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Customs Destroys 48 Containers Of Fake Drugs In Lagos

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The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), on Thursday, destroyed 48 containers of fake pharmaceutical drugs imported into the country through the nation’s seaports.
The pharmaceuticals, were destroyed at the waste destruction site belonging to the Lagos State Waste Management Agency (LAWMA) in Epe, Lagos State.

Other agencies of government present during the destruction of the 48 containers of the seized drugs were the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC); National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), and the Department of State Services (DSS).

Customs delegation which was led by the Assistant Comptroller General, Enforcement, Inspection and Investigation, Usman Dakingari, include Customs Area Controller for Apapa Customs Command, Compt. Yusuf Malanta, and the national spokesman of the Service, DC Timi Bomodi.

Speaking to journalists at the destruction site, the ACG Enforcement, Inspection and Investigation, Dankingari, said that unregulated drugs like the ones destroyed were fueling banditry, kidnapping and insecurity in the country.

Dankingari said, “These type of drugs fuel banditry, armed robbery, terrorism and insecurity in the country. That is why the Federal Government, through the Customs and NAFDAC, regularly mop up these drugs from circulation.

“It is on the basis of this that the Comptroller General of Customs, Col. Hameed Ali (rtd), mandated us to come and destroy these illicit drugs in collaboration with other government agencies. For today, we are destroying eight containers of these drugs. In total, we have 48 containers of drugs that will be destroyed in the coming days.

“These drugs came into the country as import units but were seized after examination revealed that they are substandard and fake. These are drugs that don’t have expiry or manufacturing date on them. These drugs didn’t pass though NAFDAC regulation and have everything written on them in foreign languages that Nigerians won’t be able to read.”

“We have Tramadol in various brands among the drugs to be destroyed. We also have Diclofenac and all sorts of analgesic drugs that were not certified by NAFDAC. We also have Codeine and so many types of drugs that have not been duly certified for consumption by NAFDAC.”

Also speaking, an assistant director, Enforcement and Investigation Directorate, NAFDAC, Mr. Kunle Ojo, explained that all the drugs earmarked for destruction have not passed through NAFDAC regulatory process, and thus do not have any evidence of proper registration.

In the words of the NAFDAC official, “All these drugs have not passed through NAFDAC regulatory processes and thus are fake drugs. Therefore, since we cannot certify that they were properly registered by NAFDAC, we cannot guaranty their genuineness. We want to thank the Customs for not letting these substandard drugs to get into the market because they can cause a lot of health hazards to the unsuspecting public. It can cause health hazards like Cancer, Liver problem, kidney problem and so many more.”

Also speaking, Area Controller of Apapa Customs Command, Ibrahim Malanta, said that the drugs contravened Sections 46 and 47 of the Customs Excise Management Act (CEMA), and therefore were liable to seizure.

“These drugs flout section 46 and 47 of the CEMA Act and thus are liable to seizure. To ensure they don’t get into the society, we are destroying them all, 48 containers in numbers. Before the end of the week, we should be done with the destruction process,” Comptroller Malanta stated.

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Truck falls off Lagos bridge, kills female biker

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A female biker was killed on Monday when a truck fell off a bridge in Lagos and landed on her motorcycle.

Sola Giwa, special adviser on transportation to Babajide Sanwo-Olu, governor of Lagos, said the driver lost control while steering the truck at full pelt.

The truck then fell on the female biker as it descended the Iganmu bridge.

Giwa said the incident occurred at 6:15am on Monday at Sifax, inward Iganmu bridge, adding that the truck driver fled the scene after the fatal incident.

“Early this morning, operatives of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) and other emergency responders recovered the body of a female biker trapped under a loaded containerized truck in Lagos,” the statement reads.

“Preliminary investigations revealed that the truck driver, who was speeding, lost control and caused the truck to fall on the female biker.

“Immediately after the incident, LASTMA personnel called in other emergency responders, including the LASEMA Response Unit (LRU), for a rescue operation.”

The special adviser said the body of the deceased has been evacuated while the containerised truck has also been evacuated for ease of traffic.

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Abuja man attempts suicide, climbs 120metres broadcast mast

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A man who gave his name as Shaibu Alhaji Yusuf on Monday caused a stir in Abuja when he climbed a 120-metre-long broadcast mast at the premises of the Abuja Broadcasting Service, owners of Aso Radio and Television.

The broadcast station which is owned by the Federal Capital Territory Administration FCTA is located on Katampe Hill, at a point dubbed the geographic centre of Nigeria, along the Kubwa Expressway.

The man who for several minutes refused to come down despite entreaties by emergency responders, said he is an indigene of Borno state.

He said he was not happy with the general state of hopelessness in the country, especially hunger and insecurity.

He later came down after a pep talk by the Acting General Manager of the FCT Emergency Management Department FEMD, Mrs Florence Wenegieme.

He was however interested taken into custody by men of the Nigeria Police Force.

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Court orders Sadiya Umar Farouq to account for N729bn poverty alleviation fund

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A federal high court in Lagos has ordered Sadiya Umar Farouq, former minister of humanitarian affairs, to account for payments of N729 billion to 24.3 million vulnerable Nigerians.

Umar Farouq was minister from 2019 to 2023 in the administration of ex-President Muhammadu Buhari.

In a judgment delivered by Deinde Dipeolu on June 27, Farouq was ordered to provide the list and details of the beneficiaries who received the payments, the number of states covered and the payments per state.

The ruling followed a freedom of information request from the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP).

In the certified true copy of the judgment provided by Kolawole Oluwadare, deputy director of SERAP, the judge said:

“I therefore grant an order of mandamus directing and compelling the Respondent to provide the following information to the Applicant:

“Details of the proposed payments of N729 Billion to 24.3 million Nigerians for six months, including mechanisms and logistics put in place for the payments and list of beneficiaries.

“Details of how the proposed beneficiaries have been selected, the number of states covered and the projected payments per state.

“State whether the payments will be made in cash, through Bank Verification Numbers or other means.

“Explain the rationale for paying N5,000 to 24.3 million poor Nigerians, which translate to five percent of Nigeria’s budget of N13.6 trillion for 2021.”

In December, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) invited the former minister over the alleged laundering of N37 billion by one James Okwete, a contractor who worked with the ministry.

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Bodex F. Hungbo, SPMIIM is a multiple award-winning Nigerian Digital Media Practitioner, Digital Strategist, PR consultant, Brand and Event Expert, Tv Presenter, Tier-A Blogger/Influencer, and a top cobbler in Nigeria.

She has widespread experiences across different professions and skills, which includes experiences in; Marketing, Media, Broadcasting, Brand and Event Management, Administration and Management with prior stints at MTN, NAPIMS-NNPC, GLOBAL FLEET OIL AND GAS, LTV, Silverbird and a host of others

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