The Nation Newspaper

Category: Northern Report

Fed Govt moves to reduce cost of needles, syringes

To reduce the expenses associated with pharmaceutical products , the Federal Government has held a meeting with needles and syringes manufacturers in Nigeria.

The meeting was presided over by the Minister of State for Health, Tunji Alausa, and the Minister of Industry, Trade, and Investment, Doris Uzoka-Anite.

Following the closed-door session, Alausa briefed reporters, expressing that they had a fruitful discussion with the needle and syringe manufacturers.

He added that there are currently five companies still operating in the country dedicated to the production of needles and syringes.

The Minister clarified that the meeting was convened in accordance with President Bola Tinubu’s directive to decrease the expenses associated with pharmaceutical products and medical supplies in the country.

According to him, “That was why this meeting was quickly held, and we explored and discussed many practical solutions where we can begin to have some quick wins, some immediate solutions that will be incorporated in the executive order that the president has asked us to work on and then as well as the medium term solutions and long term solutions on how we can get this problem permanently and completely resolved.

“Everybody was happy at the end of the meeting, we believe we’ve addressed all the issues that will put this industry on the part of sustainability, where they can begin to create employment for our itizen and where we would have needles and syringes that are of high quality that will not be harmful to our citizens as they go to our hospitals or healthcare facilities to seek care.”

The Minister of Industry, Trade, and Investment, on her part, emphasized that the meeting’s objective was to address and remove obstacles hindering the industrialization and manufacturing processes within the health sector in Nigeria.

She said: “I will re-echo the determination of Mr President to remove all bottlenecks that are impacting and impeding manufacturing in Nigeria and we have been able to address that in the course of our deliberations today.

The Chairman of the Medical device manufacturers Dr lanre Shittu, expressed joy over the event, stating that it marked a significant step towards change that would halt the continuous shutdown and exiting of pharmaceutical companies from the country.

He appreciated the government for looking into the challenges facing the industry, stating that the country in the next few years would become an exporter of needles and syringes if the efforts were sustained

Shittu said:, “This is a historical day. We made history here today because we’ve been trying to address the issues that affecting the syringe and needle sector in the last six to seven years.

“You will recall that a few weeks ago, one of the companies shut down. But following the intervention of Mr. President and the help of the Honorable Ministers of Trade, Investment, Health, and other members, we have been able to sit down ans have an honest and heart to heart discussion. And they have made practical commitments to resolving all our issues. He also plan to improve on the things we are doing and move this country towards self -sustenance.

“I see that in the next three to five years, we will be net exporters of a lot of medical products. We thank them and we appreciate what Mr. President has done for us.”

The Managing Director of Afrimedical Manufacturing and Supplies Ltd,

Read Also: Fed Govt moves to reduce cost of needles, syringes

Mr Akin Oyediran, expressed joy over the event, stating that it marked a significant step towards change that would halt the continuous shutdown and exiting of pharmaceutical companies from the country.

He appreciated the government for looking into the challenges facing the industry, stating that the country in the next few years would become an exporter of needles and syringes if the efforts were sustained

According to him, “this is a historical day. We made history here today because we’ve been trying to address the issues that affecting the syringe and needle sector in the last six to seven years.

“You will recall that a few weeks ago, one of the companies shut down. But following the intervention of Mr. President and the help of the Honorable Ministers of Trade, Investment, Health, and other members, we have been able to sit down ans have an honest and heart to heart discussion. And they have made practical commitments to resolving all our issues. He also plan to improve on the things we are doing and move this country towards self -sustenance.

“I see that in the next three to five years, we will be net exporters of a lot of medical products. We thank them and we appreciate what Mr. President has done for us.”

In response to inquiries about policies to support the syringe manufacturing system in the country, the Minister of Trade and Investment revealed that the government has designed a “backward integration program.” This initiative aims to enhance the healthcare sector and tackle challenges faced by local manufacturers. This system involves a company acquiring or merging with businesses providing raw materials for its finished products, with expectations of cost savings, increased revenues, and improved production efficiency.

The Minister shared details of a program aimed at addressing challenges within the local health sector. She noted that the initiative is specifically designed to overcome obstacles faced by manufacturers operating in the health sector in Nigeria.

Over the past decade, a number of companies have ceased operations in the country, primarily due to the challenging business environment. Notably, eight manufacturers of syringes and needles have closed down their operations in Nigeria.

Jubilee Syringe Manufacturing Company, one of Africa’s largest manufacturers, which announced a temporary shutdown attributing it to the harsh business and economic environment, happened to be the most recent company to depart the shores of the country.

In tackling the situation, Uzoka-Anite emphasized that the backward integration policy includes incentives for manufacturers in the sector. These incentives will be officially announced during the program’s launch, pending the approval of the federal executive council.

“We have designed a backward integration programme which incorporates policies that affect medical devices and the entire healthcare. We are going to launch this backward integration programme with the approval of FEC. It is one policy that will change the game for the medical devices industry, and it is aimed at supporting their full capacity utilisation for their industries, and for us, it is a game-changer. It will contain incentives to support industries when launched to incentivize the manufacturers”, she said.

She gave assurance that President Tinubu is dedicated to eliminating impediments to industrialization, particularly those impacting the syringe industry.

The ministers’ engagement with manufacturers was prompted by the President’s Executive Order aimed at curbing the rising pharmaceutical costs in the country. This challenge has been exacerbated by the departure of pharmaceutical giants and currency devaluation.

January 25, 2024
Kebbi Governor inaugurates SDGs 100-bed hospital

The Governor of Kebbi State, Nasri Idris, yesterday inaugurated 100-bed Mother and Child Hospital in Tsafiya, Bagudu Local Government Area, Kebbi.

The hospital was built by the Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Sustainable Development Goals (OSSAP-SDGs).

Governor Idris commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his commitment to the health sector through several initiatives and most especially, the input of the Office of the Sustainable Development Goals.

He said the project was apt as it would drastically reduce child and maternal mortality within the council and by extension the neighbouring country, Benin Republic.

The governor hailed the Office of the SSA for embarking on the project.

According to him, Bagudu local Government is the biggest local government in Kebbi State and densely populated.

He described President Tinubu’s administration as people-oriented

He promised that the state government would provide quarters to medical personnel and nurses to complement the efforts of the Federal Government.

Senior Special Assistant to the President on Sustainable Development Goals, Princess Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire, said facility is one of the many Mother and Child Centres constructed and fully equipped by the OSSAP-SDGs across the country.

“Let me from the outset appreciate President Tinubu, for his sterling leadership and commitment to working closely with sub-national governments to deliver key interventions to fast-track the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals in Nigeria. In the same vein, I would like to most sincerely thank Governor Nasri Idris for his unwavering commitment to the socio-economic transformation of Nigeria and our collective desire to achieve the SDGs in Nigeria,” she said.

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According to her, the SDGs are a universal call to action to end poverty, safeguard the planet and ensure all people enjoy peace and prosperity by the year 2030.

She said: “It is pertinent to note that the SDGs cannot be achieved with standalone policies and programmes. They must be carefully integrated into our medium and long-term national and sub-national development policies and plans. It is in recognition of this that we are supporting the 36 states and the FCT on SDG-Based Development Planning.

“Based on President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, we are committed to prioritizing key interventions with multiplier effects on multi-dimensional poverty, such as basic healthcare, vocational skills development and education provisioning. With COVID-19 pandemic challenging our healthcare system, strategic interventions, such as the Mother and Child Centre, have become imperative. Indeed, the primary and secondary effects of COVID-19 pandemic could reverse decades of human development gains and undermine the achievement of the SDGs, unless immediate action is taken and sustained. This is what we are doing right here in Tsafiya, Kebbi State.

“Thus, the 100-Bed Mother and Child Centre (MCC), Tsafiya, is equipped with state-or-the-art facilities. They include among others – Two Operating Theatres; Recovery Rooms; Private and General Wards; Scanning Room; Consultation Rooms and Laboratory. Others include, Ultra-Scan Machine; Vacuum Extractor delivery set; and an Emergency Cart with full compliments. The MCC is directly linked to the achievement of SDG-3 on ‘Quality Health and Well-being for all’, as well as other cross-cutting SDGs.”

January 25, 2024
Coalition makes case for cheap price of crude to refineries

A coalition of youth groups, the Arewa Youth Ambassadors has urged the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL)to supply private refinery owners with crude at a cheaper price.

The organisation said refined products from these refineries would reduce the cost of transportation and make prices of foodstuffs affordable and sustainable in the country.

Secretary of the group, Muktar Auwal made the appeal at a news conference in Abuja yesterday following the supply of crude oil to Dangote Petroleum Refinery (DPR) by the NNPCL.

The Arewa Youth Ambassadors is a coalition of youth groups in the 19 northern states.

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The group said selling crude oil to dangote refinery in foreign currency would be “counter-productive as far as Nigerian masses are concerned.”

He said: “We are therefore, urging Mr President to continue working with the private refinery owners, particularly DPR and provide them with crude oil at a cheaper price so that the refined products from these refineries will reduce the cost of transportation and make prices of foodstuffs affordable and sustainable in the country.

“We pray to the Almighty to help Mr President turn the Nigerian economy around, unite the country and build infrastructure that would eventually transform the country to a better place for all.

“We congratulate Aliko Dangote for his business acumen and his commitment to solving the near-impossible problem of fuel scarcity in Nigeria. His wise decision to invest huge amounts of money to ensure that the Dangote Petroleum Refinery is a success story is a remarkable achievement for Nigeria.”

January 25, 2024
Civil Service no more business as usual, says Bauchi governor

Bauchi State Governor Sen. Bala Mohammed has affirmed his commitment to restoring order in the State Civil Service.

Mohammed said his administration aims to bring the State Civil Service back on track, signaling an end to the prevailing “business as usual” syndrome.

He stated this at the swearing-in ceremony of 12 new Permanent Secretaries held at the Government House banquet hall yesterday.

According to him, civil servants are only interested in what they will get from the service by whatever means other than what they should do to move the service forward.

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He warned that the his administration won’t hesitate to invoke the wrath of the civil service rules on any public servant including permanent Secretaries found wanting in the discharge of his or her duties

“It is worrisome that the civil service of today leaves much to be desired. The service has lost the culture of commitment, dedication, selflessness and sacrifice.

“Civil servants are more interested in what they will get from the service by whatever means than what they would do to move the service forward. There is therefore the need for a paradigm shift towards restoring the faded glory of the civil service.

“You should resist the temptation to misappropriate public funds or engage in activities culpable of bringing the government into disrepute,” he said.

The 12 new Permanent Secretaries are: Ibrahim Isah; Liatu Gayus; Sirajo Jaja; Muhammad Garba; Yakubu Bello; Ibrahim Sulaiman; Dr Chiroma Malle; Auwalu Jalo; Samaila Tela; Shuaibu Muhammad; Ahmad Ranga and Hamisu Mohammed.

January 25, 2024
1,600 professionals compete in housing challenge

About 1,600 designers, architects, engineers from over 100 countries applied to compete in the International Organisations for Migration’s (IOM) housing challenge.

The challenge is aimed at supporting the government to increase the current production rate of housing construction with the private sector.

The architectural experts developed 250 different design proposals for low cost and innovative housing in the country.

Chief of Mission IOM Nigeria, Laurent De Boeck stated this yesterday in Abuja at a press conference organised to officially announce winners of the inaugural housing design competition titled, ‘Home after crisis’.

He said the 2023 ‘Home after crisis ‘ design competition is funded by the Nigerian Humanitarian Fund (NHF) and about a quarter of the applicants are Nigerians.

He said: “IOM Nigeria is actively working to overcome the shelter emergency with a durable housing strategy. The objective is to move beyond merely providing housing units and embrace the concept of providing a home.

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“The 2023 ‘Home After Crisis’ design competition, funded by the Nigerian Humanitarian Fund (NHF), is part of this effort. It brought together 1,600 designers, architects and engineers from across 100 countries. I am very happy to say that almost a quarter of them were Nigerians. Those architect experts have developed 250 design proposals for low-cost and innovative housing.

“The housing competition targets the housing challenges linked to Nigeria’s rapidly growing population. They aim to provide access to affordable housing, built with the goal of delivering climate-proof housing with local materials. The housing competition paves the way to engage the world in addressing these challenges. They provide a route towards integrating development programmes with the Humanitarian response.”

He said IOM has always worked on providing shelters for Nigerians especially those displaced by conflict.

He said the provision of shelter is in different phases, started with the provision of shelters in camp and graduated to transitional housing and the final phase which is part of the ‘Home after crisis’ idea is to provide permanent housing of Displaced Persons in the country and also reduce Nigeria’s 23 million housing deficit.

Programmes Manager Shelter and Non-food Items (NFI) Maiduguri IOM, Davies Okoko, said IOM has so far provided about 9000 people in the Northeast states of Borno, Yobe and Adamawa with transitional houses, thereby taking them away from shelters and camps and providing them with that they can comfortably call theirs.

January 25, 2024
Pate lauds Zulum for 15% budgetary allocation to health

The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Ali Pate, has commended Governor Babagana Zulum, for allocating 15 per cent of the state’s budget to the healthcare sector in compliance with the Abuja declaration of 2001.

Pate gave the commendation yesterday in Maiduguri in a keynote address at the opening session of the North East Commissioners of Health Forum.

The forum is with theme: “Addressing Key Health Challenges Affecting Northeastern States of Nigeria.”

The minister, represented by the Executive Director, National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), Dr Muyi Aina, lauded the governor for the progress made in the health sector inspite of the security challenges.

He said that the 15 per cent allocation to the health sector was in compliance with the Abuja declaration of 2001.

“Thank you Governor Zulum for the progress made so far in spite of the challenges. Thank you for the increased budget allocation to health and thank you for being innovative.

“I also thank you for your support to health workers in rural areas which is so critical to achieving the gains that we so desire in healthcare,” Pate said.

In their separate remarks, the World Health Organization (WHO) Country representative, Dr Walter Mulombo, and the Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) Representative in Nigeria and ECOWAS, Koffy Dominique Kougcou, commended the governor for the successes achieved in five years.

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Responding, Governor Zulum, highlighted the successes he had recorded since 2019 when he assumed leadership of the state.

These, he said, included human resources development, increased allocation to the health sector, provision of free maternal drugs, and reconstruction of destroyed health facilities.

Others are construction of new health centers and improved working conditions for health workers.

Zulum also promised to establish two new schools of nursing in the state in order to address the challenges of manpower.

He urged the participants to come up with a framework that could address challenges faced in the health sector, particularly in the rural areas.

NAN reports that the Abuja declaration, became a rallying call to mobilize more resources from government coffers for the health sector.

January 24, 2024
Mutfwang urges NIPPS to utilise research for national development

Plateau State Governor Caleb Mutfwang has urged the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), Kuru, near Jos, to make practicable its research to enhance National Development.

Mutfwang gave the charge, when he received the management of the institute on a courtesy visit yesterday, in Jos.

The governor, who noted that because of the various academic works being undertaken by the NIPSS, there was need for such materials to be harnessed and utilised for the common good of the state and the country.

He charged the institute to remain resolute in maintaining its academic excellence.

“I have had personal periods of engagement with some of the participants at NIPSS, and I know that the quality of training there is of great value to national development.

“I therefore want to urge you to continue to maintain the highest standards of academic excellence in research, we want to also see how some of the researches you have done over the years can be of importance and help to us.

“We therefore would want to leverage on some of the studies you have conducted in the past beyond theory, and see how we can practicalise some of these findings you have come up with over the years.

“We believe that a constructive engagement with NIPPS would help us to improve because at the moment, there is no training institution on the plateau that adequately trains our civil servants,” he said.

The governor, who reiterated the importance of the state benefitting from the institute as its host, urged the management to consider helping the state revamp its civil service through trainings.

“Let me make this passionate plea, since we are the host, we will be making this plea that at least an extra consideration be given to Plateau State for the Senior Executive Course, let’s have the portion of the host, we shouldn’t be getting everything equal with everybody.

“We need to see a lot of our own people come out, not just with the badge, we want to see them actually benefit from being equipped at NIPSS.

“There is no gain saying that the civil service is the engine room of government, and if it is not functioning well, then certainly government cannot function well.

“So we will be coming very soon to request a Needs Assessment of our Civil Services, on what we need to do to reposition it for the future,” he said

Mutfwang also called on the leadership of the Institute to inform the state of any employment opportunities available in the school, to help its teeming youth population gain employment.

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While expressing regrets over the security challenges confronting the institute, Mutfwang pledged to take urgent steps to tackle the situation.

Speaking earlier, Prof. Ayo Omotayo, the Director General (DG) of the Institute, reaffirmed his allegiance and support to the growth and development of the state, assuring the governor of his unalloyed cooperation in moving the state forward.

Omotayo also appealed to the governor to assist in the settling the land dispute between NIPSS and the natives, which had lingered for too long.

“I thank you for this opportunity to come see you, we believe this will be the beginning of a new partnership that will be mutually beneficial, both to the National Institute, and to the people of Plateau State.

“I want to reiterate sir, I have personal interest, that while I am D-G, every of the indices by which you measure development, changes for the positive when it comes to Plateau State

“I told myself that this time when I see the governor, I will let him know that as NIPPS, we are not asking for money, we are not asking for anything, but that we offer our self and service to the state.

“At NIPPS we have the expertise, we can extend the goodwill of our domain partners to support the governmental efforts of Mr Governor in the state.

“As regards the contention over the land we occupy, as a person, I always feel saddened that if it is indeed true that they were not compensated many years back.

“Somehow, someway, we should find a way to bring justice to them” Omotayo said.

January 24, 2024
Etsu Nupe mourns Galadima Gari Nupe

The Etsu Nupe and Chairman, Niger Council of Traditional Rulers, Alhaji Yahaya Abubakar, has described the death of Galadima Gari Nupe, Alhaji Danjuma Galadima, as a colossal loss to the Kin Nupe, Niger and Nigeria as a whole.

In a condolence message in Abuja yesterday, the Etsu Nupe noted that the deceased, who was among his confidants, epitomised humility, piety and uprightness.

The first class traditional ruler said he received with great shock the sudden demise of Galadima Gari Nupe, who is a member of the Bida Emirate Council, adding that he is devastated by the news of his death.

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The royal father also described the death of the Galadima Gari Nupe as very painful, describing him as a complete gentleman.

“The Galadima was Godly and showed love to his people, irrespective of tribal or religious inclinations,” he said.

He described the deceased as a bridge builder, an amiable personality, who was at home with his people, noting that his demise has created a huge vacuum that will be difficult to fill.

“He was indeed unique in his leadership style and was deep in his faith in Almighty Allah. May his exemplary leadership in promoting peace, unity and progress amongst the people of Bida Emirate and Kin Nupe be remembered as his legacy towards making Nigeria a better place to live,” the Etsu Nupe said.

He prayed God to grant his soul eternal peace, and grant his family, the people of Kutigi, kin Nupe and the state the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.

NAN reports that late Danjuma Galadima, who died at a hospital in Abuja, will be buried in his country home, Bida, by 10am today.

January 24, 2024
Kidnapping: FCTA begins profiling of worst-hit communities

The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has begun the profiling of areas worst-hit by kidnappers in the territory.

Director, Development Control, FCTA, Mukhtar Galadima, who led the exercise in Abuja yesterday, said that the exercise was to ascertain the causes of the kidnappings and suggest solutions.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the exercise began with Sagwari Layout Estate, Dutse in Bwari Area Council, where kidnappers abducted some residents recently.

Galadima explained that the officials, with support of security personnel, would identify buildings without approval and other illegal activities in the area.

Represented by the Deputy Director, Monitoring and Enforcement, Mr Hassan Ogbole, Galadima blamed the poor planning of the area on the community leaders and some of his personnel.

He pointed out that the area was surrounded by structures that were built without the approval of the FCTA development control department.

The director added that after profiling the area, the department would recommend necessary measures that would curb the activities of criminals.

“The exercise is a fact-finding mission and part of the department’s periodic monitoring of developments.

“We observed the recent growing chain of illegal developments within the ecological sensitive zone to the lower Usuma Dam, which is supposed to be a secured side.

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“Activities of illegal developers are a threat to the FCT Administration and to the Dam. On several occasions, we have taken steps to carry out enforcement but they remained unabated.

“The government will not condone this. In physical planning, there are places that we reserve, these are reserved areas.

“So, we will put up our report and recommendations to the appropriate quarters and see what could be done,” he said.

Secretary, Command and Control Centre, Department of Security Services, FCTA, Dr Peter Olumuji, said that the lapses were promoted by illegal activities of the locals.

“What we have seen here shows the level of insensitivity from the village chief.

“Most of the people we interacted with said they got the lands from the village chief with no concern about the safety of lives and property within the area.

“This mountain site that we visited is where some people were kidnapped. We have accessed the mountain site and based on the position of development control, it is against the planning template.

“People must also stop buying land from village chiefs. They don’t have the power in FCT to sell land. They are only interested in the monetary gain and not the safety of the people,” he said.

January 24, 2024
Yahaya Bello pays JAMB fees for 15,033 students

The Kogi State Government, in line with its free education policy under Governor Yahaya Bello, has released the sum N115,000,000 to cover the cost of JAMB Registration fees for 15,033 students in public schools across the State.

Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Wemmy Jones, said this while briefing journalists in Lokoja, yesterday, saying the gesture is a further demonstration of the commitment of Governor Yahaya Bello to giving all Kogi children free access to education.

According to the commissioner, the action is a follow up to the earlier payment of about N497 million to WAEC to ensure no student in Kogi public schools is made to pay a dime before writing any internal or external examination.

“I am pleased to announce to parents of Kogi students in public schools that they do not need to bother themselves about paying for their children’s JAMB Registration Fees as the Governor has already released funds for that purpose.

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“This happening a few weeks after the State Government paid hundreds of millions of Naira to WAEC for the registration of thousands of students in public schools is a further demonstration of the determination of the Governor to ensure no Kogi student is deprived of the chance to be educated on account of poverty.

“Having surpassed the benchmark of UNESCO on education budgetary allocation, Kogi has continued to be a beautiful commentary on education for all,” he said.

A parent, Mr Adejoh Philip, thanked the Governor for the gesture, saying he will be remembered for laying a solid foundation for the renaissance of education in the state.

“After seeing how beautiful the GYB Model Science Secondary School, Adankolo is; I withdrew my child from a private school and took him to the school. Many parents are doing same. He has invested so much in the education of our children,” he said.

January 24, 2024