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The Chairman of the Presidential Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms Committee, Taiwo Oyedele said the federal government is currently meeting with state governors to suspend what he described as “nuisance taxes” nationwide.
Oyedele disclosed this in an interview with Channels Television on Monday.
The former PWC chief stressed that while waiting for the legal instrument that part of the reforms requires before implementation, some consultations were ongoing to ensure smooth execution.
Recalls that, in August last year, President Bola Tinubu inaugurated the panel, saying it reflects his commitment to addressing challenges and bringing about transformative reforms in fiscal policy and taxation.
The committee’s primary objective is to enhance revenue collection efficiency, ensure transparent reporting, and promote the effective utilisation of tax and other revenues to boost citizens’ tax morale, foster a healthy tax culture, and drive voluntary compliance.
But Oyedele argued that banning nuisance taxes, which do not even go to government coffers, will ensure that the government makes more money while relieving the taxpayer of the burden of paying multiple taxes.
He said, “We are not waiting for the instrument to be out. Some of it would be, for example, asking states and local governments to suspend nuisance taxes that just create problems with very little revenue to show for it.
“We are already meeting with the governors. In some cases, we will set off small committees to discuss with their team. So, we’re already working on that. Once the thing is signed, there’s no excuse, just implement it like the next day,” he added.
He emphasised that when the governors agreed, then more than 90 percent of the problem would have been solved, with the local governments following closely.
He said, “So, we’re discussing with the governors first and demonstrating to them why this is good for the local government, good for them and good for us as a people. Once the governors agree, then, we’re not going to ignore the local governments.
“We are now taking a top-down approach, but we will engage with everyone, including during the conference of speakers, and the forums of finance commissioners. We’re engaging with everyone,” he added.
The chairman stated that he believes that most of the levies that are charged by the collectors do not get to the government, stressing that the current chaos of multiple taxation nationwide will be eliminated when implantation starts.
Oyedele, while making reference to the Bureau of Statistics, he stated that for 2022, all the local governments in Nigeria that sent reports to them, didn’t even collect N50 billion naira in a whole year, even though a lot is taken by non-state actors.
According to him, if properly streamlined, just the collection of stickers on vehicles could attract as much as N50 billion Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) for just one of the big local governments in the country.
“I think only one local government should collect N50 billion. The amount of wastage is mind-boggling.
“You don’t want to fathom it. And the reason why it’s so painful is that these are the monies we are extracting from the poorest people.
“But when you extract money from people who are just trying to make ends meet on a day-to-day basis, it’s painful that those monies are pilfered and you know, they are extorted and all of that.
“The state is not benefiting, the local government is not benefiting and the people are sacrificing, they are going through pain. So, what we are proposing is vastly different and benefits everyone,” he said.
The committee chairman said he was as impatient as many Nigerians to see the results of the reforms and, more importantly, the impact on the people, particularly the small businesses.
“Unfortunately, fiscal policy matters are not as quick. So if you make a monetary policy decision today, you can see the impact tomorrow. Sometimes, fiscals take a little longer but even at that,” he said.
He stated that efforts were on to present some bills to the lawmakers so that Nigerian people could begin to feel the positive impact sooner rather than later, saying that by the end of the first quarter, the process would have been concluded.
According to him, when the new reforms take effect, payment of taxes will be easier.
“You can pay it once or you pay it in installments and electronically. It shouldn’t be that hard. It should not be harder to pay taxes than it is to buy pizza. So, the receipt comes on your phone.
“That way, the money gets to the government, and the people pay less. The government collects more and then we can then move on to the second phase of what we are also working on, which is how to spend that money to benefit the people,” he said.
According to him, the view of the committee is that the local government can collect more than 10 times what they are collecting now by following the recommendations.
“We are looking for sources where we can find at least N50 billion which we can then use to compensate them for suspending the taxes we’re asking them to suspend.
“We’re also thinking about how you bring all stakeholders on board because at the end of the day, if you stop the livelihood of anyone, whether they are earning it legitimately or not, you can create crises that would be difficult to manage.
“But once you bring everybody in, maybe we need to train those area boys and touts, give them uniforms and then they’ll be the ones to ask you to show the evidence on your phone.
“And then they get paid a decent salary. And if you give them the skills, some of them will on their own, move on from that job to something else. So, our strategy is to think about what’s best for our country and get all stakeholders to align,” he said.
An Ikeja Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Court on Monday sentenced a man, Ademola Oladimeji to four life imprisonment for sexually assaulting his three children.
The children were aged five, seven and nine.
Delivering judgment, Justice Abiola Soladoye, held that the evidence of the respective prosecution witnesses were believable and truthful.
Soladoye, however, said that their evidence established the offence of sexual assault by penetration and not defilement.
According to her, the evidence of the three survivors was corroborated by the investigative police officer and their mother’s.
He said: “Upon careful review of the evidence before the court, the children did not say their father inserted his penis into their ‘bumbum’, they only said he touched their ‘bumbum’.
“I observed the three of them. They did not lie against their father, they did not say he used his penis, he only used his fingers.
“The children gave an unshaken testimonies on how their father fiddle with their innocence multiple times by inserting his fingers into their vaginas.
“The wife of the defendant, in her testimony said the children complained of pain in their private and she was informed at the Mirabel Medical Centre that the children had been sexually assaulted.”
The judge added that defendant was desperate to distant himself from the allegation by denying the offences.
According to her: “To the mind of this court, I do not believe his narration though he denied fiddling his daughters but his testimony did not add up.
“His narration showed how desperate his is to get out of the charge against his own children.
“The court holds that there was penetration as oral and documentary evidence before the court pointed to the fact that defendant messed around with the purity of his three children.”
Soladoye said the conduct of the defendant was despicable, morally corrupt and incestuous and against the order of nature.
The judge, who said the prosecution failed to establish the three-count bordering on defilement, thereafter changed it to sexual assault by penetration and convicted him on each of the counts.
She also convicted Oladimeji of the fourth count charge of sexual assault by penetration and sentenced him to life imprisonment on each count.
The sentence, the judge held, would run concurrently.
Soladoye said that the name of the convict be registered in the Lagos State Sexual offences Register.
The state counsel, Mrs Olufunke Adegoke called five witnesses in proof of its case while the convict testified as a sole witness. (NAN)
No fewer than 6,700 traders have been displaced following the fire outbreak that consumed a section of the Mandilas building, a popular marketplace on Lagos Island.
Daily Trust learnt that the fire also destroyed 450 shops, 30 offices, including some law firms, two hotels and five restaurants.
The fire, which started from the first floor of the popular Mandilas house around 11am on Sunday, later spread to surrounding market stalls at Atunwase International Market.
The Iyaloja of Atunwase International Market Mandilas General, Alhaja Adeniji Rashidat, said goods worth billions were destroyed by the fire.
“Over 6,700 traders have been displaced from their business places following Sunday morning fire outbreak that consumed a section of the building. Also 450 shops, 30 offices, two hotels and five restaurants, were destroyed,” she said.
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Coordinator of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) in the South West, Ibrahim Farinloye, said the affected houses had been sealed to avoid loss of lives.
Farinloye confirmed that the fire displaced about 6,700 traders and destroyed 450 shops, 30 offices, two hotels and five restaurants.
“The fire which started at about 0011 hours began on the first floor where an alleged electric wielding activity was going on. It was alleged that the people around did not notice the fire until it was too late before fire service was contacted.
“The fire also spread to surrounding market stalls at Atunwase International Market with equal extensive damage as the main main complex,” he added.
Farinloye further said officials of the Lagos State Safety Commission and Building Control Agency were on the ground to assess the integrity of all buildings at the scene.
According to him, all structures have been locked down to prevent access to the shop for the safety of traders and the public.
“Other agencies on the ground today (Monday) are Lagos Fire services, Red Cross, Nigeria Police, Neighbourhood watch, Lagos Island Local Government Sanitation, Lagos State Business District are currently making efforts at making the scene safer for people,” he said.
Some football enthusiasts have expressed the hope that the Super Eagles will win their last group match against Guinea Bissau in the ongoing Total Energies African Cup of Nations in Cote d’Ivoire.
The fans expressed their optimism ahead of the Monday encounter in separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria in Enugu.
They, however, warned the senior national team not to underrate their Guinea Bissau as such could be dangerous.
A fan, Johnpaul Okolo, said he was optimistic that the Super Eagles would win by a wide margin, “if they put their act together”.
“I am not afraid of Guinea Bissau because I know the Eagles will beat them even with a wide margin.
“My advice to the team is that they should go all out from the blast of the whistle and get quick goals and never to underrate their opponent,” Okolo said.
Also, Chidinma Ibezim, said she was not disturbed about the match, adding that the Super Eagles just needed a draw to qualify for the next round.
She, however, warned the team not to take things for granted.
“In football, anything can happen. So, there should be no room for complacency. The Eagles must play with full strength and avoid silly mistakes that could make them lose the match,” Ibezim said.
Obiora Edeh, another fan, said he believed the match would not be as easy as people would think.
“Though Guinea Bissau have lost their last two games, they still have hope. The team will fight with their last blood, if not for anything, at least to redeem their image as a country,” Edeh said.
He, therefore, admonished the Super Eagles to be in their best form to be able to beat their Guinea-Bissau opponents.
“I don’t see the game as easy as people think, I will not be surprised if it ends in a draw, even though I would love Nigeria to carry the day,” he said.
The Super Eagles currently occupy the second position behind Equatorial Guinea, who will also play hosts Cote d’Ivoire today (Monday).
A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Salihu Lukman, has said the ruling party is creating an atmosphere for its “electoral funeral”.
In a statement on Sunday, Lukman said APC leaders must be reminded that the party would be prone to electoral defeat if they do not adhere to calls for a leadership change.
The former vice chairman of the party said the refusal to listen to internal voices led to the formation of the new Peoples Democratic Party (nPDP) in 2013.
He said: “Painfully, in the process, a party that emerged with so much promise, APC, winning the support of Nigerians is almost destroyed and on a daily basis creating conditions for its own electoral funeral.
“As loyal members of the APC, we must remind our leaders that parties become more prone to electoral defeat when they resist or block internal pressures for leadership change.
“APC’s electoral victory in 2015, for instance, could be partly explained based on the refusal of PDP leadership to recognise and respect the yearnings of party members and leaders.
“It was the inability to respect internal yearnings for change that produced the splinter group of New PDP, which eventually joined the merger that produced APC in 2013.”
Lukman said President Bola Tinubu and former APC National Chairman, Adams Oshiomhole, who fought for democracy in the 90s, should ensure that Nigeria’s political parties are truly democratic.
He added: “Being leaders of APC, APC must emerge as a distinctly democratic party based on abiding respect for rule of law, which should be well reflected in a strong commitment to manage affairs of the party based on compliance with provisions of the APC.
“Anything short of this, will diminish the credentials of our leaders, including President Asiwaju Tinubu and Comrade Oshiomhole.”
Joseph Boakai has officially been sworn in as the new President of Liberia, marking a significant political shift in the country.
The 79-year-old leader, with four decades of political experience, secured his position after winning a closely contested run-off poll against former football star and Ballon d’Or winner George Weah, with a narrow victory margin.
The swearing-in ceremony, held in the nation’s parliament, was attended by notable figures, including Ghanaian President Nana Akufo-Addo and US Ambassador to the United Nations Linda Thomas-Greenfield.
Boakai, who previously served as vice president from 2006 to 2018 under Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Liberia’s first female president, assumes the presidency with the daunting task of addressing poverty, corruption, and a weak justice system.
Liberia, a country of five million people, has long struggled with these issues, exacerbated by years of civil war and an Ebola outbreak.
Additionally, the nation faces the challenge of impunity related to crimes committed during its civil wars.
During his election campaign, Boakai aligned with local power brokers, including former warlord Prince Johnson, who shifted his support from Weah in 2017 to Boakai in the recent election.
Johnson, a controversial figure under US sanctions, has been appointed to nominate Jeremiah Koung as the vice president.
The peaceful conduct of November’s election stands out in a region recently troubled by military coups.
Liberians now look to Boakai to fulfil his campaign promises of job creation, economic improvement, institutional strengthening, and fighting corruption.
His long tenure in politics raises expectations for significant progress in these critical areas.
The Acting Director-General, management and staff of Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA, celebrate with Festus Keyamo, SAN, Honourable Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development on the occasion of his 54th birthday.
Michael Achimugu, Director, Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, in a PR as statement weekend, stated, that Keyamo as the man responsible for an industry as critical as Aviation, that he has shown exceptional leadership and commitment towards positioning Nigeria’s aviation among the best in the world, and we at NCAA align with that vision.
“Your stoicism, reminiscent of social rights and justice crusaders from time immemorial, has pointed us in the right direction and the industry is once again filled with hope, excitement, and direction.
“As you commence this flight on a new age, may the wisdom that comes with experience and love guide your path. We at NCAA believe in your leadership and we have no doubt that God will fill your household with all of the beauties of a new age,” he stated.
THE state government has placed a ban on the use of styrofoam and other single-use plastics.
Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu issued the ban on Sunday, January 21, in an announcement made by the Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab.
Expressing the necessity of the ban, Wahab highlighted the alarming environmental impact caused by single-use plastics, particularly the non-biodegradable styrofoam.
According to the Commissioner in a tweet, “Following the menace which single-use plastics, especially non-biodegradable Styrofoam, are causing on the environment, the Lagos State government (@followlasg) through the Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources (@LasgMOE) is hereby announcing a ban on the usage and distribution of Styrofoam and other single-use plastics in the State with immediate effect.”
This proactive measure by the Lagos State government underscores its commitment to combating environmental degradation and fostering a cleaner, more sustainable future. The ban is expected to significantly reduce the adverse impact of single-use plastics on the state’s ecosystems and contribute to global efforts in curbing plastic pollution.
Reacting to the ban, environmentalists and residents applauded Governor Sanwo-Olu on the decision, saying it is a crucial step towards mitigating the long-term consequences of plastic waste and preserving the natural beauty of Lagos.
They added that the move aligns with international trends, where governments and communities are increasingly recognising the urgent need to address the environmental challenges posed by single-use plastics.
The ban is not only a commendable step towards protecting the environment but also serves as an example for other regions to follow suit in adopting responsible and eco-friendly practices.
[NaijaNews]
The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has put in place effective mechanisms to track and trace narcotic products right from production, the manufacturing plant, to the end user.
A statement from the agency, Sunday said its Director General, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, made the disclosure while commissioning the narcotic drugs serialisation pilot project in Lagos.
Prof Adeyeye said the move was geared towards tackling the menace of drug and substance abuse in Nigeria, particularly amongst the teeming youth population.
She said that narcotics were chosen amongst other classes of drugs to mitigate drug abuse, adding that this will be replicated for all other NAFDAC-regulated drug products.
She said that one of the greatest challenges in the healthcare sector is the occurrence of substandard and falsified medicines.
She said that in Nigeria, the problem is further compounded by the chaotic drug distribution practices of unscrupulous elements who do not place a premium on human lives.
She added that these were the sharp practices that the Traceability Project (Track and Trace) sought to stop.
Through the scanning device on an Android phone, the NAFDAC boss said consumers can now verify the authenticity of the drug product they consume and be assured of the quality of medicines.
She added that the track and trace technology is a veritable tool to be deployed in the event of medication recalls.
Prof Adeyeye said that manufacturers must first commission the products they are registered to distribute into the NAFDAC Traceability System, and when it gets to the distributors or the wholesalers, they will also scan the products using a 2D Data Matrix barcode scanner to capture the event related to the movement of the product.
The Managing Director of the technical partner, GS1 Nigeria, Mr. Tunde Odunlami said that the journey started over ten years ago when the company started preaching the importance of traceability.
[DailyTrust]
The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, on Sunday, said it would prepay future royalties and taxes to the Federal Government from the $3.3bn financing deal it got from African Export-Import Bank last year.
NNPCL disclosed this in a document titled, ‘Frequently Asked Questions – Project Gazelle’, released by its Chief Corporate Communications Officer, Olufemi Soneye, on Sunday night.
On August 17, 2023, The PUNCH reported that the NNPCL announced that it had secured a $3.3bn emergency crude oil repayment loan from the African Export-Import Bank.
It explained that the loan would be used by the oil company to support the Federal Government in stabilising Nigeria’s exchange rate.
Providing more details about the deal on Sunday night in the document, the oil company said, “Everything you need to know about the NNPC Limited’s $3.3bn loan, also known as Project Gazelle.
“There has been a lot of interest from the public and stakeholders in recent weeks regarding the $3.3bn crude oil pre-payment loan, also known as Project Gazelle. This is a financing agreement secured by NNPC Limited to prepay future royalties and taxes to the Federal Government.”
The company also stated that it adopted a lower price benchmark for the $3.3bn crude-for-cash loan to reduce the risk of default and ensure financial stability.
Giving details on the benchmark oil price, the company said the facility was using a conservative crude price of $65/barrel to calculate the allocated crude to be produced and sold in the future.
Brent, the global benchmark for crude, is currently at about $78/barrel.
Commenting on the benchmark oil price of $65/barrel for the $3.3bn deal, the national oil firm said, “This provides a safety margin for price fluctuations in the future.
“NNPC Limited has reserved up to 90,000 barrels of crude for Project Gazelle, ensuring sufficient cash flow for repayment and other financial obligations.
“If oil prices rise, more money will come in from selling the 90,000 barrels, allowing for faster repayment. However, if oil prices fall, the repayment may be slower.
“The quantity of crude earmarked (90,000 barrels) is sized to ensure enough cash is available for the repayment of the facility when it is due. This also ensures that NNPC Limited can meet other cash flow obligations, considering the expected future price of crude oil globally.”
NNPCL also said repayments were strategically planned and tied to future oil sales, with conservative pricing in oil sales contracts mitigating the risks associated with oil price volatility.
[Punch]
More...
…Patients lament, skip medications, seek alternative treatment
…Experts worry, propose urgent solutions
In Nigeria, falling sick can be challenging in normal times but seeking treatment is currently a double blow as the financial implication has become increasingly unbearable for many Nigerians.
The cost of basic drugs, such as antibiotics, analgesics, anti-diabetics, and key medications for chronic conditions, has doubled, tripled, or even quadrupled in some instances, leaving many patients struggling to access the healthcare they desperately need.
The alarming rise in drug prices, its impact on healthcare access, and the urgent need for solutions have become overriding to ensure that falling sick does not become a financial death sentence.
Hardest hit by the exponential surge in prices of drugs are the poor, notably those on the minimum wage and below, those without steady sources of income, and particularly those without reliable health insurance, like Idowu Akinyemi, a single mother.
When Idowu, who is living with diabetes, went to purchase her insulin, she was shocked to discover the price had gone up for the second time within a fortnight.
“The last time I purchased my insulin, it was around N3,000, but now when I went to check at the pharmacy, it is over N5,000, almost double,” lamented Idowu who noted that with each passing month, the cost of her insulin climbs higher, forcing her to choose between medication and feeding her children.
Dokun Bolarinwa, diagnosed with high blood pressure, said he had been on regular treatment, but noted that the soaring price of his medication was gradually forcing him to default in adherence to the guidelines of his treatment.
“I’m a retired civil servant with no stable income. Over the past few years, I have been managing my condition with family support and goodwill, but these days, things are tough. I’m already skipping certain medications because I cannot afford them, and if care is not taken, I may be forced to abandon treatment altogether.
Ade Ogun who bought a medicated cream for his skin rash was amazed when he discovered the drug had doubled in price a week later.
“I bought a tube of Nixoderm for N500, but when I went back to the the same shop to purchase another one some days later, the price had gone up 100 per cent. It was an unexpected increase,” Ade noted.
Funmi Olaoye, a housewife and mother of an ashtmatic child was also concerned about the high cost of drugs. “My son needs medication for his asthma, but I can barely afford half the dose. It’s a constant struggle,” she lamented.
Among factors contributing to the increase in drug prices are rising production costs, delays in global supply chains and local supply challenges, as well as the declining value of the naira.
400-500% price increase
Findings from a recent survey by SB Morgen showed that over the last four years, the prices of different categories of paracetamol-based analgesics, common cold medicines, such as Actifed, and antibiotics, and antimalarials, rose dramatically.
The report found that between 2022 and 2023, Ampiclox and Amoxil recorded 340 per cent and over 400 per cent increases respectively, while antimalarials such as Lonart DS recorded cost and selling price increases of 110 per cent and 92.3 per cent respectively between 2019 and 2023.
From Vanguard’s investigations, the prices of all routine drugs in Nigeria have gone up astronomically. The most affected categories include genuine antibiotics, analgesics, anti-malarials and a number of prescription and specialized drugs.
A random check of prices in some pharmacies and in the open market in Lagos revealed that prices of all the popular genuine brands of antibiotics, including Ciprofloxaxin, Azithromycin, Amoxil, Ampiclox and Augmentin, have gone up by 50 – 150 per cent since the beginning of the new year.
Experts say accessing affordable insulin is crucial for managing diabetes effectively. However, it was gathered that the rising cost of insulin presents a significant challenge for people living with diabetes.
Insulin prices in Nigeria have been steadily increasing in recent times with ranges, depending on the brand, pharmacy, and location.
Findings show that for insulin, from rapid-acting, intermediate-acting or long-acting, the average depending on the type, ranges between N4,000 and N18,000 per cartridge/vial.
A silent rage of people grappling with undiagnosed or inadequately managed chronic diseases, such as cancer, is also underway as chemotherapy drugs have seen a 300 per cent price increase in recent times, pushing them beyond the reach of most patients.
Access to essential medications as anti-depressants is also restricted as they can cost up to N10,500 per month, leaving many resorting to traditional remedies or simply going untreated.
Data from the Global Cancer Observatory show that over 100,000 new cancer cases are diagnosed annually in Nigeria, yet only five per cent of those affected can afford treatment.
Statistics from the World Health Organisation, WHO, backed by the Nigeria Association of Psychiatrists, reveal that an estimated 20 per cent of Nigerians suffer from mental health issues, but access to treatment is severely limited.
The consequences of the price hike are serious, with many Nigerians skipping doses, rationing medication, or even abandoning treatment altogether due to the prohibitive costs.
Women, children hardest hit
Those bearing the brunt more are the vulnerable groups, including children, pregnant women, the elderly, and those with underlying or pre-existing health conditions and those that require regular medication.
Experts say the consequences of this development could be devastating and could lead to undesirable complications, delayed diagnoses, and even preventable deaths.
The lack of insurance coverage is also there. Most health insurance plans in Nigeria do not cover chronic ailments comprehensively. So in most cases, the patient has to pay out of pocket.
Already, worries about affordability of treatment and drugs from delays in treatment or skipping of doses leading to complications, worsening health outcomes, and even becoming common.
Health watchers blame the development on a combination of factors, including depreciation of the naira, global supply chain disruptions, and increased drug production costs.
Beyond the high drug prices, they warn that left unchecked, the crisis could cripple the already overburdened healthcare system and worsen existing health inequalities.
In a conversation, President of the National Post Graduate Medical College of Nigeria, Professor Akin Osibogun, said scarcity of genuine drugs will likely have significant effects.
“These include poor control of disease conditions due to non-availability of essential medications, such as diabetes, hypertension, and cancer, among others, and this will result in the conditions becoming complicated.
“There will be escalation of costs of making drugs, even more unaffordable by the poor and the underprivileged further widening. There will be increased opportunity for faking of drugs, which may have increased adverse effects on the health of Nigerians and patients may turn to untested alternative treatment modalities.” he remarked.
Increased morbidity, mortality, looming
Also reacting, the Chief Medical Director of Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, LASUTH, Prof Adetokunbo Fabamwo, said high cost of drugs was undesirable for the welfare of the average Nigerian.
“Nigerian citizens are already impoverished and cannot even afford to buy food to eat, if they are sick and need to buy drugs; in the near future we will have increased morbidity and mortality. So people will not be able to comply with their drug prescriptions. People will get sicker, and some of them may even die,’’ he said.
Also, people with mental health conditions are not also spared, according to a Consultant Psychiatrist at the Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Yaba, Dr Stephen Oluwaniyi.
He said: “As far as management of those who already have mental health conditions is concerned, many of the conditions are what we call chronic disorders, in the sense that they need to continue with maintenance treatment, taking medications in one form or the other., apart from the cost of transporting themselves to the hospital, they have to pay for medication.
“Now, an individual who has been struggling to spend N2,000 per month to obtain medication now requires to pay like N4,000, You know, a time comes that he or she may not be able to get the medication.
‘’Some of these disorders, once your medications are not consistent, symptoms tend to recur, which means the individual may become further incapacitated, may not be able to experience optimal state of mental health.”
He explained that he or she might not be able to continue to work or be productive in one way or the other.
“So, the high cost of drugs is negatively affecting the treatment of people with mental disorders. There’s no doubt about that. And again, I want to appeal to the authorities to make sure something is done quickly about this trend of medication costs skyrocketing. And that also points to the need why health insurance in Nigeria has to be robust.
“Some of these individuals with mental health conditions are not even working. So, for such individuals, there should be a way of providing for them, probably making some of these medications more affordable. If possible, free,’’ he added.
On his own part, the Medical Director, Federal Medical Centre, Ebute Metta, Lagos, Dr Adedamola Dada, said a lot was needed to be done to address the situation.
“There are drugs available in the country. It’s the cost that has increased, in line with most things that are importation-dependent. And as with everything, Nigerians in the drug business are also taking advantage, seeing that there are limited options and little competition.
“The solution is fundamental, we need to start producing our own drugs locally using high-quality APIs to guarantee drug security, and we also need to eliminate or substantially reduce out-of- pocket payments for health care. These are the things the Federal Ministry of Health is doing now – fundamentally tackling the problem, and soon enough, it would yield results,’’ he said.
Speaking further, Dada noted that when patients were unable to afford their drugs,their condition does not get treated.
He said: “A healthy nation is a wealthy nation. Personally, however, I am not one for all this noise about the cost of drugs, it’s not the only thing whose prices have gone up. I think we should rather exert our efforts and energy at finding a long-term and enduring solution to it, and that’s what Ministers Pate and Alausa are doing now.
“We all need to support them, rather than use the problem as an albatross. It’s a surmountable problem and I am totally convinced that the approach they are taking on this will fundamentally change the game but like all programmes, it will take time.
It’s heart-breaking
But Dr. Aisha Abubakar, a paediatrician lamented: “I see children suffering from preventable illnesses because their parents can’t afford medication. It’s heartbreaking.”
Also worried was Dr. Olufemi Ademola, a pharmacist and pharmacy owner. He said: “We’re caught between our oath to help and the reality that many patients can’t afford basic drugs.”
He revealed that some customers are now buying smaller quantities of drugs as a way of conserving funds and even resorting to buying unregulated street drugs.
Kenechukwu Okoli, another pharmacist is worried about the impact on chronic illnesses, saying “diabetics, hypertensives, even cancer patients say they are forced to choose between medication and other basic needs.”
Seun Adegoke, a healthcare economist, emphasized the need for long-term solutions.
“Investing in local drug production and promoting generic alternatives can bring down costs in the long run,’’ Adegoke said.
On her part, Faith Solomon, a mental health advocate said: “Mental illness is often misunderstood and stigmatised in Nigeria. Even when people seek help, access to affordable medication remains a major barrier. This leaves many trapped in a cycle of suffering.”
Expressing concern for the well-being of Nigerians, health watchers are calling for urgent action to address the issue of high drug prices, even as they urge the government to prioritise healthcare accessibility, intervene in implementing price controls, support local drug production, and strengthen public healthcare infrastructure.
Among solutions proposed include improving access to affordable health insurance, encouraging the use of safe and effective generic drugs to reduce costs, educating communities about the issue and advocating policy changes.
[Vanguard]
The newly introduced passport automation applicants’ processes may have created more problems for Nigerians willing to obtain fresh passports or even renew their expired international passports, THISDAY’s investigation has revealed.
Most affected are Nigerians in the Diaspora who returned for the Yuletide but cannot use the opportunity to renew their international passports.
Some of them who spoke to our correspondents at the weekend, cried out to President Bola Tinubu to wade into what they described as an an “ill-advised and ill-timed” passport automation process recently introduced by the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo.
It was further gathered that in some selected passport offices in different geopolitical zones, thousands of Nigerians were stranded as the new system foisted on the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) by the minister, has made the process worse and indeed very unfriendly to the applicants.It was gathered that in the three passport offices in Lagos, namely Ikoyi, Ikeja, and FESTAC, applicants were running from pillar to post, trying to make their payments online and upload their photos and documents by themselves as the new system made it impossible for applicants to be assisted by the immigration officers.
For instance, in the Abuja head office and Gwagwalada offices, some officers said they welcomed the innovation to make the passport process less tedious and more seamless but complained that some aspects of the technological development were counterproductive.
At the immigration office in Gwagwalada, one of the applicants lamented that “someone should help us tell the minister that we don’t know the meaning of ICAO, let alone knowing its standard for passport applications. What exactly is the meaning of an ICAO standard passport?” he asked. An immigration officer also said that “asking applicants to upload their photos based on ICAO standard without explaining what exactly it means to upload photos on ICAO standard, is a major challenge to those seeking new international passports or those seeking to renew their expired international passports.”
The officer regretted that such a good idea from the minister was only introduced to the officers for one week before it came on stream, adding that the officers are also helpless and can’t even guide the applicants who are equally frustrated as most of them lack access to scanners and devices to upload their birth certificates, state of origin certificates, NIN and ICAO-standard passport photos.
It was learnt that in the Enugu and Owerri passport offices, the officials only recorded two or three applicants per day as against 50 to 60 applicants daily before the new automated system because applicants were not able to achieve the desired results in uploading all the required information, especially photos. Some Diaspora applicants wondered if the government really considered them before introducing the new system, given the fact that most of them who returned during the Yuletide, usually had less than two weeks to return abroad.
They queried the reason for the rush to introduce a novel idea when half of the passport centres had less than four hours of steady power supply per day. They also wondered if this new system would not take NIS back to 20 years ago when non-Nigerians had access to the old passports. Due to the difficulties encountered by Nigerians in the new automated passport system, a woman who returned from the United States for Christmas was sighted at the headquarters of the passport office in Abuja, wailing because her flight was in two days and she could not renew her passport.
Also, the process of acquiring a new passport makes it mandatory for all adults to obtain the 10-year booklet which costs about N85,000.
Before the introduction of the new system, citizens had the option of either the five-year passport, which cost N35,000, or the 10-year option for 85,000.
According to a senior officer in the Abuja office, “automation is good, but it needs some weeks or even months of training and sensitisation, with the right support system in place, like steady power supply and uninterrupted internet access.”
The NIS officer, who faulted the new automated international passport system, said: “With the current automated system introduced by the minister, there will be no screening of applicants to know who is a foreigner, who is adopting a child, who is trafficking someone’s child, who is a terrorist.”
Some of the applicants interviewed at the passport office in Gwagwalada office said both the service providers and the leadership of the NIS are too scared to tell the minister the truth.
A source from one of the service providers told our correspondent that “new ideas need time to be test-run before you can roll it out for public purposes.”
According to him, “When the e-passport was launched in 2007, we told the then President, Olusegun Obasanjo, that he must give us one year to be sure that everything was okay before we can launch the e-passport. And as a wise leader, the President accepted the professional advice.”
When contacted, the Acting Service PRO, Kenneth Kure, an Assistant Comptroller of Immigration, said he was not allowed to comment on policy issues without express permission.
The Senator representing the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Ireti Kingibe has said the Senate will summon the FCT minister, Nyesom Wike and the security agencies over insecurity in Abuja.
She stated this while appearing on television on Saturday.
The senator who’s of the Labour Party said, “When the Senate resumes, I plan that the (Senate) FCT committees, specifically me, needs to sit with the two ministers and the security agencies for them to give us their plans concerning security.”
The security chiefs and the FCT minister had met earlier with President Bola Tinubu and a special taskforce was immediately formed to tackle the spake of insecurity in the nation’s capital.
This resulted in the quick rescue of some abducted victims in Bwari and other areas, in which the senator congratulated the security chiefs for their role.
Wike had also been quizzed on his working relationship with the senator and said it’s not his place to include her in his plan.
The minister specifically addressed the security plan for the FCT while visiting Gwagwalada Area Council during the week saying, “The president has asked me to come here today. The other day I was in Bwari and next week I will go to Kwali.
“Security is one thing the president promised Nigerians because his job is to protect lives and property. If we can’t protect lives and property, then we have no reason being in government.”
But the senator insisted that, “It is not that I am hoping. I know he will be summoned. But whether he responds or not is a different matter entirely. But as the chief security officer of the FCT, he should have a plan.
“He should be able to tell us, the committee, and specifically me, that this is the plan for protecting the people of the FCT.
“Between him, the police commissioner, and the head of the DSS, they must have a plan,” senator Kingibe said.
The senator commended the security agencies for waking up to their responsibilities which she said began “when we started to scream. But the truth is, a little bit earlier, I tried to draw their attention.
“And I was told that it was exaggerated and I said it couldn’t be because what I’m telling them, I did not get from social media, I got it from my constituents.
“But I’m glad that everybody, we are now all seem to be on the same page.
“They’re trying to take it all seriously, but a lot more needs to be done. Catching the kidnappers is just the symptom. We need to get to the root cause of what is causing all of this insecurity,” the lawmaker added.
The 36 state governments received a total sum of N72 billion from the federal government in August 2023 to provide palliatives for the people following the hardship occasioned by the removal of fuel subsidy.
However, five months after the funds were released, the state governors are yet to account for the money or show any evidence of how it was utilised.
The palliatives were meant to cushion the effects of the removal of fuel subsidy on the people, especially the vulnerable ones. However, reports suggest that the funds have been largely mismanaged, misappropriated, or diverted by the state governments.
The people are still faced with hardship as they struggle to make ends meet amid high cost of foods and services and rising inflation.
The situation is worse now than it was five months ago when the federal government released the first tranche of the palliatives, worth N72b billion.
The country’s inflation rate is now at 28.9 %, according to figures from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS).
The lack of transparency as well as improper utilisation of the funds by the state governors has led to widespread criticism from members of the public, who are calling for accountability.
The situation has sparked outrage and demands for action from the federal government to hold the state governors accountable and ensure that the funds are used for the intended purpose.
As the country continues to battle economic hardship, it is imperative that the state governments prioritize the welfare of the people and ensure that the palliatives provided by the federal government and other funds are not misused or diverted. The people deserve to know the truth about the whereabouts of the funds and the actions taken by their elected leaders to alleviate their suffering.
LEADERSHIP had in December 2023 written to the 36 state governments to inquire about the N2 billion they each received from the federal government in August, last year, to help alleviate the economic hardship that most Nigerians were facing due to the removal of fuel subsidy.
As a newspaper, we made the inquiry in accordance with the Freedom of Information Act, asking them to provide us with a detailed account of how the money was spent because we were eager to ascertain how the money was spent towards helping those most in need.
But six weeks after, most of the state governments have failed to respond to LEADERSHIP’s inquiry, not even acknowledging the receipt of the letter.
Only four state governments have so far responded.
In Osun State, the state commissioner for information and public enlightenment, Oluomo Kolapo Alimi explained that the N2 billion received by the state was disbursed for food palliatives, transport services and refurbishment of health centres.
Alimi stated that for transparency and in line with Governor Ademola Adeleke’s commitment to meeting the needs of the people, a committee consisting of stakeholders across labour, religious, civil society organisations, student body, market men and women, among others, handled the distribution of food items cross the local governments of the state.
According to him, the distribution at local level and, by extension, the teeming beneficiaries were also handled by stakeholders under local government council monitoring.
In Benue State, the commissioner for information culture and tourism, Mathew Abo, disclosed that out of the N5 billion proposed as palliatives to cushion the effects of subsidy removal on Benue citizens, the state government has been able to access only N2 billion.
The commissioner who disclosed this in his office during an interview with our correspondent explained that the Benue State Government had distributed the N2bn received as follows: registration of WAEC and NECO examinations for graduating students in all government approved secondary schools across the state for the 2023/2024 academic year which is ongoing; provision of intensive computer and ICT training for 10,000 youth of the state to enable them acquire jobs within and outside the state, with training ongoing; provision of grants to 5,000 women in the state based on revised social register of the women cooperatives, etc.
Meanwhile, Kwara State government has so far received N2bn, being the first tranche of the N4bn of the federal government palliative, the chief press secretary to the state governor, Rafiu Ajakaye, revealed.
He said: “With that, the government purchased and distributed at least 250,000 10kg bags of rice across the state. This was done through a nonpartisan committee headed by a commissioner of police and peopled by community and religious leaders.”Similarly, the government received N1bn worth of maize from the CBN. This is not free. This maize was then distributed to the general public, especially (poultry) farmers, at 50% subsidised rate.
On its part, the Delta State government said rice was distributed to the people from the local government level down to the community level. It said the aged, people living with disabilities and the vulnerable households were all captured.
According to the secretary to the state government, Dr Kingsley Emu, the 696 bags of rice were distributed along the Delta State Independent Electoral Commission (DSIEC) wards, comprising 20 wards in each of the 25 local government areas of the state.
He said farmers were advised not to pay money to anybody for the palliatives, saying that all genuine farmers received their share of maize and fertilisers without hitches.
However, Sir Festus Ahon, chief press secretary to the governor of Delta state said the palliative from the federal government to states was a repayable loan and not a grant as being speculated in some quarters.
According to him, there was a distribution model by the state palliative committee which, in its wisdom, set up a subcommittee made up of local government coordinators, traditional rulers or their representatives, and representatives of faith groups, among others.
On whether the state would get a loan to further continue the palliative, he said the state didn’t go for the loan in the first instance.
“The federal government gave all the states, and Delta is not contemplating asking for a loan from the federal government. Just for the record, Governor Sheriff Oborevwori has not borrowed since he came on board on May 29,” Ahon disclosed.