NEWS
Adeleke Pledges Support for NAFDAC, Urges Whistleblowing Against Fake Drugs
The desire for protection of public health, eliminating counterfeit and substandard products has seen the Osun State Governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke reaffirm commitment to working closely with the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC).
Gov Adeleke made his position public, at the Government House, Oke-fia, Osogbo, while receiving the State Coordinator of NAFDAC, Osun State Chapter, and members of the management team, on Thursday.
He congratulated the new coordinator on the appointment and described the visit as timely, stressing the importance of collaboration between federal agencies and state governments.
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Gov Adeleke noted that the activities of NAFDAC remain critical to public health, consumer protection and economic stability, particularly in addressing the growing menace of fake drugs, substandard food items and unregulated consumables that pose serious risks to lives and undermine confidence in the healthcare system.
Commending NAFDAC’s ongoing efforts in enforcement, regulation and public sensitisation, the Governor emphasised that effective regulation cannot be achieved in isolation, but through strong cooperation, intelligence sharing and engagement with security agencies and local communities.
Assuring NAFDAC of full support, Gov Adeleke said Osun State would continue to partner with the agency to strengthen enforcement, improve public awareness and ensure compliance with regulatory standards in markets and healthcare facilities across the state.
On NAFDAC’s request for inclusion in the State Security Council, the Governor acknowledged the relevance of regulatory agencies to broader security and public safety concerns, noting that the request would be carefully examined within the existing framework to enhance coordination and effectiveness.
In addition, Gov Adeleke urged NAFDAC to intensify engagement with traders, manufacturers and residents, while calling on members of the public to act as whistleblowers by promptly reporting any outlet involved in the sale of fake drugs, stressing that the agency must carry out its duties diligently and transparently without compromise or inducement, in order to rid Osun State of fake drug dealers and safeguard lives.
Earlier, the State Coordinator of NAFDAC, Stephen Aina, expressed gratitude to the state governor for its support and partnership with NAFDAC.
He explained that NAFDAC remains committed to ensuring that people consume only standard and safe products, including drugs and other regulated items, while also commending the state for the prevailing atmosphere of peace that has aided the agency’s activities.
Aina further disclosed that the agency has been engaging in outreach programmes to educate and encourage young people to embrace entrepreneurship, advising them to always register their businesses as required by law. He, however, appealed to the government to further support the agency through the provision of logistics such as operational vehicles, staff quarters, and other essential needs to improve efficiency.
The United Nations has raised the alarm over a dramatic surge in attacks on schools worldwide, reporting a 166% increase between 2021 and 2024.
The rise highlights the escalating dangers faced by children in conflict zones.
United Nations Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights, Nada Al-Nashif, revealed the figures during the annual meeting of the UN Human Rights Council on the rights of the child on Monday.
The session, themed “Mainstreaming the Rights of Children in Armed Conflict: Prevention and Protection,” focused on protecting children amid global conflicts.
Al-Nashif noted that the attacks were particularly concentrated in Sudan, Ukraine, the Gaza Strip, Myanmar, and Ethiopia, where children remain among the most vulnerable victims.
“In 2024, armed conflict directly affected nearly one in six children globally—about 470 million children,” she said. “Years of lost education, trauma, and lasting mental scars shape societies for generations. Long after the fighting subsides, children continue to face deadly risks.”
She highlighted Gaza as having the world’s highest number of child amputees per capita, warning that the impact of war goes far beyond immediate violence.
In Lebanon, government figures show that more than 450,000 people were displaced in less than a week, with at least 394 fatalities, including 83 children, during the 2024 conflict with Israel.
Al-Nashif also stressed the disproportionate risks for displaced children, who are more likely to die from disease linked to unsafe water and sanitation than from direct violence.
In the Democratic Republic of Congo, a 2025 cholera outbreak killed 340 children, underscoring the long-term consequences of conflict.
She called on states to uphold their international obligations to protect children, insisting that protecting children is “both a legal obligation and a humanitarian moral imperative.”
Also speaking at the council, Vanessa Frazier, Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict, warned that violence against children continued at extreme levels in 2025.
She urged mainstreaming child protection across peace, security, humanitarian, human rights, and development efforts, emphasizing that children should actively participate in shaping policies designed to safeguard them.
Frazier highlighted her office’s global campaign, “Prove It Matters,” aimed at amplifying children’s voices in conflict resolution and peacebuilding.
The UN report underscores the urgent need for coordinated international action to protect children and ensure their safety in conflict zones worldwide.
Portugal officially inaugurated its new president, Antonio Jose Seguro, on Monday, pledging to bring stability to a nation shaken by political uncertainty and natural disasters.
Seguro, the centre-left candidate, won last month’s presidential run-off against far-right rival Andre Ventura, following weeks of catastrophic storms that killed at least seven people and caused approximately €4 billion ($4.6 billion) in damage.
Speaking at his swearing-in ceremony in Lisbon’s parliament, Seguro emphasized cooperation with the minority right-wing government and vowed to end the country’s “electoral frenzy.”
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“I will do everything I can to put an end to this electoral frenzy,” he said, pointing to the inability of previous governments to complete their terms.
Amid global crises, including conflicts in the Middle East and a more isolationist US approach under President Donald Trump, Seguro stressed the importance of multilateralism.
“The force of law has been replaced by the power of the strongest,” he remarked.
Seguro succeeds Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, a conservative who leaves office at 77 after serving two five-year terms.
While the Portuguese presidency is largely ceremonial, Seguro’s leadership signals a commitment to political stability and international engagement.
Nigerians are facing yet another economic blow as petrol prices surge again. The Dangote Petroleum Refinery has raised the gantry price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) to N1,175 per litre, marking the third increase in just one week.
The latest adjustment, announced to marketers on Monday, follows a temporary suspension of petrol sales at the refinery on Sunday. Diesel, also known as Automotive Gas Oil, has also been revised upwards to N1,620 per litre.
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A senior refinery official, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed the hike, noting that it reflects “prevailing market fundamentals and the cost environment we are currently operating in.”
Industry checks show that depot pricing systems have already updated the new rates, signaling an inevitable rise at retail stations.
In some cities, petrol is now being sold at over N1,200 per litre, adding pressure on Nigerian motorists and businesses alike.
This repeated surge comes after earlier increases that pushed gantry prices from N774 to N995 per litre earlier this week.
Experts warn that the hikes are likely to drive up transportation, logistics, and production costs, potentially impacting the prices of goods and services nationwide.
While the Federal Government, through the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC), is working to secure crude supplies for the refinery via international traders, officials cautioned that this may not immediately reduce prices for consumers.
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