It is sad that some unscrupulous Nigerians would put up for sale critical medical and other items given by donor agencies.

The report that free drugs from donor agencies are on the shelves of drug dealers and traders is disheartening. In a raid by the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), in collaboration with the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) recently, drugs donated by the USAID, which are supposed to be given to patients free were amongst the drugs found in the various markets raided for unwholesome drugs in Lagos, Aba and Onitsha.

According to Prof Mojisola Christianah Adeyeye, the Director-General of NAFDAC, ?we found products donated by USAID. We found antiretroviral for free use.?

It Is sad that crucial items badly needed by the poor and vulnerable in our society, and which have been given us for free, like mosquito nets, malaria drugs, drugs for the treatment and control of AIDS, and tuberculosis, are confiscated by the receiving agencies and persons in privileged positions and sold to traders. Thus, the poor, who are mostly vulnerable to these diseases have their challenges compounded, as they are denied access to these drugs that they cannot afford to buy.

But for corruption, we wonder how drugs which have been donated to the country by donor agencies and other charitable organisations would end on the shelves for sale. Such disreputable conduct brings not only disgrace to the country, but in some cases a blacklisting by such donor agencies. Imagine where a donor agency raises funds and sends drugs to our country, based on what they consider needs assessment, and unscrupulous persons get hold of them and start trading on them. Such donor agency would not agree that our country needs such intervention. Yet, Nigeria, like most third world countries, badly needs such assistance.

The emergence of Donald Trump as President of the United States has exposed many countries relying on the charitable support of USAID in their health sector. Despite protests at home and abroad, President Trump is taking steps to stop the activities of the agency, because he and his team see the agency as a conduit pipe for corrupt practices in foreign countries.

There was even the allegation that the agency?s fund is used to fund terrorism in Nigeria. While that allegation may be wide off the mark, the abuses associated with using donated funds or materials for causes different from what the donor agreed to is an abuse that affects future donations.

The common statement that the intention of the donor should be respected is important. But it amounts to criminality when drugs or materials which are supposed to be given freely are confiscated and diverted to the markets for sale. Such is not only a sin, but a crime which should be punished.

We hope the security agencies would find out those who gave out the drugs and materials in their custody for sale. We believe that with painstaking effort, the origin and channel of the drugs and materials can be traced and those abusing the goodwill of foreign donors stopped. Nigeria, which is still afflicted by primary diseases like malaria, tuberculosis, diphtheria and even water- borne disease, is already exposed to secondary diseases like hypertension, cancer and heart-related ailments, and, with limited resources, needs all the support from generous donor agencies. So, unscrupulous elements must not be allowed to soil the reputation of our country or deny her of such needed support.

But for the sagacity of the political leadership of our country, many persons under the aegis of USAID would have been thrown into the labour market, after the government of President Trump cut down, and even eliminated, in some cases, funding from the agency. Similar challenge will be faced in the various branches of our health sector when donated materials are abused.

It is sad that what we witnessed with food items donated as palliatives during COVID-19 pandemic is happening in the health sector. We witnessed the horror associated with warehouses housing donated food items while the poor and vulnerable were hungry during the challenge posed by the pandemic.

We consider the finding of donated items in the markets a national embarrassment. Such a thing has made our country a topic of discussion amongst international donor agencies.

The NGOs involved In this bad behaviour should be fished out and punished, and if they are persistent, they should be deregistered. Those behind them should also be exposed and charged to court for their criminal activities, which also embarrass the country.

We urge the National Assembly and other relevant organs of government to engage in rigorous oversight of the NGOs involved in receiving and distribution of such donated items.

We commend President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for directing the NSA to provide the needed support to NAFDAC, to take on these criminals masquerading as drug dealers. Without mincing words, they are criminals. Since they have no moral scruples about the disreputable conduct of selling donated drugs, the government owes it a responsibility to use every reasonable force to stamp them out. (The Nation Editorial)

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