Flowerbud News

Author: Ibrahim Abusadiq

  • NAFDAC registers 400 regulated products in Kaduna

    Jan. 20, 2022

    By Stella Kabruk

    The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) says it registered about 400 regulated products
    in 2021.

    The state Coordinator, Mr Nasiru Mato, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Kaduna on Thursday.

    Mato said the products comprised of foods, cosmetics and packaged water.

    He added that “it was indeed a success story as NAFDAC in Kaduna State witnessed huge increase in product registration,
    with about 400 new foods, cosmetics and packaged water secured in 2021.’’

    He said that the deployment of e-registration via Automated Product Administration and Monitoring System (NAPAMS)
    had tremendously turned around the registration processes for regulated products.

    He added that “the process is seamless, real-time enabled, hassle-free and transparent, and eliminates possible registration bottlenecks.

    “With NAPAMS, clients can go online to submit their applications for product registration and renewal of licences.”

    The coordinator added that Kaduna State intending manufacturers of NAFDAC regulated products had embraced the technology,
    resulting in increase in the number of registered products in the state in recent time.

    He stressed that “with NAPAMS, product registration is just a *’click’* away, as vetting of submitted documents can feasibly
    and easily be done online”.

    He explained that the decentralisation of the registration process for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise (MSME) product categories
    with minimal risk had effectively reduced the possible delay in registration timeline as licenses were now obtained with ease.

    “The remarkable accomplishment demonstrates the resilience and determination, as well as the continued support of the Director-General
    of NAFDAC, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye,” he noted.

    He also said that the agency’s focus would be intensified with regards to critical stakeholders and grassroots engagement to ensure greater results and healthy citizenry.

    NAN

  • NAFDAC tasks Unilorin on entrepreneurship programmes

    By Fatima Mohammed-Lawal

    The National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has advised the University of Ilorin (Unilorin) to encourage more entrepreneurship enterprises to boost Internally Generated Revenue (IGR).

    Mr Kenneth Azikiwe, the Coordinator of NAFDAC in Kwara, gave the advice on Monday while speaking with newsmen on the sidelines of the Technical Entrepreneur Centre (TEC) Get together at the institution on Monday.

    He congratulated the management of the university over the licensing of the University’s Hand Sanitiser by the agency.

    He said: “When the University approached me and told me that they have a product that they want to register, I thought it was one of those academic talks but as they came consistently, I could see the passion and I called to ask if they really meant it and they said yes. It was a very wonderful thing,” he said.

    Azikiwe however explained that the licence, which is for a period of five years registration, would include an annual assessment to make sure that the quality was maintained, consistently manufactured and continuously following the laid-down instrument and use of personnel.

    He encouraged the centre to bring more products, adding that the “agency will support them by the grace of God”.

    According to him, the university is getting involved in such entrepreneurial skills for the first time.

    The coordinator described Unilorin TEC’s involvement in students’ entrepreneurship training as what the country needs, stressing that the students’ gain will assist them to be self-reliant.

    “This is my first time of seeing such entrepreneurial teaching, even though the centre tried to explain what they are doing. Honestly, I did not expect it to come out like this.

    “I personally decided to come and see how I can support the University in what they are doing and I can see that it is innovative.

    “That is what the country needs now because when the students have entrepreneurial skills, it boosts their confidence,” he said.

    Earlier, Prof. Peter Adeoye, the Director of TEC, said that a meeting was conducted by the Board of TEC in conjunction with the students to put in all their efforts to win at least one of the prizes in the agricultural sector, creative industry, information and communication sector, and science and technology.

    Adeoye said that the event was to showcase what students have been able to do while they undertook the GSE course so as to be able to assess where they are, know what was needed to be done and do greater exploits.

    The director said that it was also an opportunity to relax and have a memorable evening.

    In her remarks, the Deputy Director of TEC, Dr Sikirah Ahmed, appreciated all invited guests, the students, especially the Performing Art students and all spectators.

    While analysing the challenges facing the centre, Ahmed urged the management to make available more facilities.

    She said that the course would help graduates of the university to be self-employed, and generally be able to stand on their own after graduation.

    Highlights of the event included drama presentations by the 300 level students of the Performing Arts Department, documentary displays of the TEC products, film shows and stand-up comedy.

    NAN

  • NAFDAC seizes aphrodisiacs in Kaduna

    By Stella Kabruk

    NAFDAC said on Monday that it seized various brands of unregistered aphrodisiacs in Kaduna.

    An aphrodisiac is substance or drug that causes sexual arousal, brings on desire, or increases sexual pleasure or performance.

    NAFDAC Coordinator in Kaduna State, Mr Nasiru Mato, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the seizures resulted from raids it conducted to rid the state of unregulated products.

    He listed products seized to include: Power Coffee, Honeymoon, Viga 150000, Zahidi Coffee and Big Boss.

    “NAFDAC has sensitised consumers several times on the inherent dangers of arbitrary use of such products due to their possible effect on health.

    “They can damage vital body organs. The drugs overwork the heart which could result to hypertension and sudden death.

    “The perceived `benefits’ are far less than the risks attendant on the consumption of these substances,’’ he said.

    Mato advised that sex stimulating drugs be used only on doctors’ prescription.

    NAN

  • NAFDAC inaugurates 73 vehicles to boost efficiency

    By Aderogba George

    The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) says it has inaugurated 73 new HILUX vehicles, saloon cars and staff buses to enhance operational efficiency.
    This is contained in a statement by the agency’s resident media consultant, Mr Olusayo Akintola, in Abuja on Sunday.
    The statement quoted the agency Director-General, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, as saying that the vehicles would address many challenges faced by agency in its operations.
    She said that it would put a stop to the compromising situation where clients brings their vehicles in a ferry to the agency staff or site for inspection.
    According to her, it is not encouraging when staff of the agency depends on their clients to transport them to the factory for inspection.
    She explained that 20 Toyota Camry 2021 brand for some directors were inaugurated in Abuja, while 10 number 60- Seater Coaster and Hummer buses were inaugurated at its Oshodi office complex.
    Adeyeye said that 43 Hilux vans were also inaugurated at the agency’s Investigation and Enforcement Directorate in Apapa to enhance the enforcement, inspection and regulatory activities.
    She said that four Coaster buses and the six Toyota Hiace buses inaugurated in Oshodi would serve as staff buses to make life more comfortable for the workers in their day-to-day commuting to and from office.
    She pointed out that the welfare of staff of the agency was one of priority, adding that the agency staff deserved the best.
    Adeyeye recalled that she met a total debt of N3.2 billion when she resumed as the agency D-G about four years ago, adding that the debt was paid back barely a year after she took over.
    ‘’The money we saved is the money we use for what we need and not what we want, adding that when money are spent on all wants, the nation suffers the consequences.
    ‘’That is why we started saving money despite the fact that I met N3.2 billion debt. And within one year we paid N3.01billion.
    “The agency is going through its World Health Organization (WHO) audit now, and it’s being judged on seven regulatory functions or a group of activities.
    ‘’There is one big area called regulatory inspection. This includes visiting companies to see whether they are compliant with their Good Manufacturing Practices.
    “It is vehicles that will take our staff there, regulatory inspection includes good distribution practice, meaning all the distributors that handle NAFDAC regulated products have to be visited,” she said.
    She added that officials of the Investigation and Enforcement Directorate would also be making use of vehicles to pursue peddlers of contraband goods.
    Adeyeye said that each state needs to have at least three Hilux vehicles, adding that the new vehicles would be used by officials of Food Safety and Applied Nutrition Directorate.
    The directorate is saddled with the responsibility of food inspections and others.
    According to her, about 70 per cent of NAFDAC work are field work, and that it is vehicles that they need to use.
    NAN

  • NAFDAC urges Nigerians to steer clear of unregistered drugs, consumables

    By Habibu Harisu

    The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has urged Nigerians
    to desist from patronising unregistered drugs and other consumables.

    The Coordinator of the agency in Sokoto State, Mr Garba Adamu, made the call on Thursday during a street sensitisation campaign
    organised in collaboration with Community Development Service (CDS) group of National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) in Sokoto.

    Adamu said that the agency would intensify efforts to safeguard the lives of the people by ensuring that products and services
    complied with stipulated production laws and regulations.

    He explained that surveillance, patrol and inspection were routinely conducted by the agency’s officials at all levels.

    He appealed to Nigerians to cooperate with the agency by ensuring that they patronised only registered drugs and consumables, as well as observe expiry dates at all times.

    Adamu further appealed to the people to always report suspected cases of contamination, adulteration and other counterfeits to nearby NAFDAC offices and authorities for prompt attention.

    The NAFDAC official decried the prevalence of men’s sexual performance enhancing drugs, otherwise known as “manpower” in Nigerian markets.

    According to him, most of such drugs are not registered with NAFDAC, and some of them are smuggled into the country.

    He added that “many men have died using such drugs and their relatives would blame their deaths on some imaginary witches in the village.  Some of the producers of these drugs
    would claim they have no side effects.

    “However, majority of these products do not go through the approval process of the agency, but the agency would not relent in going after the peddlers of such dangerous drugs until they were brought to book.”

    He added that the agency adopted multifaceted approach in fighting the preponderance of banned and falsified drugs and consumables in the country.

    He decried the attitude of some people whom he described as “shylocks”, as they follow every means to make quick money at the expense of the health and lives of consumers.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the sensitisation and walk shows were conducted along major roads and markets in Sokoto metropolis.

    NAN

  • NAFDAC cautions against infant formula linked to foodborne illness

    By Aderogba George

    The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has cautioned
    the public about certain powdered infant formulas linked to foodborne illness.
    The warning was made in a public alert No. 008/2022, signed by the Director-General of the agency, Mrs Moji Adeyeye in Abuja on Friday.
    Adeyeye stated that the warning was due to the presence of Cronobacter Sakazakii and Salmonella newport bacteria, as notified by Abbott,
    to the agency.
    She added that four consumers in the United States of America had already complained to the appropriate authority about the
    infant illness and were received between September 2021 and December 2021.
    She said that the complain included three reports of Cronobacter sakazakii infections and one Salmonella Newport infection, adding that
    all the four infants affected were hospitalised.
    According to her, Cronobacter may have contributed to death of one of the infants.
    She said that Abbott’s recall of the powdered infant formula, produced at its facility in Sturgis, Michigan MI, spread globally and now
    includes Croatia, Italy, Ireland, Netherlands, Slovenia, and Spain, and many other countries.
    According to Adeyeye, Food Standards Agency (FSA) is investigating whether three infant illnesses reported recently  in the United Kingdom are connected to the
    recalled  infant formula.
    She said that Cronobacter bacteria could cause severe life-threatening infections (sepsis) or meningitis, adding that the symptoms included poor feeding, irritability, temperature changes, jaundice, grunting breaths and abnormal movement in infants.
    She added that the infection could also lead to bowel damage and might spread through the blood to other parts of the body.
    Adeyeye said Salmonella bacteria causes gastrointestinal illness, fever, might lead to diarrhea and abdominal cramps.
    “Please note that Abbott’s Similac infant formulas registered by NAFDAC are manufactured in South Africa and Republic of Ireland, while the infant formulas were manufactured in Sturgis, Michigan-America,” she noted.
    NAN

  • NAFDAC destroys fake, expired drugs worth N50m in Sokoto

    By Habibu Harisu

    The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) on Friday destroyed expired and fake drugs worth N50 million in Sokoto State.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the items were burnt at Kwannawa dump site near old Post Office in Dange-Shuni Local Government Area of the state.

    Mr Adamu Garba, NAFDAC State Coordinator, said the exercise was part of routine efforts by the agency to sanitise the country of counterfeits, expired and other unregulated products from circulation.

    Garba described fake, expired drugs and consumables as the gravest danger to human life.

    “The products being destroyed today are made up of fake/counterfeit drugs, substandard and expired food products, cosmetics and regulated products seized by NAFDAC while some surrendered voluntarily by shop owners.

    “This exercise is in public private partnership with drugs sellers, union members as about 80 per cent of destroyed products were voluntarily surrendered by them,’’ Garba said.

    He explained that the quantum of products being destroyed was a pointer to the fact that the agency is working hard to ensure the safety of the health of Nigerians.

    The state coordinator commended the stakeholders and security agents for their support and assured that the agency would continue to enforce sanctions where there were violations.

    He noted that the agency had embarked on statewide awareness on activities of fake, expired products and urged vendors, producers and consumers to adhere to stipulated regulations.

    Mr Emmanuel Andrew, Assistant Director, Head of Investigation and member of National Taskforce Team of NAFDAC, said the effort was to remove counterfeits, expired and unregistered products from circulation.

    Andrew said that he was in Sokoto to supervise the activity of patent medicine vendors and pharmaceutical stores for cooperating with agency by submitting outlawed products.

    He underscored the importance of collective efforts among stakeholders in the struggle to safeguard people’s health.

    NAN reports that the exercise was attended by NAFDAC Governing Board member, Alhaji Tukur Sarkin Fada Tambuwal and Alhaji Abdullahi Dikko, Director, Reaserch and Statistics, Sokoto State Ministry of Environment.

    Others are Alhaji Nasiru Abdu from Sokoto State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) and the representative of medicine vendors, Mr Ogbu Batholomew.

    NAN

  • NAFDAC notifies Nigerians about food products over undeclared allergy

    By Aderogba George

    The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has notified Nigerians about Van Law Food Products which is said to contain some undeclared allergy.
    The notification is contained in a public alert with No. 025/2022, signed by the Director-General of the agency, Prof. Moji Adeyeye, issued to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Abuja.
    Adeyeye said in the alert that Van Law Food Products, an Incorporation of Fullerton, California is issuing a voluntary recall of Whole Foods Market 365 Organic Creamy Caesar Dressing because it may contain undeclared Soy and Wheat allergens.
    She stated that the recall was initiated after it was discovered that the product was distributed in packaging that did not reveal the presence of Soy and Wheat allergen.
    According to Adeyeye, people who have an allergy or severe sensitivity to Soy or Wheat run the risk of serious or life-threatening allergic reaction if they consume the products.
    The NAFDAC boss added that subsequent investigation indicated that the problem was caused by a temporary breakdown in Van Law Food Product’s labeling and packaging processes.
    NAFDAC, however, implored importers, distributors, retailers, healthcare providers and consumers to exercise caution in the importation, distribution, sale and use of the recalled lots.
    The agency also advised members of the public who are in possession of the recalled lots product to discontinue sale and use or handover stock to the nearest NAFDAC office.
    NAFDAC encourages healthcare professionals, consumers and patients to report adverse events related to the use of the product to the nearest NAFDAC office, or via NAFDAC PRASCOR (20543 TOLLS FREE from all networks).
    The agency also advised Nigerians to report any adverse events via pharmacovigilance@nafdac.gov.ng or via the NAFDAC ADR e-Reporting platform available at www.nafdac.gov.ng.
    NAN

  • NAFDAC nabs businessman for alleged importation of fake drug

    By Aderogba George
    The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) says it has arrested one Obinna Igbo,  for allegedly importing fake malaria drug, Amanta Forte.
    The arrest of the suspect, a 32-year old businessman was made known in a statement signed by the agency resident media consultant, Mr Olusayo Akintola, on Monday.
    Akintola said that the suspect, who imported the unregistered product, had also been arraigned before Justice Tijani Ringim of a Federal High Court in Lagos on a four-count charge.
    The charges are unlawful importation, possession, sale, and distribution of fake Amanta Forte soft gel (Artemether 80mg + Lumefantrine 480mg Capsules) drug at Head bridge market Onitsha, Anambra State.
    It was revealed that the accused person sold the fake drugs at Shop E200, Freedom Line, Onitsha Head Bridge Market after importing the same into the country.
    The statement reported the Director-General of NAFDAC, Prof. Moji Adeyeye, as saying that the suspect was arrested by officials of the Investigation and Enforcement Directorate of the agency.
    She said that the officials had raided three pharmaceutical outlets at  Bridge Head market Onitsha; namely Triphon Point Global limited, Emma Medicals Nigeria Limited and Ekeh Mountain Global Ventures Limited.
    The DG stated that offending product was found in Triphon Point Global limited, and the product was subsequently evacuated and the shop was placed on hold.
    She explained further that at Emma Medicals and Ekeh Mountain Global Ventures Limited, the shops were visited, and thorough screening was conducted as well.
    She however, said that the offending product was not displayed on the shelves of these shops, but their sales books revealed that they all sold the unrrgistered product.
    According to her, the three shops were placed on hold and their managing directors were invited for further interrogation and they claimed that the product was sourced from one Blessed OJ Don Global Link in the market.
    The DG said that the three suspects further stated that if they were given the opportunity, they would assist the agency in apprehending Mr Obinna Igbo, the Managing Director of Blessed OJ Don Global Link.
    According to her, all efforts to arrest  Igbo proved abortive as he was on the run, knowing that he was being trailed by NAFDAC, but was later caught in Onisha with the use of tracking divices.
    “Upon interrogation, Igbo acknowledged without duress that he was the importer of Amanta Forte Soft Gel, an illegal antimalarial drug he smuggled into Nigeria from Ghana.
    “The date markings on the products indicated that the product was manufactured in India and marketed by Mitzaagold International FZE Amin Hussain market, AL Trade Zone, Dubai, UAE.
    “The suspect said he has other pharmaceutical products which he also imported into the country, some of which are anti-hypertensive drugs,” Adeyeye disclosed.
    She said that the suspect also acknowledged that he sold the product to the shops visited during the raid by NAFDAC, and had pleaded not guilty before the Judge, which his counsel, A.C Oforjiuba made an oral application for his bail.
    Adeyeye said that the prosecuting counsel, Mrs Chinyere Okoli, however, prayed the court to remand him in custody pending trial.
    Adeyeye said that the Judge later  adjourned the case until June 6 for trial.
    According to her, the offences contravened the provisions of Section 1(a) of the Counterfeit and Fake Drugs and Unwholesome Processed Foods (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act of 2004.
    She said the offences also contravened the provisions of Sections 1(1) of the Food, Drugs and Related Products Registration Act of 2004.
    NAN