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.
News
Rejoinder to Reuben Abati’s ‘Stranded in Sudan’ Article
By Musa Ilallah
Reading Reuben Abati’s May 2 article (originally published in his ThisDay column, and widely syndicated) about Nigerians in Sudan, drove home again for me the fact that many Nigerian journalists need a masterclass in how not to denigrate their country falsely and needlessly; how not to downplay its positive attributes and commendable actions.
So much of that article feels like a desperate attempt to denigrate Nigeria by unfairly and inaccurately comparing her with other countries, who all happen to be stuck in the same situation as Nigeria, and have been struggling in the same way to figure out what to do about evacuations in a war situation filled with so much uncertainty and tension.
A senior journalist of his calibre, especially someone with high-level government experience, needs to do much better in terms of research and realism. It is not enough to be led by emotions, especially when those emotions are coloured by partisanship.
Abati has very uncomplimentary words for his country, words that are not rooted in fact, or in any reasonable assessment of the situation. He claimed, and I quote: “While the Sudanese are fighting, Nigerians are staging a backward drama of their own… the Nigerian government always disappoints, and that is precisely what they are doing in Sudan.”
None of the thousands of Nigerians who were safely evacuated from Ukraine, or the already close to 1,500 who have been safely evacuated from Sudan, will share this grossly exaggerated sentiment from Abati, especially not now that they are safely back home.
The random incidents he is holding on to can be explained easily in the context of a war. Drivers stopping in the middle of the desert and asking for more money is exactly the kind of opportunistic and exploitative behavior that happens in war zones and other times of crisis.
The fault here is human capacity to take advantage of the vulnerability of others, nothing else. We saw it during the early days of the Covid-19 pandemic, when basic masks and hand sanitizers were being unscrupulously sold at multiples of their normal price.
A bus catching fire in Sudan is also not out of place, considering its one of the hottest countries in the world, with temperatures regularly in the 40s (degrees centigrade). A simple online search would have revealed this, and prevented Abati from exposing his ignorance in this way.
Abati also went on and on complaining about the Nigerian Air Force Hercules C-130, claiming they were “stranded”. This was clearly a hatchet piece by a man who has decided that he will not and is not capable of seeing anything good about anything Nigeria is doing to bring her citizens back home.
He then goes ahead to downplay President Buhari’s direct personal intervention with the Egyptian Government, which finally helped resolve the obstacles being posed by the Egyptians.
He also said: “Nigeria is being snubbed by Egypt… Or are we so hated diplomatically in Africa that nobody would offer our people easy passage […] Every African country treats us shabbily, especially the North African countries.”
On this point, it is very necessary to remind Abati that the last time Nigeria was deeply disrespected as a nation was back when he (Abati) served in Government. That was the era when Chad complained about Nigeria being absent in the fight against Boko Haram, and Morocco embarrassed the Nigerian Government by proving that an official claim that President Jonathan spoke by phone with the Moroccan King was false.
That was also the era when the US could not be convinced to approve critical arms sales for the country, because nobody in the international community trusted that government Abati served.
Under President Buhari, all of that has since changed for the better: one of Nigeria’s biggest agricultural deals has been with Morocco, the US has approved for Nigeria the largest US arms deal ever done in sub-Saharan Africa, and Nigeria has been the major funder and enabler of the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF).
As for the question Abati asked, “Do we have a functioning Naval vessel that can provide transportation from Port Sudan to Nigeria, or do we need to hire Navy transportation?”
The answer is a very proud YES. A year ago, Nigeria took delivery of the NNS KADA, a brand-new Landing Ship Tank (LST) that has the capacity to do the needed evacuation work in the Sudan. Abati should be reminded that it is under President Buhari that the Navy is acquiring these important new vessels that were last purchased in the 1970s and 1980s.
It should also be noted that NNS KADA has been on standby just in case it is required. But so far, this has not been necessary – the Air Force supported by local airlines are up to the task, and flying is in these circumstances more efficient than sailing.
For Nigeria to deploy a ship, it is a journey that will go around the northern or southern coast of Africa, covering thousands of nautical miles, and that will take over three weeks to complete. This is why the air option was settled on as the most ideal for Nigeria. In the time that the Navy’s NNS KADA will take to sail to Sudan, the Air Force C-130 would be able to do several trips.
When Abati praises Somalia for being able to “rescue its nationals from Sudan,” and goes on to attack Nigeria, Abati is exposing his shocking ignorance of basic African geography. By reason of geography, countries like Kenya and Somalia will definitely find it much easier and quicker to evacuate their people, ahead of Nigeria, which is in a different region entirely.
I wonder if Abati knows that the US, UK, Germany, Spain, Italy, France, China, and Saudi Arabia maintain permanent Military Bases in Djibouti, right there at the mouth of the Red Sea, and a much shorter sailing distance to Sudan than from West Africa. Which means their deployment time is much less than for countries that do not have bases in the region.
Abati said “my own country is busy telling Moonlight tales.” If anybody is telling moonlight tales here, it is this senior journalist who should know better, but is instead allowing partisan bias and a tendency to believe the worst of his country, to overpower and mislead him.
Just to remind Abati again, as of Monday May 8, 2023, there have been five daily batches of evacuations of Nigerians in Sudan, as follows: 129 on May 8, 834 on May 7, 131 on May 6, 130 on May 5, and 380 on May 3. Making a total of 1,604 so far, with the flights scheduled to continue into the week. Nigeria is doing right for its citizens, despite obstacles, and it should not be a crime to be honest in acknowledging this.
With all of these in mind, the least one expects from Abati, as a responsible and respected journalist, is a more honest and more responsibly-framed update to that hatchet job article.
Musa Ilallah writes from Abuja, Nigeria
News
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.
News
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.
News
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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