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NAFDAC warns against ripening of fruits with carbide, says it’s harmful to human health

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The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has warned Nigerians against the consumption of fruits ripened by calcium carbide.

Mojisola Adeyeye, the director-general of NAFDAC, gave the warning in her keynote address on Thursday at the south-south zone media sensitisation workshop on the dangers of drug hawking and ripening of fruits with calcium carbide in Uyo, Akwa Ibom.

Calcium carbide is a greyish-black lump or crystalline chemical substance with a garlic-like odour. It is used to generate acetylene gas, as a reducing agent, and is used in steel manufacturing and metal cutting.

Adeyeye, who was represented by Leonard Omokpariola, director of chemical evaluation and research, said consuming such artificially ripened fruits could result in sleeping disorders, mouth ulcers, skin rashes, kidney problems and cancer.

She said calcium carbide is alkaline in nature and erodes the mucosal tissue in the abdominal region and disrupts intestinal functions.

The director-general said NAFDAC has commenced campaigns in the nooks and crannies of the country to eradicate the menace of using the chemical substance to ripen fruits.

“Consumption of fruits containing these impurities may cause cancer, heart, kidney and liver failure,” NAN Adyeye her as saying.

“They may also cause frequent thirst, irritation in mouth and nose, weakness, permanent skin damage, difficulty in swallowing, vomiting, skin ulcer and so on.

“Higher exposure may cause undesired fluid build-up in lungs (pulmonary oedema).

“Acetylene produced by calcium carbide affects the neurological system and reduces oxygen supply to the brain and further induces prolonged hypoxia.

“The impurities are hazardous to pregnant women and children and may lead to headache, dizziness, mood disturbances, mental confusion, memory loss, cerebral oedema (swelling in the brain caused by excessive fluids), sleepiness, and seizure.”

Adeyeye also appealed to Nigerians not to patronise drugs by hawkers.

She said the menace of drug hawking posed a serious challenge to the healthcare delivery system in the country, noting that NAFDAC has resolved to totally eradicate the illicit trade.

“Drug hawkers are also the major distributors and suppliers of narcotic medicines to criminal networks, including armed bandits, insurgents, kidnappers and armed robbers,” she said.

“Drug hawkers constitute a serious threat to our national security.”

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Gunmen abducts CAC members travelling for burial in Ondo

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Some members of the Christ Apostolic Church (CAC) in Oke Igan, Akure, Ondo state capital have been abducted.

The Ondo police command confirmed the abduction on Saturday.

The church members were reportedly travelling for a burial ceremony when they were attacked and abducted by gunmen at Ifon in Ose LGA of the state.

Olufunmilayo Odunlami-Omisanya, police spokesperson in the state, said the victims were kidnapped on Friday afternoon.

“Yesterday afternoon, the police was informed that a church bus with the inscription CAC was abandoned around Elegbeka area and there are suspicions that the passengers in the vehicle were kidnapped,” Odunlami-Omisanya said.

“The police anti-kidnapping squad and other tactical teams have been deployed to the area to rescue the victims and arrest all involved in the crime.”

A family member of one of the abductees, who did not want to be named, said the victims are members of the church’s choir.

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Lagos state government announces closure of Ojuelegba Flyover Bridge for repair of truck barrier

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The Lagos State Government has announced traffic diversion at Ojuelegba flyover bridge on the night of Monday, October 2, 2023, from 10pm to 6am.

This is in line with plans by the state government to repair the truck barrier at the bridge which was recently damaged again.

This is contained in a statement issued by the state government on Friday, September 29, 2023, and can be seen on its official X (formerly Twitter) account.

The state government in the statement said that the following alternative routes will be available to Motorists during the diversion:

Motorists from Eko Bridge/Constain/Iponri inbound Ojuelegba/Alhaji Masha Road will be diverted to the service lane from Alaka via the National Stadium gate to link Barracks or Alhaji Masha Road to continue their journeys.
Motorists from Eko Bridge via Costain and those from Apapa Road going through Iponri will make use of Iponri Estate Road to link Bode Thomas via Adeniran Ogunsanya to Shitta Roundabout for their desired destinations.
Motorists were implored to be patient as the brief closure of the bridge is planned for night time as part of a traffic management strategy to avert further accidents and loss of lives.

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Mohbad: Witnesses to appear October 13 as coroner begins sitting

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The coroner’s inquest into the death of the singer Mohbad began sitting in Lagos on Friday.

Mohbad, 27, died on September 12 and was buried the next day.

The circumstances surrounding his death have sparked controversies on social media.

Thousands of Nigerians have demanded justice for Mohbad in nationwide protests.

On September 18, the Lagos police inaugurated a 13-man special investigation team to probe Mohbad’s death.

On Tuesday, the Lagos state judiciary said it will begin a coroner’s inquest into Mohbad’s death following a request submitted by Falana & Falana Chambers.

The first sitting was held on Friday at the Candide Johnson court in Ikorodu, Lagos.

Representatives of the parties in the case had a close-door session to determine different matters.

Funmi Falana, a lawyer representing Mohbad’s family, told BBC that the sitting was to determine the persons of interest to be invited to the court.

She said people should be hopeful as the lawyers will pursue the cause of justice.

“What we did today was to determine the how and what procedures to follow to help us get justice. We have fixed the next date and we will bring in our witnesses,” she said.

“We are representing the interest of justice, we should allow peace to reign but justice must be served. We will get to the root cause of the death”.

Festus Ogun, a Lagos-based lawyer, said any witness who fails to appear in court will be charged with contempt of court.

The court thereafter fixed October 13 for witnesses to present their pieces of evidence in court.

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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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