Metro

NAFDAC Destroys N4.2bn Fake Products In Anambra

Published

11 months ago

May 26, 2023

National Agency for Food, Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC, yesterday destroyed fake, unwholesome, counterfeit and substandard goods/products worth over N4.2 billion in Awka, Anambra State capital.

Speaking during the exercise that took place at the Anambra State Waste Management Agency, ASWAMA Dumpsite at Umuzocha (by Anambra State secretariat complex), the Director-General, NAFDAC, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, said the exercise was in line with the agency’s mandate of eradicating fake and other spurious NAFDAC regulated products from circulating in Nigeria.

Adeyeye, who was represented at the event by the Head of Task Force team of the agency, Francis Ononiwu, added that the exercise was a combined South-East and South-South zonal destruction carried out periodically.

She added that the affected products were seized as part of the exercise carried out by the investigative and enforcement team of the agency in various parts of the South-East and South-South zones since 2020.

According to her, “The products were made up of spurious, counterfeited, substandard and falsified medicinal products, unwholesome processed food products and several other unsafe regulated products seized from various manufacturers, importers and distributors in the combined team of South-East and South-South zones”.

“Among the products are expired, deflective and recalled products voluntarily handed over by compliant companies, non-governmental organisations and market unions in the South-East and South-South zones.

“Investigation and Enforcement Directorate Unit in Asaba, Delta State has enhanced enforcement activities in the South-East and South-South zones and the agency has made several seizures of controlled and banned products being distributed by some unscrupulous elements and causing harm to the public health.”

The NAFDAC boss added that the destruction of the products would eliminate the risk of their reintroduction into the Nigerian market and a proof of the agency’s resolve to safeguard the health of the people.

She thanked the various security operatives and the investigative team of the agency as well as other stakeholders for their collaboration to the success of the exercise.

Some of the products include antibiotics, anti-hypertensive, anti-diabetic, anti-asthmatic, aphrodisiacs, antimalarial, anti-inflammatory, herbal remedies and psychoactive drugs.

Others were banned drugs such as analgin, tramadol(above 100mg), gentamycin 280mg and controlled substances, vaccines, alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, cosmetics, chemicals and unwholesome food, among others.

Also present at the exercise were representatives of various trade unions, market leaders, manufacturers and other critical stakeholders in the sector.

A member of the caretaker committee of Ogbo-Ogwu Bridge Head Market in Onitsha, Emmanuel Uchenna Ubache who led others to witness the event, thanked NAFDAC, saying, “We appreciate what the agency is doing in the area of sanitising the health sector and making sure the people that people consume good and genuine products. We are solidly behind the efforts of eradicating the markets of fake products.”

Metro

Police Rescue Three Toddlers Locked Up In Lagos Home

Published

10 hours ago

April 18, 2024

Editor

The Lagos State Police Command has rescued three toddlers allegedly locked up in a room at Agodo-Egbe in the Ikotun area of the state.

According to The PUNCH, the children, which included a girl and two boys between the ages of two and four years, were locked inside for some time by one Fatimo Ganiyu said to be their grandmother.

Some members of the community who became curious about their whereabouts were said to have immediately alerted the police on Wednesday.

Following the tip-off, a team of policemen visited the scene and forced the door open, thereby leading to the discovery of the children in the room.

It was learnt that the kids were found looking malnourished, while the suspect was arrested on the spot.

The state Police Public Relations Officer, Benjamin Hundeyin, confirmed the incident.

He said, “At about 4 pm on Wednesday, information was received at Ikotun Police Division that three children, a girl and two boys between the ages of two and four, were locked up by their grandmother, one Fatimo Ganiyu, around Agodo Egbe, Ikotun.

“The DPO immediately led a team of anti-crime detectives to the scene, and the children were rescued and taken to the station.
“They were looking malnourished and unhealthy. The suspect was arrested while the infants were transferred for proper treatment and care. The investigation is ongoing.”

Metro

Edo: NAPTIP Arrests Fake Rev. Sister For Allegedly Trafficking 38 Children

Published

11 hours ago

April 18, 2024

Editor

The Edo Zonal Command of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons has arrested a fake Reverend sister over the alleged trafficking of 38 children in Delta State.

It was gathered that the suspect, Ikejimba Maryvianney (alias Oluchi) 40 years old, and one Chidera, now at large, handed over the children to two orphanage homes under the guise of giving them better care.

The children, it was learnt, were handed over to the suspects by their parents at a farm community in Enugu-Awka camp by Monastery, Ilah, Delta State.

Maryvianney was reportedly arrested by the NAPTIP following a tip-off.

When contacted, the NAPTIP Zonal Commander in Benin, Nduka Nwanwenne, who confirmed the incident said the suspect was in custody.

He said the suspect claimed to be trained in Ghana as a Rev. sister while their headquarters is in the Philippines.

She said she came to meet the parents and persuaded them to allow their children to follow them to their orphanage homes and that they would be given better care.

He added, “To convince the parents when they were handed over the first batch of the children, he said the suspects asked two of the parents to follow them to know the two orphanage homes the children would stay’.

“32 of the children have been recovered by the agency while six who are between the ages of three and six years old are yet to be recovered

“The suspect claims that three of the six children are in Badagry while the other three are in Ogun State but later said they have been adopted by people in the East.”

He said the agency was still on the trail of the other suspect who is at large and that the suspect would be charged in court as soon as the investigation is concluded.

He warned parents to be vigilant and never trust anybody with their kids without asking fundamental questions.

Metro

JUST IN: Police Allegedly Arrest Rivers Lawmaker, Fubara Loyalist In Abuja

Published

12 hours ago

April 18, 2024

Editor

Two loyalists of the Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, including the lawmaker representing the Aboada West Constituency of the state House of Assembly, Sokari Goodboy; have been arrested at the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.

Also arrested by the police was a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party in the state identified as Ezebunwo Ichemati.

The duo was allegedly arrested by policemen outside the venue of the National Executive Committee meeting of the PDP in Abuja on Thursday.

In a viral video seen, a lady who claims to be a member of Fubara’s media team, said the two men were arrested on the orders of a Local Government chairman in Rivers State.

She stated, “All of us, the media team that came from Rivers State were together. The next thing – he (the LG Chairman) pointed out that they should arrest the present serving Assembly member who is representing the good people of Aboada West.

“The next thing that came up again, he started giving them instructions he attacked Ezebunwo and tore his shirt.

“We don’t even know what we are doing here because he has ordered that they should arrest all of us.”

It was gathered that the two governor’s loyalists were taken away by the security operatives.

When contacted, the Governor’s Special Assistant on Electronic Media, Jerry Omotsegunwa, confirmed the incident and called for their immediate release.

He stated, “They were there in solidarity so why should they be arrested? Going there to show solidarity, they were not the only ones.

“A lot of Governors also came there with their people and coming to picket some people on the orders of an individual is not it at all. So they should be released immediately.”

Of the present 31 lawmakers of the State House of Assembly, 27 led by the Speaker, Martin Amaewhule are loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, while the remaining four are loyal to Fubara.

Of the four, one and former factional Speaker, Edison Ehie, resigned from the state House of Assembly and was later appointed as Fubara’s Chief of Staff, following the protracted political crisis rocking the state.

The State House of Assembly has 32 constituencies, but one of the lawmakers Dinebari Loolo who represented the Khana Constituency 2, died in 2023.

However, a by-election had yet to be conducted to fill the vacant seat.

When contacted, the Force Public Relations Officer, Adejobi Olumuyiwa picked up the call but dropped it immediately our correspondent introduced himself.

He had yet to reply to a text message sent to his mobile as of the time of filing this report on Thursday evening.