News
Developing Countries Tasked On Indigenous Drugs
By Monday EBALU, Benin City
A Professor of Pharmacology, University College London, Prof Humphrey Rang, has called on governments of developing countries to invest in indigenous drugs discovery so as to reduce the financial burden on Pharmaceutical companies.
Rang gave this call during an International Symposium organised by the University of Benin on Wednesday in Benin.
While delivery a lecture entitled “Drug Discovery in a Changing World” Rang, said that It was difficult to get ground breaking research without finance.
He said that drug discovery was difficult, slow and expensive hence the need for government of developing nations to support their Pharmaceutical companies to produce indigenous drugs.
“It is expensive to produce a single drug, in the UK, about one billion pounds is needed to produce a single drug.
According him, “40 per cent of the cost is spent on research and development while 60 percent on marketing cost”.
Hang, however, said that developing countries would need International support to produce drugs for sickle cell and Cancers.
He listed challenges to drug discovery and development to inadequate funding, long period of development and complex stages of drugs registration.
Speaking on the significance of the International symposium in his opening speech, the Vice Chancellor of UNIBEN, Prof. Faraday Orumwense said that the university was in the fore front of scientific discovery and dissemination of new knowledge to the society.
The VC said that the institution would continue to promote discoveries which would result in direct benefits and innovation and fuel economic growth.
Speaking on the gains of the international symposium, Dr Osahon Enabulele, a former President of the Nigerian Medical Association said that the lecture was apt and an eye opener for the Nigerian government to boost research and development.
“The lecture has made every Nigerian to be aware that they must not depend on foreign countries before they could invest massively in the research and the development of new drugs as it is a task they must do on their own.
He said, “our government must invest seriously in research and that is why again, looking at the 2016 budget there is no inspiration because on that budget, no much emphases is placed on research investment.”
“So the message I got from this today, is that, we should get together as Africans and Nigerians and not look on to the western powers because they cannot do it for us”, he said.
The Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to maintain the status quo in a dispute over the party’s candidates emerging from the Benue State APC primaries for the 2027 general election.
The order was made on Thursday by Justice Inyang Ekwo during proceedings in Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/1429/2026, filed by Engr. Sesugh Akaagba and other aggrieved APC candidates from Benue State against the APC and INEC.
The plaintiffs had, through an ex parte motion filed on July 5, 2026, sought six interim reliefs, including an order restraining the APC from substituting its validly nominated candidates in Benue State through its June 29, 2026 correspondence, or any subsequent communication, to INEC, pending determination of the substantive suit.
They also sought an order compelling the APC to immediately transmit to INEC the names of candidates validly nominated during the primaries monitored by the electoral commission.
When the matter first came up on July 8, 2026, the court declined to grant the interim application immediately, directing both APC and INEC to appear and respond before any decision was taken. The matter was adjourned to July 16.
At Thursday’s proceedings, counsel representing the APC and INEC were present in court, while the plaintiffs were represented by Mohammed Ndarani, SAN, alongside his legal team.
In his ruling, Justice Ekwo held that since issues had been joined by the parties particularly with INEC now before the court, the defendants were required by law to preserve the subject matter of the litigation pending determination of the substantive suit.
When counsel to the plaintiffs urged the court to caution APC and INEC against taking any further action that could affect the disputed list of candidates, the judge responded that it was “not a matter of advice but of law,” stressing that the defendants were bound to maintain the status quo.
The court consequently restrained APC and INEC from taking any action capable of altering the disputed list of candidates pending the hearing and determination of the substantive suit.
The defendants did not object to the restraining order.
At the commencement of proceedings, the court noted that all parties had voluntarily submitted to its jurisdiction by duly filing and exchanging their respective processes.
It held that there was no procedural or jurisdictional impediment to the expeditious determination of the substantive action, and directed that the matter be heard without further delay.
In furtherance of the objective of preserving the res and safeguarding the efficacy of the judicial process, the court ordered all parties to maintain the status quo pending the hearing and final determination of the substantive suit, restraining any act or omission capable of prejudicing the rights of the parties or rendering the proceedings nugatory.
The court further directed that INEC be served forthwith with the originating and all consequential processes.
The effect of the subsisting order is that INEC is restrained from tampering with the existing list of candidates pending final determination of the suit, and from receiving, recognising, or acting upon any purported substituted list of National Assembly candidates from Benue State submitted by the APC.
The matter was adjourned to July 21, 2026, for hearing of the substantive suit.
Former President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan and former First Lady Patience Ibifaka Jonathan recently celebrated a significant family milestone as they attended the graduation ceremony of their son, Ariara Goodluck Jonathan, at Manchester Metropolitan University in the United Kingdom.
The proud parents joined family members and well-wishers to witness Ariara receive his degree, marking the successful completion of his academic programme. The occasion was filled with joy as the Jonathan family commemorated the achievement, highlighting the importance they place on education and personal development.
The graduation ceremony attracted warm congratulatory messages from friends, associates, and admirers, who wished the graduate continued success in his future endeavours.
The Following names joined the political family of Sen. Dr. George Akume today after leaving the sinking Alia ship .
Under the leadership of Barr. Emmanuel Jime .
The are ;
Chief Nelson Alapa
Douglas pepe SAN senatorial Aspirant zone A,
Engr Peter Ashiekaa
QS Clement Beetseh
Former commissioners
Joy Luga
Ann itodo
Barr martins Shaagee
Miss Dorcas
Prof Usar Joseh
Prof Cephas Tushima
Chief Patrick Idoko
Hon Patience Akor
Hon Fred Idoko
Hon Lawrence Ekpo Onoja Jnr
Hon Andrew Abah
Hon Agbo Innocent Ikwumonu
Hon Simon Omachoko
Hon David Egboja
Dr John Garba
Among together,
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