worth millions of naira that were improperly stored and compromised by recent flooding.
The operation aimed to prevent the sale and distribution of these unsafe drugs, which could pose significant health risks.
NAFDAC’s North-East Director, Kenneth Azikiwe, stated that the agency was acting on orders from NAFDAC’s Director General, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, to evacuate and destroy the damaged drugs.
He warned the public to avoid purchasing drugs affected by the flood and urged residents to report any instances of people sun-drying or selling such compromised drugs.
“The Director General of NAFDAC Prof. Christianana Mojisola Adeyeye directed the evacuation of the damaged drugs and other regulated products to prevent a bigger and more dangerous public health emergency in the state from the market,” Azikiwe said.
While calling on the Public to remain on alart and report any one sun drying or selling drugs affected by the flood, the DG said NAFDAC remained committed to ensuring safe and good quality drugs nationwide.
Borno’s Health Commissioner, Baba Malam Gana, emphasised the need for proper storage of medicines and promised that the state government would work with relevant agencies to improve the situation at Gamboru market.
“The storage of medicine has to be done properly. I am very pleased to say the Executive Director of the Borno State Drugs and Medical Consumable Agency is standing right beside me and we are going to swing into action to ensure that this are will not be the same again. Drugs must be stored the way it should be stored,” Gana said.
He, however, assured affected business owners of compensation for their losses, with support from President Bola Tinubu and Governor Babagana Zulum.
“I want to confirm that His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu was here in Maiduguri and he has promised that he would do everything to make sure that people of Borno State do not suffer, and this will include people who have lost their businesses like people in this Gamboru drugs market, they will benefit from the assitance. The state government is going to do its own best to ensure that help has come to them,” he added.
The Chairman of the Gamboru Medicine Market, Bukar Modu, pledged cooperation with the authorities to ensure public safety and called for financial support to help rebuild the market.
“We are willing to cooperate will all directives from the state government. What is most important to us for now is the health of our people. We have sentitise the marketers here and made them understand that people’s live first. We however anticipate that the government will not leave us after this process, but give us necessary financial supports,” Modu said.
NAFDAC also reminded the public to inspect drugs for signs of contamination, such as wet packaging or mud stains, and to report suspicious activities.
NAFDAC’s actions are part of broader efforts to prevent a public health crisis following the recent floods in Borno State.
Credit: PUNCH
… better than oil and drug peddling
Governor Charles Soludo of Anambra State on Saturday disclosed that arrested Finland-based self-acclaimed Biafra agitator, Simon Ekpa “has continued kidnapping for ransom.
Soludo said kidnapping is currently a business that is more lucrative than drugs and oil.
The governor who spoke in Awka, the state capital, said before he became governor, eight local government areas in the state were being controlled by gunmen.
Soludo also recalled how his father was kidnapped in 2009.
He said: “Kidnapping is not new, my father had been kidnapped as far back as 2009. GU Okeke, Pokobros and many others have fallen victim too.
“Before I assumed office, about eight local government areas were being controlled by gunmen.
“They killed policemen and collected guns, attacked and burnt down police stations and went into the bush to label themselves liberators.
We came in and went to work and cleared them and we recovered the eight local government areas that were under siege. These gangs claim to be Biafra freedom fighters. IPOB has dissociated themselves from it, but one Simon Ekpa has continued kidnapping for ransom.
“Kidnapping for ransom is now the most lucrative enterprise, even more lucrative than drugs and oil. For every one naira reported as payment for ransom, five to six naira was not reported.
“With a culture that celebrates wealth without craft, even the kidnappers amongst us are now celebrated. Idolatry which these criminals have converted to have become the fastest growing religion in the South-East. Nothing is sacred to them anymore.”
Ex-governor of Anambra State and presidential candidate of the Labour Party, LP, in the 2023 general election, Mr Peter Obi has protested the level of hardship faced by the poor in Nigeria.
The former governor spoke during a visit to the Archbishop Province on the Niger and Bishop of Awka Diocese of Church of Nigeria Anglican Communion, His Grace Alexander Ibezim.
He said: “The hardship in Nigeria is too much, how can the ordinary people survive. The woman who sells pepper by the road side has to pay huge charges to get her own money. How much is her profit margin and how much will remain after paying charges?
“No country is run like that. Don’t bother to interview me on that, I will write officially to the President on this and state all these things.
“These (POS Charges) is too much, no country is run like this,” Obi told journalists who approached him to speak on the matter.
Delta State Governor, Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, has commiserated with the Ibru family of Agbarha-Otor in Ughelli North Local Government Area of the State on the death of their wife and mother, Mrs. Edna Ibru.
Mrs Ibru, who reportedly died after a brief illness, was the wife of late Olorogun Senator Felix Ovuodoroye Ibru, first Executive Governor of Delta State.
A former Miss Nigeria, Mrs Ibru in 1964, died in London after a brief illness on Wednesday.
In a statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Sir Festus Ahon, the governor described the demise of Mrs Ibru as sad and painful, adding that she was a loving wife and mother who supported her husband and family in all his noble endeavours.
He said, “On behalf of the government and people of Delta, I mourn the passing of a great woman of substance, a caring mother and loving wife, Mrs Edna Ibru.
“The news of her death came to me as a shock, especially now that the family members needed her motherly and wise counsel.
“She was a woman of faith who devoted her time in supporting her husband’s political career which culminated in his election as the first Executive Governor of Delta State.”
Oborevwori prayed to God to accept the soul of the deceased and grant fortitude to the family and friends she left to bear the loss.
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