September 19, 2024

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Economy/Business

FG reaffirms commitment to consumer empowerment through standardisation

By Lucy Ogalue

The Federal Government of Nigeria has reiterated commitment to empowering consumers through enhanced standardisation practices, and ensuring access to safe and quality goods and services.

Dr Doris Anite, Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, who made the commitment, commended the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) for its tireless efforts in consumer protection at the African Day of Standardisation celebration in Abuja on Tuesday,

Anite, represented by Permanent Secretary Amb. Nura Rimi, emphasised the significance of adopting and enforcing standards to safeguard consumer rights across Africa.

“As we mark the 11th day of standardising, let us reaffirm our commitment to empowering consumers through effective standardisation strategies and foster a culture of quality consciousness.

“Africa, the world’s fastest-growing consumer market, is projected to see its consumer base rise from 1.2 billion to 1.7 billion by 2030, with consumer expenditure expected to grow from 1.4 trillion dollars in 2015 to 2.5 trillion dollars by 2030.

“However, the continent faces challenges such as misleading advertisements, unsafe products, and inadequate information, impacting consumer safety and confidence,” she stated.

She explained that the Nigerian government had implemented policies and programmes to establish an enabling environment for consumers, aligning with President Bola Tinubu’s global agenda.

“These initiatives have streamlined bureaucratic processes, eliminated bottlenecks, and improved consumer welfare and awareness.

According to Anite, standardisation plays a vital role in ensuring products and services meet international quality benchmarks, fostering consumer trust, and promoting market access.

“It also drives innovation by providing frameworks for advanced technologies and best practices.”

SON’s Director-General, Dr Ifeanyi Okeke, reiterated the organisation’s commitment to creating an enabling environment for consumers, promoting their rights to safe quality goods and services through standardisation.

“Nigeria remains a major player in commerce and trade across the African continent, providing the much-needed standardisation platform for manufacturers and consumers alike.

“By working together, Nigeria can mitigate the adverse effects of trade imbalances and ensure consumers have access to quality goods and services,” Okeke stated.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the event attended by heads of government parastatals, agencies, and stakeholders, underscored the importance of collaboration in maintaining standardisation in the country. (NAN)

Edited by Abiemwense Moru

Health

FCTA, GAIN sign MoU on access to affordable, nutritious food

By Justina Auta

The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) and Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN) have signed an MoU to improve access to affordable, safe and nutritious food in the FCT.

Nyesom Wike, FCT Minister, while signing the documents on Tuesday in Abuja, said the initiative would boost sustainable development and address issues around food insecurity, as well as improve the health systems of the people.

Wike, who was represented by Mr Chidi Amadi, his Chief of Staff, said: “there is no better time to have this than now when we have issues of malnutrition.

“Today is not just a mere show but the collaborative efforts we just endorsed will translate to useful results, dividends that will reflect in the lives of people in the FCT, especially those in area councils.

“We enjoin you to ensure that all that needs to be done in the campaign to drive this process are put in place.

“Improving nutrition is very key especially now that food scarcity has become a serious challenge in our country.”

Mr Ubokutom Nyah, Mandate Secretary, Economic Planning, Revenue Generation and Public-Private Partnership (EPRGPPP) said the partnership would strengthen value chains, empower primary-schools with nutritious food and improve food security.

“This MoU will pave the way for interventions that have long-term benefits for the health and well-being of our pupil’s and residents, especially those who are below the pyramid.

”It will improve access to fortified foods, enhanced nutrition education and the development of sustainable agricultural practices.

“It will also contribute to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly those related to zero hunger, good health and economic growth,” he said.

Dr Michael Ojo, Country Director, GAIN, said the three-year plan would foster a healthier food environment, reduce malnutrition and promote sustainable food systems for improved food security, access to safe, affordable and nutritious food.

“The multidimensional index report released by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) in 2022 highlights that the FCTA is the 11th least poor region of government in Nigeria ranking by states.

“This means that there are 10 other states that are doing better than the FCTA, when you look at what constitutes multidimensional poverty in the FCT, nutrition is the biggest component.

“I think it is appropriate that we are looking at this as a major problem and we are supporting the FCTA to deal with it.

“If we are able to design projects and programmes that tackle some of the underlying causes of malnutrition then we hope to see the health status of FCT residents improve,” he said.

Ojo explained that the key areas of collaboration include building capacity on project management, advocacy and resource mobilisation, and promoting the adoption of biofortified crop varieties to address malnutrition.

Others are support to the Home-Grown School Feeding Programme (HGSFP), implementing human-centred design approaches in social protection programmes and strengthening food safety measures and nutrition-related policies. (NAN)

Edited by Abiemwense Moru

Health

Borno Commissioner raises concerns over TB drug access

By Yakubu Uba

Borno’s Commissioner for Health and Human Services, Prof. Baba Gana, revealed that a significant number of tuberculosis patients in the state, estimated at 16,000, are not availing themselves of treatment.

Speaking at a stakeholders’ meeting in Maiduguri to mark World Tuberculosis Day, Gana emphasised that only 5,905 patients have been identified and treated, leaving over 10,000 individuals unaccounted for.

This gap poses a risk of further infection within the community, prompting Gana to urge advocacy for TB diagnosis.

The commissioner expressed the ministry’s commitment to collaborating with partners to address the situation and announced the appointment of a new TB programme manager with a mandate to improve treatment coverage.

Gana stressed the importance of allocating resources to TB treatment, citing the state’s compliance with the Abuja Declaration, which allocates 15 per cent of the budget to healthcare.

He also praised partners such as WHO, Global Fund, UNICEF, and USAID for their support and called on the media to raise awareness about TB symptoms and encourage testing.

Gana urged parents to ensure their children receive TB vaccinations, which are provided free of charge.

Dr Ibrahim Salisu, Borno Coordinator of WHO, emphasised the global impact of TB and highlighted recent progress in diagnosis and treatment, while pledging continued support for the state.

Dr Ali Goni, Borno Programme Manager of TB, stressed the need for collaborative efforts across sectors to combat TB effectively.

The event included a road walk to raise public awareness and a presentation on TB cases among children below 10 years by Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF), which reported diagnosing 328 cases at one of its facilities in Maiduguri. (NAN) www.nannews.ng 

Edited by Gabriel Yough

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