Reps demand motion towards faux, adulterated meals and drinks
On Tuesday, House of Representatives urged the federal authorities to accentuate efforts to cease the manufacturing and circulation of faux, adulterated, counterfeit and substandard meals and drinks in Nigeria.
The decision adopted an pressing movement sponsored by Makki Yalleman (APC, Jigawa) who stated unsafe meals and drinks posed critical dangers to public well being, notably to kids, aged individuals and other susceptible teams.
Mr Yalleman cited latest enforcement operations, together with the dismantling of an unlawful alcohol counterfeiting syndicate at Zamfara Plaza on Lagos Island by the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) in April and the discovery of an unlawful fruit juice manufacturing facility in Badagry, Lagos State, in September.
The lawmaker stated some producers and distributors had been falsifying manufacturing and expiry dates, batch numbers, producer particulars and ingredient info, whereas others allegedly used contaminated uncooked supplies or illegally refilled containers.
The House consequently urged NAFDAC, the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) and the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC), alongside the police, the Nigeria Customs Service, state governments and other businesses, to strengthen surveillance, inspection, sampling, laboratory testing and enforcement.
Relevant House committees had been additionally mandated to look at the scale of the drawback and the effectiveness of current enforcement measures and report their findings inside 4 weeks.
Lawmakers order probe into corps member’s loss of life at NYSC camp
The House additionally ordered an investigation into the loss of life of a National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) member, Etimbuk Sunday, at the NYSC Orientation Camp in Awgu, Enugu State.
The movement, sponsored by Unyime Idem (APC, Akwa Ibom) on Tuesday, adopted issues about the remedy Mr Sunday obtained after falling ailing throughout his orientation programme.
Mr Sunday, a former president of the Students’ Union Government of Akwa Ibom State University, reportedly visited the camp clinic on 7 October with signs suggestive of malaria or typhoid. He was handled and discharged with oral remedy, however his situation later deteriorated. He died on 11 October.
Mr Idem raised questions on the remedy administered to the corps member, the delay allegedly concerned in referring him to a hospital and the circumstances surrounding the dealing with of his stays.
He additionally raised issues over reviews that the physique was handed over to the household bare and with seen bruises, saying the allegations required investigation.
The House thereafter mandated its Committees on Youth Development, Health Care Services, Police Affairs and Human Rights to conduct a joint investigation and report inside 4 weeks.
The growth got here after the Senate had additionally known as for an investigation, whereas NAFDAC stated it had begun investigating the loss of life, together with allegations regarding medicines administered to the deceased.
Ebola: Reps demand launch of excellent well being funds
Following the affirmation of an imported Ebola case in Abuja, the House known as for the quick launch of excellent funds appropriated for well being businesses to strengthen the nation’s preparedness and response.
The movement, sponsored by Amobi Ogah (LP, Abia), was thought of towards the backdrop of the confirmed case involving a lady who lately arrived in Nigeria from Uganda.
Health authorities had recognized 44 shut contacts linked to the case, together with healthcare staff, sufferers, caregivers and journey contacts, for monitoring.
Mr Ogah warned that delays in detecting suspected circumstances, conducting laboratory checks, isolating confirmed circumstances and tracing contacts might enhance the threat of transmission.
He additionally raised issues about gaps in public consciousness, an infection prevention and management provides, healthcare staff’ preparedness and emergency response capability.
The House, subsequently, urged the Ministry of Finance to launch excellent appropriated funds to related well being businesses. It additionally requested the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare and the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention to evaluate extra sources required for the response.
The House additional known as for stronger surveillance involving federal and state well being authorities, port well being officers, the agriculture ministry and personal healthcare suppliers, whereas urging collaboration with the World Health Organisation and other worldwide well being establishments.
Its Committee on Infectious Diseases was mandated to acquire updates from related businesses on the Ebola state of affairs and Nigeria’s preparedness and report again to the House.
Reps demand assessment of Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway realignment
The House requested the federal authorities to assessment the proposed realignment of sections of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway and retain the initially conceptualised route by way of components of Ondo State and the Escravos–Ogheye–Ugborodo hall in Delta State.
The movement was sponsored by Thomas Ereyitomi (APC, Delta), who argued that diverting the freeway away from coastal communities might undermine the venture’s unique goal of bettering connectivity and unlocking financial alternatives in the area.
The federal authorities has defended proposed modifications to sections of the route on grounds together with troublesome terrain, flooding, weak subsoil situations and climate-related dangers. Works Minister Dave Umahi has stated parts of the current East-West Road could be utilized in the affected areas.
Mr Ereyitomi, nevertheless, argued that the authorities ought to first conduct an impartial evaluation of the engineering necessities, environmental penalties, socioeconomic impression and lifecycle prices of the different routes.
Lawmakers take into account invoice to control advance hire in FCT
The House has begun consideration of a invoice in search of to limit landlords and brokers in the Federal Capital Territory from demanding a couple of yr’s hire prematurely from tenants.
The proposed laws which handed first studying on Thursday seeks to control hire funds for each residential and industrial properties in the FCT. It would additionally forestall landlords and brokers from circumventing the restriction by way of obligatory service prices, extra funds, synthetic tenancy renewals or other preparations designed to pressure tenants to pay greater than a yr upfront.
The Federal Capital Territory Advance Rent Regulation and Tenants’ Protection Bill, 2026 (HB.2839), sponsored by Paul Nnamchi (APC, Enugu), with Ahmed Doro (PDP, Katsina) as co-sponsor, proposes the institution of mechanisms for registering letting brokers, receiving complaints and monitoring rental practices throughout the FCT, together with the satellite tv for pc cities.
It would additionally empower the proposed authority to order landlords or brokers to refund illegal funds inside 30 days the place violations are established.
Individuals who knowingly demand or obtain hire above the permitted interval might face fines ranging from N500,000 to N5 million, whereas company our bodies might face fines between N5 million and N20 million. Courts might additionally order refunds and compensation for confirmed losses.
The proposal comes amid rising lodging prices in Abuja, the place tenants have complained of excessive rents alongside company, settlement and warning charges.
