Beiersdorf, a manufacturing firm, says the Nivea BlACK&WHITE Invisible roll-on deodorant (50 ml), with batch number 93529610, is not on sale in Nigeria and has never been marketed in the country.

Beiersdorf spoke in a statement on Saturday, responding to a safety alert issued by the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) on the product.

On October 31, the NAFDAC alerted Nigerians to the recall of the product by the European Union’s (EU) rapid alert system for dangerous non-food products (RAPEX) in Brussels.

The Nigerian agency said the recalled Nivea product contains 2-(4-tert-Butylbenzyl propionaldehyde) (BMHCA), a chemical prohibited in cosmetics products due to its ability to harm the reproductive system, impair the health of an unborn child, cause skin irritation, and cause burns to users.

Produced in Germany, NAFDAC said the product is marked ‘48H protection in African climate’, with batch number: 93529610 and bar code number: 42299882.

Citing the current European legislation in response to NAFDAC’s warning, Beiersdorf said the use of the ingredient 2-(4-tert-Butylbenzyl propionaldehyde (LilialTM) in cosmetic products has been “banned from European markets since 1 March 2022”.

“We wish to assure our valued customers that Batch No. 93529610 has not been marketed in Nigeria and has therefore never been recalled by Beiersdorf, the owner of the NIVEA brand, as the official manufacturer,” the firm’s management said.

Beiersdorf noted that the batch in question expired in January 2022 and was fully compliant with the European cosmetic regulations at the time.

The company said it is working closely with the NAFDAC to protect Nigerian consumers by ensuring locally produced items meet global quality standards.

The manufacturer also said all their products have been reformulated to be Lilial-free, in line with the regulations since March 2022.

“The safety of our consumers remains our highest priority, in line with our ethical business values,” the company said.

“In pursuit of this commitment, all NIVEA product formulations have been updated to be Lilial-free, fully compliant with the EU Regulation on cosmetic products well in advance of the Lilial ban, effective 1 March 2022.

“For example, the formulation of NIVEA BLACK & WHITE Invisible Roll-on deodorant has been Lilial-free since at least 2020 worldwide, including Nigeria.”

The firm stated that all trade partners were informed in advance and reminded of their duty to remove outdated Lilial-containing products within the legal timeframe to meet European cosmetic product regulation requirements.

The Gateway Movement, following its 2-day special retreat organised by the Political and Leadership Institute (POLA) on November 1 & 2 in Ijebu Ode, reaffirms the following:

Endorsement of Government Efforts: We acknowledge and support the Federal Government’s ongoing efforts to revitalise the nation’s economy, as outlined by our leader, His Excellency, The Senator, Otunba Gbenga Daniel.

Loyalty: We express our unwavering confidence in President Bola Tinubu’s leadership and his ability to steer Nigeria towards a prosperous future.

We pledge our unwavering loyalty to His Excellency, Otunba Gbenga Daniel as he continues to guide our political journey within the APC.

Believe in Leadership Structure: We affirm our belief that Gateway Movement has an organised and excellent leadership structure, capable of proving its mettle in the political space.

Therefore, we shall forge ahead as one undivided unit under guidance of our overall leader, Otunba Gbenga Daniel.

Unity within the APC: We believe in the APC’s capacity to address internal concerns through fair and inclusive processes, fostering unity within the party. We shall remain in APC to contribute our quota to the party’s advancement and delivery of dividends of democracy.

Promoting the APC and Government Initiatives: We commit to promoting the APC and highlighting the government’s efforts to alleviate economic challenges inherited from past administrations.

Collaborative Efforts: We urge all stakeholders to join hands in improving the lives of our communities. As a group, we commit to improving our membership drive in order to improve the fortunes of our great party.

By adhering to these principles, we aim to contribute positively to the development of our nation.

Signed
Gateway Movement

The Catholic Archdiocese of Ibadan, led by the Archbishop, Most Rev. Gabriel Abegunrin, has donated a waiting lounge to the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, for patients and relatives’ relaxation.

Speaking at the inauguration of the ‘Caritas Waiting Lounge’, on Friday at UCH In-Drive of the Emergency Department, the UCH Chief Medical Director (CMD), Prof. Jesse Otegbayo, said the lounge brought a great relief to patients and their relatives.

Otegbayo said the project fitted perfectly into the catchphrase of his administration, which is “Patients’ comfort and staff welfare”.

The CMD said that the location of the facility (very close to emergency department) is strategic to the operation of the hospital.

He added that the Emergency Department of the hospital is the first point of contact for most of the patients.

“It plays host to a large number of relations who do not have where to wait when the stainless metal chairs are occupied.

“I recall that prior to my assumption of duty as the CMD, patients’ relations were sitting on bare floor. But within a few months of being in office, we provided stainless metal chairs for their comfort, which still subsist today.

“This building will, after commissioning, be readily available for use,” he said.

Otegbayo emphasised that UCH is a collective legacy and pride, and called on all to be active to make the hospital functional and efficient.

He appealed to well-meaning Nigerians, corporate organisations and philanthropists to come to the aid of the hospital for effective healthcare service delivery.

“The management, staff, students and our teeming patients remain eternally grateful to the Catholic Diocese of Ibadan for this kind gesture of making life comfortable for our patients and their relatives.

“This will go down in history as a step toward ameliorating the hardship being faced in the course of accessing treatment.

“We thank the Caritas Foundation through the office of the Archbishop, the Most Rev. Gabriel Abegunrin, for this generous donation.

“We assure you that we shall make optimum use of this facility for the service of God and humanity.

“Our institution will be strengthened for greater efficiency if all within the different strata of the society, join efforts to make provisions that will make life more meaningful and capable of bringing sucour to people.

“Apparently, we have had a fair share of what makes life better for our teeming patients, even though our space is always available for more.

“It is of great importance for us to appreciate what we received today,” Otegbayo said.

Abegunrin remarked that the church donated the building out of its kindness to ameliorate the burden of patients and relatives at the hospital.

“Over the years, I see patients’ relatives lying on the floor at the corridors and it was pitiable, so I had the burden with the church to do something to help.

“The materials used for the edifice are expensive and they are the type that will last long, so we thank God for making today a reality,” Abegunrin said.