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FG Sets Ambitious Goal to Produce 70% of Pharmaceutical Needs Locally by 2030
The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Pate, announced on Sunday that the Presidential Initiative for Unlocking the Healthcare Value Chain (PVAC) aims to increase Nigeria’s local manufacturing of pharmaceutical products to at least 70% by 2030.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
In a video shared on X, Pate revealed that the initiative also seeks to substantially grow the number of full-time employees working in life sciences manufacturing. Currently, there are about 20,000 workers in the sector, but this figure is expected to grow significantly in the coming years.
Additionally, Pate highlighted the creation of Empower Academy Nigeria, a pharmaceutical manufacturing training institute, in collaboration with Empower Swiss, Geneva. This step is seen as a crucial move to localize the production of pharmaceuticals and medical devices in Nigeria, benefiting both the economy and the wider West African region under President Bola Tinubu’s leadership.
Launched as part of the Renewed Hope Agenda in October 2023, PVAC aims to facilitate several investments and growth in Nigeria’s pharmaceutical industry. Pate elaborated, stating that the initiative has set ambitious goals, including increasing local pharmaceutical production to 70% of the country’s consumption by 2030, while also boosting vaccine production. Additionally, the initiative aims to enhance the workforce in life sciences manufacturing by tens of thousands, establish new biological and medical supply plants, and increase Nigeria’s pharmaceutical market share in Africa to at least 15%.
Prof. Pate also shared that over 70 healthcare manufacturing companies are currently involved in 22 large-scale projects, with international financing negotiations underway. These projects are backed by PVAC’s efforts.
The Empower Academy Nigeria will focus on addressing the significant workforce gap in sectors such as advanced manufacturing, regulatory sciences, and quality assurance. The academy will offer world-class training and develop professionals who can strengthen the sector’s regulatory framework. It will also provide specialized curricula for students and industry professionals, and assist regulatory bodies like the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC).
Pate emphasized that Nigeria is on track to secure significant financing from international institutions such as the European Investment Bank and the African Bank to support the new healthcare manufacturers in the country.
With a goal to upskill thousands of professionals annually, Empower Academy Nigeria will promote best practices in areas such as process engineering, regulatory compliance, and business management, among others. The academy will partner with global bodies like the World Health Organization and the Africa Centres for Disease Control to deliver high-quality certification courses.
Pate concluded by reiterating Nigeria’s commitment to improving its pharmaceutical capabilities and empowering local professionals. He expressed confidence that this initiative would serve as a model for other nations to follow in developing robust pharmaceutical and biological manufacturing industries.
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The Bulldozers Are Coming! Kano Targets Azman University In Massive Illegal Property Crackdown.
Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, has dismissed recent claims by 2027 presidential hopeful Peter Obi regarding Nigeria’s power generation goals. During an Arise Television interview, Onanuga clarified that Nigeria’s core electricity crisis stems from structural deficits—such as gas supply shortages, a $4 trillion legacy debt owed to suppliers, and an aging national grid—rather than a lack of generation capacity.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
Onanuga noted that the nation already possesses an installed capacity of 13,500 megawatts, exceeding Obi’s promise to add 10,000 megawatts. He argued that the former governor lacks a clear understanding of the existing infrastructure limitations. Furthermore, Onanuga highlighted that the Tinubu administration is actively tackling these issues through the Electricity Act, which decentralizes power management, and the establishment of the Grid Asset Management Company Limited (GAMCO) to improve performance. He maintained that power generation has seen marked improvement since the current administration took office in May 2023.
President Bola Tinubu’s aide, Bayo Onanuga, has challenged Peter Obi’s pledge to increase Nigeria’s electricity generation by 10,000 megawatts within four years. In a recent interview, Onanuga stated that Obi’s plan ignores the reality that Nigeria’s installed capacity is already 13,500 megawatts—a figure that remains underutilized due to structural failures.
Onanuga identified the country’s primary obstacles as an outdated national grid, chronic gas supply issues, and a massive legacy debt of over ₦4 trillion owed to gas companies. He asserted that the current administration is addressing these systemic problems through legislative reforms, specifically citing the Electricity Act, which allows states to manage their own power generation, transmission, and distribution. Onanuga concluded that electricity output has already trended upward since May 2023 and that the government’s focus remains on optimizing existing assets rather than merely chasing higher capacity targets.
Bayo Onanuga is pushing back against Peter Obi’s recent promise to boost Nigeria’s power supply by 10,000 megawatts. According to President Tinubu’s spokesperson, the real issue isn’t a lack of capacity, but a broken system.
Onanuga pointed out that Nigeria already has 13,500 megawatts of installed capacity, most of which sits idle due to three main roadblocks:
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The Grid: Outdated infrastructure that cannot handle current demands.
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Gas Supply: A crippling lack of fuel for power plants.
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Legacy Debt: A massive ₦4 trillion debt pile-up owed to gas suppliers.
Onanuga credited the Tinubu administration with tackling these hurdles head-on, specifically through the new Electricity Act that empowers states to generate and distribute their own power. He insists that the sector is already performing better than it was in May 2023 and that the focus is on fixing the structural bottlenecks, not just expanding capacity.
Would you like me to focus on a specific aspect of this report, such as the economic implications or the political disagreement between the two figures?
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Court Orders Probe Of Leaked Video In Alleged Coup Plot Trial
On Tuesday, the Federal High Court in Abuja initiated an investigation into the unauthorized release of a video linked to the ongoing trial of six individuals accused of conspiring to topple President Bola Tinubu’s government.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
Investigation into the Leaked Video
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Court Directive: Following a complaint from the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP), Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN), regarding a video statement that surfaced on the social media platform of influencer “VeryDarkMan” despite a court-imposed restriction, Justice Joyce Abdulmalik ordered the Department of State Services (DSS) to conduct an inquiry.
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National Security Concerns: The DPP characterized the leak as a national security risk that prejudices the ongoing judicial proceedings, noting the video had already surpassed 6,000 views.
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Defense Stance: While defense counsel denied involvement in the leak, they held varying views on a probe; some welcomed an investigation, while others, like Sanusi Musa (SAN), cautioned against acting without formal evidence.
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Judicial Ruling: Invoking Section 232(5) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015, Justice Abdulmalik mandated the DSS to identify and bring any responsible parties before the court, noting that such prosecution would be handled separately from the main coup trial.
Trial Testimony and Bail Proceedings
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Witness Testimony: A prosecution witness, an Army officer codenamed “DDD,” testified that the investigation was conducted by a multi-agency team—including the Army, DSS, DIA, and EFCC—and explicitly denied that the defendants were chained, coerced, or tortured during interrogation.
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Defense Challenges: During cross-examination, defense lawyers challenged the interrogation process, specifically noting the absence of family members or legal representation during the suspects’ questioning; however, the witness stated no such requests were made by the defendants.
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Bail Applications: The court heard bail arguments from the defense, which the DPP opposed; Justice Abdulmalik has reserved her ruling on these applications and adjourned the trial-within-trial for the first three defendants until June 25 and June 30.
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No Mercy! US Authorities Deport Nigerian Over “Violent Crimes” & Abuse Allegations!.
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Deportation of Nigerian National: A Nigerian citizen named Ayodeji Ajayi has been deported from the United States following a series of criminal convictions, which include domestic violence.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
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Immigration Status: According to a statement released by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on their official account, Ajayi had been living in the US illegally for nearly two decades after failing to depart the country following the expiration of his student visa.
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Criminal History: ICE reported that after abandoning his studies, Ajayi amassed a significant criminal record that includes convictions for domestic violence, trespassing, intimidation, and obstruction. Furthermore, his record includes charges involving kidnapping, rape, and family neglect.
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Administrative Context: ICE attributed the removal of Ajayi to the immigration enforcement policies of President Donald Trump, noting the administration’s commitment to deporting criminal undocumented immigrants.
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Missing Details: While the agency confirmed the deportation, they did not specify when it occurred, nor did they provide additional details regarding the jurisdictions of the convictions or the current status of his pending criminal charges.
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Policy Enforcement: This action reflects the ongoing efforts by the Trump administration to intensify enforcement and increase the number of removals of undocumented individuals with criminal backgrounds across the United States.
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