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Popular Ibadan supermarket, Pinnacle, to be re-opened soon – NAFDAC

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The popular Ibadan supermarket, Pinnacle Groceries and Cosmetics, shut down on April 3 by National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) will soon be re-opened, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports.

NAFDAC South-West Zonal Director, Mrs Roseline Ajayi, told NAN on Monday in Ibadan that the issue had been resolved at the Lagos office of the agency.

Ajayi said that the Ibadan office was only waiting for an official document from Lagos before reopening the place.
She said that the supermarket was shut down when its management refused to respond to the invitation by the agency’s Lagos office for further investigations on some of its products being put up for sale.

“The closure had to do with a product that was registered by NAFDAC, but which its unregistered version were seen in some supermarkets in Oyo State in January when the investigation and enforcement directorate of NAFDAC visited from Lagos.

“Seeing the unregistered versions of this product indicated parallel importation, meaning that somebody else who has not yet registered with us is importing it. So we can’t determine the quality and source of the product.

“The essence of the registration is for us to guarantee the fitness of the product for consumption or usage. So when the investigation team found the unregistered ones in Pinnacle, they had been evacuated from the supermarket since January.

“After that, they invited Pinnacle’s management to Lagos with their documents for verification so that they would be able to trace the source of the product, but they didn’t honour the invitation.

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“So after giving them more time and they still didn’t go, the Lagos team now directed us in Ibadan to shut down the place.

“But, after shutting down the supermarket, the supermarket’s management visited our office here but we directed them to go to Lagos where the matter originated,” she explained.
Ajayi, however, stated that the issue had been resolved in Lagos, adding that her office was waiting for an official document before reopening the supermarket.

“The re-opening can be any moment from now. As soon as it is officially documented, we will do so,” she said.
The zonal director, who confirmed that the management of the supermarket was sanctioned over the matter, however, said that she would not disclose the amount paid now.

She also said that the suspected products had been evacuated from the supermarket, urging supermarket owners to always operate in accordance with the NAFDAC guidelines.

Ajayi also enjoined Nigerians to patronise only NAFDAC-registered products, whether imported or local. (NAN)

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142 LGAs certified open defecation free – Official

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Clean Nigeria, Use the Toilet Campaign Conference, said that only 142 Local Government Areas out of the 744 Local Government Areas, (LGAs) in Nigeria have been certified open defecation free by the Federal Government.

The National Coordinator of the conference, Mrs. Chizoma Opara, disclosed this at a one day Sensitisation Programme organised by the conference in Awka on Friday.

The campaign was organised by the National Water Resources Building Network, South East Centre in collaboration with Clean Nigeria, Use The Toilet and Environment Development.

Opara regretted that Nigeria, at the 21st Century, still talked about open defecation and described the act as “high lack of commitment” by the stakeholders who should know better and drive the advocacy down to the grassroots for greater success impact.

“We need to encourage better sanitation in the country as poor water supply and hygiene as well as environmental degradation is a big challenge in Nigeria.

“Three LGAs in Anambra state comprising Anambra East, Aguata and Nnewi North have also been certified open defecation free by the Water and Sanitation Hygiene (WASH) and urged more efforts to cover all the states in the South East.

“Genuine commitment by key stakeholders, religious bodies, traditional rulers, women, youth groups and private individuals in combating the menace of open defecation in Nigeria is apt,” she said

She called on Nigerians to develop the spirit of patriotism in the comprehensive war against open defecation in every part of the country with a view to reducing it to barest minimum.

Opara said that the programme were hinged on advocacy on behavioral change, imbibing a whole lot of culture and capacity building among Nigerians for holistic fight of the holocaust in the country by all.

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She said that the organisation would soon come up with a new strategy anchored on five pillars to include funding, creating of an enabling environment, environmental awareness campaign, advocacy and communication among others.

She called on those in the private sector and philanthropists in the state to key in to drive to change the narratives of open defecation in Nigeria as government could not do it alone.

Earlier, Mr Ike- Obi Ejiofor, the Chairman of the occasion and Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Anambra State Water Resources Management Agency, said that the essence of the event was to interact and to drive the five states in the South- East to clean and hygienic environment.

He described the attendance of the event by the five Commissioners of power and water resources in the South- East as a clear testament that the Coordinator of the programme had a very strong strategy.

Ejiofor noted that in 2019 and 2020, Anambra was declared open defecation free with particular reference to Anambra East, Aguata and Nnewi North respectively by the Water and Sanitation Hygiene (WASH).

Also, the Vice-Chancellor of the Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Prof. Ike Chebelu, represented by Prof. Ada Omeyi, said that the theme of the event was in line with the university’s administration.

He described open defecation as unhealthy anywhere in the world, adding that his office was doing everything possible to keep the institution clean and to ensure availability of water in all corners of the University.

The Director-General, National Water Resources Institute, Kaduna, represented by Mr.Mike Nwode, stated that the sensitisation campaign was apt and timely considering the efforts the Federal Government made to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDP).

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He said that the goal was to target universal access to safe and affordable water and access to sanitation and hygiene and to end open defecation by 2030 in the country.

According to him, Nigeria is losing about N450 billion to poor sanitation annually.

The Director, National Water Resources Capacity Building Network (NWRCBNet) South East, Prof Emma Ezenwaji, challenged Nigerian youths to come together and form WASH associations at community level to solve holistically the challenges of the programme in the country.

In another lecture on “The Role of Young People in Clean Nigeria Campaign”, the Coordinator, Youth Wash Initiative Africa, Mr. Uchenna Obiakor, urged Nigerian youths and other stakeholders in the sector to see the issues of water, environmental and physical hygiene as a collective responsibility.

Obiakor encouraged the youths to drive meaningful and impactful development programmes in the country especially in the area of service to humanity.

Mr Francis Ekwempu of the Environment Development Initiative for Africa, (EDAI), stated that any money committed in the Clean Nigeria Campaign was not in vain but a commitment to improve healthy living in Nigeria.

Earlier,the Traditional Ruler of Umuawuku Community, Awka South LGA , Dr.Joel Egwuonwu, appealed to governments at all levels and wealthy Nigerians to assist in funding Clean Nigeria: Use The Toilet Campaign to save Nigerians, from contracting dreaded diseases associated with poor sanitation and poor hygienic environment.

In his contribution, Mr Golden Iloh, the Member, representing Ihiala two constituency in the Anambra State House of Assembly and Chairman House Committee on Power and Water Resources, described the event as worth emulating and implementing.

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Iloh said that Anambra State was a model where the leadership of the state wanted to build livable and sustainable mega city, promising that he would initiate a move to make law on the open defecation in the state within three months.

The Anambra State Commissioner for Power and Water Resources, Mr.Julius Chukwuemeka, represented by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Mr Victor Ezekwo, described the Soludo administration in the state as environment friendly.

Chukwurmeka said that the present government was working in all sectors of the state economy simultaneously, referencing the current water supply in Nnewi, Awka and Onitsha as a clear example. (NAN)

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Nigeria Receives over 1m Meningitis Vaccine Doses to Combat Outbreak

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The ministry of health has received over 1,000,000 pentavalent meningococcal conjugate vaccine (Men5CV).

A statement on Friday said the vaccines were sent from the Gavi-funded global stockpile to combat the meningitis outbreak in northern Nigeria.

The disease has already claimed over 70 lives, with more than 800 cases across 23 states.

Gavi funds the global stockpiles of vaccines against cholera, ebola, meningitis and yellow fever, which are accessible to all countries in the world.

The organisation also supports the cost of procurement, delivery and outbreak response campaigns in lower-income countries, as well as preventive and routine immunisation activities where needed.

Use of the stockpiles for outbreak response is managed by the international coordinating group (ICG) on vaccine provision, and doses are delivered to countries by UNICEF.

The ICG approved the deployment of over 1.5 million doses of Men5CV in response to Nigeria’s request in March 2025.

The first shipment will enable the launch of an outbreak response campaign targeting individuals aged 1 to 29.

The campaign will initially launch in Kebbi state and Sokoto state, with plans to expand to Yobe state as additional doses arrive in the country.

Ali Pate, coordinating minister of health & social welfare, said the arrival of the Men5CV vaccines is a crucial milestone in Nigeria’s response to the current meningitis outbreak.

He added that it reflects the government’s commitment to protect the health and well-being of all Nigerians.

“Through the Nigeria health sector renewal investment initiative and the sector-wide approach, we have prioritised epidemic preparedness and rapid response as part of our broader health security agenda. We are grateful for the support of Gavi, WHO, and UNICEF in enabling this swift deployment,” he said.

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“Together, we are not only containing today’s outbreak but also laying the foundation to eliminate meningitis and strengthen routine immunization for the future.”

On his part, Francisco Luquero, Gavi’s head of high-impact outbreaks, said with the organisation’s support, vaccines successfully eliminated meningitis A from Africa’s “meningitis belt”.

“Continued investment in this work is critical to protect the incredible progress made so far, control future outbreaks, and dramatically reduce the devastating impact that seasonal epidemics of meningitis have on families and communities,” he said.

Cristian Munduate, UNICEF Nigeria country representative, said every child deserves protection from life-threatening diseases like meningitis.

Munduate added that the arrival of the meningitis vaccine marks a critical step in stopping the current outbreak and safeguarding Nigeria’s most vulnerable populations.

“UNICEF is proud to support the government by ensuring rapid vaccine deployment, community engagement, and planning and implementation of the response, while working alongside Gavi the Vaccine Alliance, National Primary Health Care Development Agency and Federal Ministry of Health and social welfare to strengthen immunisation efforts in Nigeria,” Munduate said.

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Pharmaceutical Firms Want FG To Relax Regulatory Laws

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Pharmaceutical companies across the world have appealed to the Federal Government to relax the law guiding the setting up of industries in Nigeria.

The pharmaceutical companies wanted the federal government to grant them opportunities to set up manufacturing facilities in Nigeria in order to deepen their market penetration in the pharmaceutical/healthcare sector.

The, firms who are currently exhibitors in Nigeria, also called on the Federal Government to remove the hurdles put on the way by some of its regulatory agencies like National Administration for Food Drugs, Administration and Control (NAFDAC).

The appeal was made by pharmaceutical companies present at the Pharma West Africa Exhibition, which is the West Africa’s largest trade event dedicated to improving access to quality medicines.

The exhibition, which was organised by Trade Show Organisation of Nigeria from March 18 to 20 2025, was held at Landmark Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos, and attended by exhibitors from over 50 countries around the world.

According to Mr. Simranjit Singh Gandhi, the founder and director of Aprazer Healthcare Private Limited in India, he said this was their first time of being at the event. He, however, promised to have a discussion with the Nigerian regulatory agencies in order to make available their products in the country.

“This is our first time in Lagos, Nigeria, and it is great,” he said.

“We have some businesses to seal but we want people to see the big opportunities in this Pharma West Africa because this is a very big event.

“This is a great opportunity because Nigeria is a great market, to be honest. We are here to have discussions with NAFDAC, have discussions with business associates so that our products can be available in Nigeria in a legitimate manner.

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“We want to be part of the Nigerian market and make sure our products are here to help the country in areas needed,” he said.

Gandhi further disclosed that they saw an opportunity from Pharma West Africa to participate in the exhibition.

According to Gandhi, “This is a very big event. Nigeria is a very big market. We discovered that there are a lot of areas that have not been explored. So, we are here to meet business associates in order for our products to be known in Nigeria in a legitimate manner and to provide pharmaceutical products to Nigerians at affordable price. We will continue to attend the exhibition, and we will always support the event and partner the organisers. “

Also speaking, Victor Chinedum, the Vice President (Commercial and Branding), PureLife Health, whose company came up with a platform to help connect the people with healthcare experts, said the innovation would help to integrate various aspects of primary healthcare, including health and wellness products, vaccinations, diagnostics, specialist consultations, and medication delivery.

He said; “We are utilising technology to address hitherto difficult medical processes. We are serving as a platform for all primary healthcare activities, from medical doctors to diagnostics, to pharmacists and we are making sure that individuals that have access to this app can have access to all these primary healthcare drivers on one platform.

“We are here at Pharma West Africa because it is one of the largest gatherings of pharmaceutical stakeholders and this is a veritable platform to connect with business owners, to companies. We feel that if we want to make it easier for people to access their health, why can’t we create a general platform whereby they would have access to all these things at a go and so this is good because at the comfort of your home, you can list orders. At the comfort of your home, you can see the doctor, run diagnoses and get prescriptions.

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“This is because four out of every ten Nigerians do not completely care for their health, so we saw all these loopholes and decided to make healthcare accessibility easy for them by coming up with this,” he said.

On his own, Mr Kausher Nayabali of KNA, a group of companies, spoke on their mission in Lagos for the Pharma West Africa.

“We are into many sectors like pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, FMCG appliances. It is about a 100 years old company. We are in Nigeria for exhibition with our products and we want to offer these products to Nigerian people at an affordable price.

“We are enjoying our presence here and hope to be here for second time. We are looking to discuss with big importers and we can also produce our products right here. Because of logistics, we at times have issues bringing our products here but we can produce them here. We have been dominating the market for the past 15 years and we want to do the same in Nigeria.

“If we have good support from Nigeria, we can do more. Nigeria is one of the strongest economies in Africa with a big population, so we can help Nigerians to get good quality products at reasonable prices.”

Speaking on the exhibition, Kieran Westlake, the Exhibition Manager for Pharma West Africa, said the idea behind the event which began in 2024, is to create a platform for exhibitors to meet and network as local and foreign companies in pharmaceutical business.

According to Westlake, so far, Pharma West Africa is meeting the objective following the success of the event.

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Jamie Hill, Founder and Managing Director of Trade Show Organisers of Nigeria, said in his opening remarks at the opening of the three days exhibition that: “We are delighted to be hosting Pharma West Africa again after having such positive feedback from the launch event in 2024.

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