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NAFDAC ISSUES PUBLIC ALERT ON SUBSTANDARD AND FALSIFIED ARTEMETRIN DS AND CIPROFIT 500 MALARIA DRUGS IN NIGERIA.

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By Prince Uwalaka Chimaroke
17- SEPT- 2025

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has raised a serious public health warning following the confirmation of substandard and falsified medicines currently in circulation in Nigeria. The alert, issued under Public Alert No. 030/2025, pertains specifically to two products: ARTEMETRIN DS (Artemether/Lumefantrine) 80mg/480mg tablets and CIPROFIT 500 (Ciprofloxacin Tablet USP 500mg).

According to NAFDAC, the falsified ARTEMETRIN DS tablets are labelled as manufactured by A.C. Drugs Ltd, Plot C5/C6 Old Airport Road, Emene-Enugu State, Nigeria, while the falsified CIPROFIT 500 tablets are labelled as manufactured by Impact Pharmaceutical Ltd, No. 33A/33B Standard Industrial Layout, Emene-Enugu State, Nigeria. Both manufacturers’ details are fictitious, and the products do not appear in the NAFDAC registered products database. Furthermore, the registration numbers displayed on the packaging are false.

The Agency explained that initial testing of the products through Thin-Layer Chromatography (TLC) revealed irregularities, which prompted further investigations. Comprehensive testing was subsequently conducted at a World Health Organization (WHO)-prequalified laboratory using High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) assay. The results confirmed that both medicines were grossly substandard:

ARTEMETRIN DS (Artemether/Lumefantrine) contained only 59.2% Artemether and 71.2% Lumefantrine, which fall well below the acceptable pharmacological range of 90-110%.

CIPROFIT 500 (Ciprofloxacin USP 500mg) contained only 5.7% Ciprofloxacin, a dangerously low concentration that renders the medicine ineffective and potentially harmful.

NAFDAC emphasized the dangers posed by these falsified products, warning that consumption could lead to treatment failure, worsening of disease conditions, antimicrobial resistance, and even loss of life. Particularly, the ineffective levels of active ingredients in these medicines compromise the health of patients who rely on them for the treatment of malaria and bacterial infections.

The Agency disclosed that these products were purchased from a “licensed vendor and wholesaler”, thereby highlighting the fact that even legitimate distribution channels can unknowingly circulate falsified medicines.

NAFDAC strongly advised members of the public to immediately discontinue the sale or use of these products. Individuals or vendors in possession of ARTEMETRIN DS or CIPROFIT 500 are instructed to return their stock to the nearest NAFDAC office without delay.

Furthermore, anyone who has consumed these medicines and experienced adverse reactions is urged to seek urgent medical attention from qualified healthcare professionals. Healthcare workers and consumers are equally encouraged to be vigilant and to report any suspected cases of substandard or falsified medicines directly to NAFDAC through the following channels:

Nearest NAFDAC office
Toll-free number: 0800-162-3322
Email: sf.alert@nafdac.gov.ng

This latest alert reinforces NAFDAC’s commitment to safeguarding public health through the surveillance, detection, and elimination of dangerous and falsified medical products in the Nigerian market. The Agency reiterated that it will continue working in collaboration with local and international partners to protect citizens from the grave risks posed by counterfeit medicines.

 

Health

Beatrice Ekweremadu Returns To Nigeria After UK Prison Release

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Wife of former Deputy Senate President Ekweremadu returns home following custodial sentence, while her husband remains imprisoned in UK.

The wife of former Nigerian Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, Beatrice, has returned to Nigeria after being released from a prison in the United Kingdom.

Her arrival in the country on Tuesday, January 21, 2026, followed the completion of the custodial portion of her sentence for her role in a high-profile organ-harvesting conspiracy.

Mrs Ekweremadu was received by family members and close associates at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja, marking her first time on Nigerian soil since the legal saga began in mid-2022.

While her return has sparked celebrations in her hometown of Mpu, in the Aninri Local Government Area (LGA) of Enugu State, it came amid the continued incarceration of her husband in London.

The return of the former Deputy Senate President’s wife followed her May 2023 conviction by the Old Bailey in London.

She was sentenced to four years and six months in prison for conspiring to facilitate the travel of a 21-year-old Lagos Street trader to the UK for the purpose of harvesting his kidney.

The organ was intended for the couple’s daughter, Sonia, who suffered from a chronic kidney condition.

The case, which was prosecuted under the UK’s Modern Slavery Act 2015, marked the first time the legislation was used in a human organ-harvesting prosecution.

Under UK law, non-violent offenders are typically eligible for release on license after serving half of their custodial term.

Reports indicated that Mrs. Ekweremadu’s release was further facilitated by her good conduct record and by a broader UK government initiative to address severe prison overcrowding.

Despite his wife’s return, Senator Ekweremadu remains in a UK correctional facility serving a significantly longer sentence.

In May 2023, the former lawmaker was handed a nine-year and eight-month term, as the court deemed him the primary driver of the conspiracy.

Efforts by the Nigerian federal government to secure his release or repatriation have so far been unsuccessful.

In late 2025, a high-powered diplomatic delegation visited London to explore a Prisoner Transfer Agreement (PTA) that would allow the Senator to serve the remainder of his term in a Nigerian facility.

However, the UK Home Office reportedly rejected the proposal in November 2025, citing concerns over the guarantee of the sentence’s continued enforcement if transferred to the Nigerian jurisdiction.

The third convict in the case, Dr. Obinna Obeta, who was described by the prosecution as the medical “middleman,” continues to serve a 10-year prison sentence in the UK.

Meanwhile, the couple’s daughter, Sonia, who was cleared of all criminal charges during the 2023 trial, remains in the United Kingdom, where she is reportedly receiving ongoing medical treatment for her condition.

 

 

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Elon Musk Claims Going To Medical School Is Now Pointless Because Robots Will Replace Human Surgeons By 2030 (Video)

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Elon Musk has asserted that medical degrees may soon become obsolete, as AI-powered robots are expected to surpass human surgeons in performance.

The Tesla and SpaceX CEO claimed that humanoid robots like Tesla’s Optimus will outperform the world’s best surgeons within three years.

Speaking on the Moonshots podcast hosted by Peter Diamandis, Musk argued that human doctors are slow to train, prone to error, and fundamentally limited.

“Right now there’s a shortage of doctors and great surgeons,” Musk said.

“[It takes] a super long time to learn how to be a good doctor Doctors have limited time, they make mistakes. How many great surgeons are there? Not that many,” he added.

“So don’t go to medical school?” Diamandis asked Musk.

While robotic surgery is advancing rapidly, experts warn that medicine cannot function without human judgement, accountability and ethical responsibility.

Watch video below:

Stop Calling Me ‘Bro’ or ‘Blood’ – 22-Year-Old Ondo Monarch Issues Warning To The Public

 

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Anu’s Mother Shares Alleged DNA Test Result Amid Partenity Dispute With Davido

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In a recent development, the ongoing controversy surrounding Ayo Labinjoh, the mother of Anu and Afrobeats superstar, Davido, over partenity dispute has intensified.

‎It’s worth noting that Ayo Labinjoh and Davido have been in the headlines over paternity dispute, with the singer claiming five DNA tests yielded negative results

In a fresh Instagram post, Ayo shared an existing DNA test result contradicting Davido’s earlier claim.

She emphasized that the DNA test result was valid, while investigative journalist, Kemi Olunloyo has fought vigorously for her daughter.

Her post reads,“The ONLY DNA 🧬 TEST Fake‼️ No swab, just bl00d 🩸 Not 2, Not 5.We still haven’t seen David post today online and in newspapers”.

Meanwhile, Davido has revealed that his father, Dr. Adedeji Adeleke, played a significant role amid his paternity dispute with Ayo Labinjoh.

In a recent tweet on X (formely Twitter), the ‘Feel’ crooner shared that his father insisted that he undergo DNA test.

“You guys don’t know my father..He’s even the one that forced me to go. Adeleke’s we don’t play about Blood on this side”, The tweet reads.

Meanwhile, Cubana Chief Priest’s alleged baby mama, Helen Atti, has weighed in on Davido’s paternity dispute.

She took to the singer’s comment section, writing, “Please just help her, you can still adopt her, it doesn’t mean anything. I know you love children a lot, not like Pascal Okechukwu, big belle for no reason”.

See below…..

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