CSOs want women to seek knowledge and advocate the inclusion of women across all sectors.

Include women across all sectors: CSOs tell Govt

As International Women's Day continue to take centre stage in Nigeria, Civil Society Organizations have stressed the need to protect policies that empower women and ensure men abandon a culture of impunity that encourages discrimination.

Executive Director, Women Rights and Health Project, Bose Ironsi, while taking on Gender-Based Discrimination, during a symposium organised by Woman of Substance recently in Lagos, with the theme “Accelerate Action on the Rights, Equality, Empowerment for Women and Girls.” stressed the importance of recognizing and confronting gender-based discrimination. 

"We need deliberate efforts to protect and empower women. Women have struggled and gone through various processes to ensure things work in their favour". 

She said, now is the right time to provide more enabling environments for women to thrive as individuals and human beings,” Bose stated.

“We can only change the narrative if we admit that there is a problem. Unfortunately, many people have become too comfortable with the way they are,” she added.

Speaking on Empowerment Beyond Finances, the Clinic Manager at NORDICA Fertility Centre, Ms Ranti Ajayi, noted that empowerment goes beyond financial independence, adding that knowledge-based empowerment is key to enabling women to make informed decisions in their personal and professional lives.

“Women should develop themselves and be empowered not just financially, but with knowledge. Every woman should be equipped with the right information to make informed decisions,” Ajayi explained 

She identified religious and cultural barriers as some of the reasons militating against women’s progress and advocated collective action to dismantle the restrictions to allow women to maximize their potential.

On the topic, " Breaking Stereotypes and Patriarchy, the Convener and Executive Director, Woman of Substance, a Non-Governmental Organization, Ms Ify Onyegbule, stated that the impact of stereotypes and patriarchal systems has continued to hinder women’s advancement in all spheres of life.

"We must find ways to bridge these gaps and ensure a level playing field. The issues affecting women in society are obvious, adding that Stereotypes make it difficult for women to thrive, while patriarchy creates significant barriers,” Onyegbule stated.

She urged women to be proactive in their pursuit of empowerment, emphasizing that opportunities may not always be handed to them.

“Women contribute immensely when given the chance, but they must be ready to step out, fight for their rights, and prove themselves,” she said.

Onyegbule also advocated for the active inclusion of women across all sectors, emphasizing the importance of equality, equity, and empowerment in fostering sustainable progress.

Participants called for a collective accelerated action to remove barriers and create more inclusive and empowering environments for women and girls. 

Stakeholders appraise the implementation of asset recovery and its impact on the people ...plead for a change of attitude toward the environment.

The Africa Network for Environment and Economic Justice (ANEEJ), has put together a meeting to critically appraise the implementation of the Global Forum for Asset Recovery (GFAR), Principles in Asset Return to Nigeria. 

The group looked at the projects that had been implemented, the impact it has on the people and if it was beneficial to them

Participants in the programme, although they had divergent views, agreed that the recovered funds are well spent and, therefore, have a real-time time in the lives of the people.

The Executive  Director, of the frica Network for Environment and Economic Justice, ANEEJ, Mr David Ugolor,  explained that validating the research report on the review of the implementation of Key GFAR Principles in Asset Return to Nigeria was necessary to change the mindset of the public that looted funds such as, " the $311.8 million recovered from the Bailiwick of Jersey used for legacy projects, Lagos-Ibadan Road, Abuja-Kano Road and 2nd Niger bridge. Were - looted when the reverse is the case. 

"To change the narrative, there is the need to answer these questions since transparency and accountability are the bedrock of any government ". Ugolor said

Mr Ugolor says, " Although there are gaps, according to the research in the current asset recovery process in Nigeria, it is imperative to provide recommendations for improving future asset return agreements which is the essence of the meeting ".

The  Programme Officer, Center for  Law Enforcement Education in Nigeria, CLEEN, Mr Bernard Ekube, said, before now, there had been a lot of misconceptions that funds looted have been re-looted, which he said was not the case as the over three hundred and eleven million dollars Abacha loot is used for the 2nd Niger Bridge, the Lagos Ibadan Expressway and the Abuja - Kano roads. 

According to him, " the selection of toads were selected based on their importance and cuts across the zones, and these are all huge projects, having been awarded several times, but now, it is a different matter as the roads are now stress-free". 

Explaining further, " the Lagos - Ibadan Expressway is one that a lot of people have come to appreciate because once they have one major church functions, the road is blocked, people have been robbed, accidents have happened, noting that, Government is using the money on the capital projects which is the way to go. " he affirmed 

Mr Ekube stressed that CLEENS sees it as a big project because it monitored it from point Zero to finishing and starting the roads. have been very rewarding, although it might not be one hundred per cent complete because pedestrian bridge lighting and mapping of the roads have not been done. 

 He expressed dismay at the attitude to the project saying no matter how strong a road is, when engine oil, petrol, diesel and tyres are burnt on the roads, it damages them, insisting that roads are built with the highest materials and to specifications, but when people do not take ownership, it becomes a problem. 

" For instance, the beams of the bridges that were conducted on that road are already damaged. There are tyres used to wage the roads, wastes are all over the place, the drainages are blocked with filth, so the problem is citizens have to own the projects ". He argued. 

Traffic Diversion for Independence Bridge Repairs.

The Lagos State Government has announced a traffic diversion plan for emergency repairs on the Independence/Mekwen Bridge (inbound Marina/CMS) from Wednesday, 19th March, to Monday, 26th May 2025.

In a statement made available to the press, 

the Lagos State Commissioner for Transportation Mr Oluwaseun Osiyemi said the affected routes are, 

Full closure:   National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) through Bonny Camp Bridge to Independence Bridge.

Service lane closure: Bonny Camp Underpass Bridge (inbound Independence Bridge).

Open lane: Service lane from Ahmadu Bello Way to Ozumba Mbadiwe.

Alternative Routes are :

To Victoria Island:   Ozumba Mbadiwe → Akin Adesola → Falomo Roundabout → Obafemi Awolowo Road → Ring Road.

To 3rd Mainland Bridge: Use Ozumba Mbadiwe → Akin Adesola → Alfred Rewane → Osborne → Ring Road.

To Inner Marina/CMS: Use Ozumba Mbadiwe → Akin Adesola → Falomo Roundabout → Obafemi Awolowo Road → J.K. Randle/King George V Road.

From Inner Marina/CMS to Ahmadu Bello Way: Full access.

Mr Osiyemi, therefore, advised motorists to be patient as the closure supports the Federal Ministry of Works' rehabilitation efforts, as  LASTMA officials will be on the ground to manage traffic throughout the project. 

Natasha: Activists storm Lagos House, want protest letter taken to the presidency.

Women's Rights Groups and other Advocates across Lagos State have converged on ShopRite and staged a protest match to Ikeja House, Alausa, to present a letter stating the discrimination meted out to a member of Senate, Federal Republic of Nigeria, Natasha Akpoti and demanding justice.

Speaking at the Rally, the Programme Director of Women Advocates Research and Documentation Centre, WARDC, Mary George-Peluola, commended the initiative by the Women to stand with Natasha as she battles alleged discrimination and sexual harassment at the National Assembly.

She stressed that " the reason for the celebration is to make women's voices heard and not subdued or silenced, in every decision-making and politics, noting that women's rights are also human rights ".

The Coordinator, Lagos State Chapter of the Network of Reproductive Health Journalists, Nigeria, Ms Kikelomo Oduyebo, assured that the Network would stand with every action to move women forward, reiterating the need to amplify women's voices through the Media, respect as well as protect their rights. 

Advocate for Sensitive Issues and the Face of International Women's Day 2025, Bukola Ogundowo, said she joined the Rally to help accelerate action on women's rights and empower them to speak out over injustice being meted to women in Nigeria.

The activists called on well-meaning Nigerians to support women in their quest to climb to decision-making positions where they can add value to national issues.

" Women are not to be degraded, mocked, denied positions or harassed sexually. "We are good at administration, politically and our workplaces. We are no pushovers so don't treat us as one ". They emphasized 

The rally, which terminated at the State Assembly gate where women promised to wait until the Governor of Lagos State, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, attended to them, took place simultaneously in most states in Nigeria.

Guests at the symposium advocate more awareness of women's health..as Lagos NAWOJ celebrates IWD.

As activities marking International Women's Day continue in Lagos, women have been charged to add their voices to Nation-building homes and stand firm on issues as they affect women and girls. 

The Director of News, Lagos Television, Mrs Abimbola Bello, gave the charge in Lagos on Thursday while commemorating International Women's Day.

With the theme, "Accelerate Action", while the topic of the NAWOJ symposium was "Young Women in Journalism: Mentorship, Growth and Breaking the Glass Ceiling". Mrs Bello said the programme was apt as all hands are on deck to ensure that women are supported to aspire to leadership positions and contribute their quota to nation-building. 

Sharing her newsroom experience, she explained that, in a newsroom setting, women are regarded as men not to spite them but to ensure they stand tall with their male counterparts. 

" Women should accelerate action on so many things and in different ways too," noting that " how you see yourselves and what your goals are should be prioritized, it is also important to plan how to intend to achieve them ". Bello stated

Mrs Rashidat Sanni-Afolabi, the Health Education Officer, Local Action Committee on AIDS (LACA), Ikeja LGA, having talked on the Prevention of Mother's - To - Child Transmission of HIV, PMTCT, said that, women journalists should help enlighten members of the public on the dangers of transmitting the virus to their babies as the awareness is low.

She noted, "It is important to register early for Ante-natal where the necessary test will be carried out, and if positive, you will be placed on Antiretroviral Drugs to prevent the transmission". 

Nothing that HIV is not a death sentence, " there are drugs to suppress the viral load to a minimal level, but there is the need to adhere strictly to drug prescriptions, taking it as and when due, and there are support systems that you can relate with ". She stated

Sanni-Afolabi said that if more women are enlightened about their HIV/AIDS status during pregnancy, it would help greatly in mother-to-child transmission during delivery.

She said, "Naturally, people don't like to take drugs, but with the right sensitization, enlightenment and education, more women would like to know their status during pregnancy and take to instructions because of their unborn child ". 

On her part, Ms Oluseyi Kadiri, a J K A Aggey Foundation, said her foundation supports women, girls and less privileged persons in society, hence the reason it partnered with NAWOJ to provide medical services for participants at the symposium.

"We are checking for Blood Pressure (BP) and sugar level, we are particular with people's health.

" We felt women in journalism should know their BP status and sugar level; we don't want a situation like, I don't know my BP, am overworked,", she said.

Kadiri said that the foundation was on the ground to prevent slumping during working hours due to high BP and to avoid relying on BP drugs, which are now on the high side.

She advised women to celebrate themselves and always check their BP twice a month.

Earlier, the Chairperson of Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ), Lagos Chapter, Dr Adeola Ekine, said that growth in journalism was driven by continuous learning.

Ekine stated, " Young women should embrace opportunities for self-improvement by engaging in training Programmes, digital media literacy, investigative journalism and ethical reporting ".

 "As the media landscape evolves, we must remain at the forefront of these changes, ensuring that our voices and narratives are relevant, credible and impactful," she said

According to her, breaking the glass ceiling requires audacity, resilience and collective efforts.

Adeola called on women to rise to leadership positions within and outside their workspaces and take up decision-making roles wherever they found themselves.

The high point of the event was the health check of Blood Pressure and the exhibition of bags, perfumes, and Adire material amongst other things

Come and sign your undertaking NAFDAC calls on violators

The National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control, NAFDAC, has opened up access for those who have violations to come sign their undertakings, saying, "We are waiting for them now to come ". 

"We are giving them undertaking because they violated our rules, Good distribution practices, good storage practices, they violated, and they will be sanctioned for that, but we promise not to close them down unless it is a very, very serious violation ".

The DG NAFDAC, Professor Mojisola Adeyeye made the call at a news briefing in Lagos while explaining with dismay how banned coding, tramadol and a killer Tafrodol, imported by an Indian company were discovered and seized and giving an update on the just concluded raids carried out by the agency on Fake and Substandard drugs in the major drug markets in the country. 

According to her, "We screened about 10,000 shops in all, 327 in Lagos. 1,289 in Aba and about 6,000 in Onitsha ".

She noted that to check the menace,  the Ministry of Health mandated NAFDAC and PCN to ensure that there is a coordinated process centre in Aba, Onitsha, Lagos, and Kano. " The one for Kano has been built, and on February 16th last year, we started forcing them to move because they didn't want to move". Adeyeye

 

However, "they are in the process of building the one in Lagos. It will take a while. And part of what we did after this enforcement is to give them an undertaking that we cannot close you down unless you have very serious violations. She stated

 

For Lagos, " it has been a long process. In terms of the special purpose vehicles that work with the government to get to where they are now ".

Because Lagos has the Special Purpose Vehicle already being built, the Pharmaceutical Council of Nigeria, PCN, is working directly with that Special Purpose Vehicle to sign their undertaking.

It has to be sustained. NAFDAC goes after good storage and distribution practices. PCN goes after the site license and practitioner license.

Unlike what we have seen now, "we didn't have time to do enforcement before moving the shops because it was directly a result of a court case that we started moving. " But we have a strong post-marketing surveillance office all over the country, adding that " it was during post-marketing surveillance, that was how we were able to find out that four medicines meant for children have zero content in them.

 

Professor Mojisola stated that there had been complaints about the length of time given to them, but she emphasized " Yes, we're going to renew every six months So that they know that we're watching them like a hawk".

 

"Because of us. Because of the medicine we take. We don't want to ruin any trade.

 In fact, that's the last thing on our minds. We want to facilitate trade". She revered.

 

But not at the detriment of the health of our people. For the other, the same thing, there's going to be a Special Purpose Vehicle that will be working with the state government to build. But we cannot close all of them down. "

 

So that is just the reality of that. The new central, have we arrested others? In fact, I think it was yesterday or two days ago, the second person had been arrested. When you are doing an investigation, you have to use intelligence.- she concluded 

 

For the central drug market, she informed everyone that" they cannot take anything that is not approved, "they will not be allowed to take any medicine there that was not approved, adding that there is nothing wrong with trade, trade fosters, GDP and whatnot.

 

" We are all for that. But it has to be good medicine that is what is supposed to be done for trading",  she insisted

NAFDAC warns against contracting business with fake consulting firms ... reinforces architecture to check fraud

The National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control, NAFDAC, says it has strengthened the activities of the Investigation, Enforcement, and Federal Task Force by reconstituting the architecture and increasing the number of Investigating Police Officers of the Police Squad and Mobile Police attached to the Agency.

To this end, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare will inaugurate the reconstituted Federal Task Force and the State Task Forces to complement the Agency's activities in the States.

The Director General of NAFDAC, Professor Mojisola, who made this known at a news briefing in Lagos, warned members of the public not to do business with any company that parades itself as a consulting firm for product registration. 

Explaining in detail an incident, the D-G said, Mr Ikoro Mang Ifendu of 26, Park Road, Aba Abia State, born on the 2nd of January, 1973, was arrested on the 7th of February 2025 at Ogborn Hills, Aba, Abia State in a case of alleged fraud and obtaining huge funds by false pretence from unsuspecting foreigners that cuts across various countries as a NAFDAC Staff, a native of Amamba Village, Abiriba in Ohafia LGA, Abia State, " stating that, his level of education is SSCE and deals in clothing materials. "The suspect is in our custody and is cooperating with the investigation ".

According to her, the case was reported by Thani Almaeeni Trading Group, Abu Dhabi, UA, E following their application to register Dry Fish (Seafood). " Thani Almaeeni Trading Group, Abu Dhabi, UAE, and other companies from various countries fell victim to the fraud. 

In a petition from Thani Almaeeni Trading Group reported to NAFDA, C the possible impersonation of the fraudsters as NAFDAC’s official using the NAFDAC’s letterhead and name, she continued, the fraudsters headed by Mr. Ikoro Mang Ifendu duped the company of thousands of dollars and millions of naira.

" These fraudsters or syndicates operate in a three-pronged scheme involving the Buyer, Bank, and Lawyer. Initially, the buyer contacts foreign companies to purchase and import goods into Nigeria. Subsequently, they introduce these companies to any of these banks for payment. The bank then declares that due to the lack of NAFDAC approval, foreign companies are unable to export to Nigeria.

Explaining further, " a legal counsel is introduced to the companies, claiming that they can obtain NAFDAC Certificate through this lawyer. The lawyer then receives payments in stages and issues fraudulent receipts and counterfeit NAFDAC certificates to the companies.

Our investigation revealed that the Group operates Fifteen (15) Domiciliary and Five (5) Local Accounts in seven (7) Nigerian Banks, stressing that, "The Account in one of the Banks has a BVN that is being used by the two key members of the Group, Ikoro Mang Ifendu and Rosemary Obosi. The exact number of the Accounts has not been established, because the suspect had deleted some of the Accounts and the alert messages ". Mojisola

Professor Adeyeye The tentative cumulative inflow from different victims into the Domiciliary Accounts in Nigeria is estimated to be over  950,000 USDD, while the sum of  450,000 USDD is the estimated inflow into the accounts held offshore in Cotonou, Benin Republic. 

Unfortunately, " the unsuspecting foreigners are still sending monies into the Account., " Just before this press conference, an Alert of $ 7,000 was received in one of the Domiciliary Accounts ". She said

The D-G gave more details on the fraudulent documents: " The documents issued to the client (Thani Almaeeni Trading Group) that exposed the scam are as follows:

i. Certificate of Registration of Dried Fish (Seafood) with NAFDAC Registration No A2-7059 issued to Thani Almaeeni Trading Group, Unit 7, Building 2, Sector M-36, Musaffah Sector - M36, Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates issued on 16th December 2024 and to expire on 15th December 2029. This number has never been issued by NAFDAC.

ii. Revenue Receipt referenced “Original Receipt” issued to different victims or companies

a. No: F4186, N6, 687, 000.00 issued to Thani Almaeeni Trading Group, Abu Dhabi, UA, E and dated 28/11/2024

b. No. F9263, N20, 900, 000. 00 issued to Thani Almaeeni Trading Group, Abu Dhabi, UA, dated 13/12/202,4, and

c. No. F4186, N6, 819, 200. 00 issued to LILY BEE LTD, 21 LYNEDOCH STREET, INDUSTRIAL ESTATE GREENOCK SCOTLAND PAIG, 4AX, UNITED KINGDOM dated 28/112024.

iii. RE: PROCESSING REQUIREMENTS, of USD 13, 785, 00 and purportedly signed by a former Director who had retired a year earlier (XXXXXXXX as DIRECTOR-GENERAL NAFDAC). dated December 3rd, 2024

iv. Document of Swift Advice Copy of $1,990.00 with Rosemary Obosi as Beneficiary Customer dated 27th November 202, (details are in the document)

v. Document of Swift Advice Copy of, 000.00 with Mang Ifendu Ikoro as the Beneficiary Customer dated 12th December 2024 (details are in the document)

vi. CITYCODE Savings & Loans 5, Tinubu Street CTO Building Lagos Island, Lagos State Nigeria with Telegraphic Transfer of USD132, 972. 84, dated 24th December 2024. The document gave details of the process of transferring the stated amount.

vii. Other documents used to defraud unsuspecting foreigners by the fraudsters are the letterheads of the fraudster,s namely.

a. MANG IFENDU IKORO (HALI & CO CHAMBERS, Legal Practitioners and Solicitors), and

b. ROSEMARY OBOSI (HALI & CO CHAMBERS, Legal Practitioners and Solicitors

Details of some of the foreign companies that were defrauded of thousands of foreign currencies aside from Thani Almaeeni Trading Gro, as extracted from the suspect’s one, are listed below:

i. Vicky Sales Assistant, Japan Long Tie (China) Co Limited, 245 Jingliu Road, Jinan, China for the importation of Condoms.

ii. BEYOND- Korea 711, Julie Rivers DR. USA

iii. Aquaforest SP, Brzesko, Poland for registration and importation of Drinks and Vegetable Oil

iv. Vincenzo Frecentese CEO, Nomea srl for registration of products with NAFDAC

v. Tianyan Filter Cloth Co. Ltd, Gonghexin Road, Jingan District, Shanghai, China

vi. Siam Canadian China Ltd, Frozen Onion Spices, Zhanjiang Guangdong, China

After exhausting the link to falsification of NAFDAC regulated products, this case will be transferred to EFCC for further investigation. This is to expand the investigation to other areas that are not within the mandate of NAFDAC. 

The investigation will also invoke POCA on all the assets illegally acquired in the course of the fraudulent activities.