The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC)  has announced that the medicine market at Bridgehead, Onitsha, was reopened on March 7, following a shutdown for comprehensive sanitisation.

Dr Martins Iluyomade, the NAFDAC Director for the Southeast, confirmed this in an interview on Monday.

NAN reports that he agency had closed the Ogbo Ogwu and three adjoining markets from February 10 to March 7 to sanitise the medicine distribution system.

Iluyomade explained that there were administrative conditions every shop owner had to fulfil before their shops, previously sealed during the operation, could be unsealed.

He said that the process was put in place to prevent the recurrence of the issues that led to the market’s closure.

He highlighted that pharmaceuticals were highly regulated due to their impact on public health and national security, adding that NAFDAC’s mandate, under the NAFDAC Act, was to regulate and control the sales and distribution of drugs.

Iluyomade also clarified that the market had not been closed, contrary to reports from some media outlets.

He said that the process underway was focused on documenting and regularising the shops, ensuring that no shop would be unsealed without completing the necessary clearance procedures.

He said NAFDAC had set up a special desk to facilitate this process efficiently.

Iluyomade thanked the market leadership and the Anambra state government for their cooperation and understanding.

He further stated that the agency was not aware of any internal conflicts within the market.(NAN)

The Delta Government has assured that the one billion Naira soft loan it approved for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in the state would be ready soon.

Mr Olisa Ifeajika, Executive Assistant to Gov. Sheriff Oborevwori on Public Enlightenment (Projects and Policies), disclosed this while clarifying certain issues to newsmen on Monday in Asaba.

Ifeajika recalled that the Commissioner for Economic Planning, Mr Sonny Ekedayen, had on Feb.

He said that the perceived delay to the plan’s takeoff was due to proper documentation by way of signing the Memorandum of Understanding between the state government and the Bank of Industry (BoI), the funds manager.

The governor’s aide said the choice of the BoI as fund manager was deliberate due to its expertise and years of experience in handling such funds.

Ifeajika added that the loan would accommodate both existing and new entrants into the MSMEs scheme in the state.

According to him, the loan scheme covers all residents operating their businesses in the state, and is at a single digit interest rate.

He stressed that the state government’s intention was to build and grow the MSMEs and the state’s economy, adding that there are no political colorations to ensure an operator accessed the loan.

The governor’s aide added that the qualification to access the loan was to be a resident business operator, proffer proper documentation and apply through the BoI.

He said: “the qualification is just do your business in Delta and present your qualification to the BoI for assessment.

“The fund is ready but the people cannot access it now. It will be ready in few weeks after the proper documentations are done by way of signing a memorandum of understanding between the state government and the bank.

“The economy of any nation revolves around the MSMEs. This informs the state government’s decision to earmark the N1 billion loan for MSMEs to grow the state economy.”

On the speculations about Gov. Sheriff Oborevwori decamping from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC), Ifeajika  debunked the insinuation, saying that it was mere speculation and wishful thinking.

“A cordial relationship exists between the governor and President Bola Tinubu, focused on ensuring good governance and this is expected of all well-meaning Nigerians to promote the country’s overall development.

According to Ifeajika, Gov. Oborevwori has cordial relationship with President Bola Tinubu to promote good governance but not with the APC.

“Oborevwori is the pathfinder of the PDP and a general does not leave his troup. Delta is PDP and all its members have the DNA of PDP.

“He (Oborevwori) is for PDP and whatever he has, will be utilised to support PDP at the national level,” the governor’s aide stressed. (NAN)

The Police Force Ebonyi Command has foiled a kidnapping attempt at Mile 50 Layout, Abakaliki, the state capital.

Spokesperson of the command, SP Joshua Ukandu, told reporters on Monday that officers also recovered the vehicle of the victim, Nneka Onyibe.

According to Ukandu, on March 30 at about  8:30 pm, the command received a report of a kidnapping incident near Mile 50 Layout in Abakaliki.

“Operatives were immediately dispatched to track the kidnappers.

“They pursued an ash-colored Toyota Corolla with registration number SKA 828 AA, which was used by the suspects, to Tina Nweze Street in the area.

“Under pressure from the operatives, the kidnappers abandoned the victim, the Toyota Corolla, and a Toyota Sienna belonging to the victim.

“The police successfully recovered both vehicles, which are now at the command headquarters for identification by their rightful owners,” Ukandu said.

He added that the Commissioner of Police, CP Adaku Uche-Anya, reaffirmed the command’s commitment to protecting lives and property.

“The Commissioner also urged residents of Ebonyi to contact the command’s control room at 07064515001 in case of any distress situation,” Ukandu advised.(NAN)