Senbanjo, also a Consultant Physician at Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, gave the advice in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria on Tuesday in Lagos.

She expressed concern over the high and alarming rate of antibiotics abuse, self-medication, and the use of unprescribed antibiotics in Nigeria, describing it as a major threat to the nation’s healthcare system.

“The use of antibiotics without a prescription from qualified medical experts is one of the major causes of antimicrobial resistance across the country, leading to severe infections, complications, longer hospital stays, and increased mortality,” she said.

Senbanjo explained that AMR occurs when bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites no longer respond to antimicrobial agents. She added that drug resistance renders antibiotics and other antimicrobial agents ineffective, making infections difficult or impossible to treat and increasing the risk of disease spread, severe illness, and death.

“There is an increasing problem of antimicrobial resistance, whereby antibiotics are no longer effective for the treatment of infectious diseases for which they were specifically designed.

“This is why a doctor may admit a patient and administer a particular antibiotic that ordinarily should cure the patient’s ailment, but it will not work.

“Antibiotics, known as antibacterials, are drugs that destroy or slow down the growth of bacteria. They are meant to treat specific types of bacteria and cannot be interchanged to treat any infection other than the one they were designed for.

“But today, they are indiscriminately used to treat diverse ailments, which has led to resistance and made antibiotics ineffective against targeted infections,” Senbanjo said.

She stressed the importance of proper examination and diagnosis by qualified medical practitioners before prescribing antibiotics.

“Before prescribing antibiotics, both the patient and the drug should undergo a culture test in a laboratory to identify the causative organism and determine the exact antibiotic that can combat it,” she said.

The endocrinologist decried the common practice of using antibiotics to treat viral infections such as colds, flu, coughs, and sore throats without a medical prescription or laboratory confirmation. She also warned against incomplete antibiotic treatment.

“A lot of people stop taking antibiotics after three days because they feel better. This is drug abuse and very wrong. It can make the antibiotic ineffective in the person’s body, such that when taken again for the same ailment, it will not work.

“The normal prescription duration for antibiotics is usually seven days, regardless of how the patient feels,” she said.

Senbanjo urged the Federal Government and regulatory authorities to intensify efforts toward effective regulation and enforcement of policies on the use and sale of drugs in the country.

She also called for increased public awareness campaigns through television, radio, and social media to educate citizens on the proper use of antibiotics and other drugs.

(NAN)

Health Minister Dr Zubir Ahmed and the MHRA in a press release on its website, issued the directive.

Ahmed said: “As a practising doctor and patient safety minister, I want to be absolutely clear – please do not buy weight loss medications from unregulated sources.

“These products are made with no regard for safety or quality and pose a major risk to unwitting customers. Don’t line the pockets of criminals who don’t care about your health.

 

“Safe, appropriate, licensed obesity drugs can greatly benefit those with a clinical need but should be obtained from a registered pharmacy against a valid prescription.”

Jenn Matthissen from the MHRA’s Safety and Surveillance team added: “People often look for ways to support their health at this time of year, but buying medicines from illegal online sellers can put your health at real risk.

“Always make sure you are using authorised products from legitimate sources and speak to a healthcare professional for advice on safe, evidence-based options.”

The MHRA highlighted that weight-loss products sold illegally online or through social media can be fake, contaminated, incorrectly dosed, or contain powerful ingredients not listed on the packaging, leading to serious side effects including heart problems, dangerously low blood sugar, and psychological effects.

Some medicines, including all GLP-1 treatments — often called “skinny jabs” — are prescription-only and should only be supplied after a proper assessment by a qualified healthcare professional.

The agency advised the public to:

Not buy prescription-only medicines without a prescription.

Only purchase medicines from registered UK pharmacies or legitimate retailers.

Check pharmacy registration on the General Pharmaceutical Council website (Great Britain) or the Pharmaceutical Society of Northern Ireland (PSNI) website.

Avoid weight-loss products promoted on social media promising “quick fixes”, “miracle results”, or unusually low prices.

Report suspicious websites or products to the MHRA’s Yellow Card scheme.

Individuals considering weight-loss treatment are encouraged to speak with their GP, pharmacist, or another qualified healthcare professional, the release concluded.

A member of the House of Representatives, Hon. Aminu Jaji, has warned the Committee of Concerned Elders for Peace under the All Progressives Congress (APC), North-West, against dragging Senator Abdulaziz Yari or any party leader into their dirty politics.

Jaji, who is the Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Ecological Funds, stated this in a statement issued by his media aide, Mohammed Umar, while reacting to allegations of anti-party activities.

He said: “I keep on saying this—I can never disrespect Senator Abdulaziz Yari; he is my boss. I served under him, and he is one of the politicians I hold in high esteem. I can never seek to demean him under any circumstances whatsoever.”

“The attention of Rt. Hon. Aminu Sani Jaji, Member representing Kaura Namoda/Birnin Magaji Federal Constituency of Zamfara, has been drawn to a cooked-up story alleging my involvement in anti-party activities by a so-called Committee of Concerned Elders for Peace under the All Progressives Congress (APC), North-West.

“For the avoidance of doubt, Rep. Aminu Sani Jaji is a loyal and card-carrying member of the APC. At no point in time has he sponsored any attacks on the party or disrespected any elder or leader of the party in any of the six geopolitical zones of the country. My support and loyalty to the party cannot be quantified.”

“The bond between me and Sen. Abdulaziz Yari dates back to many years of cordial relations, and no amount of falsehood, hiding under the guise of a political group, can alter this relationship.”

“Some people who have lost relevance in Zamfara State and are having sleepless nights over Jaji’s growing popularity are responsible for peddling such falsehoods in order to incite the people and the party against me.”

“We advise the peddlers of this falsehood to leave Senator Yari out of their dubious motives and allow him to concentrate on his mandate of delivering the dividends of democracy to the good people of Zamfara State.”

The United States government has issued a stern warning to Nigerian travellers about the severe consequences of overstaying their visa, emphasising that violators could face permanent bans from re-entering the country.

The US Mission in Nigeria posted the warning via its X on Monday.

The immigration authorities clarified that consular officers can access an individual’s full immigration history, making it nearly impossible to avoid penalties for past violations.

They further emphasised that travellers are responsible for adhering to the terms of their visa and that ignorance of visa regulations will not be accepted as an excuse.

“If you overstay your US visa, you could face a permanent ban on travelling to the United States. Consular officers have full access to your immigration history and will know about past violations. There is no such thing as an ‘honest mistake’ – it is your responsibility to use your visa correctly,” the US Mission stated.

It is learnt that those who overstay their visa for more than 180 days but less than a year may face a three-year re-entry ban.

If the overstay exceeds one year, the penalty could be a 10-year ban.

Repeat offenders or those with serious violations risk a permanent lifetime ban.

Since the return of Trump as US President, America has become stricter with its immigration policies.

On February 16, 2025, the Federal Government raised serious concerns about the deportation of its nationals from the United States, urging Washington to adhere to international conventions and ensure a dignified repatriation process.

During a meeting with the US Ambassador to Nigeria, Richard Mills Jr., the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, emphasised the emotional and financial strain these deportations are placing on Nigerians in the US and their families back home.

Odumegwu-Ojukwu highlighted that “about 201 Nigerians are currently detained in US immigration centers, with around 85 cleared for deportation,” adding that the government was advocating for a more humane approach to the process.

“With the new US administration in place, we expect commitments to ensure that, if repatriation occurs, it will be done with dignity,” she said.

Odumegwu-Ojukwu further pointed out that many Nigerians in the US play a crucial role in supporting their families back home through vital remittances, which help sustain their livelihoods and fund their education.

She noted that these deportations, especially for those with no violent criminal history, should not be sudden or traumatic.

“We are asking as a country whether they will be given ample time to handle their assets or will they just be bundled into planes and repatriated?” she questioned.

The New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) has officially distanced itself from the Kwankwasiya Movement and The National Movement (TNM), warning them to stop claiming membership or leadership roles within the party.

In a letter dated March 20, 2025, and sent to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the Inspector General of Police (IGP), NNPP emphasized that its Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the two groups ended in 2023 and should be respected.

The letter, signed by Dr. Boniface Aniebonam (Founder and Chairman of NNPP Board of Trustees) and Dr. Agbo Major (National Chairman), specifically addressed Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso (Kwankwasiya leader) and Elder Buba Galadima (TNM leader), urging them to stop identifying with NNPP.

NNPP had initially partnered with these groups for the 2023 presidential election, allowing Kwankwaso to run as its candidate. However, after the election, the party terminated the agreement in July 2023.

Despite this, the groups continued associating themselves with NNPP, leading to expulsions of some members for anti-party activities.

The letter warned:

“You must forthwith desist from this fraudulent and heinous posturing… The structure and leadership of NNPP have, since July 28, 2023, reverted to its original founders.”

The development signals a further breakdown in relations between NNPP and the Kwankwasiya/TNM groups, which had played a significant role in the party’s 2023 election campaign.

The Osun State chapter of the All Progressives Congress, APC, has issued a stern warning to party chieftains from outside the state, accusing them of undermining the party in favour of Governor Ademola Adeleke.

In a statement signed by Director of Media and Information, Kola Olabisi on Tuesday, the Osun APC threatened to release the names of those allegedly using their influence with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to promote Adeleke.

The statement said, “Our ears are full of the inglorious and nefarious contributions of highly placed chieftains of our party at the presidency and from APC-controlled states who are engaging in anti-party activities.”

The party claimed to have a list of serving governors, ministers and political appointees who, due to their personal ties with Adeleke, had been advocating for him within the Presidency.

“We, as a party, are warning those concerned to do a soul-searching and urgently back out of their treacherous political activities against our members and supporters in Osun State,” the statement added.

The Osun APC described the alleged acts as a betrayal, warning that those involved risked being publicly named and branded enemies of the party.

“There is no rationale behind unnecessarily working against the interest of our party in Osun State. These identified political turncoats have been monitored over time,” the statement noted.

The party further accused Adeleke’s administration of being complicit in violence against its members, citing the killing of Remi Abass, an APC chieftain in Irewole local government area of the state.

“Our message to these APC chieftains working against the party’s interest is clear: leave us alone if you cannot use your influence to enhance the party’s position,” the statement stressed.

According to the statement, some of the accused APC chieftains had provided Adeleke’s administration with financial and logistical support, allegedly strengthening his influence in Abuja.

“This untoward development has emboldened Governor Adeleke and his cohorts to boast openly that they have the keys to the presidency,” the statement alleged.

The APC reaffirmed its strength in Osun, insisting that the party remained solid despite Adeleke’s alleged efforts to undermine it.

“What we will not tolerate is for some treacherous chieftains of the party to portray Governor Adeleke as ‘a good boy’ to President Tinubu when it is clear he has been working against the party.”

The party further accused Adeleke of criticising President Tinubu while allegedly working to weaken the APC in Osun.

“It would be recalled that no fewer than 30 APC members and supporters were killed by PDP hoodlums across the state to enable Adeleke and his candidates rig the elections in 2022 and 2023,” the statement claimed.

The Osun APC vowed to continue its opposition to Adeleke’s administration and work towards reclaiming the governorship in 2026.