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Beware Of Fake Oxycontin In Circulation, NAFDAC Warns Public

Published

8 months ago

March 21, 2025

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control has alerted the public on falsified Oxycontin 80mg (oxycodone hydrochloride) which it says was detected in an unregulated market in Switzerland.

The public alert with No. 07/2025 was uploaded on the agency’s website on Thursday.
The agency said the issue about falsified medicine was reported to the World Health Organisation by the genuine manufacturer, MUNDIPHARMA, in February.

It said the falsified product imitated the genuine OXYCONTIN 80mg authorised for sale in Poland, adding that the genuine OXYCONTIN (oxycodone hydrochloride) is a semi-synthetic opioid indicated for the treatment of moderate to severe pain.

It said laboratory tests of samples for the falsified product were conducted by the Drug Information Centre in Zurich, Switzerland, and that WHO, DIZ’s drug-checking service determined that the tablets did not contain oxycodone but a synthetic opioid likely to be a nitazene compound.

According to NAFDAC, Nitazene derivatives (e.g., metonitazene, isotonitazene, fluonitazene) are potent synthetic opioids, primarily used in research due to their high addiction potential and severe side effects.

It said these substances could be hundreds of times stronger than oxycodone, posing a high overdose risk, stressing that limited information is available on their risks, toxicity, side effects, and long-term consequences.

“The identified product in this alert is confirmed as falsified on the basis that it deliberately/fraudulently misrepresented its identity, composition, or source.

“The falsified product imitates OXYCONTIN 80mg manufactured and marketed by MUNDIPHARMA in the Polish market. MUNDIPHARMA has confirmed that the product was falsified and was not produced by their company.

“This falsified product has been found to contain undeclared nitazene compounds, which pose a significant risk due to the high likelihood of adverse events, even in small doses. Nitazenes produce similar effects to other opioids.

“Their high potency carries a high risk of overdose and death. Using nitazene derivatives has been linked to several deaths.

“Mixing them with other depressants like alcohol or benzodiazepines can be very dangerous, leading to severe effects like respiratory depression, low blood pressure, coma, or even death,” NAFDAC said.

It said that this falsified product posed a particular risk to individuals with substance use disorders who might perceive this falsified product as a safe and quality-assured medicine.

NAFDAC said that visible discrepancies were observed on the falsified product such as the placement of the batch and expiry dates on the counterfeit product were incorrect.

It added that the falsified product batch and expiry date are visible on the front side of the blister strip, adding that genuine OXYCONTIN has the batch and expiry date visible on the back of the blister strip.

NAFDAC stated that on the falsified product, the expiry date is on the left and the batch number is on the right, pointing out that genuine OXYCONTIN has the batch number on the left and the expiry date on the right.

According to NAFDAC, all its zonal directors and state coordinators have been instructed to conduct surveillance and retrieve any falsified products of this medicine found within their zones and states in Nigeria.

It said that importers, distributors, retailers, healthcare professionals, and consumers are hereby advised to exercise caution and vigilance within the supply chain to avoid importation, distribution, sale, and use of falsified OXYCONTIN tablets.

NAFDAC said that all medical products/ medical devices must be obtained from authorised/licensed suppliers, stressing that products’ authenticity and physical condition should be carefully checked.

It advised healthcare professionals and consumers to report any suspicion of the sale of substandard and falsified medicines or medical devices to the nearest NAFDAC office, or call NAFDAC on 0800-162-3322 or via email: sf.alert@nafdac.gov.ng.

It said that healthcare professionals and patients are also encouraged to report adverse events or side effects related to the use of medicinal products or devices to the nearest NAFDAC office.

NAFDAC said that healthcare professionals and patients could also report to the agency through the use of the E-reporting platforms available on the NAFDAC website www.nafdac.gov.ng or via the Med- safety application available for download on android and IOS stores or via e-mail on pharmacovigilance@nafdac.gov.ng

NAN

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JUST IN: EFCC Declares Ex-Bayelsa Governor Timipre Sylva Wanted

Published

2 hours ago

November 10, 2025

Editor

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has declared Timipre Sylva, the former Bayelsa state governor, wanted.

A statement on Monday by Dele Oyewale, the EFCC spokesperson, said Sylva, who also served as minister of state for petroleum resources, is wanted in connection with an alleged case of conspiracy and dishonest conversion of $14,859,257.

The anti-graft agency urged anyone with useful information about his whereabouts to contact any of its offices or the nearest police station.

“The public is hereby notified that TIMIPRE SYLVA, a former Minister of State, Petroleum Resources, and former Governor of Bayelsa State, whose photograph appears above is wanted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in an alleged case of Conspiracy and Dishonest Conversion of $14,859,257 – part of funds injected by the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) into Atlantic International Refinery and Petrochemical Limited for the construction of a Refinery,” the statement reads.

“Sylva, 61, is from Brass Local Government Area of Bayelsa State. The notice follows a November 6, 2025 warrant issued by [a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos].

“Anybody with useful information as to his whereabouts should contact the Commission in its Ibadan, Uyo, Sokoto, Maiduguri, Benin, Makurdi, Kaduna, Enugu, Kano, Lagos, Gombe, Port Harcourt, or Abuja offices, via 08093322644, e-mail info@efcc.gov.ng, or the nearest police station.”

In October, soldiers reportedly raided Sylva’s residences in Abuja and Bayelsa, arresting his brother amid allegations linking the former Bayelsa governor to a failed plot to overthrow the Bola Tinubu administration.

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Julius Bokoru, special assistant on media and public affairs to Sylva, confirmed the raid on Sylva’s residence, but said the claim was politically motivated.

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‘Why We Won’t Commemorate Saro-Wiwa, Other Fallen Heroes’

Published

7 hours ago

November 10, 2025

Editor

President /CEO Ogoni Liberation Initiative, Dr Fabeke Douglas, has stated categorically that they won’t commemorate November 10 when Ken Saro-Wiwa and eight innocent environmental activists were unjustly executed for advocating justice for their people.

Fabeke, in statement made available to The Guardian in Abuja, explained it’s due to numerous threat messages they received, and in the light of the planned attack when over 1,000 individuals gathered for prayer, which involves security personnel from the Bori division held two months ago.

Also, a former delegate of the Movement for the Survival of Ogoni People (MOSOP) at the United Nations, John Idamkue, has urged President Bola Tinubu to wipe away the tears of Ogoni people in Rivers State

Idamkue, an environmental public policy consultant and former trusted aide to the late Ken Saro-Wiwa, made the appeal in a statement in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, on Sunday.

He lamented that successive Nigerian governments abandoned Ogoni ethnic nationality and failed to address issues which the late environmental activist, Saro-Wiwa, advocated for.

This is as Fabeke regretted that the heinous incidents that transpired on that day was an unprecedented attack in Africa’s and the world’s history, where they gathered for the innocent environmental activists and to pray for God’s intervention in Ogoniland and Niger Delta region in general.

“Many have inquired about the events we are organizing to commemorate this day”.

“We wish to inform the public that we will not observe the day to share the ideology of Ken Saro-Wiwa and other fallen heroes with few important diplomatic leaders outside Nigeria.”

The OLI President declared that this incident will continue to remain fresh in their minds, and they are awaiting the police report on the cause of this grievous attack, which, but for divine intervention, would have resulted in loss of lives.

“Upon personal investigation, I discovered that numerous individuals were involved, including some whom I hold in high esteem. The incidents leading to the manipulated judgment against Ken Saro-Wiwa and eight others were orchestrated by a high-level conspiracy involving evil conspirators from Ogoni.”

According to Dr Fabeke, these groups of people collaborated with those interested solely in exploiting Ogoni resources, rather than promoting the development of its people.

Explaining further, he maintained, “In this regard, we hereby announce to all members of the Ogoni Liberation Initiative to remain calm, as the organisation will not host any public events until we obtain answers regarding the events of September 27, 2025.

“We advise all members to continue praying and trusting in God to provide unexpected answers that will guarantee sustainable freedom for a better society. We have withdrawn from participating in public gatherings related to Ogoni issues until this matter is properly addressed.”

He therefore expressed concern that numerous young individuals have been unknowingly recruited into this evil circle, enticed by fleeting gains that cannot fulfill their destinies, but we are scared of their future. We pray that God will open their eyes and have mercy upon them.

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Why I Don’t Drink, Smoke – Actress Sunshine Rosman

Published

8 hours ago

November 10, 2025

Editor

Popular Nollywood actress, Sunshine Rosman has revealed that she doesn’t drink alcohol or smoke.

The movie star explained that she has a “natural highness” and doesn’t need to indulge in alcohol, cigarettes or illicit substances to enhance her energy.

Speaking in a recent episode of the Open Up podcast, Rosman shared that people are often amazed by how hardworking she is and her energy at parties despite not indulging in alcohol or illicit substances.

“There was a time I said I wanted to be sustaining myself from acting alone and gigs were coming but I felt empty. I felt like I was always searching for something to complete myself,” she said.

“People often ask me what I drink after seeing my videos. I don’t drink. I don’t smoke either. But guess what? If we are at a party, I would be more turnt than anybody in that room.

“I went to film in Enugu and the production team organised cast members and crew party -and I love celebrating with cast and crew members, especially when you created a beautiful body of work.

“Those are the kind of parties I like to be at, not randomly at a Lagos club. And we were dancing and partying, if you see me in those videos, I was like, ‘Jesus, who is this girl?’

“Somebody asked me what I drank, I said, ‘Nothing.’ I don’t drink anything. I don’t need anything to influence me. I have all the happiness and highness that I want inside myself. God has given it to me freely. I don’t need to take anything to influence me,” the actress added.