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Lagos Assembly passes motion banning illegal sales of COVID-19 drugs

February 9, 2021 No Comments

The Lagos State House of Assembly on Monday passed a resolution banning the illegal sales and administration of drugs meant to treat COVID-19 in the state.

The House resolution followed a motion by the Chair, Ad Hoc Committee on Health, Hakeem Shokunle (Oshodi/Isolo 1) owning to raising illegal trading of Covid-19 drugs.

Mr Shokunle expressed concerns at the rate of unchecked importation of Covid-19 drugs, adding that there should be a way to regualate the importation of such drugs as well as their sales.

An amendment to the bill will provide the needed impetus for the government to respond to the challenges being faced by the people following the outbreak of Coronavirus,” he said.

Weighing in, a representative from Ifako-Ijaiye 1 noted that due to the deadly Covid-19, there is need to place premium on public health.

“COVID-19 pandemic is ravaging the world, we are all affected, and we must come against the issue of self-medication and self-administration of drugs,” he said.

The Speaker of the Assembly, Mudashiru Obasa, directed the House Committee on Health to further liaise with the executive arm of government with a view to scrutinising and strengthening the bill.

Former Vice President and presidential candidate in the 2019 election, Atiku Abubakar, has slammed the Federal Government as well as the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), over its order to banks to shout down cryptocurrency operations.

Atiku, in a statement on Saturday, faulted the apex bank over the policy, noting that with the present economic downturn in the country, Nigerians need all the help they can get to get out of the present economic quagmire.

In a statement titled, “We Need To Open Up Our Economy, Not Close It,” Atiku said the policy came at a very wrong time.

“This is definitely the wrong time to introduce policies that will restrict the inflow of capital into Nigeria, and I urge that the policy to prohibit the dealing and transaction of cryptocurrencies be revisited,” he said.

“The number one challenge facing Nigeria is youth unemployment. In fact, it is not a challenge, it is an emergency. It affects our economy, and is exacerbating insecurity in the nation.

“What Nigeria needs now, perhaps more than ever, are jobs and an opening up of our economy, especially after reports by the National Bureau of Statistics indicating that foreign capital inflow into Nigeria is at a four year low, having plummeted from $23.9 billion in 2019, to just $9.68 billion in 2020.

“Already, the nation suffered severe economic losses from the border closure, and the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“It is possible to regulate the sub sector and prevent any abuse that may be inimical to national security. That may be a better option than an outright shutdown.

“There is already immense economic pressure on our youths. It must be the job of the government, therefore, to reduce that pressure, rather than adding to it.

“We must create jobs in Nigeria. We must expand the economy. We must remove every impediment towards investments. We owe the Nigerian people that much.”