News
NAFDAC Denies Text Message On Alleged Killer Apple
Panic has gripped Nigerians over a text message that is currently being circulated, warning everyone to abstain from eating apples.
The message, which also has been posted on various social networking sites on the internet, including Facebook, says a lot of people have died in the country after eating apples, most of which the message claims, has been contaminated.
The message read: “Tell your loved ones and anybody you know that some of the apples in town are poisonous to eat. All the ones imported into the country currently are contaminated and have been killing people. The statistics is nationwide and it is increasing. This message is from NAFDAC. It is not a rumour”.
But the National Agency for Food, Drug Administration and control (NAFDAC) has disowned the message and announced that the information is false.
The text message is currently spreading like wild fire was first brought to the attention of the NAFDAC Director-General, Paul Orhi at a sensitization workshop for Local Government Chairmen on combating Drug Hawking, which the agency organised yesterday in Abuja.
P.M. News learnt that a staff of the agency who got the “Killer apple” text message on her mobile phone drew the attention of the Director General to it.
Dr. Orhi was said to have quickly informed participants at the event that the message did not emanated from NAFDAC and denied the purported existence of any such apples in the country.
He, however, directed agents of NAFDAC on the field to get samples of apples from the markets in major cities for analysis.
The DG also disclosed that NAFDAC does not pass information through text message to the public as it uses newspaper and the electronic media.
While urging Nigerians to disregard the message, he said the public would be informed of the outcome of the analysis on samples of the fruit gathered from markets across Nigerian markets in due course.
Though the agency has allayed the fears of Nigerians, P.M. News, however, gathered that most apple sellers are finding it difficult to convince buyers that the information is not true.
Some of the sellers who spoke with P.M. News at Ogba area of Lagos this morning, said the false alarm has started affecting their business.
Abosede Lawal, one of the sellers who was met discussing the issue, told our reporter that she had eaten three of the fruits before some of her customers between yesterday and now to make them believe that the rumour is not true.
“Yet one of them told me, after I had eaten an apple, that she would wait till Saturday, and if nothing happens to me, she would then come and buy,” she said.
P.M. News, however, learnt that due to the perishable nature of the fruit, the sellers often sort out bad ones and sell them at lesser price.
The Renewed Hope Initiative in conjunction with the Rivers State Government has empowered 500 elderly citizens in Rivers State with financial support of N200,000 each.
The empowerment programme was part of activities to celebrate the third anniversary of the Renewed Hope Initiative Elderly Support Scheme RHIESS, a social investment policy initiated by the First Lady of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu.
Speaking at the event which held at the Government House, Port Harcourt, recently, under the theme, ‘Finding Joy in Old Age,’ Senator Tinubu said the gesture which has become traditional since 2023 was a mark of gratitude in recognition of the invaluable contributions of the senior citizens to nation building.
The First Lady who was represented by the wife of the Rivers State Governor and State Coordinator of the Renewed Hope Initiative, Lady Valerie Fubara, said the scheme was to “support two hundred and fifty (250) vulnerable elderly citizens aged 65 and above in all the 36 states of the federation, the Federal Capital Territory, and veterans from the Defence and Police Officers’ Wives Association (DEPOWA) totalling 9,500 selected beneficiaries across the nation.
She urged the beneficiaries to engage in activities that will make them find joy in old age.
“I encourage you to continue playing your part by staying healthy and active, nurture both your body and mind through regular exercise and meaningful engagement,” Senator Tinubu advised.
On her part, Lady Fubara said the State Government through the magnanimity of the governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has increased the beneficiaries of the programme from 250 to 500.
She restated the commitment of the State Government towards provision of social welfare and improving the standard of living of the elderly in the State.
Also speaking, the Executive Secretary, Rivers State Contributory Health Protection Programme (RIVCHPP), Dr Vetty Agala, said the State Government has through the Health4allrivers Initiative, introduced free medical care for senior citizens in the State, in line with the Renewed Hope Initiative.
The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Rivers State Council, has urged the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to expedite the prosecution of the Director of the now distressed MBA Forex Trading, Mr. Maxwell Odum, in the interest of justice.
The Rivers State NUJ made the appeal during a courtesy visit to the EFFC’s Ag. Zonal Director, ACE Hassan Saidu, in Port Harcourt, recently.
The council’s chairman, Comrade Paul Bazia, said the appeal became imperative after it considered the number of Nigerians and others involved in the financial misconduct.
According to him, it has caused hardship among many households in the country and should be given the attention it deserves.
He said that investors cannot come into a country or invest in an economy or nation ridden with fraud.
This, he said, has made it more imperative to arrest, prosecute and convict alleged fraudsters like the MBA Forex Director, who is alleged to have defrauded thousands of unsuspecting Nigerians, to serve as a deterrent to others.
The chairman also requested that while the trial lasts, part of the swindled funds should be given to the victims that suffered loss and trauma as a result of the fraud.
The NUJ reiterated its resolve to change the narrative of reportage from crisis to developmental communication.
According to him, the NUJ’s main focus is blue economy and tourism.
He expressed the readiness of the Council to partner the agency in the area of information dissemination.
“We believe you have a responsibility to fight financial crimes. We also know that you need the Press to publicize your activities and NUJ can provide that,” he said.
Responding, the Zonal EFFC’s boss commended the NUJ’s vision to change the narrative of reporting from crisis to developmental communication.
According to Saidu, the Western world have since imbibed such culture, hence the negative stories about them are carefully sifted to allow only positive ones to be released to the outside world.
As for the trapped funds to be released, the EFCC Zonal Director stated that only the court can authorize such action, stressing that the primary responsibility of the Commission is to arrest and prosecute.
He pledged to partner with the NUJ now that the leadership has visited the Commission.
The Head of the Legal & Prosecution Department, DCE Odiase Stephen, corroborated the Zonal Director’s position and stressed that it was only when the matter has been determined by the court that such funds can be released.
He further stated that once a matter is before a court of competent jurisdiction, it cannot be discussed outside.
By: King Onunwor
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