Headlines

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has destroyed fake, expired, and substandard products valued at ₦1.3 billion in Abuja.

The items, which included drugs, hospital equipment, cosmetics, food items, and other substandard products, were disposed of at the Kuje dump site.

Representing the Director-General of NAFDAC, Professor Moji Adeyeye, Festus Ukadike led officials during the destruction exercise. He revealed that some of the expired food items had been voluntarily handed over by local and international organizations, including the World Food Programme (WFP).

NAFDAC reaffirmed its commitment to safeguarding public health by ensuring that substandard and unsafe products are permanently removed from circulation.

The Director-General of the World Trade Organization (WTO), Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, has urged member nations to avoid escalating tariff conflicts, warning of potential “catastrophic” consequences for the global economy.

Speaking on Thursday at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Okonjo-Iweala expressed concerns over rising tensions stemming from tariff threats by the United States against China, the European Union, Mexico, and Canada.

She called for calm and advised nations to explore alternative methods for resolving trade disputes rather than resorting to retaliatory measures.

“Please let’s not hyperventilate. I know we are here to discuss tariffs. I’ve been saying to everybody: could we chill, also? I just sense a lot of hyperventilation,” she said.

Okonjo-Iweala cautioned that retaliatory actions could lead to severe economic consequences, drawing parallels to the global economic downturn of the 1930s.

“If we have tit-for-tat retaliation, whether it’s 25 percent tariffs, 60 percent, and we go to where we were in the 1930s, we are going to see double-digit global GDP losses. That’s catastrophic,” she warned.

The WTO chief called on member nations to exercise restraint and emphasized the importance of maintaining stability in global trade.

The Senate Committee on Solid Minerals has urged the Nigeria Mining Cadastre Office (NMCO) to sustain and enhance its revenue generation efforts to support the Federal Government’s fiscal targets.

The call was made on Thursday during the 2025 budget defence of NMCO at the National Assembly in Abuja. Senator Ekong Sampson (PDP, Akwa Ibom), Chairman of the Committee, commended the agency for its efficient fund management and revenue contributions but stressed the need for greater efforts to align with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s developmental agenda.

“The Mining Cadastre Office has performed well in revenue generation. However, there is still room for improvement,” Sampson said. “The country is focusing on diversification, and increasing revenue from this sector will significantly strengthen our economy.”

The senator assured the agency of the committee’s support in achieving its goals, stating, “We recognize your efforts and projections. The committee is fully aware of the issues you have raised and will continue to encourage you as you ramp up revenue for the country.”

He also highlighted the importance of adequately funding the solid minerals sector to reduce Nigeria’s dependency on oil and drive economic diversification.

Governor Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State has secured a $200 million investment for a lithium factory during his visit to Jiuling Lithium’s headquarters in Fengxin County, China.

The investment, which will establish the factory in Nasarawa Local Government Area, is part of the governor’s week-long investment drive aimed at attracting foreign direct investments to the state. The visit allowed Governor Sule to gain first-hand insight into the operations of Jiuling Lithium, a prominent miner of mineral resources and manufacturer of lithium carbonate, a key component in renewable energy battery production.

During the visit, Governor Sule obtained a commitment from Jiuling Lithium to complete the 6-million-ton capacity factory within 18 months. The company also praised Nasarawa State’s favorable investment climate and ease of doing business, pledging to explore other investment opportunities in the state.

Governor Sule is currently in China at the invitation of LOVOL Engineering Company Ltd, a global leader in the manufacturing of farm equipment and machinery.

The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) has rescued nine pregnant women from a suspected baby factory in the Ushafa area of Abuja.

According to a statement by Vincent Adekoye, NAPTIP spokesperson, the women were found on Thursday in a rented apartment within a large estate where they had been locked up by an unidentified trafficking agent. The agent allegedly recruited them through an online platform.

The rescue operation was initiated after a concerned citizen tipped off NAPTIP about unusual activities and movements in the area.

The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, has called on the military to intensify efforts in reclaiming forests across Nigeria as a strategy to combat banditry.

Ganduje made the statement during a condolence visit to Niger State Governor, Mohammed Umar Bago, following a tanker explosion in the state that claimed several lives last week.

In a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Edwin Olofu, on Thursday in Abuja, Ganduje emphasized the need for proactive and decisive measures to address criminal activities in the country.

“The solution to this menace is to conquer the forests. The bandits are in the forest. Why have we been on the defensive instead of being on the offensive?” Ganduje said.

The former Kano State governor highlighted his administration’s success in addressing similar challenges, noting that the military’s occupation of Falgore Forest during his tenure forced bandits out of the area, contributing to peace in the state.

Ganduje also commended Governor Bago for maintaining peace in Niger State despite its vast landmass and forested terrain.

In response, Governor Bago expressed gratitude for the APC leadership’s support and urged the federal government to prioritize infrastructure development, particularly the Suleja-Minna road, to reduce accidents and enhance safety in the state.