Deaths from substandard medicines and unsafe foods exceed the number of people k!lled by Boko Haram- NAFDAC official

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has seized over 10,000 cartons of unregistered tomato paste and cosmetic products at the Lagos Trade Fair Market.

The Director of Investigation and Enforcement in the agency, Dr. Martins Iluyomade, disclosed this to newsmen on Tuesday, August 12. He mentioned that de@ths from substandard medicines, cosmetics and unsafe foods exceed the number of people k!lled by Boko Haram. In his words

“We seized over 10,000 cartons of unregistered tomato paste, as well as cosmetics such as creams, soaps, body sprays, washes, air fresheners and toothpaste. We cannot guarantee the safety of these seized products because they have not undergone any regulatory scrutiny.

One way to safeguard public health is to remove harmful products from markets before they can kill unsuspecting Nigerians.

I can say authoritatively that deaths from substandard medicines, cosmetics and unsafe foods exceed the number of people killed by Boko Haram.

This is why the agency remains committed to ensuring Nigerians use only products that have passed regulatory processes, assuring safety and effectiveness. "he said

The Director said a newly inaugurated multi-agency task force would boost NAFDAC’s surveillance against substandard medicines and unsafe processed foods nationwide. He added that the agency’s partnership with the Nigeria Customs Service to strengthen border control was yielding results.

“We are working hard to prevent falsified and unregistered items from entering the country, hence our Memorandum of Understanding with the Nigeria Customs Service. The Nigeria Customs Service has handed over many seized fake products to us, and we have also transferred some to them,” he added

Keyamo orders release of Ibom air passenger from Kirikiri and life ban rescinded; orders charges against KWAM1 be dropped and he be made an ambassador

The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, says he has conferred with Ibom Air to withdraw its case against one of its ‘’unruly'' passenger, Comfort Emmanson, paving the way for her release from Kirikiri prison.

In a statement released this morning August 13, Keyamo also disclosed that he has appealed to the Airline Operators of Nigeria AON to rescind its life-ban sanction imposed on Emmanson. 

He also mentioned that the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) will cut the  indefinite no-flight ban placed on Fuji star Wasiu Ayinde, popularly known as KWAM 1, to one month and that the singer will now be made an ambassador for airport security protocol. According to him, the decision follows consultations with key stakeholders in the aviation sector over recent incidents involving unruly behaviour at airports.

He also added that the NCAA will restore the licenses of pilots involved in the KWAM 1 case after they complete a month-long suspension and mandatory professional reappraisal.

According to Keyamo, Emmanson, who was arrested after an incident aboard an Ibom Air flight on August 10, 2025, showed “great remorse” during police questioning in the presence of her lawyer. He said the withdrawal of Ibom Air’s complaint would allow the police to complete the process for her release from Kirikiri Prison this week.

His statement reads

‘’1. In the last 48 hours, I have been in consultation with critical stakeholders in the Aviation Sector and those involved in the unfortunate incidents regarding the unruly behaviours of certain individuals at our airports of recent.

2. Though regrettable, we think valuable lessons have been learnt by all sides to these incidents and airport security protocol, especially, have been well highlighted for the travelling public. If nothing at all, the episodes have undoubtedly helped to raise public awareness about appropriate conduct within the aviation space.

3. As highlighted in my previous statements on the last two incidents, clear wrongs were committed by both the offending passengers and staff of the airlines involved from all the evidence available to us and those available to the public. It is clear that all the actors involved cannot continue to highlight the injury or injustice done to them without acknowledging their own equal culpability.

5. Therefore, after reviewing the entire incidents, including appeals made by well-meaning individuals and remorse shown by the actors, the following decisions have been reached:

THE CASE OF IBOM AIRLINE AND MS. COMFORT EMMANSON

(a) In the case of the unruly passenger, Ms. Comfort Emmanson, on the Ibom Airline on Sunday, the 10th of August, 2025, I have conferred with Ibom Airline to withdraw the Complaint against her today. When the Police took her Statement in presence of her lawyer, she exhibited great remorse for her conduct.

(b) Subsequent to the withdrawal of the complaint by the Complainant, the CP of Airport Command and the Police Prosecutor will immediately take the remaining steps to facilitate her release from Kirikiri Prisons within this week.

(c) I have also conferred with the leadership of the Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) and have appealed to them to lift the life-time flying ban imposed on her, to which they agreed. The details of the resolution will be made public by the AON subsequently.

THE CASE OF VALUEJET AND WASIU AYINDE MARSHALL (KWAM 1)

(d) In the case of KWAM 1, the NCAA is to reduce his flight ban to a one-month period. FAAN will also work with the music star with a view to engaging him as an ambassador for proper airport security protocol going forward.

(e) Having publicly demonstrated penitence, the NCAA is also to withdraw its criminal complaints against KWAM 1 earlier lodged with the Police.

(f) In the case of Captain Oluranti Ogoyi, and the co-pilot, First Officer Ivan Oloba of VALUEJET, the NCAA is to restore their licenses after the same period of one-month ban after undergoing some mandatory professional re-appraisal. The details will be announced by the NCAA.

AIRLINE OPERATORS, AVIATION AND OTHER GOVERNMENT AGENCIES

6. I have directed all relevant Aviation agencies in collaboration with other complementary agencies outside aviation to IMMEDIATELY begin a retreat NEXT WEEK to properly retrain and prepare our Aviation security personnel on how to deal with errant and disruptive passengers and how to deescalate potentially explosive situations. The retreat will be fully covered by the Press with the opportunity to ask all the relevant questions.

7. The Airlines will also have their own session when the conduct and attitude of their staff towards members of the travelling public will be in full focus.

FINAL COMMENTS

8. These above decisions were taken by Government and the airline operators purely on COMPASSIONATE grounds as Government will never pander to base sentiments, politically-motivated views or warped legal opinions when clear encroachment of our laws are involved.

9. We are also sending a CLEAR MESSAGE that we take safety and security in the aviation sector very seriously and we have decided to draw a line after these clemencies.

FESTUS KEYAMO, SAN, CON, FCIArb (UK)

Wednesday, August 13, 2025''

Cristiano Ronaldo's diamond engagement ring to Georgina Rodriguez is worth an eye-watering seven-figure sum

Cristiano Ronaldo's diamond engagement ring to his wife-to-be, Georgina Rodriguez, is worth an eye-watering seven-figure sum.

The celebrity couple announced their engagement on Monday, August 11, after almost a decade together, in an Instagram post.

Georgina shared the news with a picture of her rocking a dazzling rock on her finger, writing: “Yes I do. In this and in all my lives.”

Hunger, poverty in Nigeria beyond mere statistics — Peter Obi

The 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has warned that hunger and poverty in Nigeria are no longer abstract numbers but a grim reality for millions.

In a post on his X handle, the former Anambra State governor said Nigeria was facing “acute food shortages and multi-dimensional poverty at a scale never before seen.”

“In our country today, hunger and poverty are not just distant statistics; they are the harsh reality that millions of our people face daily,” Obi wrote.

Citing United Nations data, he said about 34 million Nigerians risk acute food insecurity, while 63% of the population — roughly 133 million people — live in multidimensional poverty.

Obi noted that inflation, “even with suppressed statistics,” is near 30%, while unemployment and economic mismanagement have “nearly wiped out our once vibrant middle class.” Families once stable, he said, are “slipping into poverty” due to “incompetent leadership without capacity and compassion.”

Drawing a comparison with Argentina, Obi highlighted how the South American nation reduced poverty from 52% to 38.1% within two years under new leadership by cutting waste, prioritising economic stability, and restoring investor confidence.

“Both Argentina and the current Nigerian leadership assumed office in the same year,” Obi said. “Two years may not be enough to completely transform a nation, but it is enough to kickstart genuine change — if the leadership is honest, focused, and committed to the people.”

Obi urged Nigerian leaders to fight corruption, reduce the cost of governance, and invest in education, healthcare, and poverty reduction.

“Nigeria can work. We can reduce hunger and restore dignity to Nigerians,” he said. “A New Nigeria is POssible.”