Pharmacists appeal for Uzochukwu’s safety

The Nigeria Association of Pharmacists in Academia (NAPA) has called for reassurance on the safety of Prof. Ikemefuna Uzochukwu.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Uzochukwu, a Pharmacist, was the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Abia, during the Feb. 25, 2023 Presidential/National Assembly elections.

Following the elections, Uzochukwu, who sought a review of the results, said he was “abducted and detained” by security agencies during the collation and announcement of results.

The National Chairman of NAPA, Dr Ezekiel Akinkunmi, in a statement on Friday appealed to agencies of government that were concerned with handling the matter and the general public, to let fairness and justice prevail.

“The news of the abduction, forceful detention, false imprisonment and threat to the life of one of our members, who serves as the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) of Abia State, Professor Ikemefuna Chijioke Uzochukwu by the Police and the Directorate of State Services in Abia State, has come to our attention.

“We have also got the news that he was asked to stay away from the Commission’s Office in Abia until further notice, without any official statement as to his particular offence.

“While we condemn all forms of electoral offences in strong terms, we wish to state categorically that we find the treatment meted out to Prof. Uzochukwu very strange and we wish to condemn it out-rightly.

“Prof. Uzochukwu is a Pharmacist and a renowned Professor of Pharmaceutical Chemistry of international repute.

“ As pharmacists and trainers of pharmacists, our core attributes include unblemished integrity, accuracy and strict adherence to ethics, rules and standards.

“We have zero tolerance for all forms of misconduct. That is why we give the populace medicines instead of poison.

“We can vouch for these attributes in Prof. Uzochukwu and that is why we are greatly concerned with the treatment meted out to him as well as his present situation.

“We, therefore, appeal to agencies of government that are concerned with handling this matter and the general public, to let fairness and justice prevail on this issue.

“And to stop the unnecessary media trial he is being unfairly subjected to,’’ the statement said. According to NAPA, the pharmacists are greatly concerned about the treatment meted out to Uzochukwu and his present situation.

“We need to be assured of his safety,’’ the statement said. (NAN)

Lagos State Governor, Mr Babajide SanwoOlu (second right) commiserating with relatives of a deceased involved in the train accident, during his condolence visit to the family home at the weekend in Lagos, With him is Head of Service, Mr Hakeem Muri-Okunola (right).

Envoy seek ways to boost Nigeria-Bangladesh bilateral trade

Mr Masudur Rahman, Bangladesh High Commissioner to Nigeria has called for more comprehensive ways to boost the growing trade relations between Nigeria and Bangladesh.

Rahman made the call on Thursday in Abuja in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

He said the trade volume between both countries currently stands at about $70 million dollars with prospects of solidifying and tapping into other areas of mutual interest.

“The bilateral trade between Nigeria and Bangladesh currently stands at a modest $70 million dollars, with Bangladesh only contributing $20 million as export to Nigeria.

“Previously the bilateral trade was even much insignificant but it is picking up, “So we are working on all fronts to deepen the bilateral cooperation in the areas of education, technical training exchanges, pharmaceuticals, ICT, software, textile/garments, and so on,” he said.

The envoy said Bangladesh was willing to deepen trade with Nigeria in the Oil/gas sector and agricultural sector with products like cotton, soya beans, ginger, millet, etc.

He, however, stressed the need to smoothen all bottlenecks associated with international trade and banking, especially in Nigeria, so as to have more seamless trade and investment.

“There are a lot of challenges in deepening the trade and investment, particularly in the way the banking sector could work to enhance the trading.

“In order to improve international trade, it is important for both countries to smoothen the transactions which are used through Letters of Credit opening and other banking tools.

“We also need to work on the areas of smooth handling, of course, of the goods and products and services that are offered,” he said.

The high commissioner said Bangladesh was looking forward to engaging more with Nigeria in areas like textile/garments, pharmaceuticals, and software which Bangladesh exports to the tune of $1.4 billion dollars.

Rahman recalled that Prof. Isa Pantami, Minister of Communications and Digital Economy had in January led a 17-member delegation to Bangladesh to deepen bilateral cooperation between both countries.

He, therefore, advocated for more such engagements which were facilitated by the NigeriaBangladesh Business and Technology Forum.

He said the high commission would continue to work with relevant stakeholders to strengthen the cordial bilateral relations between both strategic countries. (NAN)

ACivil Society Organisation, Global Network for Sustainable Development( GNSD), has called on Civil Society Organisations and other youth platforms to desist from acts of public incitements, describing the calls for the arrest of Enenche as tyrannical.

The National Coordinator ,GNSD, Mr Phil Roberts, made the call in a statement on Friday, in Abuja.

Robert said that such groups were hired to silence the voice of reason “and render our nation a tyrannical and dictatorial enclave

“A society where citizens live in perpetual fear and bondage.”

“It is advised that such groups should stop further acts of public incitements against the person of Dr Paul Enenche, their actions so far are tantamount to a gross abuse of his fundamental human rights as a free citizen

“A certain provocative and