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NAFDAC alerts on fake COVID-19 test kits in circulation

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The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has notified Nigerians about counterfeit COVID-19 antigen rapid test kits in circulation.

The notification is contained in a NAFDAC public alert released to reporters on Sunday in Abuja.

The counterfeit BTNX Incorporated COVID-19 rapid antigen test kits were communicated to NAFDAC by Health Canada.

NAFDAC quoted Health Canada as saying that the fake test kits were sold online in 25-pack boxes by a distributor called Healthful Plus who did not have the required licence.

NAFDAC said the packaging of the counterfeit kits resembles the authentic BTNX Inc. products in colour and typeface and uses the BTNX Incorporated.

It said that the device identifier has “COV-19C25”, but also has several key differences, adding that it was labelled as manufactured by “Health Advance Inc.” instead of BTNX Inc.

NAFDAC stated that on the packaging Health Advance was identified as the “Official Canadian Distributor” of the counterfeit products.

It pointed out that the products had a claim of endorsement by government authorities, such as Health Canada.

“Genuine COVID-19 Antigen test kit helps detect certain proteins in the virus. Rapid antigen tests are designed to tell in a few minutes whether someone is infected or not.

“It is recommended as a high performing test for individuals with symptoms, high-risk populations and healthcare or casual workers.

“Counterfeit health products are imitations of authentic products. The safety and effectiveness of these counterfeit test kits have not been assessed.

“The genuine manufacturer BTNX Inc. has confirmed that the devices were counterfeit,” NAFDAC said.

The agency advised wholesalers, distributors, pharmacies and consumers to ensure that their products are obtained from authentic and reliable sources.

It also encouraged healthcare providers to increase vigilance within the supply chain to avoid importation, distribution, sale or use of the counterfeit COVID-19 rapid antigen test kits.

It advised healthcare providers to prevent the administration of the product to unsuspecting patients, adding that the products’ authenticity and physical condition should be carefully checked.

NAFDAC said that anybody in possession of the counterfeit product should immediately discontinue sale or use and submit stock to the nearest agency office.

Healthcare providers and consumers are encouraged to report suspected counterfeit health products to NAFDAC on 0800-162-3322 or email: sf.alert.

NAFDAC also advised the public to report adverse effects via pharmacovigilance, and e-reporting platforms www.nafdac.gov.ng or via the med-safety application for download.

U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit: Highlights of Buhari’s visit to Washington DC

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President Muhammadu Buhari returned to Abuja on Sunday after a week-long visit to Washington DC, USA, where he attended the United States-Africa Leaders Summit.

While in Washington, the Nigerian leader also participated actively at the U.S.– Nigeria Business and Investment Forum.

The business roundtable was organised by the American Corporate Council on Africa (CCA) in conjunction with the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade, and Investment.

Speaking at the forum, Mr Buhari said Nigeria remained the best destination for American investors to put their money.

He said aside from the population advantage in size and demography, various incentives and policies implemented by the Nigerian government made it a destination of choice for investment.

Mr Buhari also received the Secretary General of the Abu Dhabi Forum, Sheikh Al-Mahfoudh Bin Bayyah, and his deputy, Bob Roberts of the U.S., who visited him in Washington, USA.

At the meeting with the Secretary General of the forum, Mr Buhari said the work of the foundation in promoting multi-faith dialogue was as crucial to the world as it was to Nigeria.

The president also spoke about the need to raise generations of youths devoid of religious extremism and bigotry, urging the group to continue to target the young people who are the promise of the future.

Also, at an interactive session in Washington entitled, “A conversation with President Muhammadu Buhari of Nigeria’’, Mr Buhari said Nigeria’s agricultural revolution had led to the creation of over 13 million direct and indirect jobs in the last seven and half years.

The event was co-hosted by the United States Institute of Peace (USIP), the International Republican Institute, the National Endowment for Democracy, and the International Foundation for Electoral Systems.

He reiterated his avowed determination to ensure free, fair, and transparent national elections, whose outcome would be largely accepted by the contestants.

The Nigerian leader used the occasion to advise western nations again not to be in a rush to eliminate the usage of fossil fuels in a bid to ensure a healthy climate.

Mr Buhari also cautioned western nations on the frivolous issuance of travel advisories on Nigeria, urging the international media to be more objective in its reportage.

He told the international community that despite the nonchalant actions and attitudes of some friends and allies, ”Nigeria is nonetheless winning the war on terrorism.”

Mr Buhari on Thursday in Washington DC, USA, warned that Africa risks not attaining the goals continental leaders have set for the region by 2063 given the challenges facing it.

According to him, the continent has witnessed increased, diverse and complex threats, including climate change and the scourge of terrorism.

Other challenges were violent extremism, transnational organised crimes, ideological radicalisation, and recently, an upsurge in the unconstitutional change of governments (UCGs).

The president concluded his official engagements with a presidential town hall meeting he held with Nigerians in the diaspora on Friday in Washington as he rounded off his participation in the U.S.-Africa leaders’ summit.

At the meeting, Mr Buhari commended Nigerians in the diaspora for remitting more than $20 billion home in 2021.

Meanwhile, President Joe Biden of the United States, at the meeting with leaders of six African countries slated to have elections in 2023,

praised the Nigerian leader for his efforts in deepening democracy not only in Nigeria but also in Africa.

Mr Biden said he had followed the trajectory of the Nigerian leader since 2015, when he was elected president, from being an opposition leader when he (Mr Biden) was a vice president.

He added that it was very heartening that ”Nigeria is quite a model for democracy, especially the fact that President Buhari is not seeking a third term.”

Mr Biden, therefore, encouraged Mr Buhari and the Nigerian electoral umpire to continue to be non-partisan.

The U.S. president said the meeting with the select African leaders, including those of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Gabon, Liberia, Madagascar, and Sierra Leone, was to discuss elections and democracy in Africa.

Group seeks probe of INEC staff frustrating PVC collection in South-East

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The Civil Liberties Organisation (CLO) has urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to monitor its staff frustrating the smooth collection of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) in parts of the South-East.

The Chairman of CLO in Anambra, Vincent Ezekwueme, made the call in Enugu on Sunday on the ongoing collection of PVCs in council areas in the South-East.

Mr Ezekwueme noted that his organisation had received and is still receiving torrents of complaints of registrants that suffered tremendously to register and still find it very difficult “if not impossible“ to collect their PVCs in South-East, especially in Anambra.

According to him, one pertinent question from frustrated registrants in Anambra is whether INEC officials treat residents of other states the same way because their relations and friends from other states told them how they easily collected their PVCs.

“An elderly statesman and community leader, Chief Mentus Onwuaso, decried how he tried unsuccessfully three times to register to no avail until the intervention of CLO and still for three times he has been to INEC office to collect his PVC, without success.

“Also, Chief Joseph Okeke lamented that he abandoned his business for three days to obtain his PVC without success.

“A nursing mother, Mrs Elizabeth Obi, told us that she had gone to get her PVC as a patriotic and law-abiding citizen but was unsuccessful.

“This frustration and discouragement may lead to abandonment of many PVCs and disenfranchisement of many residents,” he said.

Mr Ezekwueme urged INEC to beam its searchlight and fish out bad eggs frustrating the collection of PVCs among its staff in the commission and prosecute them, adding that this would certainly act as a deterrent to others.

The CLO boss, however, warned that if urgent and immediate steps were not taken, the voting strength of the entire South-East would be below expectations.

He said: “We reiterate our earlier appeal on INEC to devise strategic and less cumbersome ways of PVC distribution.

“Finally, religious, traditional, markets, town unions and civil society organisations leaders should redouble their efforts towards mobilising residents for active participation in the electoral process.”

Battling fraud allegations, PENCOM says its books are open to scrutiny

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Following calls for its probe, the National Pension Commission (PenCom) says it is ready to open its books for scrutiny.

Aisha Dahir-Umar, the Director-General, PenCom, said this in a statement by the commission’s spokesperson, Abdulqadir Dahiru, on Saturday in Lagos.

Some civil society groups petitioned the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to investigate PenCom over allegations of fraud.

Mrs Dahir-Umar alleged that PenCom was aware of a coordinated plan to bring the commission into disrepute with frivolous petitions to the anti-graft agencies in collaboration with disgruntled insiders.

She noted that the commission under her leadership would cooperate fully with the anti-graft agencies.

“These elements, some of whom are yet to come to terms with the fact that PenCom is no longer at their beck and call, have been sponsoring negative media reports.

“They also get faceless groups to write frivolous petitions to the EFCC.

“Although some media outfits are giving a voice to these defamatory petitions, those who know how we conduct our affairs at PenCom are not in any way bothered,” she said.

Mrs Dahiru-Umar noted that the commission had undertaken far-reaching reforms which were yielding positive results since she took over as the director-general.

She also alleged that those who thought they could use the commission to make money have been disappointed and hence; sponsoring false publications and trumped-up petitions.

“We will not allow anyone to pilfer pension funds for self aggrandisement. It will never happen under my watch.

“If PenCom had anything to hide, we would have surrendered to the agents of blackmail who have been on our case since 2017 when I became acting DG,” she said.

Court orders interim forfeiture of Spiralfoss’ N2.7B

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The Federal High Court in Ikoyi, Lagos has ordered the interim forfeiture of N2.7billion recovered from the account of Spiralfoss Limited.

Justice Tijani Ringim gave the order, following an ex parte application filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.

Moving the application on Friday, September 10, 2021, the prosecution counsel, Chinenye Okezie, told the court that the money was domiciled in Fidelity Bank Plc account number 5080102755.

Okezie also sought the forfeiture of a black bulletproof Audi Model ABL W12 Quatro with registration number BDG529GJ traced to Spiralfoss Limited.

The prosecution counsel urged the court to order the interim forfeiture of the fund and vehicle to the Federal Government.

Consequently, Justice Ringim granted the application and ordered the interim forfeiture of the money and vehicle.

He also directed the publication of the Order in any national newspaper for interested parties to appear before the Court within 14 days, to show cause why the final order of forfeiture should not be made in favour of the Federal Government.