Nigeria has just banned the production and importation of codeine cough syrup, following the #BBCAfricaEye and BBC Pidgin documentary about syrup abuse in the country.
This is the story that led to the ban...
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In a rehab centre in Kano, @RGAMeyer met this girl – a 16-year-old who’d love to become a nurse, but who got hooked on codeine syrup and is still suffering withdrawal symptoms.pic.twitter.com/mJ3ktDs7FB
Other addicts are in an even worse state. Some are chained to the floor to prevent them from harming themselves or others.pic.twitter.com/fMH180sj2N
This is Mr Usaini, who runs the rehab centre and campaigns against the drug. He told us “Plenty parents come here to cry.”pic.twitter.com/rE6WVpvbDP
But how does such a vast amount of medicine end up on the streets?
The BBC’s @RGAMeyer, @adejuwonsoyinka (pictured), and @CNorthcott1 went
undercover to find out...pic.twitter.com/hi44AvY6hJ
This guy was a sales rep at Emzor – one of the largest pharma companies in Nigeria. He illegally sold us 60 bottles of codeine syrup “fresh from the oven.” He has since been fired by Emzor.pic.twitter.com/jPgTkzmzJn
Following our investigation, Emzor put out this statement:pic.twitter.com/XnZYpaUElg
This guy is Mr Hussan, aka Baba Ibeji, from another pharma company, Bioraj. He also sold syrup to our journalists, believing they were syrup dealers. Statement from Bioraj in next tweet.pic.twitter.com/VwyzNPToaO
When we asked Bioraj for a response, this is what they told us:pic.twitter.com/hjUuwb78Yl
Nigeria’s drug enforcement agency, the NDLEA, has seized tonnes of codeine destined for the street.pic.twitter.com/f6qiaQ6qed
They’ve also seized weapons from gangs that deal in syrup.pic.twitter.com/YwfZmsEVvi
This is the chainsaw that one gangster used to attack an officer. The attacker was shot in the leg by an armed NDLEA agent before any damage could be done.pic.twitter.com/yVHIDSgOaE
Plenty of Nigerians are fighting this epidemic. Among them is health care expert Dr. Mairo Mandara @DrMairoMandara
(This statement was made before the government announced today's ban on the manufacture and import of codeine syrup)pic.twitter.com/UnPOthsdNJ
Following this investigation, Nigeria's First Lady, @aishambuhari, has also expressed concern about the abuse of codeine cough syrup.pic.twitter.com/d7DN0hhNPi
You can watch the full investigation now on @BBCAfrica's YouTube channel #BBCAfricaEyehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-I_Lche2otU …
This is the first report from @BBCAfrica’s new investigations unit, #BBCAfricaEye. So much more to come. #NothingStayHiddenForeverpic.twitter.com/zkddG81bDG
Those that suppose to champion the fight against drugs through the power of music are the ones encouraging drugs singing on a Codeine diet.
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