Cynthia Osokogu: FG to Ban Date Rape Drug

Late Cynthia Osokogu

Muhammad Bello in Abuja

The Federal Government is set to ban the sale of Rohypnol, otherwise known clinically as Flunitrazepam, a sedative with hypnotic effects that was administered on Miss Cynthia Osokogu by friends she met through the social media before she was killed in a Lagos hotel.

Also described as a ‘date rape’ drug, Rohypnol, which is sold over the counter in many countries worldwide, is a prescription drug in Nigeria although many drug stores hardly restrict its sale. It has also been banned in some countries where it was used for similar nefarious purposes.

Shortly after Osokogu was killed, four persons – Okwumo Echezona Nwabufo (33), Ejike Ilechukwu Olisaeloka (23), Orji Osita (32) and Maduakor Chukwunonso (25) – were paraded by the police in Lagos for her murder in August.

Nwabufor and Olisaeloka told the police how they had lured her from her base in Nasarawa State, drugged and strangled the victim in order to steal her valuables.

Minister of Health, Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu, told State House correspondents yesterday at the end of the weekly Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting in Abuja that the decision to ban the drug was informed by the need to curb its abuse.

Act No. 43 of 1989, which established the National Drug Formulary and Essential Drugs List, empowers the government to prohibit importation into and manufacture in Nigeria of any drug not on the list.

Chukwu said his ministry had directed the National Drug Formulary and Essential Drug List Committee to look into the possibility of banning the drug.

According to him, “I have directed the appropriate body, which is the National Drug Formulary and Essential Drug List Committee, which is established by a separate law in this country, to immediately look into whether we should ban the drug or not.”

He explained that the decision was informed by the fact that “in some countries, the drug has now been banned and it was also for a similar reason (rape) that those countries decided to ban that particular drug”.

The FEC, presided over by Vice-President Namadi Sambo, also approved the establishment of the Nigeria National Pharmacovigilance Policy (NNPP) to ensure that adverse drug reactions are properly managed.

The minister said this was done because of the need for reporting, adequate records, follow up and collection of data on the issue.
“Today (yesterday) at the Federal Executive Council, the council approved the Nigerian National Pharmacovigilance Policy. It is a policy to ensure that adverse drug reactions are properly managed in this country. And in managing adverse drug reactions, there is need for prompt reporting, and for the reporting to be made to the appropriate authority.

“There is need for documentation of such reports. There is need for follow up of such reports. There is also need for clear guidelines as to how such reports will be investigated.

“There is also need for further research to be done, which will entail the collection of data from across different centres. The policy was actually approved by the National Council on Health at its 55th meeting in July.

“The normal process should be that after the National Council on Health, which is the highest policy formulation body in the health sector that involves not only the Federal Government but also the state governments, has approved any policy, then it has to be sent to FEC for final approval.

“The policy will be formally implemented by the National Pharmaco-Vigilance Centre which is located within the National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC),” the minister said.

FEC also approved the award of consultancy services for the engineering design to extend the East-West road.
According to the Minister of State for the Niger Delta, Hajiya Zainab Ibrahim Kuchi, the contract is for the fourth segment of the extensive road from Oron in Akwa  Ibom State to Calabar in Cross River State, and is expected to be completed in nine months.

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