Flowerbud News

Category: Features

  • Why NAFDAC is expanding directorates–DG

    Why NAFDAC is expanding directorates–DG

    By Aderogba George

    Abuja:  Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, the Director-General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), says the agency will expand its directorates to promote greater and impactful management.

    Adeyeye made this known at a news conference on Wednesday in Abuja while reeling out the agency’s strategic goals for the years 2023-2028.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that President Muhammadu Buhari on Dec. 30, 2022, reappointed Adeyeye as the director general of the agency for a second term

    Adeyeye said continuation of meaningful deployment of human capital, sustained strong governance and obtaining approval for Hazard and Regulatory Allowances were among her goals.

    The director general also said she would secure approval for Scheme and Condition of Service as well as ensure well trained staff for SAP account software.

    Adeyeye added that she would increase the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) of the agency.

    The director general further said that she would use additional media outlets to disseminate information on NAFDAC activities.

    “There will be use of Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, drama and comedy artistes to convey importance of quality, safe, efficacious and wholesome regulated products as well as make media parley more structured,” she said.

    Adeyeye promised to sustain the transformation agenda she started in 2017 during her second term.

    She said one of the achievements in her first term was maintaining a well disciplined and motivated workforce, adding that she also eliminated substandard and falsified medicines.

    The director general said fighting the menace of unsafe and illicit drugs were part of her priorities, adding that she aligned NAFDAC with international standards on food, drug and water.

    Adeyeye said she met the agency with glaring symptoms of sundry administrative and procedural lapses such as a huge debt of N3.2 billion and dismally low Internally Generated Revenue of N700 million.

    She also said the skewed nominal roll revealed a disregard for the requirements for federal character with a non post-marketing good distribution practice and surveillance.

    Adeyeye commended the president over her reappointment and National Assembly members as well as international agencies for their support.(NAN) (www.nannews.ng) /Flowerbudnews

  • NAFDAC DG Advocates Strong Regulatory System to Boost therapeutic medicines vaccines Devt in low income countries

    NAFDAC DG Advocates Strong Regulatory System to Boost therapeutic medicines vaccines Devt in low income countries

    By Aderogba George

    Prof.  Moji Adeyeye, Director-General,  National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), has sought  for a regulatory system for effective quality therapeutic medicines and vaccines in low and medium income countries.
    The D-G made the appeal in a statement signed by the agency’s  resident media consultant, Mr Olusayo Akintola on Wednesday in Abuja.
    The D-G made the assertion while speaking at the hybrid University of California San Francisco UCSF)-Stanford Centre of Excellence in Regulatory Science and Innovation, (UCSF-Stanford CERSI) summit in the United States.
     Adeyeye spoke at the summit as the only panelist selected from Africa on the theme: “Building a Global Vision for Product and Drug Development: Challenges and Opportunities”.
    Adeyeye said that only  a strong regulatory system would guarantee and accelerate the development, approval, and access of safe and effective quality therapeutic medicines and vaccines in low, medium income countries of the world.
    She admonished nations on the premise of strengthening regulatory system in compliance with the World Health Assembly Resolution 67.20 of 2014, to build the capacity of member states with the ultimate goal to have access to quality medicines to different low, medium income countries.
    According to her, the World Health Organisation (WHO) supports member states in reaching and sustaining effective regulatory oversight of medical products through the regulatory systems strengthening RSS programme.
    She explained to the global audience how NAFDAC under her leadership, used the WHO Global Benchmarking Tools to achieve the Maturity Level 3 WHO Certification Status in March 2022 and its significance to Nigeria.
    Using US Food and Drug Agency as reference which was categorised as Maturity Level four, Adeyeye said that ‘’you cannot get Maturity Level three without taking care of all the indicators under Levels one, and two. and indicators in MLone, MLtwo and MLthree.”
    Speaking on ‘’Global Benchmarking Tool and Access to Medicines’’ at the annual global event, she noted that there was no 95 or 99 per cent in terms of WHO Global Benchmarking.
    She disclosed that the GBT essentially facilitated NAFDAC to identify weaknesses and strength in licensing of products, in the manufacturers and distributors compliance, and how effective and how its post marketing surveillance were doing to contain market control in terms of illicit trade.
    She disclosed that NAFDAC was benchmarked on seven functions including licensing establishment which was under the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria (PCN) jurisdiction, adding that both agencies were benchmarked together.
    She said the agency met and satisfied 268 indicators and 860 recommendations, noting that 268 indicators were distributed under Maturity Levels one, two, three, and four and we were able to attain Maturity Level three after meeting all the requirements and were declared in March 2020.
    She, however, noted that attaining Maturity Level four would not be too difficult and that some of the standards or indicators had  already been met.
    She said that NAFDAC was  working round the clock as she had already set out targets for Maturity Level four and that the agency was  working for both in order to ensure that the system was well established and stable and well-functioning as a regulatory agency.
    The NAFDAC boss,  however,  emphasised the importance of reliance for different regulatory agencies in the world, adding that reliance represented a smarter way of regulating medical products through collaboration, shared knowledge, experience, and resources.
    “The reliance is among the different functions such as regulatory inspection, lab testing, clinical trials, market authorization, pharmacovigilance, market control and licensing establishment.
    She explained that there was a lot of reliance within different functions and there had to be a reliance between agencies, adding that agencies had to collaborate, identify weak links and leverage on the experience of others, mentor others.
    She stated that there could not be local manufacturing without a strong regulatory system, adding that NAFDAC was using a lot of tools to ensure that products from Nigeria were more affordable and were of high quality using different GMP inspection.
    She disclosed that the agency had employed detection devices to get rid of infiltrations in the supply chain,  adding that NAFDAC was  now  using traceability Track and Trace GS1 to monitor falsified medicines.
    NAN
  • IHRC hails NAFDAC Boss on quality foods, drugs, other consumables

    IHRC hails NAFDAC Boss on quality foods, drugs, other consumables

    By Diana Omueza

    Abuja: NAN/Flowerbudnews:  The Africa Region of the International Human Rights Commission (IHRC) has commended Mrs Moji Adeyeye, Director-General, National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration Control (NAFDAC) for ensuring quality food, drugs and other consumables.

    The IHRC also nominated her for the 2023 IHRC New-Year Honours Award of Africa’s Mother of Pure Food and Drugs.

    Mr Paul Pever-Gom, IHRC Country Director, said this in a statement on Saturday in Abuja.

    He said that the NAFDAC DG had distinguished herself in such diverse fields with scientific writing, scientific research, research administration and education in the sciences and disease research advocacy.

    According to him, the (IHRC) Situation Room in Abuja, on behalf of the IHRC Africa Region HQ in Nairobi, has announced the IHRC Africa 2023 New Year Honours List.

    “The award is bestowed on individuals who had made outstanding contributions to the advocacy and support of distributing basic foods and drugs, in addition to production of all that citizens consumed for healthy living.

    “The parameters involve fields of biomedical and immunologic research, water science research and policy making for a healthy industrial sector.

    “Moji Christianah Adeyeye, has distinguished herself in such diverse fields with scientific writing, scientific research, research administration and education in the sciences, and disease research advocacy,’’ Pever-Gom said.

    He further commended the NAFDAC DG saying that “at every stage of success or win, she looks for an opportunity to give back to society.

    “The DG has ambitious growth plans for the future of NAFDAC, concentrating on further expansion nationally to double the agency’s successes across the operations of NAFDAC.

    “And the DG is further passionate on endeavours geared towards achieving public safety and raised healthcare standards by stoically enforcing the regulations for food and drugs production, supplies and use,’’ he said.

    Pever-Gom said that the IHRC in Nigeria was paying tribute to these great Africans and the only Nigerian on the list.

    He said that celebrating the Africans named in the New-Year Honours list carried broader significance for the IHRC with regards to the promotion of some high values of the organisation on humanity; tolerance; equality; justice and reconciliation.

    All these values, he said, had helped inspired the visions of United Nations.

    Pever-Gom said that consequently, the IHRC would forward the list to the United Nations Headquarters emphasising the importance to salute and celebrate the Africans.

    He said that the awardees were shortlisted through guidelines that identified, rewarded and encouraged change makers opening doors and fighting the way in learning.

     

    According to him, each nomination is reviewed against a set of rigorous criteria.

     

    “These are based on the degree of the nominees’ work as future oriented, innovative, transformative, and sustainable.

     

    “Our meticulous judging process aims to ensure that judging is fair, open, unbiased and aligned with our vision and mission.

    “We believe that by recognising the most innovative minds in a wide range of scientific research areas and roles of justice and international best practices, we will accelerate adoption of the best ideas and practices,’’ he said.

    Pever-Gom said the recognition and award was a ceremonial activity done annually by the Africa Region HQ of IHRC to capture both the dignity and tremendous personal strength of African heroes and icons.

    He said that the awards were made for those excelling in public service and were deserving of being honoured as true human treasures.

    Pever-Gom said that those featured in the 2023 list were Africa’s foremost voices for the welfare of the people, peace and justice, including experts working for international peace and security.

    He said that the 2023 Africa’s Mother of Pure Food and Drugs Award Nominators were typically members of government bodies, nongovernmental organisations, professional associations and individual thought leaders.

     

    He added that the nominators were credible witnesses to the impact of the nominees and the nominees could be either individuals or teams of up to three members.

    According to him, they can be teachers, researchers, academics, policy-makers and education advocates. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)/Flowerbudnews

     

  • NAFDAC Boss, Prof Moji Adeyeye Bags 2023 IHRC Africa’s Mother of Pure Food and Drugs Award

    NAFDAC Boss, Prof Moji Adeyeye Bags 2023 IHRC Africa’s Mother of Pure Food and Drugs Award

    Flowerbudnews

    Abuja: NAN/Flowerbudnews: The Africa Region of the International Human Rights Commission (IHRC) has nominated NAFDAC DG,  Prof. Moji Adeyeye for the 2023 IHRC Honours Award of Africa’s Mother of Pure Food and Drugs.

    IHRC commended Prof. Adeyeye, Director-General, National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration Control (NAFDAC) for ensuring that food, drugs and other consumables available for consumption by the public are generally of good quality.

    Mr Paul Pever-Gom, IHRC Country Director, gave the commendation in a statement over the weekend in Abuja.

    “Moji Christianah Adeyeye, has distinguished herself in such diverse fields with scientific writing, scientific research, research administration and education in the sciences, and disease research advocacy,’’ Pever-Gom said.

    He further commended the NAFDAC DG saying that “at every stage of success or win, she looks for an opportunity to give back to society.

    “The DG has ambitious growth plans for the future of NAFDAC, concentrating on further expansion nationally to double the agency’s successes across the operations of NAFDAC.

    “And the DG is further passionate on endeavours geared towards achieving public safety and raised healthcare standards by stoically enforcing the regulations for food and drugs production, supplies and use,’’ he said.

    He said that the NAFDAC DG had distinguished herself in such diverse fields with scientific writing, scientific research, research administration and education in the sciences and disease research advocacy.

    According to him, the (IHRC) Situation Room in Abuja, on behalf of the IHRC Africa Region HQ in Nairobi, has announced the IHRC Africa 2023 New Year Honours List.

    “The award is bestowed on individuals who had made outstanding contributions to the advocacy and support of distributing basic foods and drugs, in addition to production of all that citizens consumed for healthy living.

    “The parameters involve fields of biomedical and immunologic research, water science research and policy making for a healthy industrial sector.

    Pever-Gom said that the IHRC in Nigeria paying tribute to these great Africans and the only Nigerian on the list.

    He said that celebrating the Africans named in the New-Year Honours list carried broader significance for the IHRC with regards to the promotion of some high values of the organisation on humanity; tolerance; equality; justice and reconciliation.

    All these values, he said, had helped inspired the visions of United Nations.

    Pever-Gom said that consequently, the IHRC would forward the list to the United Nations Headquarters emphasising the importance to salute and celebrate the Africans.

    He said that the awardees were shortlisted through guidelines that identified, rewarded and encouraged change makers opening doors and fighting the way in learning.

    According to him, each nomination is reviewed against a set of rigorous criteria.

    “These are based on the degree of the nominees’ work as future oriented, innovative, transformative, and sustainable.

    “Our meticulous judging process aims to ensure that judging is fair, open, unbiased and aligned with our vision and mission.

    “We believe that by recognising the most innovative minds in a wide range of scientific research areas and roles of justice and international best practices, we will accelerate adoption of the best ideas and practices,’’ he said.

    Pever-Gom said the recognition and award was a ceremonial activity done annually by the Africa Region HQ of IHRC to capture both the dignity and tremendous personal strength of African heroes and icons.

    He said that the awards were made for those excelling in public service and were deserving of being honoured as true human treasures.

    Pever-Gom said that those featured in the 2023 list were Africa’s foremost voices for the welfare of the people, peace and justice, including experts working for international peace and security.

    He said that the 2023 Africa’s Mother of Pure Food and Drugs Award Nominators were typically members of government bodies, nongovernmental organisations, professional associations and individual thought leaders.

    He added that the nominators were credible witnesses to the impact of the nominees and the nominees could be either individuals or teams of up to three members.

    According to him, they can be teachers, researchers, academics, policy-makers and education advocates. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)/Flowerbudnews

     

  • NAFDAC approves first alternative herbal supplements to vaccine, antibiotics for Poultry

    NAFDAC approves first alternative herbal supplements to vaccine, antibiotics for Poultry

    National Drug Administration and Food Control, NAFDAC has approved the first indigenous Alternative Herbal Supplements to vaccine, Antibiotics for Poultry in Nigeria.

    Earlier, the Herbal Supplements has provided succour to 1, 468 farms centers in Nigeria who were faced with threat from varous diseases affecting their birds on the farm .

    The Co – Founder and Managing Director of Ehibaghe Organic System, the manufacturer of the herbal product, Mr. Adedeji Babatunde, who said this in a statement in Calabar, stated said the management of the company is grateful to NAFDAC for recognising the product as herbal supplements that will serve as alternative to vaccines for poultry in Nigeria.

    He said the herbal supplements fight bacteria, fungi and viral infection and improve microbes that help plays crucial role in Poultry birds productivity and health .

    Adedeji further explained that over the years , the health of birds  and productive status of farms that patronize the supplements has drasrically improved and the death rate due to sickness reduced.

    1. The managing director assured that the company intend to expand its product to enable it cater more for many farms in Nigeria in few months time after it is officially launched
  • NAFDAC DG Warns the Public Against use of Weight Loss Pill that Can Cause  Cancer

    NAFDAC DG Warns the Public Against use of Weight Loss Pill that Can Cause  Cancer

    Flowerbudnews

    By Biola Lawal

    Abuja (Flowerbudnews): Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, the Director General of the National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC)  has warned Nigerians against use of the drug- Weight Rapid Loss Capsule.

    Prof Adeyeye, who gave the warning in a Public Alert said that the drug has been found to have potential to cause cancer in persons using it.

    The NAFDAC Boss said that the negative effect of the drug was established by the Department of Health of Abu Dhabi, which consequently issued a warning against its use.

    ”The product is being -marketed as “the most effective weight loss supplement” and is being illegally sold through social media platforms like Instagram.

    ”Result of laboratory analysis showed that the pills contain a banned substance “phenolphthalein”, which the US Food and Drug Administration has recognized as unsafe.

    It further contains microbial growth above the permissible limits.

    ”Phenolphthalein has been found to be toxic to genes as it can cause damage or mutations in the DNA. Studies have also shown its potential carcinogenic risks.,” Prof Adeyeye disclosed in the alert.

    Details of the product are as follows:Product Name: Weight Rapid Loss Capsule

    Product Manufacturer: Ingi Oman

    Product Photo

    NAFDAC implores consumers to stop the purchase and use of the product.

    Members of the public in possession of the product should discontinue sale or use and submit stock to the nearest NAFDAC office.

    Healthcare professionals and consumers are encouraged to report adverse events experienced with the use of the product to the nearest NAFDAC office, via pharmacovigilance@nafdac.gov.ng, E-reporting platforms available at www.nafdac.gov.ng or via the Med- safety application for download on android and IOS stores. (Flowerbudnews)

  • NAFDAC shuts vegetable oil outlet in Kano State

    NAFDAC shuts vegetable oil outlet in Kano State

    By Aminu Garko

    The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) says it has closed a vegetable oil-packaging outlet in Gidan Ruwa, Airport Road, Nassarawa Local Government of Kano State.

    Alhaji Kasim Ibrahim, the coordinator of the agency in Kano State, announced this while addressing journalists in Kano on Monday.

    “We have arrested one Alwalu Abdulsamat and sealed the outlet in Gidan Ruwa, Airport Road, Nassarawa Local Government Area.

    “We have also intercepted a tanker at the premises discharging an unregistered vegetable oil into 25 litres plastic labelled with a trade mark not recognised by NAFDAC.

    The coordinator said “the refilling of the vegetable oil is taking place in an unregistered and unhygienic premises with poor packaging practices”.

    He said that the tanker was meant for the distribution of petrol chemical products.

    “We have sealed the premise and taken the tanker to our premises for further regulatory actions,” he said.

    NAN

  • NAFDAC shuts vegetable oil outlet in Kano State

    NAFDAC shuts vegetable oil outlet in Kano State

    By Aminu Garko

    Kano:  The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) says it has closed a vegetable oil-packaging outlet in Gidan Ruwa, Airport Road, Nassarawa Local Government of Kano State.

    Alhaji Kasim Ibrahim, the coordinator of the agency in Kano State, announced this while addressing journalists in Kano on Monday.

    “We have arrested one Alwalu Abdulsamat and sealed the outlet in Gidan Ruwa, Airport Road, Nassarawa Local Government Area.

    “We have also intercepted a tanker at the premises discharging an unregistered vegetable oil into 25 litres plastic labelled with a trade mark not recognised by NAFDAC.

    The coordinator said “the refilling of the vegetable oil is taking place in an unregistered and unhygienic premises with poor packaging practices”.

    He said that the tanker was meant for the distribution of petrol chemical products.

    “We have sealed the premise and taken the tanker to our premises for further regulatory actions,” he said.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)/ Flowerbudnews

  • NAFDAC Boss, Prof. Adeyeye Vows to Combat Fake Drugs With Traceability strategy

    Flowerbudnews

    By Biola Lawal

    Abuja: (Flowerbudnews):The Director General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, (NAFDAC), has vowed to combat the menace of substandard and falsified medicines with the implementation of pharmaceutical traceability strategy.

    Prof Adeyeye emphasised that this would help NAFDAC to further safeguard and protect the health of Nigerians

    The NAFDAC  Director General stated this at the Traceability workshop in Port Harcourt, a statement by Sayo Akintola, NAFDAC Reesident Media Consultant disclosed.

    The workshop organised by NAFDAC was aimed at finalizing the draft Traceability of pharmaceutical products regulations in the country.

    According to Prof. Adeyeye, the onerous task of safeguarding the health of the nation was  daunting in the face of the chaotic drug distribution system currently existing in Nigeria.

    She emphasised that the falsification and diversion of health commodities carry very serious health and economic consequences.

    The NAFDAC boss said that the consideration of these consequences vis-à-vis the mandate of the Agency to regulate and control among other things, the distribution of drugs and other regulated products is sufficient motivation to implement pharmaceutical traceability.

    This would complement the fight against the menace of substandard and falsified medicines and improve the regulatory control of the medicines supply chain in Nigeria, She emphasised.

    Prof Adeyeye further explained that NAFDAC was committed to the implementation of pharmaceutical traceability in Nigeria as part of the regulatory strengthening and underscoring of its mandate.

    She reiterated that NAFDAC had developed a 5-Year Traceability Implementation plan in line with the objectives of the Nigeria Pharmaceutical Traceability Strategy to achieve supply chain visibility and strengthen interventions against the scourge of Substandard and Falsified Medicines by the end of her second term.

    Prof  Adeyeye however, stated that the development, gazetting and dissemination of the TRACEABILITY OF PHARMACEUTICAL PRODUCTS REGULATIONS was essential for the adoption and enforcement of the provisions of the Nigeria Pharmaceutical Traceability Strategy.

    She said that the Regulation, accompanied by guidelines and compliance requirements would provide a legal framework to support advocacy for all stakeholders to implement traceability in distribution of pharmaceuticals or supply chain.

    She noted that the participation of relevant stakeholders during the drafting of the Traceability Regulation is important to ensure there is understanding among stakeholders of the provisions of the Regulation, and to welcome feedback, with the goal of improving compliance.

    A major achievement in the direction of reducing the incidence of Substandard and Falsified medicines in the country was the hosting of the second Africa GSI Traceability Conference on Healthcare in Lagos in September 2019.

    The Conference attracted Medicines Regulatory Agencies from about twenty-five countries in Africa, as well as other stakeholder partners from the Americas and Europe. The Agency is already on a five-year roadmap to establishing a culture of Track & Trace with regards to pharmaceutical products.

    With this, Prof Mojisola Adeyeye said that medicines and medical devices can be monitored throughout the supply chain from manufacturing to the end user, the patient, adding that the Agency has developed a roadmap to this effect which has been approved by the Honourable Minister of Health.

    She disclosed that the traceability strategy document was the outcome of the year’ (1919/2020) work by NAFDAC in collaboration with Ministry of Health, USAID and GS1 Technologies.

    The NAFDAC Traceability Office. governance, and current funding were subsequently supported by international partners such as USAID, World Bank, World Health Organisation; Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, and Global Fund.

    All these have resulted in an enabling environment for the implementation of the track and trace of medical commodities using global standards.

    Describing the gains of implementing pharmaceutical traceability as enormous, Prof Adeyeye said traceability would provide visibility of medicines from plant to patient to promote trust in the pharmaceutical sector and healthcare system. (Flowerbudnews)