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  • NAFDAC busts Lagos cartel, seizes banned drugs worth N106 Million

    Operatives of the National Agency for Food and Drug, Administration and Control (NAFDAC) have busted a Lagos-based cartel involved in illegal importation of banned and controlled pharmaceutical products, including tramadol.

    NAFDAC Boss, Prof Moji Adeyeye said that the successful operations followed a tip-off and subsequent substantive surveillance on nefarious activities of the group.

    A NAFDAC statement said that the Agency’s  operatives  raided a transit warehouse at Ijora Ororo, Lagos State and discovered 187 cartons of assorted Tramadol (120mg, 200mg and 225mg respectively).

    It also found more than 49 cartons of Diazepam (a controlled drug) concealed amongst household items including but not limited to bicycle, used tyres and printers.

    The seized products, valued at N105,650,000 million, have been evacuated from the transit warehouse for necessary action and further investigation by the Agency.

    Prof. Moji Adeyeye advised Nigerians to be “watchful and not hesitate to report any suspicious activities within their environment to the nearest NAFDAC office,”

    NAFDAC was established to protect the health of Nigerians among other functions.

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  • NAFDAC destroys expired drinks in Taraba

     

    The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDC) has destroyed two hundred and sixty-eight cases of assorted expired drinks in Taraba State.

    Officers of NAFDAC on routine surveillance discovered and seized these expired products from many provision stores and drink shops at Kurmi and Takum towns in Baissa Local Government Area of the State.

    The expired products, which were destroyed, included various brands of soft drinks as well as assorted brands of beer.

    The Agency reiterates that “sales and distribution of expired unwholesome regulated products is a violation of the NAFDAC Act Cap N1 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004. Offenders will be prosecuted.

    The general public is hereby advised to be vigilant and report dealers and marketers involved in sales of expired products to the nearest NAFDAC Office.

     

  • NAFDAC confiscates unregistered condensed milk, others in Jos

    By Mustapha Sumaila

    The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) operatives have seized some unregistered condensed milk and expired products in Jos, Plateau.

    The Director-General, NAFDAC, Prof. Moji Adeyeye, explained that the products were Roch, Tiona, Dembo brands of sweetened condensed milk products in one kilogramme and other expired products being sold openly in the market.

    Adeyeye said in a statement issued in Abuja on Thursday that NAFDAC Director for North Central Zone, noticed the unregistered products during her private shopping at the Terminus Market in Jos.

    She stated that officials of the agency raided the Terminus, Yan Doya and Bukuru Motor Park Market for a mop-up, where some unregistered condensed milk were seized from hawkers.

    “Apart from been unregistered, these brands of milk come in 1kg, which once opened for multiple use and stored inappropriately, is prone to contamination hence lead to various health hazards to the public.

    “Other products seized during the exercise include expired 24 cartons of Snap Alcoholic drink, 24 bottles of malta harb, 12 Chivita juice cartons, 150 bottles of Fanta and some Nestle Pure life water,” she said.

    Adeyeye said that hawkers and retailers found with unregistered condensed milk, claimed the products were supplied from Kano markets, adding that the hawkers came from ECOWAS countries like Niger and Togo.

    The NAFDAC boss said that the labelling of the products indicated that they were manufactured in Malaysia.

    The director-general disclosed that retailers and hawkers who violated the agency regulations had been administratively charged while others were issued warning letters.

    The NAFDAC boss cautioned the general public to always check for expiring dates before buying any food products, drugs or drinks. (NAN)

  • NAFDAC seizes controlled drugs worth N105.65m in Lagos

    NAFDAC seizes controlled drugs worth N105.65m in Lagos

    The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) operatives had raided a Lagos based cartel and seized controlled drugs worth N105.65 million.

    The Director-General of NAFDAC, Prof. Moji Adeyeye, made this known in a statement in Abuja on Friday.

    Adeyeye explained that NAFDAC carried out substantive surveillance on nefarious activities of a cartel involved in illegal importation of banned and controlled pharmaceutical products.

    She said that at about 1:00a.m on Sept. 14, the operatives raided a transit warehouse at Ijora Ororo, Lagos State and discovered 187 cartons of assorted Tramadol (120mg, 200mg and 225mg respectively.

    She stated that more than 49 cartons of Diazepam (a controlled drug) concealed amongst household items including but not limited to bicycle, used tyres and
    printers were also seized.

    “The seized products, valued at N105.65 million have been evacuated from the transit warehouse for necessary action and further investigation.

    “We are advising the general public to be watchful and should not hesitate to report any suspicious activities within their environment to the nearest NAFDAC office” she said.

  • NAFDAC shuts down 6 sachet water factories in Rivers

    By Mustapha Sumaila

    The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) said it has shut down six sachet water factories at Okirika Local Government Area of Rivers for operating in an unhygienic environment.

    The NAFDAC Director of Public Relations Unit, Dr Abubakar Jimoh, confirmed this in a statement in Abuja.

    Jimoh explained that NAFDAC office in Port Harcourt “after a successful raid of illegal sachet water producers in Okirika local government area of the state and the agency was alarmed at the unhygienic environment and had to shut down the six factories visited.

    “What we saw in Okirika is horrible and despicable to say the least; most of the illegal producers, packaged their water directly from the bore hole without any filtration system and with very poor Hygienic Practice.

    “The factories are located in dingy rooms while sachet waters were packed on bare floors, some were located very close to toilets, gutters and kitchens which is against the agency’s rules,” he said.
    “Almost all the outfits are not registrable, they connect water directly from bore holes to water packaging machines.
    “No micro filters, UV water sterilizers and treatment plants; the environment is very bad, the operators are not trained and the Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) are not observed; everybody does what he likes,” the statement read in part.
    The spokesperson said that two persons were arrested while others took to their heels on sighting the officials of NAFDAC.
    He disclosed that five generator sets, two water packaging machines, two water treatment machines, films, two standing fans and loosed parts of water packaging machines were confiscated during the exercise.

    Jimoh warned illegal sachet water producers to desist from producing unhygienic and unregistered packaged water that could endanger public health. (NAN)

  • Keep off rotten tomatoes to avoid cancer, NAFDAC warns Nigerians

    By Peter Okolie

    The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) on Friday warned Nigerians against the consumption of rotten tomatoes to forestall cancer.

    Mrs Christiana Essenwa, a Deputy Director with the agency, gave the warning in an interview with tNews Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Onitsha.

    According to her, rotten tomatoes contain micro organisms that induce cancer.

    She explained that “once tomatoes become rotten, it will have micro organisms, mostly fungi, and fungi in rotten tomatoes produce mycotoxins which are deadly and induce cancer, and cause immune deficiency in man and animals.

    “Mycotoxins are deadly, and can cause all sorts of poisoning in the body,” the director said.

    She said that some research suggested that mycotoxins could also cause kidney damage.

    According to her, some people think that rotten tomatoes which are cheap, can be consumed after washing and heating.

    She, however, stressed that the toxins could not be washed or killed by heating “because mycotoxins are heat-resistant.”

    She, therefore, advised consumers to keep-off rotten tomatoes often sold cheap in the market, saying “it was better to spend money to prolong life than to use such money to buy death.” (NAN)

  • NAFDAC, SON, others step up actions against agric produce rejections

    Prof Moji Adeyeye, DG,  National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has urged exporters of food, drugs and cosmetics products to always comply with required local and international safety standards.

    Prof Adeyeye, who  made the appeal at the 2018 National Agricultural Show Symposium in Tudun Wada, Nasarawa State on Wednesday, said that compliance to safety standard would make semi-processed and processed Nigerian agricultural produce to sell more in the international market.

    The NAFDAC Boss, who was represented by Mrs Carol Obelle,  Deputy Director, NAFDAC Ports Inspection Directorate, noted that  NAFDAC only certify semi-processed and processed agricultural produce which directly affects the health of citizens.

    “In other to improve competitiveness, quality and safety of our food products, ensure zero rejection at the international market and develop market, the exporters must comply with policy and safety standard both locally and internationally in line with country export requirements,’’ Prof Adeyeye stated.

    Prof Adeyeye noted that compliance would eliminate rejection of Nigerian agricultural produce on the international market.

    Also, speaking at the occasion,  Dr Abiodun Akinjo, the Director, Animal Quarantine of the Nigeria Agricultural Quarantine Service (NAQS), appealed to exporters and prospective exporters to come to the service for proper registration and traceability.

    Abiodun said that the pytho-sanitary certificate issued by the service was to ensure adequate sanitary measures of agricultural products.

    National Coordinator of the National Agricultural Foundation of Nigeria (NAFN), Dr Samuel Negedu,  said that the theme of the symposium was ` Strategies for Promoting Export of Agricultural Products’.  The show was organised by NAFRN.

    Negedu noted that prospective players or exporters lacked information to facilitate market development, transportation and export.

    He appealed to relevant agencies to provide information channels to enable farmers, exporters and other actors to know what is required of them to embark on exports

    Negedu noted that success of the show would raise awareness to reduce cases of rejection of Nigerian agriculture produce at the international markets.

    Mr Usman Mohammed, an Assistant Director in SON, said that his organisation had over 288 different standards on agricultural produce and regretted that most exporters boycott and do not follow guidelines for export.

    He said that it was the major reason for the rejection of Nigerian produce at the international market adding that SON had upgraded its standards to comply with international standards.

    “We are part of international Organisation of Standardisation, whatever requirement we have concerning exportation; it must go in line with our standard.

    “The first thing to do is to inform SON of your intentions that is the product you want to export and the country you want to export to, then we will carry out inspection on the commodity you want to export, carry the test and ensure that your product meet the minimum requirement of the standard.

    “Once we are able to confirm that, we will give you a certificate which will enable you to have SON logo on your product; with this you can export your products. “This standard can be reviewed from time to time,’’ he said.

    The agriculture show commenced on Oct. 16 and would end by Oct. 19.

  • NAFDAC bans Malco vitamin B complex injection in Nigeria

    The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has banned the importation, sale and distribution of Malco Vitamin B Complex injection in Nigeria due to contamination.

    The drug is produced by Shreechem Pharmaceuticals PVT Ltd, India.
    The Director-General of the agency, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, announced the ban in a statement in Abuja on Wednesday.

    Adeyeye said laboratory analysis by WHO indicates that the product is unfit for human consumption.
    She said that use of the product could cause serious health hazard, urging healthcare providers and members of the public to stop the administration and use of the affected product to avoid negative health complications.

    The director-general therefore directed all importers, wholesalers and retailers to immediately stop the importation, distribution and sale of Malco vitamin B complex injection.

    She urged anyone in possession of the affected product to submit it to the nearest NAFDAC office.
    Adeyeye also advised consumers to report any adverse events related to the use of the product to the nearest NAFDAC office or NAFDAC PRASCOR 20543 toll free.

    “NAFDAC has been informed that the Zambia Medicines Regulatory Authority (ZARMA) has directed International Drug Company (IDC) Limited, Lusaka, Zambia, to recall all batches of Malco vitamin B complex injection manufactured by Shreechem Pharmaceuticals PVT Limited, India.

    “The recall is a precautionary measure due to observed particulate materials possibly microbial growth in the bottles of the product.

    “Preliminary observation from World Health Organisation (WHO) facilitated laboratory analysis indicates that the sample is unfit for human consumption.

    “The body needs Vitamin B complex for various functions such as supporting cellular metabolism, maintaining healthy nerve cells and proper neurological function; aiding the bone marrow to produce healthy red blood cells and helps to control blood levels of homocysteine,’’ the statement read in part.

    The director-general also noted that although Malco vitamin B complex injection was registered with NAFDAC, but its marketing authorisation license expired in 2016. (NAN)

  • (Photo News)NAFDAC ARREST 10 DRUG HAWKERS IN DAMATURU. 16th July 2019

    Damaturu and confiscates counterfeit drug worth Five Hundred and Thirteen (N513, 000) thousand Naira.

    The Coordinator calls for cooperation of the general public for any useful information. That would assist the agency, however the suspect are under investigation to trace their main supplier.