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

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.

Lagos Assembly passes anti-cultism Bill seeking to punish parents of culprits

The Lagos State House of Assembly has passed the anti-cultism bill which seeks to punish parents whose wards are found guilty of cultism.

The bill awaits the assent of the state governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu.

The House passed the bill ‘Unlawful Societies and Cultism (Prohibition) Bill 2020’ during the plenary session on Monday through a voice vote conducted by the Speaker, Mudashiru Obasa.

The speaker said the punishment, although not specified, was to further prohibit unlawful societies and cultism in the state.

“Parents of cultists found guilty of cultism in the state ‘might be liable’ for punishment.

“The bill, if signed into law, will provide for the prohibition of unlawful societies and cultism in Lagos and for connected purposes.

“Though, we will also differentiate between the types of cultism in the country, so that we won’t solve one problem and create another,” he said.

A lawmaker David Setonji, representing Badagry Constituency II, described cultism as a “major challenge to us in the state.”

Mr Setonji, therefore, admonished parents to take proper care of their children by ensuring their compliance with societal norms and values.

“There is nothing wrong in associations coming together, but when it has to do with devilish ideas, causing commotion, that is what we are against.

“As a result, parents should learn to take care of their children to ensure they conform to societal norms and values,” he said.