The NAFDAC Head of Investigation and Enforcement, Federal Taskforce, Embugushiki-Musa Godiya, also said the agency would work to ensure that fake cosmetics and other counterfeit products were completely wiped out of the country.
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Beyond Tinubu’s Visit to Abeokuta
The last time I saw a mammoth crowd as I did when Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the All Progressive Congress (APC) standard bearer, visited Abeokuta last Wednesday was when President Muhammadu Buhari was in Ogun State to inaugurate the multiple projects that were done by Prince Dapo Abiodun earlier this year. However on Wednesday, August 16, 2022, Abeokuta turned into a Mecca of people on the strength of Asiwaju’s visitation to former President Olusegun Obasanjo and as Special Guest of Honour at the Artisans’ Day celebration.
Tinubu, who arrived at the Penthouse of the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library, Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, in his chopper at about 1 pm, was welcomed amidst fanfare by his supporters and members of the party. Visibly, it was a hectic moment for security personnel who were instructed by the management to keep the crowd under check but the caliber and crowd overwhelmed them. The helipad was besieged as the chopper hovered around OOPL to touchdown.
As if that was not enough, while a meeting between Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and former President Olusegun Obasanjo was held at the penthouse even some workers abandoned their duty posts to catch a glimpse of “EMILOKAN”. Those who were kept out of the meeting had an opportunity to join the revelry at the expansive Moshood Abiola Stadium, Kuto, where Asiwaju was Special Guest of Honour at the Artisans’ Day celebration.
Well, a popular saying goes that wherever there is a cube of sugar, ants will visit the place. Asiwaju is like the metaphorical sugar whose sweetness drew the attention and affection of the crowd of people that was at the place. For me, the positive attitude of the people that were present through the display of loyalty and happiness speaks volume about the personality of Asiwaju and the acceptance and popularity that Prince Dapo Abiodun enjoys among the party members and residents of Ogun State.
It was a Turkish playwright and novelist, Mehmet Murat ildan, who aptly said, “When you visit a country, visit the forgotten artisans of the narrow streets because they are the ones who made that country! Do this, not to honour them but to honour yourself!,” but it was Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu who gave life to those meaningful words as he attended the occasion of the 2022 Artisans’ Day in Abeokuta. The symbolism of his solidarity with artisans underscores the respect he has for the downtrodden and the engine room of the society— the artisans.
Across the globe, Artisans’ Day is a special day that is dedicated to the celebration of Artisans. It is also a veritable platform to identify and appreciate the immense values that they have continued to contribute to the development of the economy. To know the importance of artisans is to think about Governments building roads without artisans—the motor mechanics, panel beaters, rewires painters, etc— who would ensure we have road-worthy vehicles that convey humans, goods, and services from one place to another. It would be disastrous. Similarly, we cannot underestimate the contributions of the masons, plumbers, electricians, tillers, and P.O.P. makers to the aesthetics of our houses and estates; the same could be said of the furniture makers who make the piece of beautiful furniture for our homes and offices. There is the African woman who continues to be the most beautiful due to the artistry of our dressmakers and designers and hair stylists.
Incontrovertibly, artisans have continued to preserve our cherished cultural traditions of handmade works. The “tie and dye” (adire/Kampala) makers; cloth weavers; the clay pot makers; the wood carvers; the brass makers, and a host of others needs to be appreciated and celebrated for their contribution to the growth of the economy and the sustenance of our existence. And it is the collective quality of their handiworks that marks one of the reasons that Ogun State takes prominence on the global map of innovation. The world knows Ogun for Adire!
Commendably, these peoples’ craft— artisanship— is a major contributor to a larger percentage of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of our Nation. They are a major contributor to the economic agenda of employment generation, poverty alleviation, and food security— a massive employer of labour. Significantly, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu has chosen Ogun state as the place to identify and celebrate with this important composition of our nation.
As I have observed, it is worthy to mention that since the inception of Prince Dapo Abiodun’s Administration in May 2019, Ogun State has continued to witness a significant increase in the number of registered Trade Associations and Artisan groups. Presently, the number of Artisan groups and associations has increased to Three Hundred and Fifty-Two (352). And, the symbiotic relationship between the Artisan groups and the Government of Ogun State definitely has direct and indirect impacts on the state’s internal and external economy of scale.
The All Progressive Congress Standard Bearer, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu could not contain his wonderment when he expressed, “We are glad with what the governor is doing and we are glad with all the support he is giving,”. He noted that he is proud of the various infrastructural drives of the governor.
Well, to some of us who are dispassionate observers, since his assumption of office as the Governor of Ogun State in May, 2019, Prince Dapo Abiodun has left no one in doubt, including the doubting Thomases, about his prodigious administrative acumen, robust intellect, keen vision, transparent honesty, and the sheer capacity to organise men and materials for outstanding results. In the Nigerian space where public service is largely synonymous with self-service, Prince Dapo Abiodun— who might have his foible as a human— has remained constant as one of the exceptional few who are passionate about their jobs, patriotic to the Nigerian nation, and conscious of the fact that leadership is not a destination but a process that must be meritoriously, duly and conscientiously followed.
Where there is an honour, there is commendation and that is why Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and citizens and residents of Ogun State who were present at the Artisans’ Day 2022 in Abeokuta have commended Prince Dapo Abiodun. It is an acknowledgment of his rare display of leadership and delivery of the dividend of democracy to the masses through good governance that is built on human-capital and infrastructural development.
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Invoke executive order for state, LG police, Afenifere tells Tinubu
The pan-Yoruba socio-cultural and political organisation, Afenifere, on Saturday, urged President Bola Tinubu to invoke an Executive Order for the establishment of state and local government Police.
Afenifere, in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Jare Ajayi,in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, also called for the erection of close-circuit television sets and deployment of modern technology for security purposes in strategic locations to end insecurity.
Ajayi said, “There are indications that Tinubu is desirous of putting an end to this deleterious menace. Towards the end of January this year, he approved the procurement of digital tracking tools to enhance the apprehension of bandits, terrorists and armed robbers.
“On Monday, April 22, this year, he used the occasion of addressing participants at the African Counter-Terrorism Summit which opened on that day in Abuja to assure everyone of his government’s readiness to ensure greater security. Unfortunately, recent happenings have not shown that the President’s desire in this respect is being worked upon.
“President Tinubu should get state and local government police off the ground immediately through the invocation of an Executive Order while the process of amending the Constitution continues.
“Close circuit television sets, deployment of modern technology for security purposes including drones must be effected immediately.”
He explained that the statement was motivated by the recent reports of banditry and kidnapping in Ogun, Edo, Ekiti, Oyo, Kogi, Zamfara and Niger States, respectively which made a research organization declare Nigeria as one of the top nations where kidnap ranks highest globally.
Ajayi noted that Fulani herders and farmers’ clashes kept occurring in Osun, Ondo and Oyo State; Otu, Igbeti and Alaga in the Oke-Ogun area of Oyo State were the latest victims.
The Afenifere spokesperson also said, “In order to end insecurity, enhance people’s welfare and ensure the sustenance of Nigeria as one of the top investment destinations in Africa as desired by the government, there is the urgent need by the Federal Government and security agencies to be more innovative and decisive.”
He lamented that banditry, including armed robbery, kidnapping was still occurring on South-West roads such as Lagos-Ibadan, Ibadan-Ijebu-Ode; Akure-Ilesa-Ibadan; Ore-Ijebu Ode-Lagos, Ikirun-Osogbo-Ilesa; Lokoja-Abuja, Owo-Benin and Ibadan-Iseyin-Saki.
“Latest reports have it that on Monday, May 13 instant, eight cocoa farmers were kidnapped at Marindoti Cocoa Farmers’ settlement in Ovia South-West Local Government Area of Edo State. Three students of Millicent Secondary School in the same area on their way to write their Senior Secondary School Examination, were also kidnapped at the same time.
“A sum of N31 million was reportedly paid to ransom three people who were kidnapped at Longe village on Ibadan-Ijebu-Ode Road last week Sunday. On Thursday, May 16, one Seliat Adeniji (nee Raji) was kidnapped in her Ebedi home in Iseyin, Oyo State. Her guard was killed in the process.
“Hon Bello Hassan representing Zurmi/Shinkafi Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives last Tuesday claimed that terrorists have sacked about 50 communities and abducted over 500 people in his area of Zamfara State as bandits overran Zurmi, the second most populous town in the state killing palace officers as well as policemen.”
To put a serious check on all these, the Afenifere spokesman said that there was an urgent need to dig deep into the roots of the menace and to be decisive in applying the necessary measures.
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NAFDAC shuts cosmetic shops in Lagos, seizes counterfeit products
The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control has shut three shops and raided others during a clampdown on the sale of unregistered “Dr. Teal’s” brand of cosmetics in Lagos State.
The agency disclosed this in a post on its X handle on Saturday, stating that the action came after a complaint from the trademark holder.
The statement read, “NAFDAC has shut down three cosmetics shops and raided others, targeting the sale of unregistered ‘Dr. Teal’s’ brand cosmetics. This action follows a complaint from the trademark holder regarding potential counterfeit products.
“Two suspected shops along Excellent Line at the Trade Fair Complex were targeted, resulting in sealed shops and invitation letters issued to attendants.”
It added that another development unfolded at Okas Global Link Limited where NAFDAC confiscated over 200 cartons of various Dr. Teal’s products and other unregistered cosmetics, suspecting them to be the source of distribution.
A shop identified as Cubana Stores at Phil Hallmark Plaza was also reported to have been sealed for stocking and selling the moisturising body and bath products of the alleged unregistered Dr. Teal’s brand.
NAFDAC added that according to its regulations, shop owners found guilty of selling unregistered products face penalties of up to ₦5m fine.
It said shop owners were also being questioned as part of ongoing investigations.
In the statement, the agency emphasised the health risks associated with fake cosmetics, stating the potential dangers of using products containing harmful substances.
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Traders, soldiers clash at Banex Plaza in Abuja
The Federal Capital Territory Police Command has deployed intelligence officers to Banex – an electronics and telecommunications gadgets market, in Abuja following a conflict that ensued between soldiers and some traders on Saturday.
A viral video seen by our correspondent on X on Saturday showed a multitude of civilians overpowering some soldiers during a free-for-all fight at Banex.
The Defence Headquarters, and the spokesperson for the Nigerian Army, Onyema Nwachukwu could not be reached for comments as of press time.
Meanwhile, a trader who simply identified himself as Abdul, told our correspondent on Saturday that the conflict ensued over the sale of a mobile phone.
“There’s a problem at Banex now. Some soldiers came to complain about a phone, and during an argument with the traders, a fight ensued,” Abdul simply revealed.
When contacted over the development, the spokesperson for the FCT Police Command, SP Josephine Adeh said the Commissioner of Police, Benett Igweh has deployed officers of the FCT Intelligence Response Team to the scene of the incident.
“The CP has deployed the Intelligence Response Team to the scene,” Adeh confirmed.
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