Business
NAFDAC Boss Denies Corruption Allegation
The Director-General, Na
tional Agency for Food Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Dr Paul Orhii, has dismissed allegations of corruption levelled against him in an online media platform.
The Tide source reports that a former Director of Accounts in NAFDAC, Mr Ademola Mogbojuri, accused Orhii of bypassing due process in the award of contracts in the agency.
Mogbojuri also accused the NAFDAC boss in an online media (Sahara Reporters) of misappropriating funds meant for the agency.
But briefing newsmen on the development in Abuja, Orhii described all the allegations made against him as lies.
He said that the allegation by the former director of accounts that he expended N9 billion unjustly and all other fabricated lies was done to gain cheap popularity.
“I was on Sallah break with my family when someone drew my attention to an article by the Sahara Reporters on massive fraud at NAFDAC.
“The article even mentioned names of some contractors and companies that due process was not followed in the award of contracts to them.
“I want to tell you that all the allegations are false.
“You heard that I have so many companies on ground that I award contracts to; you can go to Corporate Affairs Commission and verify.
“It is very easy to determine someone’s interest in a company. If your relatives are among the shareholders of a company it will show.
“So go and check. The companies have been doing business at NAFDAC long before I assumed duty and they still continued.
“The Director of Finance should have the correct information; I think it is both mischief and incompetence to say that we have hidden N9 billion over the last four years.’’
The NAFDAC boss further explained that the contracts which Mogbojuri alleged were carefully awarded when he (Mogbojuri) was in charge of accounts department.
Orhii noted that the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) of the agency which he improved from N2.5 billion when he took over to about N7 billion now, was used to run its activities outside payment of salaries.
“When I assumed office, we didn’t have an enforcement office; we bought land in Apapa and built a very big office, it is verifiable.
“The land in Benue is on ground. It has been fenced; it has a borehole meant to serve the communities. These are some of the allegations made against NAFDAC by Mogbojuri.
“We were given 20 hectares of land to build a NAFDAC office at the centenary city that is being built.
“10 years from now we will build a head office with a cafeteria and a crèche that will accommodate the children of our staff and international visitors can as well eat at the cafeteria.’’
Orhii further explained that the NAFDAC building located at Isolo, Lagos, which is now one of the best buildings in the area, was constructed with the revenue generated by the agency.
He said that the building alleviated the sufferings of staff that had to battle rain, rat and snakes when the agency operated from potter cabins.
The director-general said the NAFDAC Lagos building was now a land mark and that all due process were followed in the allocation of the contract including the furnishing.
The NAFDAC boss also pointed out that part of the funds generated by the agency were used for staff training both local and foreign.
He also said that NAFDAC dominated proceedings at last month’s drug standard meeting in China, Israel, Albania and Czechoslovakia.
“We have achieved world standard here at NAFDAC and we will soon be able to export medicine to other countries.
“Today, we have about four of these products that are manufactured and exported from Nigeria.
“Today, Nigeria can prevent cord infection during child birth and the drugs used are now being exported to other countries.
“Pneumonia treatments are also made available, we now manufacture disposable amoxilyn tablets and about 17 per cent of child birth deaths caused by Pneumonia, will no longer be a problem.
“Diarrhoea and few other ailments now have their treatment available in Nigeria; if we educate the midwives well, we will save both mothers and children from death at child birth,’’ he said.
MoniePoint Inc. a digital financial firm in Nigeria, has said it is empowering community pharmacists across the country with innovative payment solutions to improve access to drugs.
The financial firm said it had also provided loans for pharmacists under the aegis of the Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria (ACPN) to drive healthcare delivery in the country.
MoniePoint in a release titled, “Inside Nigeria’s community pharmacies: How Moniepoint drives healthcare access with payments and funding”, has reaffirmed its commitment to providing digital payment solutions to improve health outcomes in Nigeria.
The release examined how community pharmacies play a crucial role as vital access points for medical care in Nigeria, especially in areas with limited hospital or clinic access.
According to the release, the ACPN National Chairman, Ambrose Igwekwam, highlighted the critical role played by community pharmacies in Nigeria’s healthcare system over the years.
Igwekwam, however, expressed concerns over the challenges confronting the nation’s pharmaceutical industry which he said was hindering access to affordable medicines.
The pharmacist listed poor infrastructural systems, power, transportation, regulatory bottlenecks, importation dependency, and limited research opportunities as major challenges facing the pharmaceutical sector.
He also stressed the need for robust collaborative efforts with institutions like Moniepoint to strengthen the sector.
“As Nigeria continues to grow, improving local pharma manufacturing to meet the demands of this growth presents a key opportunity for us all.
“There is also the African Continental Free Trade Area Agreement, which is expected to boost our industry, especially when we start producing our drugs locally, which will provide the much needed foreign exchange from exports.
“We are also seeing advancements in digital health and technology which would hopefully deepen the practice of e-prescription in Nigeria”, the ACPN boss said.
Corlins Walter
In order to enhance customer service and streamline operations, the Chartered Insurance Institute of Nigeria (CIIN) has called on stakeholders in the insurance industry to embrace Artificial Intelligence (AI).
The President of the institute, Yetunde Ilori, made this call at the 2024 Office Representatives Committee (ORC) Workshop, organised by the institute, with the theme “AI and the Future of the Insurance Industry”, in Lagos.
Ilori at the event, emphasised the importance of AI adoption, noting that it was not a threat to jobs but rather a tool to improve efficiency across the insurance sector.
“It is not about AI taking over our jobs, but about us using AI to simplify processes and give maximum satisfaction to all the customers we serve whether as underwriters, brokers, loss adjusters, or in educating our members”, she said.
The workshop, which brought players in the insurance sector together, aimed to address how AI could be leveraged to transform business processes and improve customer interactions.
The Chairman of the ORC, Monica Nwachukwu, underscored the role of AI in modernising the industry, adding, “AI can automate customer and claims processes, allowing insurers to provide faster and more efficient services to their customers”.
She explained how AI could help extract data from legacy systems, enhancing decision-making processes.
“By integrating AI with APIs, insurers can feed valuable data into AI solutions to improve operations and customer service”, she added.
In his address, the Managing Partner of A4S and Training Heights, Orlando Odejide, stressed the need for companies to align their strategies with future technologies like AI, especially as they prepare for 2025.
“Any organisation that wants to grow into the future must have its strategic plan in place. If your strategy for 2025 is not ready, it should be done by October”, he advised.
He encouraged participants to think critically about how AI could be integrated into their business models to ensure they remain competitive.
“The idea is for you to use this workshop as a platform to think about your organization and how AI can help streamline your processes and improve growth”, Odejide noted.
In order to gain global respect and recognition, the National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA) has reaffirmed its determination to pursue its goal in ensuring that Nigeria’s space capabilities are recognised on the world stage.
The agency also reaffirmed its commitment to positioning Nigeria as a key player in the global space economy.
In a statement by the Director of Media and Corporate Communications, Dr. Felix Ale, NASRDA revealed that the Director-General of the agency, Matthew Adepoju, emphasised this during recent engagements at the 79th United Nations General Assembly and the Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA) and Global Alliance Business Association international conference in Michigan, United States.
The statement noted that Adepoju outlined a forward-thinking agenda, stressing the importance of Nigeria’s space programme as a leader in research, exploration, and technological innovation.
“Our goal is to ensure that Nigeria’s space capabilities are recognised on the world stage.
“We must foster collaborations with global space agencies to enhance our satellite capabilities and technological infrastructure”, he stated.
The NASRDA boss said the agency is focusing on enhancing satellite capabilities, expanding international collaborations, and leveraging space science for national development.
He said NASRDA will have no stone unturned in pursuit of excellence, ensuring the agency secures the necessary resources and recognition to propel it forward.
“The relationships we build today will pave the way for tomorrow’s advancements in space science.
“Innovation and progress thrive in an environment built on collaboration and inclusivity”, he stated.
He emphasised that with the support of the government, international partners, and a dedicated team, NASRDA is poised to make significant strides in the evolving global space landscape.
“We are on the brink of a new era for Nigeria’s space agency. Together, we will ensure our nation stands out in the global space economy”, he said.
Corlins Walter