The National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control on Wednesday in Abuja arrested five persons for selling counterfeit cosmetics.

The arrest was made at the Garki and Wuse axis during enforcement to curb substandard goods.

Speaking with journalists after the exercise, NAFDAC Head of Investigation and Enforcement, Federal Taskforce, Embugushiki-Musa Godiya, said that the arrested persons would be investigated.

Mr Godiya said that NAFDAC would work to ensure that fake cosmetics and other counterfeit products were completely wiped out of the country.

He said that the agency had been investigating some of the counterfeit cosmetics following intelligence reports, adding that some of the products were illegally imported into the country, despite security at the border.

He added, “NAFDAC is present in all the ports of entry of the country, but with the nature of our borders, these smugglers will always find a way to beat the system that the government had put in place. That is why if they escape from the port or borders, we go to the market and to all the places, gather intelligence report, go after them and confiscate the products for possible prosecution.’’

He said that the market value of the seized cosmetics was N35 million, adding that the agency would continue investigating the issue, to unravel the level of involvement of the suspects.

Mr Godiya said that after investigation, the management of the agency would take its regulatory action, which probably may be prosecution of those suspects for the crime committed.

He called on Nigerians to collaborate with the agency to fight against counterfeit products in the country.

In an effort to address healthcare challenges among its citizens, the Ebonyi State Government has earmarked twenty-five million naira for the surgical operation of one hundred scrotal hernia patients within the state.

Mrs. Mary-Maudline Nwifuru, the wife of the state Governor and head of the Better Health for Rural Women and Internally Displaced Persons Foundation (BERWO), announced this development during an inauguration ceremony held in Abakaliki.

Expressing gratitude for the administration’s support in enhancing healthcare delivery, Mrs. Nwifuru reaffirmed BERWO’s commitment to tackling health challenges and ensuring citizens’ well-being.

BERWO, in collaboration with the Ebonyi State Health Insurance Agency, is fulfilling a promise made during Mrs. Nwifuru’s recent local government tour to sponsor individuals afflicted with scrotal hernia.

Scheduled between May 10 and May 23, the surgical procedures will take place at government-accredited hospitals. Divine Igwe, the Executive Secretary of the Ebonyi State Health Insurance Agency, highlighted an additional government allocation of N50 million to cater to one hundred sickle cell anaemia patients. Pregnant women have also been enrolled to receive free antenatal and delivery services, showcasing the government’s commitment to enhancing healthcare access.

Dr. Moses Ekuma, the Commissioner for Health, commended Mrs. Nwifuru for her dedication. Mrs. Nkechi Echiegu, the Team Leader of BERWO, urged beneficiaries to advocate for the interventions in rural communities, ensuring broader coverage.

Beneficiaries such as Mr. Calistus Nwite and Paul Igboke, who have lived with the condition since 2012 and 2014 respectively, expressed their gratitude for the initiative. Alongside other beneficiaries who received admission cards during the event, they lauded the government’s proactive steps towards improving healthcare access for all.

The AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) and several civil society organizations are advocating for significant revisions to the current draft of the World Health Organization’s pandemic agreement, particularly focusing on the needs of developing nations.

Speaking to journalists in Abuja ahead of the finalization of the WHO agreement draft in May 2024, they emphasized the necessity of strengthening the global community’s capacity to detect and respond to future pandemic threats, especially in vulnerable regions.

Echey Ijezie, AHF’s country program director, criticized the proposed text for being diluted during negotiations, lacking substantial obligations, and lacking mechanisms for accountability.

He expressed concern over the prioritization of pharmaceutical companies’ interests by developed nations at the expense of global health security.

Abdulkadir Ibrahim, the national coordinator of the Network of People Living with HIV/AIDS (NEPWHAN), emphasized the indispensable role of civil society organizations as vital partners in pandemic responses.

He urged the WHO to reinstate the position of civil society within the agreement, ensuring clear engagement and defining their essential role in pandemic preparedness efforts.

Amber Itohan-Erinmwinhe, executive secretary of the Nigerian Network of Religious Leaders Living with and Affected by HIV/AIDS (NINERELA+), called for a repositioning and redefinition of the core role of CSOs in pandemic response engagements.

MChizoba Ogbeche, vice-president (Zone D) of the Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ), highlighted the imperative to safeguard women and children against pandemics and other forms of harm.