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By Mujidat Oyewole
Ilorin:  The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) says it encourages Micro Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in Kwara through cluster facilities and online registration.

The NAFDAC Coordinator in Kwara, Mr Kenneth Azikwe, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Ilorin that the agency
also encourages more people to register online and manufacture dry foods that can be produced with low risk.

He added that “we encourage cottage manufacturing and manufacturing from cluster facilities.

“Cluster facility is a building that can accommodate two or more people to manufacture their products.

“An example is the Technical Incubation Centre (TIC), Ilorin, where we register young people who want to go into production but
do not have the wherewithal to get structure on ground.

“They can rent a cluster facility and begin to produce simple products like plantain chips, chin chin and other dry finger foods,” he said.

The coordinator further said that there were cluster facilities in some local government areas of Kwara which are not owned by Federal Government like the TIC.

He said some of the facilities are owned by Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs), adding that “NAFDAC still encourages them to get registered.”

Azikwe added that the agency had developed a platform called NAFDAC Automated Product Administration and Monitoring System (NAPAMS).

“It is a tailor-made portal for product registration and can be accessed easily by just checking into www.nafdac.gov.ng

“Check the requirements needed for whatever you are applying for and register your manufacturing company through NAPAMS.

“Introduce your company, then a username and password will be given, after which you will introduce your product, submit some essential things
needed and then an inspection will be fixed for you,” he said.

He, however, said that for those into high risk products, NAFDAC registration number would be issued at the headquarters in Lagos.

Azikwe assured that routine sensitisation on the online registration for MSMEs and other activities would continue through educational activities
from National Youth Service Corps members and the media. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)/Flowerbudnews

By Kemi Akintokun

The Director-General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, has assured Nigerians that COVID-19 vaccines  produced in the country will be of international standard, with the strengthening of the agency.

Adeyeye gave the assurance during the oversight visit of the House of Representatives Committee on COVID-19 to the NAFDAC facilities and COVID-19 laboratory projects in Lagos.

According to a statement issued on Sunday by Sayo Akintola, NAFDAC Resident Media Consultant, Adeyeye described the Federal Government’s huge spending on the fight against COVID-19 as exemplified by the construction of the new COVID-19 laboratory, as a great achievement for the country.

She said that the laboratory with equipped modern instruments and amenities at the agency was a wake-up call for the country.

She noted with dismay that the health sector had been neglected before the present administration responded through the COVID-19 Committee of the National Assembly, ‘’particularly the members that are here today’’.

She said: “To ensure that the health sector is strengthened, NAFDAC must be strengthened, if the regulatory agency is not strengthened, the industry will not be strengthened.

“We have the African Free trade Agreement already here with us now for the nation’s pharmaceutical industry to take advantage of with quality products.

“There will be a lot of competition and if NAFDAC’s laboratory is not strengthened, we will not be able to compete.

‘’For Vaccines, we are hoping that the vaccine facilities from the public- private partnership will soon happen but if the regulatory agency is not strong, we can make vaccine that will destroy our own people.”

Adeyeye noted that with the agency now very strong with WHO Maturity Level 3 certification, “Nigeria can now make its own vaccines and we can  assure the populace that there is quality in whatever is being manufactured because of NAFDAC’s strength”.

On the impact that COVID-19 fund had made, she said, “this should resonate well with the whole country that if you put the right people in the right places, then the vision of the government can be realised.

‘’Whatever approvals that are being given by the Federal Executive Council (FEC) on funding our activities, you can actually touch such and this is what has happened here today.”

She commended the COVID-19 committee, and the Healthcare Services committee of the  Assembly for committing to ensuring that NAFDAC as a regulatory agency is  known internationally.

Speaking, Chairman, House Committee on COVID-19, Haruna Mshelia, commended Adeyeye and her management team for leveraging latest technology to upgrade the agency.

‘’We have seen with our eyes how they have leveraged on latest technology to upgrade the organisation to a standard that is next to none in Africa. I think they need to be commended.

“We have seen the warehouse. We have now seen the laboratory which is under construction. They have gone very far, and the standard of the construction is good.

‘’We have also seen the equipment awaiting to be installed in the laboratories. I have to say kudos to the DG and her team for getting good value for money as far as COVID-19 funds for NAFDAC is concerned.

“Other agencies should come to NAFDAC and learn how they have leveraged ICT to move their organisation forward so that everywhere our standard can be uplifted with everyone seeing it,” Mshelia said.

NAN

By Francis Onyeukwu

By Stella Kabruk

Kaduna: The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) says it will embark on surveillance visits to restaurants and fast food outlets in Kaduna State.

The State Coordinator, NAFDAC, Nasiru Mato who disclosed this to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday in Kaduna, said the purpose was to ensure the operators’ adherence to good hygiene practice.

Mato said the agency had observed that some of the quick service restaurants and fast food outlets did not adhere to its guidelines on good hygiene and needed to be checked.

“We want to begin a massive surveillance visit to quick service restaurants and fast food outlets in the state with a view of ensuring adherence by the operators to NAFDAC guidelines on good hygiene practice,” he said.

He said the visit was also to familiarise the agency with some restaurants and fast food outlets to ascertain their compliance to laid down guidelines, standards and operating procedures.

The state coordinator noted that the visit was intended to be a continuous exercise so as to cover every nook and cranny of the state.

Mayo said NAFDAC would check for the use of food grade utensils, personal hygiene and environmental hygiene as some of the critical components of good hygiene practice.

He said the agency would also check for provision of insect proof nettings to prevent cross contamination.

“We shall also be looking at recommended storage conditions for all raw materials, use of appropriate apparel and general sanitary condition, including provision of adequate water system convenience,” he said.

He added that water used in food preparation must be from an established source and should be well-treated before use.

“Essentially, a dedicated washing area with appropriate channel for waste water must be provided,” the state coordinator added.

According to him, the surveillance visits are intended to re-awaken operators in food business to all aspects of NAFDAC regulations that affect their operations and ensure compliance.

He also urged operators of restaurants and other food outlets to come forth for Good Hygiene Practice Certification.

He said: “If you have yet to register, I urge you to do so to avoid sanctions.

“The Director-General of NAFDAC, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeyeis is committed to ensuring that all regulated products meet the necessary quality and safety requirements.” (NAN)(www.nannews.ng) /Flowerbudnews

By Victor Adeoti

Osogbo:  The National Agency For Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), has warned that it is illegal to advertise any regulated product by manufacturers without the prior approval of the agency.

The Southwest Zonal Director of the agency, Mrs Roseline Ajayi, gave the warning during a stakeholders’ meeting on Thursday in Osogbo.

Ajayi, who noted that product registration with the agency was not the same with advertisement approval, said any manufacturer caught in any advertisement, contrary to approval would be severely sanctioned.

She said that the time had come to address illegal advertisements which had given unethical practices and exploitation of unsuspecting Nigerians.

Ajayi also warned manufacturers against sale of products laced with psychoactive substances, which had the capacity to destroy vital organs of the body.

She said that any manufacturer caught with unregistered and deadly products would be dealt with in line with the law.

Ajayi said that NAFDAC would continue to work towards its mission in safeguarding public health.

He said this would be done by ensuring that only the right quality drugs, food and other regulated products were manufactured, imported, distributed, advertised, sold and used in Nigeria.

Ajayi said that the stakeholders meeting was organised with a view to sensitising different sectors to the need for collaboration in the advancement of the regulatory environment.

According to her, the regulatory space is not only becoming more dynamic but also more challenging.

This he said, was due to advancement in technology, inventions, innovations, diversification in economy, hostile economic environment, inflation and other threatening global village impacts.

” The impact of the aforementioned factor may have consequences on the quality and wholesomeness of regulatory products.

” Hence, the agency is also evolving strategies and operational guidelines to drive continuous improvements, to match with the regulatory environment and changing demands of the new world order.

“NAFDAC under the leadership of Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, has recognised the important role played by stakeholders in fulfilling its mandate, which is the motivation for special interest on stakeholders engagement,” she said.

Besides, Ajayi said that during her working visit to the state, she visited factories to check levels of their compliance to regulatory procedures.

He also said they trained members of staff of the agency on the need to be more active in the pursuit of the agency’s mandate and mission.

Earlier, the NAFDAC State Coordinator, Mr Anikoh Ibrahim, said the meeting was to intimate stakeholders on what NAFDAC was doing and the challenges they were facing.

Ibrahim said the meeting was also to intimate stakeholders with recent happenings in NAFDAC, the agency’s concerns, as well as the stakeholders agitations and the way forward.

Stakeholders at the meeting, in their various contributions, commended NAFDAC for the meeting and promised to work within the agency’s regulatory frame work.(NAN)www.nannews.ng (Flowerbudnews)