Economy
The Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria Kicks Against FG’s Disgraceful Plans of Importing Madagascar’s CVO Syrup.
What a Disgrace!!!- Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria protest FG’s plan to Import Madagascar COVID19 Syrup
The Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria has kicked against plans by the Federal government to import the COVID-19 syrup being produced in Madagascar for the treatment of patients with the viral disease here in Nigeria.
President Buhari has given a directive for the importation of the herbal syrup.
In a statement released by the president of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria, ‘Mazi Sam Ohuabunwa’ today May 12th, the umbrella body of Nigerian pharmacists said it received with utter disbelief the news of the planned importation of the herbal syrup.
Ohuabunwa said the society is shocked that the Federal government can move swiftly to collect such syrup from an African country that boasts of fewer scientists when they have consistently ignored calls to carry out a clinical evaluation for the drugs some Nigerian pharmacists claim they have developed as a cure for the ravaging viral disease.
The Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN) has received the news that the Federal Government of Nigeria is about to import a herbal concoction called COVID Organics (CVO) from Madagascar with utter disbelief.
While in principle we would not mind Nigerian government importing any new drug that is proven to cure COVID-19 or indeed any other disease for which we have neither the capacity, nor the technology to produce locally, we are totally appalled that Nigeria is about to spend scarce foreign exchange to import ‘COAL INTO NEWCASTLE’.
Even if we are not going to pay for this, it is thoroughly disgraceful that a country that should be the leader of Africa, with the largest GDP will allow itself to be dragged this low. Nigeria has about 174 Universities (43 Federal, 52 State and 79 private), 20 Faculties of Pharmacy and about 69 Federal-Funded Research Institutes (including National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research & Development and the National Institute for Medical Research) while Madagascar has only 6 Universities, 1 Faculty of Pharmacy and 9 Research Centers!!! Nigeria has some of the best scientists (Pharmaceutical, Medical, Biochemical, Biological etc.) in the world who have done so much work on natural and herbal medicines.
Nigeria has developed a pharmacopeia of natural and herbal products and has one of the richest flora and fauna – potent sources of phytomedicines.
Since the outbreak of the COVID-19, a number of them have raised their voices that they have herbal and natural products that can be used to treat or manage COVID-19. Some have patents. Many herbal companies and producers have an-nounced specifically that they have herbal formulations that can do what this ‘invention’ from Madagascar can do.
WHO Considers Madagascar’s CVO Drink as Possible Treatment for COVID-19
We have raised our voices severally that the Federal Government should review these claims and help put them through clinical evaluation as most of these producers cannot afford to conduct clinical trials. We have recommended that a portion of the nearly 25 Billion Naira donated/allocated for the COVID-19 pandemic should be dedicated for local research and development. But our Government has remained essentially silent only waiting to participate in WHO sponsored or mandated trials.
We have been told that Nigeria is participating in the WHO solidarity trial, but nothing on trying our own inventions and formulations. Now we want to import COVID Organics. from Madagascar to try? Why are we like this? If the world can supply us synthetic and chemically-sophisticated medicines which we apparently lack the technology to produce, why must we wait for the World to supply us herbal formulations which we can easily make and which we have similar products.”
Ohabunwa appealed to the Federal government to save the pharmaceutical scientists in Nigeria the shame of importing herbs that Nigeria boasts of in abundance
We urge our Government to save Nigerian Pharmaceutical Scientists and other scientists from the shame of having our country import and try herbal remedies which God has given us in abundance and some of which our grandfathers and grandmothers have used for ages. Let us try our own local formulations before we try COVID Organics or any other imported remedy.
Every well-meaning nation has been in a race to find cures, remedies and other medical supplies used for COVID-19, while we seem to wait for other nations to solve our problems. There is much talk but little action. This dependency mentality needs to change and now is the time. We must seize this opportunity to look inwards, build confidence on our abilities, competences and re-orientate our national economic philosophy from import dependency to export driven. And Nigeria can beat India and China in the production and export of herbal products if anyone is willing to lead us down this part.
DOMAK SHELTER LTD. PARTNERS WITH VIO, OFFERS 1000 HOUSING UNITS
A Leading real estate firm in Nigeria ‘Domak Shelter Ltd.’ is partnering with the Directorate of Road Services, Vehicle Inspection Office (VIO) to offer 1,000 Housing units to its Staff at Domak Garden City, Karshi.
Few days ago, Domak Shelter Ltd. launched the Face of Domak Project- a marketing competition platform through which all Domak products will be sold while the best marketer would be rewarded handsomely.
Interestingly, the Face of Domak project kick-started with 25,000 easy House ownership scheme and the marketers have already step up their games.
In line with this innovative project, the Management Team of Domak Shelter Ltd. ably led by the Chief Executive Officer ‘Amb. Kingsley Azonobi’ signed and sealed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) today, 4th August, 2020 at the VIO Headquarters, Mabushi with the Management team of the VIO Home & Welfare Staff Cooperative Society Ltd. to build 1,000 Housing Units for the staff of VIO.
This agreement was signed in the presence of the 9 members of the Face of Domak Board of Trustees, Management team of the VIO Home &Welfare Staff Cooperative Society Ltd. and the members of the press.
Bar. Felix Nnadi who is head of Consultancy Units of the Cooperative Society commended the leadership of Domak Shelter Ltd. for this innovative project and expressed his excitement about the signing of the MoU.
In his statement, He said the initiative came along with liberal terms which will mark a legacy in the life of the VIO officials. According to him, the approval for the signing of this MoU was obtained from the Head of National body of the Organization ‘Engr. Sir Paul Bebe’ as well as the excos of the Cooperative Society Nationwide.
Speaking on the August event, Usman Yahaya who is the Director of Administrations VIO made reference on a similar project with the former Minister of Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) who is now the Governor of Kaduna State ‘Gov. Nasir El- rufai’ and how benefiting the project was to the civil servants at that time.
However, he urges Domak Shelter Ltd to make the Housing Scheme an affordable venture for the civil servants.
“The issue of Housing is very important in any civil servant life. When you come to look at it critically, after you must have served for 35-36 years then you retire and the pension is not forth coming. (Even the Housing, where to put your head is no longer there). Therefore, this forms a very important aspect of any civil servant life.” He said
“Coming up with this very exercise is a very nice one for the VIO. This will go along way to help the staff of VIO plan their retirement life” He added.
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Mr. Mberi Yaro, the Vice chairman of the Directorate, Conference of Directors VIO stated his willingness for every VIO officers to participate in this opportunity. He therefore advised the both parties involved in the MoU to ensure commitment to this laudable project.
Responding, Amb. Kingsley Azonobi expressed his gratitude and commended the VIO management team for the partnership deed. In his statement, he assured them his commitment towards delivering affordable 1,000 housing units to their staff as well as real time monitoring technology ‘Project Watch’ which will enable all subscribers get the actual coordinates to their land.
Worthy of note, the legal adviser to the VIO ‘Bar. Udah’ a 33 years legal practitioner commended the efforts put together in the preparation of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). He therefore advised the both parties to honor the terms and conditions of the MoU.
Economy
House of Reps Probes North East Development Commission Over the Misappropriation of ‘₦100 Billion in 1 year
House of Representatives Probes North East Development Commission Over the Misappropriation of ‘₦100 Billion in 1 year
The house of representatives probes the North-East Development Commission (NEDC) over the alleged mismanagement of N100 billion.
The happened as a result of the motion moved by Ndudi Elumelu, the minority leader of the house, on Thursday.
The commission was established in 2017 to reconstruct states affected by insurgency in the North-east.
According to Elumelu, the N100 billion given to the commission by the federal government “vanished” with nothing to show for it.
The Delta lawmaker accused Mohammed Goni Alkali, commission’s managing director, of awarding non-existent contracts.
“The N100 billion so far disbursed to the commission by the federal government is said to have vanished under a year without any visible impact on the refugees nor any infrastructural development credited to the name of the commission in the whole of the north-east,” Alkali said.
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“The corrupt practices include high handedness by the managing director, Mohammed Goni Alkali, over inflation of contracts, awards of non-existent contracts, massive contract splitting and flagrant disregard for the procurement laws in the award of contracts.
“There are allegations of how the minister of humanitarian affairs and disaster management, Sadiya Farouk, was said to have entered into an unholy deal with the managing director of the commission to illegally withdraw money for the purchase military vehicles without any recourse to the board.
“The act, which completely disregards the country’s procurement laws, must be seriously frowned at.”
The house adopted the motion after it was put to a voice vote by Femi Gbajabiamila, speaker of the house.
The motion was referred to the house committees on finance, procurement and NEDC. The report on the probe is expected to be turned in after eight weeks.
The development is coming days after the house has concluded its investigation on the alleged mismanagement of N81.5 billion by the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).
NYCC-19: CORRUPTION & ECONOMIC WOES AMIDST COVID-19; THE ROLE OF NIGERIA YOUTHS
The Nigerian Youth Compact on COVID-19, NYCC-19 today held her 8th edition of the ‘One Stop Youth Talk’, a webinar program which is streamed live on Facebook.
Moderating the segment, Bonaventure Nwankama, Head of ICT, NYCC-19 stated that corruption is a form of dishonesty undertaken by a person or an organization entrusted with a position of authority. According to him, it is an act of acquiring illicit benefit or abuse of power for one’s private gain.
He stated that the best way youths can help curb corruption in Nigeria is by Blacklisting the corrupt leaders.
He also advised the youths to get involved in governance and National issues by equipping themselves with the right information.
Speaking on the topic: Corruption & Economic Woes Amidst Covid-19, the Role of Nigeria Youths, Vice Chairman and Head of States affairs, NYCC-19, Comrade Prince Chibuike emphasized on the need for youths to make their voices heard most especially as it concern recent happenings in the country, he noted that youths should be ready to come together to follow up with the the trend and most especially the Federal Government approved funds for youth’s investment program.
He noted that the reason most youths do not make their voices heard is as a result of personal gains from corrupt individuals,
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Comrade Chibuike further advised youths to wake up to this clarion call and stop allowing themselves to be used as agents to perpetuate crime.
Edo state command Information Officer, Peace Corp of Nigeria, Aigbedion Garnet said the fight for corruption should start with the sensitization of the young ones most especially students in secondary schools as it is better to catch the young. Putting into consideration the actions of the current leaders of the nation, Aigbedion urged the youths to equip themselves with trainings that would build their capacity as well as acquire skills that will make them relevant in the society rather than allowing themselves being used as thugs.
On his part, Waniko Rapheal a youth leader from Kogi State stated that Corruption starts with an individual, therefore it requires self determination to fight it.
In the same light, Shina Gudu, while speaking from Lagos State, said, most Leaders of the country are corrupt, he therefore emphasized the need for Nigerian leaders to lead by example so the youths can emulate them in the positive light.
“What the youths need is proper re-orientation. The Nigeria Youths are resilient but the circumstances surrounding them is neck-breaking” Gudu added.
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