News

FG Moves To Tackle Food Export Challenges

Published

7 months ago

January 15, 2025

Editor

The Ministry of Industry Trade and Investment and the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare have collaborated to tackle irregularities in the food export system.

The collaboration is also expected to encourage efforts to unlock the healthcare value chain for effective transformation.

The Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr Jumoke Oduwole, made this known on Wednesday in Abuja.

Oduwole spoke while receiving the Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Muhammad Pate, who was on a courtesy visit to her office.

Also on the courtesy visit was the Director-General, the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the two ministries with their management, met to address some issues on irregularities in the exportation of food, areas on unlocking healthcare, and other important issues.

Pate said that the issues have been lingering between the ministries and needed to be tackled effectively.

He said that the issues were important to the two ministries, adding that the effort was to support President Bola Tinubu in his agenda towards transforming the country.

“This meeting is bringing two sectors that are ordinarily not closely connected. But there are specific things that have prompted me to reach out, which has to do with the exportation of food and its regulation. The second element is the role of the regulatory body, NAFDAC, in constraining or enabling the trade that we have across various borders.

“The third issue is the regulatory function links to our efforts to unlock the healthcare value chain. These are issues that have been lingering, and I thought we should use this opportunity to come together since we are all on the same team,” he said.

The minister said that the determination was to ensure that Nigeria achieved greatly in those areas in the long run.

Oduwole, while responding, said that both ministries would start working on areas of unlocking the healthcare value chain.

She said that the issues were very vital and required effective measures to be tackled.

“I was briefed about the draft policy and medical devices of syringe and needles manufacturing in Nigeria.

“We have to identify the areas and resolutions, and to identify areas of the ministry’s concern on the draft policy document and were we supposed to emit in further meeting with my ministry.

“The meeting is to discuss how to deliberate on the merit and demerit of the policy, as well as the issues of manufacturing. They are indeed under the eight-point agenda of Mr. President,” she said.

The NAFDAC DG said that Nigerians needed to change their mindsets in the area of the exportation of goods, adding that those regulatory agencies should regulate effectively.

According to her, the effort will help to avoid the embarrassment of rejection of our goods.

Earlier, the Technical Aide to the Industry, trade, and investment ministry, Temiloluwa Oluokun, mentioned some of the issues lingering in the ministry.

According to him, one of the issues from the regulatory reform programme was the denomination of permit fees in Naira.

“Some elements of those fees are not denominated in local currency.

“It is good to progressively shift all the fees to the local currency to protect our exporters from exchange rate altogether,” he said.

Oluokun said that another recurring issue that required urgent attention was the timeline for processing certificates and private sector participation.

“The recommendations are clear to revisit the export regulation 2024 with very wide industry consultation to balance oversight with efficiency altogether,” he said.

The Director, of the Federal Produce Inspectorate Service, Mr. Dafang Sule, appealed to the health ministry to assist in training some officers on the use of equipment to address the persistent pesticide residues in sesame seeds.

NAN reports that after long deliberation, the two ministries agreed that a team would be set up to address the issues discussed.

They said the team would schedule a meeting soon to check and revisit the issues for final resolution

News

PHOTOS: Brazil Welcomes Tinubu With Full Military Honours In Brasília

Published

10 hours ago

August 25, 2025

Editor

Brazil on Monday rolled out full military honours at the Planalto Palace in Brasília to receive President Bola Tinubu.

Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, disclosed this on X on Monday.

Onanuga said Tinubu was welcomed by his host, President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.

He wrote, “More photos of the official reception for President Tinubu at the Planalto Palace in Brasília, Monday, August 25, 2025. Brazil’s President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva welcomed President Bola Tinubu with full military honours.”

News

Tinubu Signs Direct Flight, Other Agreements With Brazil

Published

10 hours ago

August 25, 2025

Editor

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has signed a landmark Bilateral Air Service Agreement with Brazil, signalling the establishment of direct air links between Nigeria and South America’s largest economy.

The agreement was formalised on Monday during Tinubu’s official state visit to Brasília.

Media aide to the minister, Tunde Moshood, made this known through a statement, made available to The PUNCH.

At the signing ceremony which was witnessed by Messrs Nigerian President, Tinubu and the Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva in Brasilia also had the Nigeria’s Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, signed the agreement on behalf of Nigeria, while Brazil’s Minister of Transport, Silvio Costa Filho, also signed for the host country.

The BASA creates a new framework for direct flights between Nigeria and Brazil, with the potential to significantly enhance trade, tourism, investment, and diplomatic relations.

The statement further noted that, “ It also marks a key step in Nigeria’s broader efforts to strengthen international partnerships and improve global connectivity.”

Tinubu had arrived in Brazil with a delegation that included Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun; Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Bianca Ojukwu; Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Abubakar Kyari; and other senior government officials.

According to the statement, the Brazilian President welcomed the agreement, expressing his administration’s commitment to expanding cooperation with Nigeria in sectors such as aviation, agriculture, and infrastructure.

He described the BASA as a reflection of the strong ties between both countries and an opportunity to deepen economic and cultural collaboration.

Tinubu is also scheduled to hold meetings with key Brazilian government officials, including the President of the Senate, the President of the Chamber of Deputies, and the President of the Supreme Federal Court.

The two-day visit will include high-level discussions between Nigerian and Brazilian delegations across various sectors, as both nations explore opportunities for mutual growth and development.

The statement reads, “The ongoing state visit will also see President Tinubu meeting the President of the Brazilian Senate at the National Congress, the President of the Chamber of Deputies, and the President of the Supreme Federal Court.

“The working visit, which continues tomorrow, will also feature high-level engagements between Nigerian and Brazilian delegations across various sectors, underscoring both nations’ commitment to building a future of mutual growth and prosperity.”

News

NAFDAC Warns Of Fake Postinor-2 In Circulation

Published

11 hours ago

August 25, 2025

Editor

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control on Monday issued a public alert, warning the public about confirmed counterfeit batches of Postinor-2 (Levonorgestrel 0.75 mg) now circulating in Nigeria.

The alert follows a report from the Society for Family Health, the marketing authorisation holder, confirming that they did not import the suspect batches.

Postinor-2 (Levonorgestrel 0.75mg) is a brand of emergency contraceptive pill containing the active ingredient levonorgestrel.

NAFDAC revealed there are noticeable labelling discrepancies between the authentic and fake products.

It said, “The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) hereby notifies the public of falsified Type 1 and 2 batches of POSTINOR 2 (Levonorgestrel 0.75mg) product in circulation.

“The noticeable difference was found to be as follows: The font size of the text on the pin verification sticker appears smaller and has a wrong spelling of the word Veify instead of Verify on the fake; meanwhile, the text font on the sticker of the original appears bigger and more visible. There is also a wrong spelling behind the pack of the fake “Distnibuted in Nigeria” instead of distributed in Nigeria”, NAFDAC said.

NAFDAC identified the original Postinor-2 as batch T32458H, manufactured in February 2023 with an expiry date of February 2027 and registration number 04-6985.

The agency, however, confirmed two falsified versions: Counterfeit Product (Type 1), batch T36184B, manufactured in August 2024 with an expiry date of August 2028; and Counterfeit Product (Type 2), batch 332, manufactured in March 2023 with an expiry date of February 2027, both carrying the registration number 04-6985.

It said that due to the potential presence of incorrect, substandard, or harmful ingredients, improper dosages of levonorgestrel, and a lack of sterile manufacturing conditions, poses significant risks to individual health and public safety.

“The risks of administering falsified Postinor 2 (Levonorgestrel 0.75mg) include failure of contraceptive effect, toxic or harmful contaminants, unpredictable side effects, delayed or missed opportunity for genuine emergency contraception, and potential long-term reproductive health impact. Unexpected side effects: Unknown substances can trigger allergic reactions, organ damage, or death.

“Counterfeit medicines are unregulated, untested, and illegal, making their safety and efficacy impossible to guarantee. Patients should only obtain Postinor-2 from verified pharmacies or licensed healthcare providers.

“Although Investigations are still ongoing regarding the source of the falsified product, all NAFDAC zonal directors and state coordinators have been directed to carry out surveillance and mop up the falsified product of type 1 and 2 postinor 2 (Levonorgestrel 0.75mg) within the zones and states,” it added.

NAFDAC urged consumers and healthcare providers to verify PIN stickers carefully, report suspected counterfeit products, and always purchase medications from reputable sources.