By Kayode Sanni-Arewa

The Federal Executive Council (FEC) has endorsed about N10.3 billion for the procurement of antiretroviral drugs for HIV treatment, diabetes diagnostic kits, and other essential health commodities.

Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Dr Ali Pate, who briefed State House correspondents on the approvals, noted that the move is aimed at enhancing the accessibility and affordability of health commodities, and health services, by Nigerians.

“A few weeks ago, we approved the first-line antiretroviral drugs, and now we are putting forth resources, almost N997 million worth of contract, to procure the third-line antiretroviral drugs for those who are HIV-infected.

“I believe you will understand the importance of this, given the changes in global health financing and the shift towards domestic financing to ensure Nigerians continue receiving the treatment they require,” he said.

According to Pate, the second category of the approved contracts includes the procurement of locally manufactured diagnostic kits for diabetes.

“Diabetes is a major issue in our country. It’s among the fastest-growing segments. We have lots of our population suffering from diabetes, and some are not even aware they have it,” he stated.

He further stated that a private company based in Lagos has been commissioned to manufacture diagnostic test kits.

“So, government is procuring the diagnostic kits, the on-point blood glucose monitoring system that is manufactured here in Nigeria. This is bringing to life the effort to unlock the healthcare value chain by encouraging local manufacturers,” Pate said.

Monitoring devices will also be distributed across primary healthcare centres, and health workers will be trained to assist patients in tracking their blood sugar levels.

Pate noted that the president had previously emphasised the need for a medical relief program to reduce the cost of medical commodities.

In line with this directive, he said N4.5 billion would be allocated for the procurement of antibiotics, antihypertensive, and antidiabetic medications—beyond the test kits—to help lower costs.

He also highlighted that the test kits were manufactured in Nigeria as part of efforts to support local production.

Additionally, the minister disclosed that N2.1 billion had been approved for the procurement of a mobile X-ray machine and the rehabilitation and equipping of a 64-slice CT scan at Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital in Bauchi.

He explained that the upgraded facility would enhance diagnostic and clinical care services, making the hospital a referral centre not only for Bauchi State but also for the broader region.

Military men on Thursday stormed offices of Ikeja Electricity Distribution Company.

It was gathered that the personnel in uniform forced their way into the company headquarters opposite MITV in Ikeja, Lagos around about 7:40 am.

Similar occurrence took place at the Ikeja Electric office on Ago Palace Way, Okota, Isolo, Lagos, The Nation learnt.

In a viral video, military personnel were seen wielding arms within the premises while more than seven staff members were kneeling and others assaulted.

The incident has instilled fear among company staff with many hiding for safety.

Recall that on Wednesday, staff of Ikeja Electric had disconnected Air Force Logistics base.

Details shortly…

…Nwaebonyi shields colleagues

Ex-presidential spokesman, Laolu Akande, on Thursday, raised an alarm over what he described as attempts to muzzle the lawmaker representing Kogi Central, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.

Recall Akpoti-Uduaghan recently accused the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, of sexually harassing her, a claim the latter has vehemently denied.

Weighing in on the issue during an interview on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily, Akande urged the Senate to stop what he described as gang up against the lawmaker.

“They need to stop all these images, meetings, and ganging up against this woman. That has to stop. The leadership of the Senate needs to show us that there is going to be a dispassionate consideration of her allegations,” he said.

“Once that is sorted, if you think that there is a need to punish her for violating the rules, it is the better way to handle it. This idea of all of the men coming out and brandishing the rules is not looking pretty at all.

“This woman has said to the whole world that she has been sexually harassed. We have to be careful, the Nigerian Senate has to be careful not to create an impression that we are trying to silence her.

“What we have been seen so far is a lot of men holding meetings, speaking out, coming to the media to run this woman down. It is a poor reflection on the Nigerian Senate.”

But Senator Onyekachi Nwaebonyi has defended the Red Chamber and claimed that her colleague Natasha was pursuing a personal interest.

“Senator Natasha is claiming sexual harassment because she lost the chairmanship of local content and not that she was harassed by Senator Akpabio or any other senator,” the lawmaker who represents Ebonyi North said on the same show.

He said, “Senator Natasha was the chairman of the Senate Committee on Local Content which she felt she was comfortable with. But in the Senate, from time to time, committee leadership is changed; reshuffled and her committee was affected like every other chairmen.

“She was shifted to the Senate Committee on Diaspora which didn’t go down well with Senator Natasha.”

Amid the sexual harassment claims, the Senate Committee on Ethics, Code of Conduct, and Public Petitions on Wednesday dismissed Senator Natasha’s sexual harassment and abuse of office petition against Akpabio.

It declared the claims “dead on arrival,” and cited procedural violations and legal constraints.