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Outlook: Exposing Nigeria’s cough syrup crisis, for my brother

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BBC journalist Ruona Meyer

13/08/2019 GMT

Exposing Nigeria’s cough syrup crisis, for my brother

BBC World Service - Outlook, Exposing Nigeria’s cough syrup crisis, for my brother

Why Ruona Meyer joined the frontline in the war against codeine cough syrup

When journalist Ruona Meyer’s brother became addicted to cough syrup, she put her life at risk to investigate Lagos’ black market trade in codeine.

Nigerian Ruona Meyer was inspired by her famous journalist father – Godwin Agbroko - to become an investigative reporter like him. When he was killed, her grieving brother became addicted to codeine cough syrup. Ruona – clad in bullet proof vest and blue lipstick – risked her life to uncover the black market trade in the medicine that’s become a street drug. Her documentary Sweet, Sweet Codeine has been nominated for an Emmy. 

Havana, the capital of Cuba, has its very own personal historian: Eusebio Leal. He’s spent 30 years overseeing the restoration of the city’s historic centre and is the go-to tour guide when any important visitor comes to town – from Barack Obama to the Pope. His passion for Old Havana started young, and he went to extreme lengths to protect its streets – even blocking the path of a bulldozer. Outlook’s Jane Chambers reports.

Image: Ruona Meyer
Credit: BBC

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