13/03/2

Shina J.O

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control NAFDAC, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA and Nigeria Customs Service amongst other stakeholders in the health sector, have vowed to collaborate in the fight against illicit drug production, trafficking, and use, and in curbing related organized crime.

The pledge was made on Thursday in Lagos at the launch and dissemination of the 2022 Annual Report of the International Narcotics Control Board (INCB) and Precursors Report 2022.
The Director General, NAFDAC, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye described narcotics and psychotropic substances as indispensable for the relief of pain and suffering and that they are controlled within the framework of the three international conventions as they possess abuse liability and produce dependence in users.
‘’They are classified not on chemical nature but on the potential for abuse and the need for medical use of the substance’’, she said, adding that one of the control objectives is to ensure availability solely for medical and scientific uses while minimizing the possibility of diversion to illicit channels and abuse.

According to her, the policy thrust of the Agency is to ensure availability, access and rational use while preventing illicit use and abuse. The international drug control conventions, she added, are thus interpreted to mean improved access to controlled medicines to enable countries meet their drug needs.
In other to ensure adequate availability of controlled medicines, the NAFDAC boss disclosed that the Agency in conjunction with the Federal Ministry of Health carried out two quantifications of narcotics and estimation of psychotropic substances and precursors in 2017 and 2019.

She said the results of these surveys provide the evidenced-based estimation of our national annual requirements of these substances and enable the country to develop measures to achieve that delicate balance between access and control.
‘’According to the 2018 National Drug Use Survey, the prevalence of any drug use was 14.4% or 14.3 million people between the age of 15 and 64 years’’, she said, noting that this is comparatively high compared with the 2016 global annual prevalence of 5.6% among adult population.
Prof Adeyeye pointed out that the challenges arising from drug supply and consumption are not restricted to people who use drugs but have wider health, social and economic consequences on the family, community, and country.
The report, she stated further, revealed that Cannabis is the most commonly used drug, stressing that an estimated 10.8 per cent of the population or 10.6 million people, had used cannabis in the past year with the average age of initiation of cannabis use among the general population put at 19 years.
‘’Cannabis use was 7 times higher among men (18.8 per cent among men vs. 2.6 per cent of women), while the gender gap in the non-medical use of pharmaceutical opioids (such as tramadol) was less marked’’, she said.
She however, said that Nigeria will not support the trend of legalization of cannabis for non-medical use as Nigeria lacks the financial capacity to fight cultivation, production and illegal use of the substance.
The non-medical use of Cannabis, according to Prof. Adeyeye, contravenes the United Nations Single Convention of 1961, which classifies cannabis as a highly addictive substance.
‘’The Nigeria Indian Hemp Act as well as the NDLEA Act prohibit the cultivation, production, distribution, sales and use of cannabis and its extracts or derivatives for medical or non-medical purposes’’.
She commended the United Nations Office on Drug and Crime UNODC for the assistance and support to the country in the fight against illicit drug production, trafficking, and use, and in curbing related organized crime.
‘’We also appreciate INCB for the support to NAFDAC towards enhanced regulatory control of narcotics and psychotropic substances’’.
Speaking in the same vein, the Executive Chairman of NDLEA, Brigadier General, Buba Marwa, rtd. decried what he described as an upsurge in abuse of cannabis amongst the Nigerian youths with its attendant negative effects on the society.
He disclosed that the NDLEA with a view to addressing this problem conceptualized War Against Drug Abuse WADA which was launched by the Nigerian President, Mohammadu Buhari on June 26, 2021.
General Marwa who was represented by Mrs. Victoria Ekase, noted that NAFDAC has been ensuring that controlled drug essential for human survival are made available for use where necessary in line with the requirements of INCB, adding that NDLEA on its own part collaborates with NAFDAC in ensuring that the measures put in place to prevent diversion of such medicines and substances to illicit use are adhered to.

‘’In some instances, NDLEA has arrested and prosecuted some traffickers of controlled and narcotics substances intended to be diverted to illicit uses’’, he said, noting with dismay that It’s quite worrisome that chemicals intended for research and industrial purposes are finding their way into illicit drug manufacture.
‘’This is the area that NAFDAC and NDLEA need to deepen collaboration to ensure that such unwholesome acts are completely eliminated’’, he said, adding that the launch of the precursor report will go a long way to complement national efforts in this regard.
General Marwa pledged that NAFDAC and NDLEA will continue to collaborate with major stakeholders at all levels to develop an efficient value-chain and support system that will ensure access to narcotics and controlled substances for medical and strategic purposes while preventing diversion for illicit use.
‘’I sincerely hope that the global launch of the report will enhance the integration and cooperation amongst stakeholders in ensuring effective implementation for the overall benefit of the society.
The Comptroller General of the Nigeria Customs Service, Col. Hameed Ibrahim Alli, Rdt. who was represented at the event by Ag. Assistant Comptroller General, ACG, A.N Dappa, also commended NAFDAC, observing that NAFDAC and NDLEA have been most wonderful. He pledged the loyalty and support of the customs service in the task of ridding the nation of illicit drug. ‘’We have always been in partnership, and we will continue to work in close partnership with you’’, he said.

SAYO AKINTOLA
Resident Media Consultant
NAFDAC . CUSTOMER-FOCUSED; AGENCY MINDED

12/03/23

Shina J.O

PRESS RELEASE

First Nigeria Woman to be elected Senator in Nigeria, Franca Afegbua, has died at the age of 79.

The Afegbua family confirmed her demise in a statement issued on Sunday, March 12, 2023.

Late Franca Afegbua who died at the age of 79, was a native of Okpella, in Etsako-east LGA of old Bendel state

She was elected Senator representing Bendel -North senatorial district in October 1983 under the defunct National Party of Nigeria, (NPN) in the Second Republic.

Her political journey was, however, cut short as the military coup of December 1983 toppled the civilian government less than three months after she assumed office.

She reportedly targeted wooing more women in Etsako to vote for her which was a strategy that gave her a slim victory in the election against the established politician, John Umolu.

Prior to her political career in the Second Republic, Franca Afegbua worked as a hairdresser in Lagos State

She had her tertiary education in Sofia, Bulgaria, and won an international hairstyling competition in 1977 before joining active politics in 1983.

Many say her close relationship with renowned Middle Belt politician, Joseph Tarka of Benue State who introduced her to his party, the NPN before his death in March 1980 led to her joining politics.

The funeral date for the late first female legislator is yet to be announced by her family.

Shina J.O

11/03/2023

An Abuja Federal High Court has declared that it is only the Independent National Electoral Commission that is empowered by law to determine the mode of collating and transmitting election results.

Justice Emeka Nwite in his judgement in a suit filed by the Labour Party, stated that it is only INEC that has the prerogative to direct how Polling Unit Presiding Officer should transfer election results, including the total number of accredited voters and results of the ballot.

The trial Judge further held that the collating and transferring election results manually in the 2023 general elections cannot be said to be contrary to the relevant provisions of the Electoral Act, 2022.

The independent National Electioral Commision, INEC is the sole defendant in the suit.

The Party had prayed the court to declare that INEC has no power to opt for manual method other than the electronic method provided for by the relevant provisions the Electoral Act, 2022.

It urged the court to issue an order directing INEC to comply with the Electoral Act, 2022 on electronic transmission of result in the General election. 

In the judgement delivered on January 23, 2023, Justice Nwite held that the plaintiff misconstrued the provisions of the law and proceeded to dismiss the suit.

Justice Nwite also notes  that Section 60, subsection 5 of the Electoral Act, 2022 provides for the transfer of election result, including the total number of the accredited voters from the polling unit. 

And Section 62 (2) of the same Act, provides for compilation, maintenance and continuous update of the register of election result as distinct database for all polling units’ results as collated in all elections conducted by the commission.

10/03/23

Daniels G O

The Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Prof Akin Abayomi, has said about 19 survivors of the train and bus accident that happened in the state have been treated and discharged from the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital.

The commissioner at a press conference gave update information on the incident at the LASUTH hospital in Ikeja.
He said other survivors are responding to treatment and more of them will be released from various State’s General hospitals at Gbagada, Lagos Island, the Toll Gate and Orile Agege, discharged today.

He added that all of them are in stable condition, except for one or two, whom he said had severe injuries.

He said they have been able to transfuse 40 units of blood.
He explained that well wishers donated 256 units of blood to help accident victims.
He assured that all affected persons will be treated and their expenses will be covered by the government.
He said those at different government hospitals are also expected to be discharged today.

The commissioner added that 102 passengers/ casualties were associated with the accident.
He stated that the accident which occured at about 7:30 a.m was a collusion of moving train and modern transport conveying staff of Lagos State Secretariat.

He said the train carried the bus as farther as 100 metres, causing severe damage to passengers, and possibly affected those who are outside the bus in the area hence the additional seventeen Victims Brought in later to make a total of 102 .

Professor Abayomi said prompt rescue operation commenced as soon as Lagos State Emergency Management Authority, LASEMA arrived at 7:45 a.m to secure the environment and started to conduct rescue operations with other emergency responders.

Six Fatalities have been confirmed,Two on the spot and four at the LASUTH.
Abayomi said, “ The LASUTH management was able to set up a second level of triage.

Earlier, he said the first level of triage occured when LASUTH started receiving the affected passengers as early as 10 minutes past 8 in the morning.
The commissioner explained, “It is important that we carry out in the open air to scan all casualties and separate them quickly for immediate attention in a manner that will save the casualties.

The Lagos State Head of Service, Hakeem Muri-Okunola, opined that it will be premature to lay a blame, while speaking on the development.

According to him, the capacity of the type of bus involved was 85, 45 sitting and 40 standing.
“The bus was full ti the capacity because of scarcity of cash.

The Lagos State government says investigation is still ongoing to unravel more details about the unfortunate accident .

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To support the emergency response, the Lagos State government had yesterday called on the general public for people who will like to donate blood to come forward and restock the blood bank at LASUTH.