(NAFDAC Director General, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye)
– Warns Against Prioritising Profit Over National Security and Wellbeing
By Biola Lawal
Abuja (Flowerbudnews): The Director General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye has enjoined Nigerians to give maximum support to the Agency’s efforts to enforce the ban on peddling of alcohol in small sachets.
Prof. Adeyeye warned that a nation, where children had unfettered access and comsume alcohol is sitting on a keg of gunpowder, adding that such children eventually grow from alcohol to hard drug consumption.
The NAFDAC Boss gave the admonition while answering questions from newsmen during the press briefing held to announce the commencement of enforcement of the ban from December.
Prof. Adeyeye recalled that the Senate had recently approved the ban in the national interest, and also directed NAFDAC to enforce it nationwide to enhance security and protect children against drug addictions.
‘The ban on sachet alcohol is about national security and welfare,” Prof. Adeyeye stressed, adding that a workforce addicted to alcohol can never build a nation, but would become materials for unscrupulous people to deploy to fuel banditry, kidnappings and other deadly crimes
”Banditry, kidnappings (etc), does not start in one day ” the NAFDAC DG stated, adding that the known fact is that ”kidnapping, banditry are sustained by hard drug,,” and other substance abuse, including alcohol.
Prof. Adeyeye, who has been christened – the Nation’s Iron Lady,” vowed to implement and enforce the ban on sachet alcohol with the full backing of the federal government, the National Assembly, and especially, with support from the Office of the National Security Adviser ( ONSA).
”Enforcement will be aggressive and effective,” She assured, warning that ”NAFDAC of yesterday is not NAFDAC of today” as it would do all that was necessary to effect the ban across the country.
Prof. Adeyeye disclosed that Task Forces for effective enforcement were already established in all the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), adding that the force included all relevant stakeholders, especially, security operatives etc.
When asked about possible job loss that stopping production of alcohol in small sachets might cause. Prof. Adeyeye warned Nigerians against priotising profit over the nation’s security and bringing up future generations of responsible citizens.
”Which one is better, a nation that is addicted to drugs from sachet alcohol,” or a nation of responsible citizens, working to build their country into a prosperous, secure and safe nation, the NAFDAC Boss declared.
Prof. Adeyeye however, disclosed that, to avoid any economic loss for the producers, NAFDAC, in conjunction with other relevant stakeholders, had previously granted the producers of alcohol in small sachets several years moratorium to migrate such lines of production into packaging other permissible categories. (FLOWERBUDNEWS)
About FLOWERBUDNEWS
Based in Abuja, Federal Capital Territory (FCT), , Nigeria , Flowerbudnews is a highly respected national Multimedia online Newspaper. Its edge is in its being a consortium of experienced journalists, multimedia practitioners and image makers.
This is helping the Newspaper enjoy hign credibility and goodwill among Nigerians and beyond as a matured, responsible and reliable news and information outlet.
FLOWERBUDNEWS Publisher, Hon. Biola Lawal, is a former Acting Managing Director of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN.
In the course of his career as a Journalist and Mass Media Administrator, Lawal had served successfully as Honourable Commissioner for Information, Youth, Sports and Culture of Osun State, his home state.
On the international scene, Hon. Lawal had served successfully as Press Secretary (PS) to the ECOMOG Field/Force Commanders in Liberia. As ECOMOG Image Maker, Lawal served Lt.-Gen. Rufus Kupolati, Maj.-Gen. Ishaya Bakut and Lt.Gen. Victor Malu. He also served Maj.-Gen. Adetunji Idowu Olurin briefly. Due to very excellent performance on the job, Lawal was the only journalist that served two terms on the international assignment.
