By Patrick Idowu

Residents of Life Camp, Abuja, are raising safety alarms over the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria’s (PCN), approval of an H-Medix outlet situated within an NNPC Limited filling station.

Locals argue that selling medication in close proximity to fuel pumps exposes pharmaceutical products to toxic fumes and fire hazards.

Resident Cyril Chizoba warned of “serious health risks,” including chemical contamination, while medical expert Dr. Gaius Mikinta noted that volatile environments can compromise the efficacy of temperature-sensitive drugs.

In response, PCN Legal Head Abana Lawan confirmed the outlet is duly licensed.

He stated that approval was granted after a “demarcation” within the premises met regulatory standards, adding that the move helps prevent monopolies and expands service access.

However, PCN Registrar Pharm. Ibrahim Babashehu Ahmed declined to comment further during a recent press visit.

Despite official assurances, the community is calling for an independent inspection. “I was surprised regulators approved this,” said Solomon Dauda, a local driver, noting the daily dispensing of petrol and gas at the site.

Residents continue to demand greater transparency to ensure pharmaceutical standards aren’t being traded for convenience.

By Patrick Idowu

The National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives (NANNM), FCT chapter, has condemned the attack on a nurse at Wuse General Hospital by suspected “one-chance” criminals.

The nurse, who stayed after her shift to assist a colleague in the ICU, was allegedly beaten and left seriously wounded. She is receiving treatment.

The union said attacks on healthcare workers in the FCT are becoming frequent, with nurses now living in fear during early mornings and late evenings. It urged the Minister of the FCT, Nyesom Wike, and security agencies to strengthen patrols around hospitals and vulnerable bus stops.

“No healthcare worker should risk their life simply for serving humanity,” the statement said. “Bus stops around hospitals have become death traps. We demand immediate and sustained action to protect all nurses.”

The attack follows earlier incidents, including the killing of nurses Chinemerem Pascalina Chuwumeziem and Princess Ochigbo in January, allegedly by one-chance gangs.

Analysts link the crimes to gaps in organised public transport, forcing reliance on unregistered taxis and private vehicles during off-peak hours.

The association had previously called on authorities to improve hospital security and provide safe transport for healthcare workers.

By Onyeanya Ebere Immaculata

The Federal Government has directed the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), to immediately suspend enforcement actions linked to the ban on sachet alcohol and 200ml PET bottle products, citing economic and national security concerns.

The directive, issued jointly by the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF), and the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), warned that continued enforcement without a fully implemented National Alcohol Policy could worsen unemployment and trigger avoidable security challenges.

In a statement by the SGF’s Special Adviser on Public Affairs, Terrence Kuanum, the government said the National Alcohol Policy has been signed by the Federal Ministry of Health under President Bola Tinubu’s directive, but NAFDAC must not seal factories or warehouses until the policy is fully operational.

The government said the ongoing “de facto banning” of sachet alcohol products was already disrupting employment, supply chains and informal distribution networks nationwide.

It added that any enforcement action carried out by NAFDAC without clearance from the OSGF would be considered invalid.

The directive followed a letter from the House of Representatives Committee on Food and Drugs Administration and Control dated November 13, 2025, referencing National Assembly resolutions cautioning against the ban.

The FG said it is reviewing legislative, public health and economic considerations and promised a final decision in due course.