Want to catch a flight? Not on Emefiele’s watch 🥲
NAFDAC catches on to fraud, Soldiers attack terrorists, Abacha's latest gift
Hi!
The news is mostly bleak these days, so I have decided to start adding some things from the internet I found interesting during the week to the end of every newsletter. They’ll mostly be articles (some shameless self plugs), but there will also be videos, funny Tweets and maybe photos! We’ll see. I hope they bring you some joy ❤️ - Adetomiwa
In today’s edition:
NAFDAC catches on to herbal fraud
CBN bails out Nigerian airlines while withholding foreign airlines’ revenue
British Airways is considering cutting ties with Nigeria over trapped income
Parents propose 10,000 support levy to mitigate ASUU income strikes
Troops destroy Boko Haram market in Borno
Health
Some of us might think we’re learning to live with COVID, but WHO’s director-general, Tedros Ghebreyesus, doesn’t agree. He says we can’t believe that when “one million people have died with COVID-19 this year alone”.
He further expressed that he is pleased some countries with low vaccination rates are gaining ground, especially in Africa.
In January, WHO and partners launched the COVID-19 Vaccine Delivery Partnership, which focused mainly on the distribution of vaccines to countries with 10% or below vaccine coverage. At the time, there were 34 countries, but now, only 10 countries still have less than 10% coverage.
Read more on the global status of COVID here.
Lagos begins new wave of COVID vaccinations
The Lagos State Government, in collaboration with the Federal Government, has commenced the COVID-19 Scales 3.0 vaccination campaign, created to vaccinate the rest of the population against the COVID-19 virus.
This was confirmed by the state Commissioner for Health, Prof Akin Abayomi, in a statement on Tuesday.
‘Scales 3.0’ is a three-month strategy to advance COVID-19 vaccination in the state.
The Commissioner added that to halt the spread of the virus, it is crucial for everyone aged 18 years and above to be vaccinated.
Sherifat Lawal, a representative of WHO, says 20% of Lagos residents are vaccinated.
NAFDAC: Some herbal mixtures we approved are harmful
Before you pay for that weight loss solution on Instagram, know that NAFDAC has admitted to approving “health” herbal beverages harmful to consumers.
They specifically highlighted a herbal intoxicant, ‘Kurkura’.
NAFDAC director-general Mojisola Adeyeye admitted the agency’s misstep at a Friday press briefing in Abuja. She said that the agency’s findings revealed high tobacco and cannabis use concentrations in the products - People’s Gazette.
Adeyeye said Kurkura was illegally consumed with the sole aim of getting intoxicated and can harm the brain, kidney, and liver. She added that it could lead to road traffic accidents and criminal behaviours.
Despite the producer claiming it was 100% herbal, tests show that it contains several drugs. The drugs include ‘Hyergra 200’ (Sildenafil Citrate tablet), ‘Amafranil tablets’ (Clomipramine tablet 25mg)’, and ‘Cannon Extra’ (Paracetamol 500mg+Caffeine 30mg).
She also reported that NAFDAC impounded dangerous herbal aphrodisiacs, including ‘Gagare Man Power’, ‘Minister For Man Power’, ‘Almenjou For Lazy Men in Bed’, ‘Nisan Zango Karfin Maza’, ‘Shagalin Ka Man Power’, ‘Dakan Jia Man Power enhancement’, ‘Wuff Male Sexual Performance’ and ‘Afafata For Sexual Drive’.
An alcoholic bitters product Japata Alcoholic produced by Chigodson International Company Ltd, was also mentioned. NAFDAC said the version of this product in circulation is laced with marijuana. The version the manufacturers registered had only ethanol.
When it was tested in a lab, the product caused the death of the mice within five minutes.
The alcoholic content was double what the registration indicated.
Chigodson International Company Ltd is now permanently closed. The owner is allegedly on the run as the matter has been shared with NDLEA.
This is the second time the drug agency is raising concerns over Japata.
Health minister says there are enough doctors in Nigeria
The Minister of Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire, said on Tuesday during a media conference that there are enough doctors in the country, and the FG is working toward replacing those who have resigned and relocated
“We have heard complaints of doctors who are now leaving the system, but there are actually enough doctors in the system because we are producing up to 2,000 or 3,000 doctors every year in the country, and the number leaving is less than 1,000. It is just that the employment process needs to be smoothened,” he said, according to The Punch
National Association of Resident Doctors had previously given the FG a two-week ultimatum to sort out residents' payments or risk-taking industrial action. Dr Deborah Bitrus-Oghoghorie of the Department of Hospital Services said the issue was being looked into.
The two weeks were given to implement the payment of the new hazard allowance and arrears stipulated as of December 22, 2021. It took effect on Monday and will elapse on September 4, 2022.
Finance
US to repatriate $23m of Abacha’s loot to Nigeria
The Nigerian government, on Tuesday, signed a new agreement with the US government for the return of over $23 million looted by the late dictator Sani Abacha - Premium Times.
The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, represented the FG at the agreement signing ceremony held at the Federal Ministry of Justice in Abuja on Tuesday.
Mary Leonard, U.S. ambassador to Nigeria, signed the agreement on behalf of her country, while Abubakar Malami signed on behalf of the Nigerian government.
The $23 million adds to the $311.7 million Abacha loot repatriated from the US to Nigeria in 2020, making the total sum over $334.7 million.
Mr Malami said the funds will be used to complete the ongoing Presidential Development Infrastructural Funds, PIDF, projects namely; Abuja-Kano Road, Lagos-Ibadan Express Way and the Second Niger Bridge under the supervision of the Nigerian Sovereign Investment Authority, NSIA.
Troops intercept N3.7bn stolen oil
The Defence Headquarters, on Thursday, said combined troops from Operations Delta Safe, Octopus Grip and Dakar Da Barawo, intercepted petroleum products worth N3,708,259,338 from suspected oil thieves in the Niger Delta within two weeks - The Punch.
Troops of the Nigerian Army’s Guards Brigade raided suspected terrorists’ hideouts at Deidei Abattoir in the Abuja Municipal Area Council and Gwagwalada Area Council in the Federal Capital Territory.
According to the Director of Defence Media Operations, Major General Musa Danmadami, the petroleum products recovered from the suspects are:
25,977.15 barrels of crude oil
3,236,130 litres of Automotive Gas Oil
26,575 litres of Premium Motor Spirit
2,000 litres of Dual Purpose Kerosene
The troops also arrested 21 pipeline vandals and recovered four tankers, two-speed boats, one generator, one outboard engine, 14 pumping machines and three AK47 rifles.
CBN Releases $265m Bailout To Nigerian Airlines
To avert the brewing crisis in the aviation sector, the CBN released $265million to airlines operating in the country to settle outstanding ticket sales - Leadership.
A breakdown shows that $230 million was released as special FX intervention, while another $35 million was released through the retail SMIS auction.
The director of the corporate communications department, Mr Osita Nwanisobi, confirmed the release of the funds in a statement on Friday.
Education
How SSANU lost 300 members due to depression and strike
The Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) says more than 300 members of the association lost their lives to depression and other health issues during the five-month strike that was just suspended.
SSANU President, Muhammed Ibrahim, disclosed this on Wednesday on Premium Times’ weekly Twitter Spaces.
He said some members of the association died from health challenges and lack of money to pay for essential medicine.
The Joint Action Committee of SSANU and the Non-Academic Staff Union of Universities and other Allied Institutions (NASU) suspended the five-month strike on August 20, following a meeting with the Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu. The suspension will last for two months to observe government's implementation of their demands.
The SSANU President also called on the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and the National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT) to suspend their prolonged strike and give the government a window to meet its demands.
ASUU insisted that they won’t suspend the ongoing industrial action until the government meets all of their demands and pays wages for the last six months the union has been on strike.
Meanwhile, despite the government’s threat of ‘No Work, No Pay’, the SSANU President expressed optimism that the government will pay the union’s staff when they suspend the strike.
He said that this is not the first time the government bluffed about not paying. He cited the example of the doctors that went on strike and were eventually paid when they resumed.
Mr Ibrahim said with his union’s suspension of the strike, university staff will start preparing payrolls to be sent to the government.
Niyi Sunmonu, the National Coordinator of the Congress of Nigerian Universities Academics (CONUA), said industrial actions have not yielded the desired results over the years. He asked that they change their methods and blamed inadequate feedback channels for the lack of trust in government promises. CONUA is a rival academic group that has publicly opposed the ongoing strike.
Parents propose 10,000 support levy for varsities
The National Parent-Teacher Association of Nigeria (NAPTAN) seek an audience with the FG over ASUU’s strike.
The association is also proposing to pay N10,000 per session for each parent to assist the government in making more funds available for universities.
This was disclosed by NAPTAN’s Public Relations Officer, Dr. Ademola Ekundayo, during an interview with The Punch on Tuesday.
He said the payment would serve as the parents’ contribution to making more funds available to the universities— this is separate from other required fees. “It can be called parent support levy for universities. We are at the receiving end of the industrial action”, he added.
Read more here
Economy
Want to catch a flight? Not on Emefiele’s watch
British Airways on the verge of suspending operations in Nigeria
Although it’s the oldest airline with links to Nigeria, British Airways is on the brink of suspending fight operations in Nigeria. This is due to the difficulty retrieving revenue trapped in Nigeria’s ongoing forex crisis.
This development came to light after a crucial business meeting with the National Association of Nigeria Travel Agencies (NANTA), where the airline disclosed the decision to close inventory on its business in Nigeria.
This suspension means BA won’t sell new tickets in Nigeria until the issue of trapped foreign airlines funds is resolved - Nairametrics.
Last week, Emirates Airlines announced that they’re suspending their services in Nigeria for the same reason. We reported then that Nigeria owes foreign airlines over $400 million in trapped funds.
Manufacturers complain about import duty
Kazeem Ganiyu shut down operations at a bakery in Muslim-Odinjo, Ibadan, last February because of the rising cost of production and the ripple effect on the market. He said that the high cost of production had pushed many of his suppliers out of the market.
He also reported to Premium Times that retailers complained that the bread was too small, leading to poor patronage and revenue loss.
In March, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation said that about 19.4 million people will face food insecurity across Nigeria between June and August 2022. The report attributed the insecurity to insurgency, armed banditry and high inflation in soaring food commodity prices
Insecurity
Troops destroy Boko Haram market in Borno
Troops of the 21 Armoured Brigade have destroyed a Boko Haram market in Bama Local Council of Borno State - The Guardian.
They also invaded and destroyed another market, ‘Daula’, and killed six terrorists operating it.
The troops stormed an illegal market in Bararam village where the insurgents traded food, used clothes, drugs and petrol.
The terrorists immediately opened fire but were “neutralised” (killed). They also arrested Boko Haram logistics suppliers and collaborators and recovered some weapons.
Abducted Enugu law school students regain freedom
The two students of the Nigerian Law School, Agbani, Enugu State Campus, who were kidnapped last Wednesday, have been released.
The students were identified as Chukwuemeka and Festus Pedro and were reportedly abducted at Eke market in Agbani in Nkanu West Local Government Area of Enugu State around 8 pm.
They regained their freedom eight days after their abduction.
The gunmen demanded N50 million as ransom, but there’s no news on whether or not the ransom was paid.
Read more here.
Other
NBA to prosecute lawyers involved in conference vandalism - The Punch
Inibehe Effiong released from prison - Premium Times
Falconets stranded after World Cup elimination - Premium Times
FG warns Nigerians to avoid Northern Cyprus - The Guardian
Kogi court uncovers 268 ghost workers - The Punch
MTN launches 5G trial in Nigeria - Premium Times
NBS: How prices of food increased in July - Premium Times
Nigerian stocks record biggest daily gain this year - Premium Times
Internet things we found interesting this week
Amanda Iheme’s note on postponing joy. “How many future life goals boards do you have on Pinterest?”
The second issue in Adetomiwa’s new series, “On migrating: maintaining old relationships while beginning a new life”. Guest, Alo shares what it’s like starting over in another country and how they’re keeping old relationships going with intention.
This website called The Sample. Every morning, they’ll send an article from a random blog or newsletter to you based on your interest. If you like it, you can subscribe to the writer. If not, you can ignore it and wait for the next one.
Have you given up on Bitcoin? “The Crypto Evangelist” has not. He shares why here.