NAFDAC decries increased circulation of uncertified medical products, food

The National Agency for Food Drug Administration and Control has decried the increased circulation of sub-standard and uncertified medical products and food in the country.

The agency said it would not rest on its laurels in fishing out those involved in the illicit act and make them face the law.

Director-General of NAFDAC, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye stated this during a sensitization campaign flag off in Port Harcourt for the South-South Zone on Monday.

Adeyeye, who was represented by the NAFDAC’s Director South-South Zone, Subulade Isijola said the campaign was in eight states of the Federation.

She further said the awareness campaign was one of the veritable regulatory mechanisms put in place by the agency to promote and protect the health of Nigeria.

Adeyeye said the COVID-19 pandemic worsened the manufacturing and distribution of substandard products, saying fake Personal Protective Equipment have been pushed into the market.

The NAFDAC boss added, “It is common knowledge that Nigeria has a preponderant share of the global problem of falsified medical products and unwholesome food.

“I want to reassure you that NAFDAC under my watch will not leave any stone unturned in our concerted efforts to rid the country of the menace of falsified medical products, unwholesome food, harmful cosmetics, poorly packaged water and other substandard regulated products.

“The advent of COVID-19 Pandemic has aggravated the problem with the challenge posed by substandard and falsified Personal Protective Equipment.

“The sensitization campaigns will therefore contribute significantly to the federal government’s efforts to inform, sensitize, educate and alert the public about inherent dangers of intake and use of those spurious regulated products.”

Earlier, the Director, Public Affairs, Abuja, Abubakar Jimoh, said the sensitization served as part of recruitment for the public to take part in the fight against illicit products.

“We have decided to recruit all of you in the vanguard of the campaign because we cannot do it on our own. We are talking of a population of over two hundred million Nigerians and a staff strength of below three thousand, we cannot do that alone.

“The important thing is to leverage on our size as key stakeholders so we can disseminate the information to every corner of the country,” Jimoh stated.