Category: Health and Environment

By Biola Lawal
Abuja (Flowerbudnews): The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has initiated pre-dossier submission Parley with local pharmaceutical manufacturers to enhance their dossier packaging mechanism.

The Director-General of NAFDAC, Prof. Mojisola Christianah Adeyeye, who approved the new initiative, expressed optimism that the engagements would improve current submissions, and also served as valuable insights for future dossier preparations by the indigenous companies.

The engagement was being introduced ”to address the recurring issue of inadequate dossier submissions,” and was exclusively for local pharmaceutical manufacturers.

‘:Recognizing the need for continuous improvement in regulatory processes, this initiative aims to enhance the quality of Common Technical Document (CTD) dossiers, providing manufacturers with an opportunity to engage with the dossier review team,’: Prof Adeyeye stated.

The NAFDAC Boss said further that ”the virtual meetings will allow local pharmaceutical manufacturers to seek guidance, address queries, and clarify minimal requirements for CTD Dossier submission.

”This proactive approach intends to minimize the rejection of dossier applications on submission, fostering a more efficient registration process,”

She said that ” due to staff limitations, the meetings will be virtual and restricted to one application per product line per company.

”’Priority will be given to new companies lacking experience in the norms and standards for CTD dossier submission.”

Prof Adeyeye said that ”to facilitate effective discussions, applicants must submit the filled Quality Overall Summary (QOS) for the product at least one week before the scheduled pre-submission meeting, ensuring adequate preparation by the dossier review team”.

The Pre-Submission Meetings implementation will commence on January 2, 2024, Flowerbudnews reports.

By Biola Lawal
Lagos (Flowerbudnews):  The Director General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Prof Mojisola Adeyeye has declared that a corruption-free regulatory framework was crucial for the accomplishment of NAFDAC’s task of protecting public health.

Prof. Adeyeye made the asserssion at a recent three-day training programme on Anti-corruption, Leadership in the 21st Century, and Ethical Value in the Workplace for all the directors of the Agency, a statement by Sayo Akintola, Resident Media Consultant disclosed.

Prof. Adeyeye noted that without transparency, activities of the Agency would be compromised, which puts the health of the populace at risk, stressing that I dont separate trade from regulation.

” if you have a good product, people will rush and buy irrespective of wherever you are; and if you dont have a good product, people will not buy it. Thats what our business is all about in NAFDAC, ” She stated.

According to the NAFDAC boss, whether its food, drug, medical devices or cosmetics, if we dont do our job well, we will have bad products, we will allow bad products to come into the country and put the lives of our people in danger.

Describing the training as apt, Prof. Adeyeye said that the goal of the training was to address issues of leadership and governance, adding that the training would place a strong emphasis on current issues of anti-corruption and ethical values in the workplace, as well as organizational leadership.

Undoubtedly, one of the most important and essential duties of management is to prevent, detect, and respond to fraud, she said, noting that the training would serve as a forum discussion, sharing of experience, providing guidance, and developing strategy for good leadership.

The DG noted that the training aligns with the World Health Organization Global Benchmarking Tool (ISO 19004) for which the Agency was audited, and which culminated in her attainment of the WHO ML3 status, and recognition as a stable and well-functioning Regulatory Agency.

Based on continuous quality monitoring, Prof Adeyeye enthused that it is what will lead the Agency to Maturity Level 4 and World Listed Authority status.

She added that the goal is to place the consumers at an advantage health wise, and the stakeholders (large businesses and MSMEs) at a vantage point economically.

Without transparency, our regulatory activities will be compromised, therefore, the training becomes a reference point for all staff in how to place a premium on the health and business of the customer and building integrity into the Agency regulatory framework, she said.

She disclosed that management and all other personnel are expected to reflect on their leadership practices and the challenges of managing change, pointing out that staff training and capacity development have been prioritized at the Agency, as is typical of her administration, in other to improve staff expertise on the job.

She noted that the training was for experienced leaders who are responsible for thinking strategically about the future of the organisation
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The NAFDAC boss recalled that she had in recent times initiated and nurtured bilateral relations between the Denmark Veterinary and Food Administration and NAFDAC, which opened windows of training for the Agencys administrators and planners in various organizational change management, behaviourer changes and conflict management abilities

She said the training in anti-corruption, financial fraud, integrity, accountability, and transparency, all leadership attributes, was for directors, but all NAFDAC officers would be trained, expressing the hope that all the discussions and information shared during the training would be applied effectively in the Agencys various formations.

Speaking at the end of the three-day training program, the facilitator/consultant, Dr. Aminu Ibrahim Gusau, urged the directors to take advantage of the training to enhance their capacities on the job and help to improve the wide-ranging abilities of the Agency to accomplish its mandate.

The issues of financial fraud, integrity accountability and transparency were addressed in the training. The consultant elucidated how to mitigate risk, limit liability, protect organization and promote transparency in the Agencys operations.

The U.S-based executive management consultant urged the top hierarchy of the Agency to work as a unit, warning that when one department is deficient, the entire system cannot function optimally to achieve the mandate of the Agency.

Going philosophical, Dr. Gusau warned that after the training exercise, if you see anything going wrong in the Agency and you keep quiet, God may not forgive you. Do not wait until theres a problem before you start to talk. (Flowerbudnews)

By Aderogba George

Abuja: The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), said on Monday in Abuja that it recently burst some producers of counterfeit wine, soft drinks and other consumables in Eziukwu Market in Aba, Abia state.

The Director-General (D-G) of the agency, Prof Mojisola Adeyeye, who disclosed this to newsmen at a press briefing, stated that the operation was carried out following a leaked information to the agency.

She said that NAFDAC carried out several weeks of intelligence gathering and collation of data on the activities of these ‘merchants of death’ in collaboration with other security agencies.

The NAFDAC boss said that the agency carried out the sting operation in the market to burst the criminal operation taking place there.

According to her, “it is worthy of note that this dastard activity has been going on for a long time and that they operate like a cartel threatening anyone who dares to challenge them.”

She said that some of the nefarious activities of the counterfeiters included the manufacture of all kinds of adulterated products, especially different kinds of wine from a wide variety of brands, ranging from Seaman, Schnapps, Henessy, Four cousins, and Carlo Rossi.

Others are Jenney, Chelsea London dry gin, Schnapp dry gin, McDowells, Black labels, Gordons, Martell, Campari, Smirnoff ice, Eva Non-Alcoholic drink, Evra non-alcoholic drink, Cartel and others.

The D-G said that there is also date revalidation for expired products like Peak milk, powdered milk, Ketchups, Yoghurt, Coca-Cola products, packaging of fake and substandard products, which are later sold to unsuspecting members of the public for consumption.

Adeyeye said because of the extensive operation, the agency raided over 240 shops-turned factories where the harmful products were being produced and marketed.

“The shops-turned factories are very filthy, using water from very unhygienic sources, harmful chemicals, saccharin, colouring, dirty recycled bottles, and cloned packaging materials of other brands.

“The adulteration of alcoholic beverages by criminal elements in the country is done by mixing of cheaper sources of sugar and starch besides grapes or fruits, among other harmful chemicals unsuitable for human consumption.

“Over 1,500 cartons of fake and substandard products were destroyed during the operation while 300 cartons were evacuated to NAFDAC warehouse. The street value of the confiscated and destroyed fake products is estimated at over N750 million.

“Ten people were arrested on arrival at the scene of the crime and will be charged to court after a thorough investigation.

“Due to the sheer magnitude of illegality going on in that section of the market, NAFDAC had to shut the entire market for thorough regulatory activity until an agreement was reached with all stakeholders who signed that the market will never be used for nefarious activities.

“Drinking adulterated alcohol can cause nausea and vomiting, abdominal pain, drowsiness, and dizziness, blue tinged or pale skin, irregular or slow breathing, low body temperature, unconsciousness or even death.

“It can also lead to kidney and liver failure. Methanol, a substance which can be used in fake vodka, may cause permanent blindness,’’ she stressed.

The NAFDAC boss said that the World Health Organisation (WHO), in its Global Status Report on Alcohol and Health, estimated that more than three million people died all over the world as a result of alcohol poisoning.

She also stated that the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) had also ascertained that one of every 10 cancer cases in Nigeria can be traced to Alcohol and 4.7 per cent of overall cancer cases in Nigeria in 2019 could also be attributed to consumption of adulterated alcohol.

Adeyeye urged Nigerians to remain vigilant, saying that the agency was also tasking consumers to always scrutinize branded drinks to distinguish them from counterfeits before consumption.

The D-G advised members of the public to be careful during this yuletide season and think about the “4 Ps”, which are Place, Price, Packaging and Product before purchasing alcohol.

She advised consumers of alcohol to always inspect the seal on the bottle, look for the contact information and address of the manufacturer, adding that if it is missing, then then drink is fake.

According to her, “if you have an app on your mobile phone that scans bar codes, scan it and see if it’s listed as the correct product.

“People should be wary of bad smells that smells like paint stripper or nail polish remover. These are added to these fake drinks.”

She said that NAFDAC would continue to ensure that the level of counterfeit products nationwide is brought to the barest minimum, saying that its aim was for people to continue to consume only healthy and safe products.

The NAFDAC boss pledged to be on the trail of these evil counterfeiters, and bring them to book, while enjoining the public to report any suspicious activity of illegal producers of adulterated products or similar activities to the nearest NAFDAC office nationwide. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)/ Flowerbudnews

By Muhyideen Jimoh, News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)

At Dei-Dei abattoir, located on the outskirts of Abuja, a thick smoke is billowing continuously. Idris and other sweating young men work energetically, hauling large chunks of hide skinned from slaughtered cows into the smearing fire fulled with tyres and plastics.

Under the heat from the sun and fire, they are assisted by Aisha and a group of women whose dresses have turned black from regularly working in the smoke.

Aisha and her team are washing the chunks of hide in equally blackened water and getting them ready for the market as vans take turns to load their portions.

As the fires go down, more tyres and plastics and hauled to further fuel the inferno as the butchers work to meet the large demand in the ever-increasing ponmo market.

Cooked cow hide, otherwise known as ponmo in Nigeria is a favourite meat enjoyed by millions of Nigerians. Many migrants to Nigeria have also fallen in love with it.

It is considered a taboo in some parts of the country to have a proper meal without a slice of ponmo.

However, researches have shown that ponmo may turn out to be poisonous if processed by the burning it is in tyre or plastics-generated fire as is the practice in many abattoirs across Nigeria.

The U.S. Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (2012) revealed that “tyre derived fuel” (TDF) contained several heavy metals such as lead (Pd), zinc (Zn), and Copper (Cu) that could be carcinogenic when exposed to consumers over a long period.

The Veterinary Council of Nigeria (VCN) also warned against consumption of such meat, stressing that it could contain cancer-causing chemicals from the burnt tyres.

“The more we eat those meats roasted with tyres, the more we are prone to health risks.

“There are alternatives and healthy ways of de-skinning meat rather than using tyres. Burning tyres contaminates the meat, degrades the environment and pollutes the atmosphere,” Dr Fadipe Oladotun, an official of VCN told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

This writer’s visit to major abattoirs in Abuja, which include: the Karu, Dei-dei, Kubwa and Gwagwalada abattoirs, showed that in spite of the health risks associated tyres and plastics-processed ponmo it remains is a common practice.

At Karu abattoir, tucked in the outskirts of Abuja, the unavoidable welcome by the stench of filthy environment occasioned by years of burnt tyres and plastics.

The pollution is palpable even to the most skeptic of environmental contamination.

Isa Adamu said he has been involved in the business of roasting slaughtered animals with tyres for no fewer than five years.

According to him, they burn scrap tyres to roast the meat because he tyres are cheaper sources of fuel, though they are not entirely ignorant of environment and health implications.

“We use these tyres for the meat because it burns sharp sharp and the used tyres are cheap to get around, so it makes our work easier,” he said.

Adamu said he was aware of the environmental hazard of this practice, but claimed he was not aware it could contaminate the meat and be carcinogenic.

The NAN investigation also shows this is the practice is rampant in Abuja, due to weak effort by the authorities to address it.

A Professor of Environmental Science at Addis Ababa University (AAU), Seyoum Leta, who said the practice also obtains in some African countries, stressed the need to stop this harmful practice.

He said doing so would not only safe potential cancer cases but also reduce emission of Greenhouse Gas Emissions (GHG) from those abattoirs.

“Burning scrap tyres will have not only health effects it will also largely contribute to greenhouse gas emissions and hence climate change with its implications for climate change.

“This practice releases what we call SOx, NOx, VOC and PM which are precursors of GHGs. Burning this resources is also a waste of resources as this can be recyleable material,” he said.

Leta told NAN that a number of alternatives can be explored by Nigeria, such as biomass based briquettes which are eco-friendly.

“Biomass-based briquettes are generally considered green technology compared to petroleum-based fuel such as tyres, so this is a good alternative in this regard,” he said.

The don advised Nigerians to embrace recycling of scrap tyres into beautiful furniture, shoes, mats and tiles.

Katharina Elleke, Project Designer, FlipFlopi Project Foundation, an East Africa-based NGO that built a sailing boat from recycled plastics in Kenya emphasised the need for Nigerians to embrace recycling plastics and tyres.

“We are East Africa’s circular economy movement that built the world’s first 100% recycled plastic sailing dhow.

“We use heritage boat building and waste-plastic innovation to create public engagement and drive policy action to ban all single use plastics and ensure all other plastics are part of a circular economy,” she said.

Elleke said African countries, including Nigeria, can tackle plastic pollution, through an effective plastic recycling system and keying into the circular economy model.

The Managing Director, FREEE Recycle Limited, Ifedolapo Runsewe said with Nigeria generating over three million scrap tyres annually, a lot more needs to be done to tackle the environmental/health challenge they pose.

She said that recycling of such tyres would go a long way in reducing environmental pollution and boosting Nigeria’s economy.

Sustainable environment stakeholders say all hands must be on deck in creating awareness and right investment in tyre recycling, while stepping up sensitisation and sanctions against burning of tyres.

They say this will engender good health and economic wellbeing of Nigerians. (NANFeatures) Flowerbudnews