By Biola Lawal
Kano (Flowerbudnews) NAFDAC Director General (DG), Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye has issued a stern warning to fake drug traffickers in the country, saying: We will find you! We will stop you! The full force of the law awaits you.”
(NAFDAC Director General, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye)
Prof Adeyeye gave the warning as the Agency destroyed fake drugs etc worth about N985.3 million in Kano on Thursday.
Speaking during the destruction of the fake and wholesome products drawn from the North West Zone (NWZ), Prof. Adeyeye, who was represented by NAFDAC NW Zonal Director, Mrs Josephine Dayilim declared:
(NAFDAC Director General’s Representative and North West Zonal Director, Mrs Josephine Dayilim fielding questions from newsmen at the event)
”To those who persist in trafficking fake and unwholesome products, hear this:
We will find you. We will stop you. The full force of the law awaits you.”
Flowerbudnews reports that the fake and unwholesome products destroyed by fire at the dump site in the outskirts of Kano included drugs such as antibiotics, antihypertensives, antimalarials, analgesics, herbal remedies, psychoactive and controlled substances etc.
Others included non-alcoholic beverages, sachet water, condiments, tomato pastes, vegetable oil etc, were also burnt along with cosmetics such as creams, pomade, ointments etc.
Chemicals such as insecticides, pesticides, agrochemicals etc, and medical devices- diagnostic kits and infusion giving sets were also destroyed.
“By destroying these items, we send a clear message: there is no place for counterfeit and unsafe products in Nigeria,” Prof. Adeyeye said.
Speaking for the Director General, Mrs Josephine Dayilim said ”removing Substandard and Falsified Medicines (SFs) from circulation will make Nigerians healthier.
“And since only a healthy body can contribute positively to the economy, it will make Nigerians wealthier and the economy better,” She emphasised.
Mrs Dayilim reiterated the Director General ‘s point that ”the chaotic drug distribution system in Nigeria has been a sore point for drug regulatory Agencies, especially NAFDAC.
“The handling and disposal of NAFDAC wastes, like today’s exercise, is in line with our strategy aimed at eradicating fake drugs and other spurious NAFDAC Regulated Products from circulation in Nigeria,” she added.
The NAFDAC Zonal Director said: “The products destroyed represent a grave threat to our communities.
”They are not mere substandard goods; they are potential instruments of harm that could devastate families and derail our nation’s progress.
“By destroying these items, we send a clear message: there is no place for counterfeit and unsafe products in Nigeria.”
She disclosed that ‘:NAFDAC efforts have extended beyond destruction, as the agency is working actively to strengthen its regulatory framework, enhancing surveillance and collaborating with local and international partners to stem the tide of dangerous goods at their source’:.
Echoing the Director General, Mrs Dayilim urged Nigerians to ”join the fight,’: adding : “Be vigilant consumers. Report suspicious products. Support legitimate businesses. Your actions can save lives.”
Also speaking during the exercise, the Kano State Coordinator of NAFDAC, Kasim Ibrahim, said that to sanitise drug distribution in Kano, the drug sellers have been moved from the chaotic open market to a Coordinated Wholesale Centre (CWC), located in Dangwauro.
This he stated, has helped NAFDAC to start recording successes in safeguarding the health of Nigerians.
Kabir Muhammad of the Standard Organisation of Nigeria said “SON stands in solidarity with NAFDAC, sharing a common mission: to uphold the highest standards of quality and safety in all products and services available to Nigerians.”
Also Chairman of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN), Dr. Murtala Umar, proposed stiffer punishments for offenders to deter others and mitigate the crime. (Flowerbudnews)
About Flowerbudnews
Established by Hon. Biola Lawal, a former Acting Managing Director of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Flowerbudnews is a consortium of active journalists, media veterans and image makers in both public and private sectors of Nigeria’s media Industry determined to enhance the practice of responsible journalism.
Lawal, on his part, is also a former Honourable Commissioner for Information,Youth, Sports and Culture of Osun state, his home state.
Biola Lawal had also successfully served two tenures as Press Secretary to the ECOMOG Force Commander in Liberia during the Liberian and Sierra Leone Civil wars.
Lawal holds the honour of being the only journalist that served two terms on the ECOMOG international assignment due to his high professionalism and decency)
