Category: Features

Flowerbudnews

By Flowerbudnews

Enugu: The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has urged journalists and entertainers within the South-East to join the agency in its current war against use of bleaching cream.

The Director-General of NAFDAC, Prof. Moji Adeyeye, made the call on Wednesday in Enugu during an address at the South-East Media Sensitisation Workshop on Dangers of Bleaching Creams and Regulatory Controls.

Adeyeye, who was represented by Dr Leonard Omokpariola, Director of Chemical Evaluation and Research, noted that there was an imperative to warn people of South-East and Nigerians in general to the harmful effects of bleaching creams including cancer and damage to organs.

According to her, other dangers are skin irritation and allergy, skin burn and rashes, wrinkles, premature skin ageing and prolonged healing of wounds.

“Last year, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr Boss Mustapha, acting on the resolutions of the Senate wrote to NAFDAC stressing the need to take stringent regulatory actions to stem the dangerous tide of rampant and pervasive cases of Nigerians using bleaching creams.

 

“We immediately took some decisive steps such as sensitisation of the public through different media outlets, enforcement through intelligence and raids in trade fair complexes that have resulted in large seizures and destruction of violative products.

“One of such sensitisation actions was the flag-off of Media Sensitization Workshops organised for journalists in Abuja, Lagos, Kano, Ibadan, Port-Harcourt and today in Enugu.

 

“Today’s sensitisation workshop is therefore a fulfillment of my promise to cascade it to the six geo-political zones in the country.

 

“This is a deliberate strategy of mobilising, educating, sensitising, and challenging Nigerian Health Journalists to play a frontline role in our concerted efforts to eradicate the menace of bleaching creams and needless waste of scarce resources in Nigeria,” he said.

 

Adeyeye noted that the sensitization workshop is a training the trainers’ programme with the great expectation that participants would assume the role of champions in the vanguard of the campaign against use of bleaching creams.

She said that a World Health Organization (WHO, 2018) study revealed that use of skin bleaching creams was prevalent among 77 per cent of Nigerian women which was highest in Africa compared to 59 per cent in Togo, 35 per cent in South Africa and 27 per cent women in Senegal.

 

“This scary statistic has shown that the menace of bleaching creams in Nigeria has become a national health emergency that requires a multi-faced regulatory approach.

 

“Part of the multi-pronged approach is consultative/sensitisation meetings such as this and heightened raids on distribution outlets of bleaching creams,” he said.

 

In a goodwill message, the Enugu State Commissioner for Health, Dr Ikechukwu Obi, said that the state government and her institutions would continue to collaborate with NAFDAC in its mandate to safeguard the health of the nation.

 

Obi, who was presented by Mr Monday Obetta, Director of Pharmaceutical Services, said: “We want our people to join hands with NAFDAC to protect the skin which is an important organ, protecting other organs in the body”.

Speaking, Dr Abubakar Jimoh, Director of Public Affair in NAFDAC, said that NAFDAC wants to use human face to tackle the menace of bleaching cream by engaging the media practitioners in order to get Nigerians rightly informed against bleaching cream.

 

Jimoh noted that the agency wanted individual Nigerians, who are in the demand side of bleaching cream, to know the serious danger and negative consequences of using bleaching cream.

 

“We thank the media for their sustained support all these years; however, we want media practitioners to do more for us in this era of war against bleaching cream nationwide,” he said.

 

The President, Association of Nigeria Health Journalists, Mr Hassan Zaggi, urged health journalists to put the advocacy against use of bleaching creams to the front burner of media discourse and engineering public thoughts toward it.

 

“Media practitioners should do more by creating time to talk one-on-one to people around them on the dangers of bleaching cream,” Zaggi said.

The workshop featured paper presentation on: “An Overview of Skin Bleaching: The NAFDAC Perspective”; “Role of Mass Media in Promoting Public Health in Nigeria”; “Safe Handling of Chemicals and Ingredients in the Cosmetics Industry” and “The Cosmovigillance Best Practices” among others. (Flowerbudnews)

Flowerbudnews

By Biola Lawal
Lagos (Flowerbudnews): The  Director General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC), Prof Mojisola Adeyeye, has enjoined packaged and sachet water producers in the country to maintain Good Manufacturing Practices GMP  to protect health of consumers.

The admonition was given by Director General at the 2023 World Water Day commemoration in Lagos on Wednesday, a statement by Sayo Akintola, NAFDAC Resident Media Consultant,  copy of which was made available to Flowerbudnews in. Abuja, disclosed.

Prof Christianah Mojisola Adeyeye who was represented by the Director, Food Registration and Regulatory Affairs, Mrs. Abayomi Bolaji Juliana mni, noted that poor quality water kills faster than what could be imagined when consumed by unsuspecting consumers.

CAPTION
L-R: Director, Lagos State Office LSO, Dr Monica Eimunjeze, Director, Food Registration and Regulatory Affairs, Mrs. Abayomi Bolaji Juliana mni, Director, Laboratory Services, Drugs and Biologics, Mr. Victor Abiola, all of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control NAFDAC and National President, Water Producers Association of Nigeria WAPAN, Mr. Odiri Mackson Egberi, at the 2023 World Water Day celebration in Lagos. Wednesday.

With the theme, ‘’Accelerating Change’’ to solve water and sanitation crisis, Prof. Adeyeye stated that ‘’water affects us all, we need everyone to take actions; that means, you and your family, churches, mosques, markets, communities etc. can make a difference by changing the way we use, consume, and manage water in our lives.’’

She said World Water Day is celebrated each year to focus attention on the value of freshwater and encourage others towards the sustainable use of freshwater resources.

‘’Right now, we are seriously off-track to meet the sustainable development goal; water and sanitation for all in 2030’’, she said, adding that dysfunctionalities throughout the water cycle undermines progress on all major global issues, from health to hunger, gender equality to jobs, and education to industries.

According to her, the reason for the UN agencies’ continued annual campaign for water includes public sensitization on water problems and coordination of efforts with other countries. She further stated that this year’s occasion would identify various water related challenges and provide solutions to reduction of these challenges.

She however, urged Nigerians not to wait for a water crisis to erupt before acting, stressing that there is a great deal of interaction between the biotic and abiotic worlds.

L-R: Director, Food Registration and Regulatory Affairs, Mrs. Abayomi Bolaji Juliana mni, Director, Laboratory Services, Drugs and Biologics, Mr. Victor Abiola, all of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control NAFDAC and National President, Water Producers Association of Nigeria WAPAN, Mr. Odiri Mackson Egberi, at the 2023 World Water Day celebration in Lagos.Wednesday.

The Director General admonished all present to always boil water from boreholes and wells to avoid water-borne diseases such as diarrhea, dysentery, typhoid fever, and cholera as children are most susceptible to these illnesses.

She further admonished parents to be careful with where they source bottled or sachet water and that NAFDAC acting on her mandate on the regulation and control of water would continue to monitor water manufacturers for compliance to NAFDAC regulations.

She appreciated the self-regulation efforts by the sector and noted that regulatory sanctions would be meted out to any manufacturer that fails to comply with regulations and guidelines.
She concluded by stating that ‘’water is one of the things that give us life. Conserve and use water to prolong life’’. (Flowerbudnews)

Flowerbudnews

By Monday Ajogun

Onitsha (Anambra):  The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration (NAFDAC) on Friday bursted a store at the Bridge Head Market, Onitsha, which specialises in the sale of expired sex enhancement drugs.

NAFDAC Chief Laboratory Technologist, Mr Usman Amen, who led the Investigation and Enforcement Directorate team from Lagos, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Onitsha that the store was notorious for dealing in unregistered and expired drugs.

According to him, the operation was carried out, following a tip off on the nefarious activities going on in the market.

NAN reports that the store is situated at the Progressive Science and Allied Dealers Lane in the market.

Amen said the drugs included delay viagra, afrofranil, breast enhancement, ass enhancement, rocket in pocket men gel and tramadol, among others.

He said: “We came from Lagos on a tip off, before we arrived here, the owner of these sex enhancement drugs abandoned his store and ran away.

“In view of this, we had to break the store and on entering inside, we saw some expired drugs, like tramadol, breast enhancer and all kinds of sexual drug enhancers.

“We ensured that we evaluated the drugs and sealed up the store.

“The owner will have to come to our office in Lagos for interrogation.

“We also sealed the store in Ogbo-Ogwu Bridge Head Market because a particular drug we were informed about was not found but the invoice indicated when the drug was last sold.

“The second store was sealed because their were some drugs that are not allowed to be sold in the market, we evaluated them and sealed the store,” Amen said.

He called on the public to be vigilant, saying that the drugs being produced and sold in the market were not worth consuming.

The leader of the lane in the market, Mr George Opara, described the activities of the dealer as “embarrassing and disturbing”.

Opara said that the market was known for dealing in genuine drugs and other goods.

He said that punitive actions would be meted to the runaway shop owner for engaging in such illegal business and bringing shame to the lane. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng) /Flowerbudnews

 

By Victor Nwachukwu

Owerri:  The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), has arrested one person allegedly involved in illegal water production and sealed the factory.

NAFDAC’s Chief Laboratory Technologist, Mr. Usman Ameh, led a team of NAFDAC officials from the Agency’s Investigation and Enforcement department, Apapa, Lagos, to seal the factory, located in Owerri West Council Area of Imo on Friday.

Ameh said that investigations revealed that the factory was packaging water directly from boreholes without any form of treatment for public consumption, hence constituting water poisoning and contravening various production laws.

“We carried out the operations after receiving credible intelligence that the factory was producing water that is not potable and could constitute poison.

“A team of NAFDAC officials from the state came here and instructed the authorities of this factory to put every production process on hold, but they still continued their illegal activities,“ he said.

The team lead called on other sachet water producers engaging in illegal packing under unhygienic conditions to put a stop to such unwholesome practice or be ready to go to jail.

He said that NAFDAC would not relent in its mandate of safeguarding the health of the nation and ensuring that only registered wholesome water and other regulated products were produced and sold to the public.

He also appealed to members of the public to always avail NAFDAC of information regarding illegal production as well as producers of regulated products.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the sealed factory, Aranatha Table Water, was instructed to stay out of production until it could meet the requirements to resume production.

The factory operates with NAFDAC Registration number: B 1-08941L, and is situated at Ndubuisi Adioha drive, Owerri West LGA of Imo. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)/Flowerbudnews

Flowerbudnews

 

Isaiah Eka/Nathan Nwakamma

Port Harcourt:  The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has warned Nigerians not to use unapproved cosmetics because the dangers were largely irreversible.

 

The Director-General NAFDAC, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, gave the warning during the media sensitisation workshop on dangers of bleaching creams and regulatory controls for South South Journalists in Port Harcourt on Tuesday.

 

Adeyeye, who was represented by Dr. Leonard Omokpariola, Director, Drug Evaluation and Research, said the menace of unapproved cosmetics such as bleaching creams in Nigeria had become a national health emergency that required multi-faced regulatory approach.

According to the NAFDAC D-G, the unapproved cosmetics used banned and toxic chemicals to achieve skin lightening effects that leaves the user with undesirable effects.

 

She listed some of the harmful effects of bleaching creams to include cancer, damage to vital organs of the body like kidney and liver.

It also causes skin cancer, irritation and allergy, skin burn and rashes, wrinkles, premature skin ageing and prolonged healing of wounds.

The DG said that the World Health Organisation in a 2018 study, revealed that use of skin bleaching creams was prevalent among 77 per cent of Nigerian women which was highest in Africa, compared to 59 per cent in Togo, 35 per cent in South Africa and 27 per cent women in Senegal.

 

She said that the essence of the sensitisation workshop was to train Journalists and stakeholders, who will inform the public on the dangers of those cosmetics.

 

Adeyeye added that the sensitisation workshop was a Train the Trainers’ programme with the great expectation that participants would assume role of champions in the campaign against use of bleaching creams in the country.

 

She added that after the sensitisation campaign, the agency would take stringent regulatory actions to stem the dangerous tide of rampant and pervasive cases of Nigerians using bleaching creams.

The director general thanked journalists and stakeholders for their collaboration and support for NAFDAC to rid the country of the menace of substandard and falsified medicines, unwholesome foods, corrosive cosmetics and other substandard regulated products.

 

Representatives of Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria, cosmetics manufacturers, supermarket operators, Nigerian Customs Health officials, amongst other stakeholders attended the workshop.

 

Earlier, Dr Abubakar Jimoh, NAFDAC Director of Public Affairs, said the war against menace of bleaching cream across the country was sequel to a resolution of the 2022 Senate, promoted by Sen Oluremi Tinubu.

According to Jimoh, the Senate resolution crystallised to a memorandum from the Secretary to Government of the Federation directing NAFDAC to strengthen its regulatory functions to curb the menace. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)/Flowerbudnews

Flowerbudnews

Lagos: The Nigeria Customs Service, Federal Operations Unit (FOU), Zone A, Ikeja, has handed over seized expired drugs, valued at about N1.4 billion to the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC).

The FOU Zone A Acting Controller of the Service, DCG Kehinde Ejibunu, did the handing over on Tuesday at the service seized items yard, Ikeja, Lagos.

Ejibunu said that the drugs were manufactured in India and Malaysia, adding that the warehouse where the goods were seized from was sealed and the owner was still ion the run.

“The Duty Paid Value is N1.4 billion. The importer would have relabeled the drugs, to sell them to the public.”

“ As a part of the results achieved from the re~worked strategy; expired, illicit, and other drugs that did not comply with the statutory import requirements were intercepted at different times and locations.

“ They are constructively warehoused in 39 x 140 ft and 2 x 20 ft containers by this Unit, and will be handed over to NAFDAC,” he said.

DCG Kehinde Ejibunu of FOU Zone A Ikeja presenting seized drugs to NAFDAC officials on Tuesday in Lagos

Receiving the drugs, the NAFDAC Director of Investigation, Mr Francis Onaniwu, commended the NCS for saving members of the public from more health challenges , which the expired drugs would have caused should they be used.

He said that the drugs expired in November 2021, stressing that the agency would investigate and analyse the drugs, to ascertain their potencies.

Onaniwu added that the agency was already investigating a case relating to similar drugs, stressing that one of the findings was to ascertain if the importer is same with the one they were investigating.

The director noted that the importer smuggled the drugs into the country because he knew if presented to the agency, they will not pass the laboratory tests.

Onaniwu said that the agency had dealt with such drugs and importers in the past.

He explained that the Controller of NCS handed over expired drugs, which was in large quantities, to NAFDAC.

“This is huge. Imagine if this quantity of drugs that are in these containers get to members of the public.

“The drugs , one is not sure of the quality, because from the one I am holding in my hand, the drug already expired in November 2021 and we know the implications of expired drugs.

“We are sure that if they have not been confiscated by NCS, definitely, if they enter circulation, the importers will not want to lose their investment.

“He will change the expired date to new date and relabel the drugs. People consuming such would have consumed poison,” he said. (NAN) www.nannews.ng / Flowerbudnews

Flowerbudnews

 

By Aderogba George

Abuja: The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) on Wednesday in Abuja sealed two shops for allegedly selling unapproved products to Nigerians.

The shops are located in the Zuba Central motor park and Utako main market.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that some of the unregistered products said to be aphrodisiacs are: “Hajiya Ayesha Snuff, AK47, Bulletproof and Hajiya Aysha Maisanda”.

Mr Tamanuwa Baba, Deputy Director, investigation and Enforcement directorate, NAFDAC, said the operation followed intelligence reports received about the shops.

“The products are meant to boost sexual performance and some were said to have been manufactured in Ghana.

“NAFDAC laboratory analysis indicates that these products contain a chemical substance called Pyridine which is a potentially harmful to the human body.

“We found a lot of unregistered products in the two shops. We will begin immediate investigations ,” he said.

 

Baba said that the agency has apprehended the sales representative in the Zuba shop pending when the owner of the shop will return from his journey.

“We will get in touch with the owner of the shop on where he is sourcing these products from, but from the label on the products, some of them were allegedly manufactured in Ghana.

“What the sellers are saying is that these products usually make them high and some said that the product is used as an aphrodisiac.

“After the investigation, these products are going to be destroyed because they have not been registered by us.

He said similar set of products were also discovered in a shop at Utako known as Kabo Investment Limited.

He said that it was scary that  some of the products have flooded the Nigerian market and that they are fast spreading because the agency conducted a similar operation in Sokoto where some of the products were removed from a shop.

“I can tell you that  Pyridine which is the chemical that is contained in some of these products can cause cancer, skin irritation and even lead to death. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng/ Flowerbudnews

Flowerbudnews

 

By Biola Lawal
Abuja: (Flowerbudnews): The Director General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Prof Moji Adeyeye has assured operators of Nano Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises NMSMEs of NAFDAC commitment to help them grow.

Prof Adeyeye noted that NAFDAC assistance would enable the Small Scale enterprises act as catalyst for the nations economic transformation.

The Director General gave the assurance at a recent meeting organized by the Lagos State Office of the Agency with operators of NMSMEs in the nations commercial capital.

Prof. Adeyeye said that  NAFDAC would continue to drive collaboration and understanding with the NMSMEs  to empower them in terms of the next step for their businesses.

We remain committed to meeting the yearnings and aspirations of the business community, she said, adding that the gains and positive impact of subjecting their processes and products to regulatory scrutiny are immense.

According to the DG, such regulatory scrutiny is also meant to protect their businesses.When I see you, I see myself because I was raised up trading with my mother, with my grandmother selling things.

I know how hard it is to put money together and trade. I know how hard it is or the anxious moments that the average trader has, wondering whether he or she is going to have profit, she empathized with the small business owners.

In a statement by Resident Media Consultant to NAFDAC, Sayo Akintola, in Lagos on Monday, Prof Adeyeye noted that  the NMSMEs drive the economy of Nigeria, noting that Nigeria had a recession few years ago and came out of it quickly despite the challenges of the mega industry.

How did we come out of it quickly?’’, she asked rhetorically, as she swiftly responded by saying that the NMSMEs sub-sector was the magic wand that sustained the economy during the turbulent times.

However, because of our mandate, food, packaged water, and cosmetics. Three of our mandate are under NMSMEs, even some chemicals, some herbals.

Therefore, we do not take NMSMEs matter lightly’, she said. She added that operators of NMSMEs should always focus on one product that is well accepted by the consumers rather than manufacturing many products at the same time whereby none would be doing well in the market.

Dont make five products at a time please. You can try it and the one that is fast you can focus on that and make it great,’’ she said, as she admonished NMSME operators to dream big by entering the global market with their products.

She emphasized the commercial benefits and opportunities that abound for products that have been subjected to regulatory scrutiny, describing them as immense. One of such is the possibility of exporting such goods.

With exportation comes quality. Without being quality-conscious, exported products will be rejected. We are here to work with you to take your trading to the level that you want. I want us to also think not of just what we consume here but what we can export’.

The NAFDAC boss, however, disclosed that the Agency is already talking with the United Kingdom Department of Business and Trade to build a bilateral relationship whereby Nigerian products that are exported to the United Kingdom will be of quality, (having been registered and certified by NAFDAC).

She regretted the incidence of rejected food exports from Nigeria at the point of entry due to bad quality, stressing that if such food items were subjected to NAFDAC scrutiny, the incidents of rejected food exports from Nigeria would have been greatly curtailed.

Please lets think of the future or where we can take our products to, she said, adding that Nigerians abroad are concerned about what we are doing in terms of food that they cannot live without overseas.

Some of our people cannot live without eating Eba, (Cassava flour) Pounded yam or Amala (Yam flour). Some people cannot cook without palm oil. There are a lot of opportunities for us to tap into, she further admonished them.

Despite the fact that NMSMEs trading is not a mega industry, Prof. Adeyeye insisted that we still have to do the testing to make sure that whatever is put out there first, is not going to harm whoever is taking it. And its also going to last long enough on the shelf. Thats where the quality aspect comes in.

The NAFDAC DG assured the business owners of the continued support of the Agency, emphasizing that the staff of the Agency are being trained not to compromise, and to hold customers with high esteem based on quality management system.

She however, assured business owners who are desirous of entering the marketplace with NAFDAC regulated products of maximum support, saying we will provide you with the necessary guidance, and support.

The Lagos State Office led by Dr Monica Eimunjeze put together some informative presentations for the entrepreneurs benefits which demonstrated what exists as well as NAFDAC regulatory expectations across board. (Flowerbudnews)

Flowerbudnews

 

By Aderogba George

Abuja:.  The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has pledged to support the Nano Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (NMSMEs) to enable them to grow the nation’s economy.

A statement by NAFDAC Resident Media Consultant, Mr Olusayo Akintola, on Tuesday stated that the agency’s Director-General, Prof Mojisola Adeyeye, made the disclosure at a meeting in Lagos.

According to the director-general, NAFDAC will continue to drive collaboration and understanding between NMSMEs and the regulatory authority with a view to empowering them in terms of the next step for their businesses.

Adeyeye said that NAFDAC remained committed to meeting the yearnings and aspirations of the business community, adding that the gains and impact of subjecting products and services to regulatory scrutiny were vital.

The director-general said that such regulatory scrutiny was all about protecting businesses and their environment.

“When I see you, I see myself because I was raised up trading with my mother, with my grandmother selling things. I know how hard it is to put money together and trade.

“I know how hard it is or the anxious moments that the average trader has, wondering whether he or she is going to have profit,” she.

She said that NMSMEs was capable of driving the economy of Nigeria, adding that Nigeria had a recession a few years ago and still came out of it despite all the odds and the challenges of the mega industry.

“How did we come out of it quickly?’’ asking rhetorically, as she said that NMSMEs subsector was the magic wand that sustained the economy during the turbulent period.

She said that this was possible because of the mandate from the agency on food, packaged water, cosmetics and others.

Adeyeye said that three of the agency’s mandates were under NMSMEs, along with chemical and herbal regulations.

She said that the agency would not take NMSMEs matter lightly.

She urged operators of NMSMEs to always focus on one product that is well accepted by the consumers rather than manufacturing many products at the same time where none would be accepted.

The NAFDAC boss admonished NMSMEs operators to dream big by entering the global market with their products, adding that commercial opportunities and benefits were abound for products that had been subjected to regulatory scrutiny.

According to her, one of such opportunities is the possibility of exporting such goods, noting that exportation is tied to quality.

Adeyeye said that NAFDAC was on ground to work with NMSMEs to take its trading to a higher level, adding that they must not only think of what to consume but what could be exported.

Adeyeye said that the agency was already talking with the UK Department of Business and Trade to build a bilateral relations in which Nigerian products that are exported to that country would be of high quality having been registered with NAFDAC.

She expressed regrets at the incidence of rejected food exports from Nigeria at the point of entry due to bad quality.

She said that if such food items had been subjected to NAFDAC scrutiny, the incidence of rejection would have been curtailed.

“Let us think of the future or where we can take our products to, Nigerians abroad are concerned about what we are doing in terms of foods that we are exporting.

“Some of our people cannot live without eating eba, (cassava flour), pounded yam or amala (yam flour). Some people cannot cook without palm oil. There are a lot of opportunities for us to tap into,” she said.

She insisted that the agency must continue to do testing of foods and others things to make sure that whatever was put out there first was not going to be harmful.

The director-general assured NMSME of NAFDAC’s continued support of NAFDAC, emphasizing that staff of the agency were being trained not to compromise and to hold customers with high esteem based on quality management system.

She equally assured business owners who are desirous of entering the marketplace with NAFDAC regulated products of maximum support, saying the agency would provide them with necessary guidance and support. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)