馃嚦馃嚞NigeriaWest Africa
Kwara State raises concern over 724 illegal drug premises discovered by Pharmacy Council of Nigeria
via Punch Nigeria3 min read
The Kwara State Government has expressed significant concern following the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria's discovery and closure of 724 illegal drug premises across the state. Dr. Abdulraheem Malik, Executive Secretary of the Kwara State Hospitals Management Board, stated that while the enforcement exercise is commendable, the sheer number of illegal outlets is alarming and highlights the scale of unregulated medicine distribution. He noted that many of these premises are operated by individuals lacking the necessary pharmaceutical training, leading to risks such as improper drug handling, treatment failures, and serious health complications for residents who unknowingly patronize them. Malik emphasized that the findings should prompt the Kwara State Pharmaceutical Inspectors Committee to strengthen its surveillance and enforcement strategies. He recommended leveraging Community Health Committees in 46 communities to improve grassroots monitoring and reporting of illegal drug outlets and support public awareness campaigns on the dangers of unauthorized medicine vendors. The government aims for a significant reduction in illegal drug premises during future inspections, underscoring public health protection as a top priority and calling for stronger regulatory vigilance.
Free daily or weekly digest of the most important stories from across 18 African countries. No spam, unsubscribe any time.
This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by Punch Nigeria.
A Russian drone strike set fire to a Panama-flagged cargo vessel, killing a 58-year-old Egyptian cook, according to Ukraine's Deputy Prime Minister Oleksiy Kuleba. Eight other sailors, including Turkish and Indian citizens, escaped on a life raft. The Ukrainian navy identified the vessel as the Turkish cargo ship Victress, stating it sustained significant damage and lost seaworthiness, and that Russia continues to violate international maritime law. Kuleba also reported Russian attacks on vessels under the flags of Palau and Belize, with no casualties. Separately, Russian attacks killed two people in Ukraine: one in Odesa from a missile strike and another in Zaporizhzhia from a drone attack, where three people were also wounded. In Russia, Moscow's four airports were briefly closed after drones were intercepted, and Russia's defense ministry claimed to have destroyed 301 Ukrainian drones overnight.
Must ReadA South Korean court has sentenced former justice minister Park Sung-jae to 25 years in prison for his involvement in the brief martial law declaration by former president Yoon Suk Yeol in December 2024. The Seoul Central District Court found Park guilty of "insurrection." Prosecutors stated that Park held a meeting of justice ministry officials shortly after the declaration to assess prison capacity for potential arrests of anti-government figures. Presiding judge Lee Jin-gwan noted that Park, as justice minister, disregarded opinions raised during the meeting concerning the illegality of the December 3 insurrection. Prosecutors had sought a 20-year sentence, arguing Park abused his power and challenged the rule of law. Park was taken into custody following the ruling. Former president Yoon Suk Yeol is currently appealing a life sentence for leading the insurrection and also received a 30-year term for sending drones to North Korea to create a national crisis. Other former officials, including former prime minister Han Duck-soo and former interior minister Lee Sang-min, have also received significant prison sentences related to the martial law incident.
Two students opened fire inside San Jose National High School in Tacloban City, Leyte province, resulting in the deaths of three teenagers and injuries to seven others, according to police. The alleged shooters, aged 15 and 14, fired "randomly," causing panic among students. A social studies teacher, Irvin Nogar, described hearing gunshots and instructing students to hide. A video verified by AFP showed children screaming and crying during the incident. The mother of one of the slain students called for accountability for those who provided the guns. Police Lieutenant Evalyn Diaz stated that "bullying was the motive" and that the alleged shooters were being interrogated. The police are investigating the origin of the firearms and how they were brought into the school. The Department of Education described the situation as "high-alert" and is coordinating with law enforcement. While school shootings are rare in the Philippines, a knife attack injured seven students last month in Cavite province. President Ferdinand Marcos's spokeswoman, Claire Castro, expressed the president's sadness and mentioned that measures are being taken to ensure safety in public spaces. Legal gun ownership is strictly regulated in the Philippines, but a significant black market for firearms exists.