FG Set to Address Food Export Irregularities, Others

Published

1 year ago

January 15, 2025

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FG Set to Address Food Export Irregularities, Others—-The Ministry of Industry Trade and Investment and Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, have collaborated to tackle irregularities in food export system.

The collaboration is also expected to encourage efforts to unlock healthcare value chain for effective transformation.

Dr Jumoke Oduwole, the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, made this known on Wednesday in Abuja.

Oduwole spoje while receiving Dr Muhammad Pate, the Minister of Health and Social Welfare, who was on a curtesy visit to her office.

Also on the curtesy visit was the Director-General, National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the two ministries with their management, met to address some issues on irregularities on exportation of food, areas on unlocking healthcare and other important issues.

Pate said that the issues have been lingering between the ministries and needed to be tackled effectively.

He said that the issues were important to the two ministries, adding that the effort was to support President Bola Tinubu in his agenda towards transforming the country.

“This meeting is bringing two sectors that are ordinarily not closely connected. But there are specific things that have prompted to reach out, which has to do with the exportation of food and its regulation.

“The second element is the role of the regulatory body, NAFDAC, in constraining or enabling the trade that we have across various borders.

“The third issue is the regulatory function links to our efforts to unlock the healthcare value chain.

“These are issues that have been lingering, and I though we should use this opportunity to come together since we are all on the same team,” he said.

The minister said that the determination was to ensure that Nigeria achieved greatly in those areas in the long run.

Oduwole, while responding, said that both ministries would start working on areas of unlocking healthcare value chain.

She said that the issues were very vital and required effective measures to be tackled.

“I was briefed about the draft policy and medical devices of syringe and needles manufacturing in Nigeria.

“We have to identify the areas and resolutions, and to identify areas of the ministry’s concern on the draft policy document, and were we supposed to emit in further meeting with my ministry.

“The meetimg is to discuss how to deliberate on the merit and demerit of the policy, as well as the issues of manufacturing.

” They are indeed under the eight point agenda of Mr President,” she said.

The NAFDAC D-G said that Nigerians needed to change their mindsets in the area of exportation of goods, adding that those regulatory agencies should regulate effectively.

According to her, the effort will help to avoid the embarrassment of rejection of our goods.

Earlier, Mr Temiloluwa Oluokun, Technical Aide to industry, trade and investment ministry, mentioned some of the issues lingering in the ministry.

According to him, one of the issues from the regulatory reform programme was the denomination of permit fees in Naira.

“Some elements of those fees are not denominated in local currency.

“It is good to progressively shifting all the fees to the local currency to protect our exporters from exchange rate all together,” he said.

Oluokun said that another recurring issue thatrequired urgent attention was the time line for processing certificate and private sectorparticipationt.

“The recommendations are clear to revisit the export regulation 2024 with very wide industry consultation to balance oversight with efficiency all together, ” he said.

Mr Dafang Sule, Director, Federal Produce Inspectorate Service, appealed to the health ministry to assist in training some officers on the use of equipment to address the persistence pesticide residues in sesame seeds.

NAN reports that after long deliberation, the two ministries agreed that a team would be set up to address the issues discussed.

They said the team would schedule a meetimg soon to check and revisit the issues for final resolution.

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JUST IN: Nollywood Thrown Into Mourning As Actor Alexx Ekubo Dies At 40

Published

7 hours ago

May 12, 2026

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JUST IN: Nollywood Thrown Into Mourning As Actor Alexx Ekubo Dies At 40—-Popular Nollywood actor Alexx Ekubo has reportedly passed away at the age of 40 after a prolonged battle with cancer.

Reports which emerged on Tuesday evening stated that the award-winning movie star had been privately battling the illness for some time before his death, throwing the Nigerian entertainment industry into deep mourning.

News of his passing has since triggered an outpouring of grief across social media, with fans, colleagues, and celebrities paying tribute to the actor known for his charisma, elegance, and versatility on screen.

For months, concerns had grown among fans over Ekubo’s absence from public appearances and social media activity. His last major online post dated back to late 2024, fueling speculation about his health and wellbeing.

Born Alex Ekubo-Okwaraeke, the actor studied Law at the University of Calabar and also earned a diploma in Mass Communication. He first gained national attention after emerging as the first runner-up in the 2010 Mr Nigeria competition — a breakthrough that opened the doors to a successful acting career in Nollywood.

Ekubo quickly became one of the industry’s most recognisable faces, admired for his ability to interpret a wide range of roles. His performance in the 2012 movie In the Cupboard earned him the Best Actor in a Supporting Role award at the Best of Nollywood Awards.

Beyond acting, his personal life often attracted public interest, especially his relationship with American-based model Fancy Acholonu. The pair became one of Nollywood’s most talked-about celebrity couples after announcing their engagement in 2021.

However, their planned wedding — famously tagged #FalexxForever — was abruptly cancelled just months before the ceremony, sparking widespread reactions online. In the years that followed, both parties made headlines over comments regarding their relationship and eventual separation.

As tributes continue to pour in, colleagues in the movie industry have described Ekubo as a warm-hearted individual whose talent and energy left a lasting impact on African cinema.

His death marks a painful loss for Nollywood and the many fans who admired him throughout his career.

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Business

UBA, GTCO Lose ₦2.13 billion To Fraudsters Despite Heavy Cybersecurity Investments

Published

14 hours ago

May 12, 2026

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UBA, GTCO Lose ₦2.13 billion To Fraudsters Despite Heavy Cybersecurity Investments—-Three of Nigeria’s largest financial institutions have reported combined fraud-related losses of approximately ₦2.13 billion in their latest audited financial statements, highlighting the growing threat of cybercrime and electronic banking fraud in the country’s financial sector.

The affected institutions include Access Holdings Plc, Guaranty Trust Holding Company Plc, and United Bank for Africa Plc.

According to details contained in the banks’ 2025 financial reports, fraud incidents linked to the three lenders totalled approximately ₦10.29 billion. However, through recoveries, transaction reversals, and security interventions, the banks were able to prevent or recover about ₦8.16 billion, leaving actual losses at approximately ₦2.13 billion.

Among the banks, Access Holdings recorded the highest direct loss to fraudsters, losing an estimated ₦1.24 billion within the financial year.

United Bank for Africa reported over 26,400 fraud-related incidents, with actual losses totalling approximately ₦621.57 million, while Guaranty Trust Holding Company recorded approximately ₦269.44 million in losses tied to fraudulent activities.

Industry analysts say the figures reflect the increasing sophistication of cybercriminals targeting Nigeria’s rapidly expanding digital banking ecosystem.

Most of the fraud cases were reportedly connected to electronic banking channels, including unauthorised transfers, mobile banking compromise, phishing schemes, identity theft, and other forms of digital payment fraud.

The development comes as Nigerian banks continue to accelerate the country’s transition toward a cashless economy through mobile banking platforms, internet banking services, agency banking networks, and digital payment systems.

Despite the losses, the financial institutions significantly increased investments in technology infrastructure and cybersecurity measures during the year under review.

Collectively, the banks reportedly spent over ₦280 billion on technology upgrades, fraud monitoring systems, customer authentication processes, and transaction security enhancements aimed at reducing cyber threats and protecting customer funds.

Meanwhile, the Central Bank of Nigeria has also intensified regulatory efforts to curb financial fraud across the banking industry.

The apex bank recently introduced stricter compliance measures requiring financial institutions to strengthen fraud detection systems, improve transaction monitoring, and respond more rapidly to suspicious activities and customer complaints.

Financial experts have warned that as digital banking adoption continues to rise across Nigeria, banks and customers alike must remain vigilant against increasingly advanced cybercrime tactics targeting the financial sector

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