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NAFDAC under Paul Orhii builds on late Dora Akuyili’s legacies

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Paul-Orhii

Recently, petitions by some elements of people, who want the hardworking boss of National Agency for Food and Drug Administration Control, NAFDAC, Dr. Paul Orhii sacked from the enviable positioning as Director General, have been syndicated on social media. The petitions which were said to have been full of lies and calculated attempt to thwart the good effort of the Benue born man who has repositioned NAFDAC to an enviable height in Global rating were aimed at denting the image of Dr, Orhii before the presidency .

In this new era of change, a lot of vested interest are at work, with petitions flying left, right and center, whether most of these allegations are factual, real or imagined, The Pertinent question with regards to this purported corruption at NAFDAC is the achievements recorded by the Orhii administration.
Miffed by these series of petitions from bad belle people, his aides were consulted to state more of his crime but it was shocking to know that even the ‘almighty’ late Dora Nkem Akunyili, who started the journey of ‘New NAFDAC, would been thumbed up Dr. Paul Orhii’s led administration for a job well-done.

As a professional, he ensured the Mobile Authentication Service MAS, WHO pre-qualification for four Nigerian pharmaceutical companies that enable them to sell their products globally. The TRUSCAN, a device that can detect fake drugs on the spot, the introduction of mini-labs test kits and Infrastructural developments which led to the International Accreditation of NAFDAC lab (the 1st of such in West Africa).

Under the leadership of Dr. Orhii, NAFDAC has also initiated the review of its law to make them more stringent so as to deter counterfeiters (life jail term and confiscation of assets on conviction). The water re-certification exercise is a coordinated war against unregistered and poorly packaged water using a mobile laboratory to test water on factory premises. In the last two years, NAFDAC has seized and destroyed fake drugs and other counterfeit products running into billions of naira at Kano, Onitsha, Enugu, Osun, Abuja and Lagos States. Food has also initiated the compulsory food fortification campaign to combat dangers of hidden hunger. Several counterfeiters have been arrested and trials are ongoing in the courts. From several innovations introduced by Dr.Orhii, NAFDAC now belongs to the elite group of the top 18 regulatory agencies in the world.
The chairman of the NAFDAC’s Workers’ Union, Isa Ibrahim, at the press conference accused Mogbojuri of demanding bribe before releasing approved monies for projects and the day-to-day running of the agency while also allegedly refusing to pay workers their entitlements on time.

Ibrahim, said, “On numerous occasions the DG would approve funds to carry out some projects but the directorate of finance, rather than honour the approval, would tell us there is no money. The director in question was transferred recently to another section but he refused to go. He does not obey or regard the DG or any constituted authority. Nobody should be bigger than NAFDAC. It is an act of insubordination that we must not allow to continue.

“We have been experiencing anarchy and impunity from that director over the years. He messed up the entire place and we are happy and stand by the DG for finally getting him out of the finance department.”
Nafdac Director of Account and Finance redeployed after five years as DAF, Why are petitions flying around after he was redeployed? Why the silence for five years?

While allegations should not be waved away, it sounds like one coming from an aggrieved man, it seems this Director of Finance who claims to have refused to play the corrupt ball has been at the position for some time now and must have paid these monies claimed, why now? Must it take his supposed transfer to blow the lid? NAFDAC is a very important organisation in Nigeria, safeguarding public health and the right hands must be on deck for this mission to be accomplished. Orhii, an accomplished technocrat in his own right has done well at the agency.

Sahara weekly online is published by First Sahara weekly international. contact saharaweekly@yahoo.com

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Governor Dapo Abiodun Celebrates 65th Birthday: Otunba Nurudeen Aina Alowonle Extends Warm Wishes

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Ogun State, Nigeria – In a display of solidarity and goodwill, Otunba Aina Nurudeen Alowonle, A Board member of the Articulate Motorcycle and Riders Association of Nigeria (AMORAN), has felicitated with Governor Dapo Abiodun as he marks his 65th birthday on May 29, 2025. The congratulatory message comes as the governor reflects on his journey of leadership, service, and commitment to the development of Ogun State.

The momentous occasion serves as a reminder of the significant milestones achieved under the governor’s administration since he took office in 2019. Known for his focus on infrastructure development, healthcare reform, and youth empowerment, Governor Abiodun has made substantial strides toward transforming the socio-economic landscape of Ogun State.

In his message, Sokoya praised the governor’s enduring vision for the state, emphasizing his dedication to ensuring a better quality of life for the citizens of Ogun. “As you celebrate this significant milestone in your life, we at AMORAN recognize your commitment to promoting unity, peace, and progress in our state,” he stated.

Otunba Alowonle highlighted the strong partnership between the Ogun State government and AMORAN, underlining the importance of collaboration in addressing the challenges faced by the motorcycle and transport sector. “On this special day, we are reminded of your efforts to create an enabling environment for the transportation industry, ensuring safety and governance that prioritizes the welfare of all riders,” he added.

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Lawyers, CSOs Hit Abuja Street Over Farouk Ahmed Must Go Protest

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***Allege abuse of office, misuse of public funds for children’s education abroad

A group of lawyers and civil society organisations (CSOs) protested in Abuja today, demanding the immediate resignation of Engineer Farouk Ahmed, the Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA).

The group known as Concerned Lawyers and Civil Society in Defence of Public Trust alleged that Ahmed had abused his office by using public funds to educate his children in expensive schools abroad, including European University in Montreux, Switzerland, Aiglon College Boarding School in Switzerland, Institut Le Rosey in Rolle, Switzerland, and La Garenne International School in the Swiss Alps.

The protesters, who gathered at the NMDPRA headquarters, claimed that Ahmed’s actions were a clear case of corruption and abuse of power. They alleged that the funds used to pay for the children’s education were diverted from public coffers and that Ahmed’s actions were a betrayal of the public trust.

According to Barr. Martins Adaji, Faisal Ahmed, Farouk’s son, was sponsored with public funds to study at European University in Montreux, Switzerland, and later secured a lucrative position in sales at Oando, a company with ties to the oil and gas sector.

Another son, Farouk Ahmed Farouk (Jr.), it claimed, was sent to Aiglon College Boarding School in Switzerland, where the annual tuition and board fees are estimated to be over N300 million.

The protesters demanded Ahmed’s immediate resignation, a full-scale investigation into the NMDPRA’s financial records, and the recovery of any public funds used to educate his children.

They also called for Ahmed’s prosecution under the Public Procurement Act and the Code of Conduct Bureau guidelines.

The protesters further demanded that any recovered funds be channelled to rehabilitate schools in Nigeria’s most disadvantaged oil-producing communities.

They warned that if their demands are ignored, they will return stronger, louder, and more resolute, occupying every relevant space to demand justice and accountability.

“This protest is about justice. It is about drawing the line in the sand and saying, ‘NO MORE!,” Adaji said. “NO MORE abuse of public trust.

“NO MORE luxury for the few while the many wallow in deprivation. NO MORE wasting of public funds while Nigerian university students are stuck at home due to strikes, poor infrastructure, and lack of funding.

“To the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, His Excellency Bola Ahmed Tinubu, we ask you: will you watch this continue under your administration? Or will you act, and show that your government is serious about transparency and equity?

“Today’s protest is not the end. If these demands are ignored, we will return stronger, louder, and more resolute. Nigerian youths, mothers, and civil society will occupy every relevant space to say: enough is enough.

“We are done clapping for thieves. We are done bowing to men who see Nigeria as their inheritance. Let it be known: Engr. Farouk Ahmed must step down NOW. Not tomorrow. Not next week.

“Not after consultations. He must resign TODAY. He must return every kobo spent on his children’s foreign education. And he must face the full weight of the law. That is the only way the Nigerian people will believe that justice still lives in this land.”

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Airtel AI Spam Alert Service flags 9.6 million spam attempts in two months

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Airtel Nigeria, a leading telecommunications service provider and subsidiary of Airtel Africa, has announced that its AI-powered Spam Alert Service issued over 9.6 million spam alerts between March 13 and May 20, 2025.

As part of its ongoing commitment to protecting customers from unwanted and potentially fraudulent communications, Airtel designed the AI Spam Alert service to analyze traffic patterns and detect anomalies. In the period since launch the AI pinpointed a total of 9,667,008 SMS as potential spam messages in the two months after its launch. Of these, the system identified 528,080 on-net (Airtel-to-Airtel) and 9,138,928 off-net (from other networks) numbers as suspected spam messages, demonstrating the scale of the threat and Airtel’s advanced processing capability.

Commenting on this development, Airtel Nigeria, CEO, Dinesh Balsingh, has restated Airtel`s commitment to protecting its customers.

“This milestone demonstrates the strength of our AI-driven infrastructure in combating the growing menace of spam and scam calls. At Airtel Nigeria, we are focused on connecting Nigerians and ensuring their safety and confidence while using our network,” he noted.

“We understand that trust is the cornerstone of digital communication. That’s why we’ve invested heavily in intelligent systems that not only detect potential threats but also learn and evolve with data. As threats become more sophisticated, so will our solutions. As a company, we remain focused on leading the industry in innovation and customer satisfaction, ensuring that every Nigerian can enjoy a safer and smarter digital experience,” Mr. Balsingh added.

The Spam Alert Service is part of Airtel Nigeria’s broader strategy to integrate artificial intelligence into its core offerings to deliver smarter and safer experiences for its customers across the country.

Recall that the Spam Alert Service was launched on March 13, 2025. A groundbreaking and free solution from Airtel, it notifies users in real-time of suspected spam SMS messages by analyzing over 250 parameters. The Airtel AI Spam Alert Service is available to all Airtel subscribers on smartphones and feature phones.

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