Kemi Badenoch, the leader of the United Kingdom (UK) Conservative Party, says she is not interested in laundering the image of Nigeria after Vice-President Kashim Shettima criticised her for denigrating the country.

Badenoch was born in the UK in 1980 to Nigerian Yoruba parents. She returned to Nigeria, where she grew up. Badenoch finally departed for the UK when she turned 16.

Before she was elected leader of the Conservative Party, Badenoch described Nigeria as a socialist nation brimming with thieving politicians and insecurity.

“This is my country. I don’t want it to become like the place I ran away from,” she said.

“I grew up in Nigeria, and I saw firsthand what happens when politicians are in it for themselves, when they use public money as their private piggy banks, when they pollute the whole political atmosphere with their failure to serve others.

“I saw what socialism is for millions. I saw poverty and broken dreams. I came to Britain to make my way in a country where hard work and honest endeavour can take you anywhere.”

Badenoch also said she “grew up in a place where fear was everywhere. You cannot understand it unless you’ve lived it. Triple-checking that all the doors and windows are locked, waking up in the night at every sound, listening as you hear your neighbours scream as they are being burgled and beaten, wondering if your home would be next”.

On Monday, Vice-President Kashim Shettima hit back at Badenoch, accusing her of denigrating Nigeria.

Shettima compared Badenoch to Rishi Sunak, a “brilliant young man” who “never denigrated his nation of ancestry”.

Former Prime Minister Sunak hails from India.

However, a spokesperson for Badenoch said the politician stood by her statement.

“Kemi is not interested in doing Nigeria’s PR; she is the leader of the opposition in the UK,” the spokesperson said.

“She tells the truth. She tells it like it is. She’s not going to couch her words, and she stands by what she says.”

Shettima had urged Badenoch to change her first name if she no longer wanted to identify with her homeland.

Born Olukemi Adegoke to Nigerian parents, the lawmaker married Hamish Badenoch, a Scottish banker, and took her husband’s surname.

A cargo aircraft operated by Allied Air has crash-landed at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport Abuja (NAIA) after one of its landing gears failed, TheCable understands.

The aircraft with registration number 5N-JRT crash-landed on Wednesday at about 10:00am and had six crew members on board.

“Fortunately, no casualties were recorded,” a source privy to the incident said.

“The crew members were promptly evacuated and are currently undergoing medical assessments at the 063 Nigerian Air Force (NAF) medical unit.

“Emergency responders acted swiftly to secure the crash site, cordoning off the area under the supervision of the Military Airport Commandant (MAC) and other relevant agencies.”

The insider said the airport’s runway has been temporarily closed and that has led to delays of inbound and outbound flights.

Efforts are now under way by airport authorities, including the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), to remove the aircraft and inspect the runway for potential damage, it was learnt.

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control has announced a recall of one batch of Deekins Amoxycillin 500mg Capsules.

The affected batch, with lot number 4C639001, was manufactured by Eco-med Pharma Ltd and marketed by DevineKings Pharmaceutical Ltd.

This was made known in a statement shared by the Agency on X(formerly Twitter) on Wednesday.

According to NAFDAC, the recall follows reports of serious adverse drug reactions associated with this batch. According to Eco-med Pharma Ltd, a hospital reported three cases of severe reactions in patients who were administered capsules from this batch.

The statement said, “NAFDAC is notifying the public of the recall of one batch of Deekins Amoxycillin 500mg Capsules, manufactured by Eco-med Pharma Ltd and marketed by DevineKings Pharmaceutical Ltd, with lot number 4C639001.

“This batch is recalled following reports of serious adverse drug reactions.

“According to Ecomed Pharma Ltd, reports of serious adverse drug reactions were received from a hospital that reported three cases of serious adverse drug reactions from patients administered with the batch of Deekins Amoxycillin 500mg capsule.

“Amoxicillin is a penicillin antibiotic indicated for treating bacterial infections such as tonsillitis, bronchitis, sinusitis, pneumonia, and bacterial infections of the ear, nose, throat, skin, or urinary tract.

NAFDAC also advised healthcare professionals and consumers to immediately stop using the affected batch and to report any suspicious cases of substandard or falsified medicines to the nearest NAFDAC office.

“Healthcare professionals and consumers are advised to report any suspicion of substandard and falsified medicines to the nearest NAFDAC office, call 0800-162-3322 or send an email to sf.alert@nafdac.gov.ng