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Act Now or Face a Health Catastrophe: NAFDAC Warns as Nigeria Battles Rising Antimicrobial Resistance

By
Toyin Adebayo
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DG of NAFDAC
DG of NAFDAC

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has issued a stark warning that Nigeria risks sliding into a public health disaster unless urgent, collective action is taken to curb the growing threat of Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR).

Director General of NAFDAC, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, gave the warning at the 2025 World Antimicrobial Awareness Week (WAAW) commemoration in Lagos, where she said the misuse and overuse of antimicrobials in humans, animals, and agriculture is weakening the country’s ability to treat even common infections.

Represented by her Special Assistant, Dr. Gbenga Fajemirokun, Prof. Adeyeye described AMR as “one of the most urgent and silent public health threats of our time,” stressing that the health of humans, animals and the environment is inseparably linked.

Speaking on this year’s WAAW theme, Prof. Adeyeye said the campaign is a powerful reminder that the fight against AMR does not end in hospitals or pharmacies.

“It begins on our farms, in our veterinary clinics, and across our food production systems. The choices we make today will determine Nigeria’s health security for generations,” she said.

She warned that in human health, AMR leads to treatment failures, prolonged illness, higher mortality risks, and complications during medical procedures. In agriculture, the routine and unregulated use of antimicrobials in livestock, aquaculture and crop production is fueling the spread of resistant pathogens.

“Resistance anywhere is a threat everywhere,” she declared.

Strengthening Regulations, Surveillance, and Stewardship

Highlighting NAFDAC’s One Health strategy, the DG outlined four priority areas guiding the agency’s AMR response:

Stronger regulation and surveillance

Antibiotic stewardship in communities and hospitals

Rational use of antimicrobials in animal care

Engagement with agricultural value chains and robust public enlightenment

Prof. Adeyeye said the Agency is intensifying oversight of human and veterinary antimicrobials, curbing substandard veterinary drugs, enforcing quality standards, and strengthening pharmacovigilance systems.

She emphasized that antimicrobials for animals must be used strictly under veterinary supervision—never for growth promotion or as a substitute for proper farm practices.

“We are working with the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development and veterinarians to promote safer alternatives like vaccines, biosecurity and improved farm management,” she added.

The NAFDAC boss urged healthcare professionals and veterinarians to use antimicrobials judiciously and only under evidence-based guidance.

She called on farmers to adopt responsible husbandry, hygiene and vaccination practices, while advising pharmacists to dispense antimicrobials only with valid prescriptions.

To Nigerians, she appealed:
“Avoid self-medication, seek professional care, and demand responsibly produced food. The story of AMR must be told clearly, urgently and repeatedly.”

Prof. Adeyeye painted a hopeful picture of a Nigeria where infections remain treatable and the food chain remains safe but warned that the future must be earned through coordinated national action.

“The fight against AMR will be won or lost based on our collective efforts across the human–animal–environment interface. Let this year’s WAAW mark a renewed commitment to unity and sustained action.”

Also speaking, Director of NAFDAC’s Veterinary Medicine and Allied Products Directorate, Mrs. Temitayo Stephanie Adeoye, described AMR as a growing threat to modern medicine and food security.

She warned that overuse of antimicrobials and environmental contamination with drug residues have accelerated the emergence of resistant pathogens.

“If not urgently addressed, Nigeria risks returning to a time when minor infections could once again become fatal,” she cautioned.

Adeoye said NAFDAC, through VMAP and other directorates, is strengthening surveillance, enforcing responsible antimicrobial use, and ensuring circulation of only safe, quality medicines.

She added that the Directorate is collaborating with partners under the One Health platform to enhance reporting, laboratory capacities and data harmonization for impactful AMR interventions.

Trump Again Threatens Military Action, Aid Cutoff to Nigeria Over “Christian Genocide” Claims

By
Ola Akinola
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WASHINGTON D.C. – United States President Donald Trump has escalated his administration’s confrontation with Nigeria, threatening unilateral military action and a complete cutoff of American aid over what he described as a “genocide” of Christians in the West African nation.

In stark remarks during a conservative radio program on Friday, the President expressed intense frustration with the Nigerian government’s response to religious violence, branding the country “a disgrace” and vowing to intervene if the situation does not improve.

“They’re killing people by the thousands. It’s a genocide, and I’m really angry about it,” President Trump stated. “And we pay, you know, we give a lot of subsidies to Nigeria. We’re going to end up stopping.”

The comments represent a significant intensification of the administration’s posture toward Nigeria, which the State Department recently redesignated as a “Country of Particular Concern” over religious freedom violations. President Trump specifically accused the Nigerian government of failing to protect Christian communities from violence perpetrated by Islamic extremists.

The threat of military action against Islamist militants in Nigerian territory marks a potential major shift in U.S. foreign policy, suggesting possible direct intervention if Abuja does not “do more” to secure vulnerable populations.

The Nigerian government has consistently rejected characterizations of the violence as religiously-motivated genocide, arguing that the security crisis stems from complex intercommunal conflicts, banditry, and terrorism that affect citizens across religious lines.

President Trump’s latest statements signal mounting pressure on the bilateral relationship and suggest that substantial U.S. assistance programs to Nigeria may face imminent review or termination.

NANS Threatens Mass Protest Over Alleged Corruption in FCTA Advertising Department

By
Toyin Adebayo
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0

ABUJA – The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has issued a stark ultimatum to the Federal Capital Territory Administration, threatening widespread protests over what it describes as systemic corruption, intimidation, and abuse of regulatory power within the Department of Outdoor Advertisement and Signage (DOAS).

In a strongly-worded statement signed by National Secretary General Comrade Anzaku Shedrack Ovye, the student body accused DOAS officials of operating like a “cabal” targeting young entrepreneurs in the advertising sector.

The association specifically cited the case of Comrade Dr. Donald Amagbo, a NANS ambassador and licensed advertising practitioner, who they claim has faced repeated harassment through security operatives, enforcement teams, and media allies of the department.

“This is a classic case of civil servants enriching themselves at the expense of young professionals,” the statement read. “DOAS-FCTA has become a rogue department, acting against the Constitution and court orders granting autonomy to local governments.”

NANS leveled particularly serious allegations against an Assistant Director at DOAS, Engr. Akintunde Babadiya, accusing him of simultaneously running private advertising operations through Media Outcome Ltd while wielding regulatory power to suppress competitors.

The student organization demanded immediate structural reforms, including the scrapping of DOAS and creation of a new regulatory agency headed by licensed practitioners from either the Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria or the Outdoor Advertising Association of Nigeria.

They also called for the Code of Conduct Bureau to investigate the assistant director for alleged violations of public service rules regarding private business interests.

Warning of imminent mobilization, NANS declared that any further harassment of Comrade Amagbo would trigger mass student protests at both DOAS and FCTA secretariats.

The ultimatum signals escalating tensions between youth groups and regulatory authorities in the capital, with students vowing that “aluta continua” – the struggle continues – until substantive reforms are implemented in Abuja’s outdoor advertising sector.

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Federal Government Defends Delayed Terrorism-Financing Prosecutions, Citing Need for “Delicate” Investigations

By
Toyin Adebayo
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0

ABUJA – The Federal Government has stated that its cautious approach to prosecuting individuals suspected of financing terrorism is due to the necessity for “extensive and delicate” investigations, pushing back against public criticism that the process is being unduly delayed.

The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, made the clarification on Friday during an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today, addressing growing concerns over alleged government complicity in the nation’s escalating insecurity.

“It is not a question of having the list or not having the list; it is not as simplistic as that,” Idris stated. “Investigations have to be conducted… There must be sufficient investigation carried out.”

The minister’s comments come against a backdrop of sustained public pressure on successive administrations to identify and bring to justice the backers of terrorist groups such as Boko Haram, ISWAP, and various bandit factions, particularly in northern Nigeria.

While the previous government under President Muhammadu Buhari had disclosed that some suspected financiers had been identified, no high-profile prosecutions have followed, fueling skepticism among civil society groups and security analysts.

Idris defended the current administration’s record, asserting that President Bola Tinubu’s government is “working assiduously” to end terrorism. He pointed to security gains since May 2023, claiming that over 13,500 criminals had been “neutralised,” more than 17,000 apprehended, and that court proceedings for some were underway.

“Sometimes we forget the successes we have recorded,” he remarked, urging public recognition of these efforts.

On related matters, the minister confirmed that the appointment of ambassadors, a subject of recent public discourse, is being finalized by President Tinubu, with nominees currently undergoing mandatory security vetting.

Idris also highlighted ongoing diplomatic engagements with the United States and other international partners, emphasizing Nigeria’s openness to cooperation. “What we feel is that there is no proper understanding of what the situation is about. This is the message we are taking to them,” he said.

Follow NewsFocus for further updates on national security and governance.

European Push to Ban Sharia Law Gains Momentum, Backed by Over 50 Parliamentarians

By
Ola Akinola
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0

BRUSSELS – A campaign for a comprehensive EU-wide ban on the application of Sharia law is gaining significant political traction, with a proposal by Swedish MEP Charlie Weimers now endorsed by more than 50 parliamentarians across 20 member states and slated for formal parliamentary review.

The initiative, publicly supported by Norwegian journalist Rebecca Mistereggen, argues that religious legal systems like Sharia are fundamentally incompatible with the European Union’s core values of equality and individual rights. Weimers contends that such parallel legal structures systematically enable discrimination against women, LGBTQ+ individuals, non-Muslims, and apostates.

“The existence of parallel legal systems is unacceptable in the European Union,” Weimers stated, citing the operation of Sharia councils in the United Kingdom and a recent French poll indicating that 57% of young Muslims there prioritize Sharia law over republican civil code.

The proposed ban aims to systematically dismantle existing Sharia structures across member states, with Weimers calling for direct involvement from EU agencies to assist national governments in enforcement. The move is strategically designed to force all political factions—from left to center-right—to declare their stance on the principle of European secularism.

This legislative push forms part of a broader political offensive by Weimers, who is also supporting a lawsuit against EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. The combined efforts represent a significant challenge to the EU’s established political groups, compelling them to take a definitive position on the role of religious law within Europe’s legal framework.

As the proposal advances toward parliamentary debate, it promises to ignite a contentious continent-wide discussion on religious freedom, legal pluralism, and the boundaries of cultural accommodation in modern European societies.

Diocese Contradicts Niger Govt, Says School Received No Security Warning Before Mass Abduction

By
Ola Akinola
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0

KONTAGORA, Niger State – A sharp dispute has emerged between the Diocese of Kontagora and the Niger State government over whether St. Mary’s School in Papiri was warned of a security threat before Tuesday’s mass abduction of 315 students and staff.

The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) confirmed that 303 students and 12 staff members—eight men and four women—were kidnapped from the school, which has a total student population of 629. An additional 88 students were reportedly captured while attempting to escape during the attack.

The Niger State government had earlier described the attack as “regrettable and avoidable,” stating the school had reopened without authorization despite security advisories. However, the Diocese has forcefully denied these claims.

Bishop Bulus Dauwa Yohanna of the Diocese of Kontagora directly challenged the government’s account. “No warning was ever sent to the school or local education authorities,” Bishop Yohanna stated. “If there was, show who received it and how it was delivered.”

The Bishop, who visited Papiri to reassure distressed parents, pointed to the school’s previous compliance with security directives as evidence of its responsible conduct. He confirmed that in 2022, the school was immediately closed following similar threats, demonstrating a pattern of adherence to official guidance.

The conflicting narratives have heightened tensions in Niger North (Zone C), where communities are demanding urgent action from authorities amid a worsening security crisis. The scale of this abduction—one of the largest in Nigeria’s recent history—has intensified scrutiny on the government’s handling of security intelligence and its communication with vulnerable institutions.

Security investigations into the attack are ongoing, according to state officials.

Bandits Abduct Students, Staff from Niger State Catholic School; Police Deploy Forces for Rescue

By
Toyin Adebayo
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0

Bandits Abduct Students, Staff from Niger State Catholic School; Police Deploy Forces for Rescue

MINNA –The Niger State Police Command has confirmed the mass abduction of an unconfirmed number of students from St. Mary’s Private Secondary School in Papiri, Agwara Local Government Area, in a late-night raid by suspected armed bandits.

The attack occurred at approximately 2:00 a.m. on Friday, November 21, 2025. According to local sources, the assailants invaded the school grounds and seized students directly from their hostel.

In a statement from the Catholic Diocese, the Diocesan Secretary, Jatau Luka Joseph, provided further harrowing details, indicating that the attackers were “armed with sophisticated weapons” and abducted not only students but also pupils, teachers, and a security guard. The guard was reportedly shot before being taken captive.

Joseph appealed for prayers “to ensure the safe return of the abductees” and that God would “touch the hearts of those behind the dastardly act.”

In response, the Niger State Police Command has initiated a large-scale rescue operation. A press statement signed by the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Wasiu A. Abiodun, confirmed that tactical units, military components, and other security agencies have been deployed to the scene and are currently combing surrounding forests.

The statement quoted the Commissioner of Police, Adamu Abdullahi Elleman, reiterating the Command’s commitment to rescuing all victims unharmed. The police expressed optimism that the students and staff would be rescued alive and appealed to the public for calm and cooperation, urging anyone with useful information to come forward to aid the operation.

The police statement also revealed a critical factor that may have contributed to the tragedy, noting that the school’s management defied a standing state government directive to close all schools in the area due to prevailing security challenges. The Command stated that this defiance “may have led to the Papiri attack.”

An investigation has been launched, with the police vowing that “necessary actions [will] be taken against anyone or group of persons suspected to have played a significant role in the abduction, including the school’s management.”

Divine Breakdown: How a Kidnappers’ Car Failure Saved Abducted Schoolgirls”

By
Toyin Adebayo
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0

PAPIRI, Niger State – Several students of St. Mary’s Catholic School in Papiri, Niger State, managed to escape their abductors early Tuesday morning when the vehicle the bandits used to transport them broke down shortly after the kidnapping, according to eyewitness accounts.

The incident marks the second mass school abduction in Nigeria within four days, following the kidnapping of 24 female students in Kebbi State last Friday.

Armed bandits reportedly stormed the private Christian school around 2 a.m. in large numbers, arriving on motorcycles and immediately firing gunshots to intimidate students and any security personnel in the vicinity.

“The bandits snatched a car to convey the abducted students while others were whisked away on motorcycles,” an eyewitness, who requested anonymity for security reasons, told NewsFocus. “However, the vehicle broke down just a few meters from the school and was abandoned.”

The mechanical failure created a critical window of opportunity. “While the kidnappers were looking for an alternative vehicle, some of the students managed to escape,” the source explained, adding that other students had earlier fled through the school fence during the initial chaos.

The exact number of students who escaped versus those still being held remains unconfirmed as security agencies continue their assessment.

Both the Secretary to the Niger State Government, Alhaji Abubakar Usman, and the state police command have confirmed the incident. In an official statement, Usman revealed that the state government had previously issued security alerts and ordered the temporary closure of boarding schools in the area.

“Regrettably, St. Mary’s School proceeded to reopen and resume academic activities without notifying or seeking clearance from the State Government,” Usman stated, noting this action “exposed pupils and staff to avoidable risk.”

Police Commissioner Adamu Abdullahi Ellema confirmed that “police tactical units, military components and other security agencies have moved to the scene, combing the forests with a view to rescue the abducted students.”

The Catholic Diocese of Kontagora also issued a statement through its Diocesan Secretary, Father Jatau Luka, condemning the attack and urging the public to remain calm while supporting security efforts to ensure the safe return of all victims.

Search-and-rescue operations continue in the surrounding forests as authorities work to determine the exact number of students still missing and secure their safe return.

Federal Government Shuts Down 41 Unity Colleges Amid Surge in Student Abductions

By
Toyin Adebayo
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0

ABUJA – In a sweeping emergency measure, the Federal Government ordered the immediate closure of 41 Federal Unity Colleges on Friday, citing escalating security threats and a resurgence of student kidnappings across northern Nigeria.

The directive, issued by the Ministry of Education under Minister Dr. Tunji Alausa, aims to avert potential breaches in vulnerable institutions. A circular signed by Director of Senior Secondary Education Hajiya Binta Abdulkadir emphasized the need for swift compliance from principals, with no specified timeline for reopening.

“Sequel to the recent security challenges in some parts of the country and the need to prevent any security breaches, the Honourable Minister of Education has approved the immediate closure of the listed Federal Unity Colleges (FUCs) with immediate effect,” the statement read.

The decision follows a wave of brazen attacks on schools, including Friday’s abduction of an undetermined number of students, teachers, and a security guard from St. Mary’s Catholic Secondary School in Papiri, Agwara Local Government Area of Niger State.

Earlier this week, bandits kidnapped 25 female students from a school in Maga, Kebbi State, killing the vice principal and heightening national outrage.

Global watchdogs like UNICEF have decried the pattern, urging prioritized safeguards for learners.

The affected colleges, spanning states like Kano, Kaduna, Sokoto, Zamfara, Kebbi, Jigawa, Niger, Kwara, Kogi, FCT, Yobe, Borno, Adamawa, Bauchi, Gombe, and Borno, include:

-Kano/Katsina/Jigawa: FGGC Minjibir, FTC Ganduje, FGGC Zaria, FGGC Bakori
– Kaduna/Katsina: FTC Kafanchan, FTC Dayi, FGC Daura
– Sokoto/Zamfara/Kebbi: FGGC Tambuwal, FSC Sokoto, FTC Wurno, FGC Gusau, FGC Anka, FGGC Gwandu, FGC Birnin Yauri, FTC Zuru
– Jigawa: FGGC Kazaure, FGC Kiyawa, FTC Hadejia
– Niger/Kwara: FGGC Bida, FGC New Bussa, FTC Kuta-Shiroro, FGA Suleja, FGC Ilorin, FGGC Omu-Aran
– Kogi/FCT: FTC Gwanara, FGC Ugwolawo, FGGC Kabba, FTC Ogugu, FGGC Bwari, FGC Rubochi, FGGC Abaji
– Yobe/Borno: FGGC Potiskum, FGC Buni Yadi, FTC Gashua
– Adamawa: FTC Michika, FGC Ganye
– Bauchi/Gombe: FGC Azare, FTC Misau, FGGC Bajoga, FGC Billiri, FTC Zambuk

Out of Nigeria’s 104 Unity Colleges, the closures predominantly target northern facilities in banditry-prone zones, leaving southern schools operational for now.

Education advocates warn the move, while precautionary, could disrupt thousands of students’ academic progress and exacerbate regional disparities. The National Orientation Agency has echoed calls for fortified school defenses, as security forces intensify operations in affected areas.

As investigations into recent abductions probe potential lapses—like the Papiri school’s disregard of prior closure advisories—the government faces mounting pressure to balance safety with access to education in an increasingly volatile landscape.

“We Welcome U.S., China Help With Open Arms” — Senator Shehu Sani Urges Foreign Security Assistance Amid Deepening Crisis

By
Toyin Adebayo
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0

ABUJA – As Nigeria’s security crisis enters its fifteenth year with no decisive victory in sight, former Senator Shehu Sani has called for a pragmatic approach to foreign assistance, stating that the country should welcome help from global powers like the United States and China to combat terrorism and banditry.

Speaking exclusively with NewsFocus shortly after convening a one-day high-level security summit in Abuja on Friday, the prominent civil society leader emphasized that while ultimate responsibility for security rests with Nigeria, external support could prove crucial in turning the tide against persistent violence.

“When someone goes outside the family to seek help, it is because the problem can no longer be solved within the family,” Senator Sani stated, explaining the growing public inclination toward international intervention.

The summit, jointly hosted by the Africa Freedom Foundation (AFF) and Yari Roundtable, brought together policymakers, religious leaders, security experts, and civil society actors to address what participants described as a deteriorating security situation nationwide.

A Nation in Peril

Senator Sani painted a grim picture of the current reality: “Nigeria is 65 years old, and in these years we have survived storms, turbulence and strife. But today, we are confronted by gangs of terrorists and bandits who have made themselves invisible, killing our people, burning homes, kidnapping students, attacking churches and mosques.”

He particularly noted the irony that northern Nigeria remains the epicenter of violence even under administrations led by northerners, challenging the notion that regional leadership alone could solve the problem.

Foreign Help with Sovereignty Safeguards

While advocating for international assistance, Senator Sani stressed the importance of maintaining Nigerian control over security operations.

“If the U.S. or China want to help us, we welcome it with open arms,” he said. “If they know where these terrorists are, and can assist in ending this violence, we appreciate it.”

However, he added a crucial caveat: “They cannot know our country better than we do. Foreign nations must work with our security agencies so there is control, coordination and respect.”

Religious Leaders Echo Urgent Concerns

The summit featured passionate appeals from both Christian and Muslim leaders, who united in their condemnation of the ongoing bloodshed.

Archbishop Dr. James Malgit of the Plateau Diocese decried what he termed a “season of national mourning without end,” while Chief Imam Mal. Abubakar Sadiq Yusuf of Kaduna State Polytechnic warned that kidnappings in northern Nigeria are rising at an alarming rate.

Both religious representatives emphasized the need for strict monitoring of security funds, noting that any financial leakages would come at the cost of human lives.

Governance Failures at Core of Crisis

Senator Sani identified governance failures, poverty, and the state’s inability to enforce the rule of law as the root causes of insecurity, rather than religious tensions.

“For fifteen years, government after government has failed to secure the lives of our people,” he lamented. “Hundreds of billions of our own taxpayers’ money, and millions of dollars in foreign support, have been poured into defense and security, but the problem persists.”

He delivered a blunt assessment of governmental responsibility: “If you cannot protect the lives of the people, you have no reason to be in office.”

Path Forward: Dialogue and Accountability

The former lawmaker urged Nigerian leaders to shed arrogance and embrace inclusive dialogue, stating that “being in government does not mean you have the monopoly of knowledge.”

He called for transparency in security spending, accountability from leadership, and a renewed commitment to national dialogue as essential components of any sustainable solution.

Senator Sani’s final remarks underscored the human tragedy behind the security statistics: “Every day, Muslims are killed in Katsina, Christians are killed in Benue. Muslims die in Zamfara, Christians in Plateau. We bury people every day. What are we talking about? This is a matter of life and death.”

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