By Our Reporter
The Petroleum Retail Outlets Owners Association of Nigeria (PETROAN) has expressed dissatisfaction with the sluggish pace of construction on the Eleme-East West Road by Reynolds Construction Company (RCC), despite receiving N33 billion for the project.
In a press statement on Thursday, PETROAN’s National Public Relations Officer, Dr. Joseph Obele, criticized the delays, calling for expedited action to complete the road.
He said: “The National President of PETROAN, Dr. Billy Gillis Harry, said RCC’s slow pace of work is sabotaging President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s efforts to ensure the smooth distribution of petroleum products from the newly commissioned Port Harcourt refinery. Despite receiving N33 billion from the Federal Ministry of Works.”
PETROAN, in the statement, said that about 60 retail outlets are negatively impacted by the road construction and requested adequate compensation for owners of those filling stations.
The Minister of Works, David Umahi, in a previous press conference, has also complained about the slow approach of RCC, leading to the issuance of a seven-day ultimatum by the Minister.
According to the statement, thousands of petroleum trucks will be using the road to convey products from the newly
The statement reads in part: “The Eleme East-West Road is a critical route for the transportation of petroleum products, and its safety is paramount.
“The road’s deplorable condition poses a significant risk to trucks carrying petroleum products, which could lead to catastrophic accidents and environmental disasters.
“PETROAN is calling on President Tinubu to evaluate the ongoing contract by RCC in line with the contract timeline. This move would consolidate his renewed hope agenda by ensuring the timely completion of the Eleme East-West Road project.
“Furthermore, PETROAN is calling on the Minister of Works, David Umahi, to fast-track the contract evaluation process and take decisive action to address the slow pace of work by RCC.”
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HMPV: ‘No Serious Threat For Now,’ NCDC Assures Nigerians
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) says the country is not under “serious threat for now” for the Human Metapneumovirus (HMPV).
While there have been concerns over the outbreak of the virus in certain parts of the world, the NCDC has assured Nigerians that the country is safe and there is no cause for alarm.
“Let me say, there’s no serious threat for now. That’s one. Two, this HMPV virus, it’s not a new virus. It’s just that it’s not well-known. But it’s been implicated in many respiratory infections over the years, over the countries, especially in children, and elderly people,” the NCDC Director-General Jide Idris said on Thursday’s edition of Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily
“Just like the normal flu, old virus or influenza, respiratory virus, it’s just one of those causes of respiratory problems.”
‘We Learned our Lessons’
The NCDC boss said the country is monitoring the situation and is on high alert with no cases reported in Nigeria yet.
“We are in a monitoring and alert phase, and that’s why again we take instructions from WHO globally because every country is supposed to report cases like this, any case; any problem to WHO – those things that they consider might become global problems later so that they can alert every other country to get prepared,” he said on the breakfast show.
“That’s precisely what we are doing in Nigeria. We’ve experienced some major problems – we had Ebola, and we had COVID. With those two, we developed some capabilities. We learned our lessons and put infrastructures in place. So we’ve got public health infrastructures. These are things you need to put in place in expectation of things like this so that you don’t have to start running helter-skelter.”
The NCDC DG listed avoiding overcrowded places, washing hands, and others as part of measures against the HMPV.
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NAFDAC stops registration of sachet alcohol
The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), has disclosed that it has stopped the registration of sachet alcohol since February 2024 as part of a campaign to curb its accessibility, especially to young people.
At a press briefing in Lagos on Thursday, the Director General of NAFDAC, Prof. Mojisola Christianah Adeyeye reflected on the agency’s accomplishments over the past seven years and outlined a transformative vision for 2025.
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Adeyeye said the agency will be focusing on five pillars including strong governance and leadership, maternal newborn and child health, institutionalisation of best practices, safety and quality of regulated products and monitoring of supply chain.
According to her, “A cornerstone of the strategic plan is addressing the agency’s greatest need: an adequately staffed workforce.” Adeyeye noted that despite NAFDAC extensive regulatory responsibilities, the agency is acutely understaffed.
She said to meet the World Health Organisation (WHO) Global Benchmarking requirements, the agency plans to engage volunteers while awaiting statutory approval for additional hires.
She said the agency required a total of 10,000 workers to effectively oversee the population’s needs but has only 2000 staff nationwide.
“We burn candles on both ends,” she stated, emphasising that the current workforce is overstretched but remains committed to safeguarding public health and maintaining Nigeria’s global standing.
“Efforts to address this include stringent recruitment processes to ensure integrity and competence. While the agency seeks to double or triple its current staff, funding constraints have limited the pace of expansion.
“Volunteers are also being incorporated into the workforce, with candidates undergoing the same rigorous screening as regular staff.
“Staff motivation and retention remain key priorities, with a focus on improved remuneration and capacity building. Training initiatives will target officers in all 36 states to enhance skills in regulatory inspection, post-marketing surveillance, clinical trial monitoring, and customer service. Monthly seminars with strategic partners like the Nigeria Customs Service, NDLEA, and the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria will ensure cross-agency collaboration and knowledge sharing.”
On infrastructure and tools for efficiency, she said NAFDAC plans to complete 10 state and zonal offices, as well as laboratories, including the Vaccines, Biologics, and Medical Devices Laboratory in Oshodi. Investments in vehicles, laboratory equipment, and computers will bolster efficiency, while solar panels will be integrated into selected facilities to reduce energy costs.
On safety and Quality: 2025 as the Year of Maternal, Newborn, and Child Health, Adeyeye said NAFDAC has declared 2025 as the “Year of Maternal, Newborn, and Child Health & Nutrition (MNCH&N).”
“The agency will prioritise the regulation of maternal health products such as oxytocin, tranexamic acid, and carbetocin to prevent postpartum haemorrhage and reduce maternal mortality.
“For children, emphasis will be placed on the quality and availability of antimalarials, antibiotics, and ready-to-use therapeutic food (RUTF) for malnourished children.
“Manufacturers will be incentivised to produce paediatric medicines, supported by regulatory inspection and WHO Prequalification processes, she stated.
Further, on tackling Substandard and Falsified Products: “The agency aims to minimise the prevalence of falsified and substandard products to less than five per cent through stringent post-marketing surveillance and inspections. Cluster registration of globally listed products and enhanced stakeholder engagement will ensure transparency and consumer safety.”
On it’s focus on Herbal Medicines and Cosmetics, she said NAFDAC is expanding its regulatory focus on herbal medicines, collaborating with the Nigerian Natural Medicine Development Agency (NNMDA) to develop a Nigerian Herbal Pharmacopoeia and Traditional Medicine Formulary. Clinical trials for herbal products targeting malaria, diabetes, and hypertension are being planned.
“In the cosmetics sector, the agency will compare locally made products with imports to determine the need for protective policies favouring local manufacturers. Quarterly stakeholder training will ensure compliance with health and safety standards.”
Speaking on the Supply Chain Visibility and Traceability, she said to secure regulated products, NAFDAC will expand its GS1-driven track-and-trace technology to MNCH&N commodities, ensuring visibility and protection from diversion or infiltration.
“This system, already applied to COVID-19 vaccines and antimalarials, will now extend to high-risk foods and other critical medicines.
For financial prudence and sustainability, she said under her watch, NAFDAC has achieved financial solvency, moving from a ₦3.2 billion debt in 2018 to a stable footing.
“Continued digitisation of financial systems has enhanced transparency and efficiency. Moving forward, the agency seeks increased funding to expand staff strength, procure tools, and create conducive work environments.
She said the NAFDAC 2025 Strategic Plan is a bold vision to enhance regulatory efficiency, protect public health, and promote local industry, adding that with a focus on maternal and child health, strengthened supply chains, and expanded workforce capacity, NAFDAC is poised to lead Nigeria into a healthier future.
Adeyeye said: “Our efforts are driven by a singular purpose—safeguarding the health of the nation. Together, we can achieve a safer, healthier Nigeria.”
Speaking on other critical issues like the Executive Order on local content, she called for timely enforcement of the order to ensure manufacturers have ample time to adjust before it expires.
On border security and counterfeit products, she said to combat the smuggling of unregulated and counterfeit products, NAFDAC is enhancing surveillance at ports and borders.
“However, understaffed borders remain a challenge. The agency plans to utilise pre-screened candidates to bolster manpower as soon as statutory approvals are granted.”
Responding to a question on the Human Metapneumovirus (HMPV)
in China, she emphasised its proactive approach to pandemic preparedness.
While awaiting WHO guidance, she said the agency has prioritised local manufacturing of medical devices and pharmaceuticals to mitigate overdependence on imports during health crises.