ABUJA—In a strategic move to totally block the major sources of fake drugs importation into the country, Director-General of National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) Dr. Paul Orhii said the Agency will soon establish control points in China and India.
According to a statement by the agency’s Assistant Director Public Relations, Alhaji Abubakar Jimoh, the new regulatory measure is being put in place to ensure that NAFDAC Inspectors physically examine the Drugs, Foods and other regulated products before the goods leave countries of origin (China and India) for Nigerian Ports.
Addressing members of Federal Task Force on Counterfeit Drugs, Abuja branch during a courtesy visit, Dr. Orhii said NAFDAC would no longer wait for the Drugs, Foods, Cosmetics and other regulated products to arrive Nigerian shores before carrying out examination and laboratory analysis to detect whether they are genuine or fake.
He explained that in spite of the limited resources of the Agency, some regulated officers will be posted to India and China once all necessary arrangements are concluded with authorities of the two Asian countries.
According to him, the officers will work hand-in-hand with the Independent Laboratory Consultant Analysis already appointed by NAFDAC in those countries to test all pharmaceutical products billed for Nigeria.
His words: “Nigeria has vast geographical land mass with porous borders where Drug, Foods and other regulated products are smuggled into the country. Given our shortage of manpower we cannot man all those illegal routes.
As a proactive measure, NAFDAC has decided to establish its physical presence in China and India who bring in most of our drug products. The Agency spends a lot of resources trying to chase the fake Drug Dealers around”.
The Director-General, however, limited that more land border offices will also be opened to further tighten the noose round the would-be importers of Fake Drugs and unwholesome food just as the Agency has concluded Information sharing agreement with the United States of America Food and Drug Administration as tracking down spurious products headed for Nigeria.
nonsense!,why are we still selling drugs in open markets?,every body in nigeria is a medical doctor and pharmacist,nigeria need total over haul of their health sector with reforms,why do they advertidse drugs on television indiscriminately?
this is so stupid ….. i cant believe it
That is effort in the wrong direction. Fake drugs are also brought into Nigeria through Cotonou and Niger boarders. When Dora started, NAFDAC were impounding trucks of fake drugs in Seme and Idiroko boarders. Why is NAFDAC no longer on those routes? What we need is to guard our boarders very well. Besides, the major issue about eradicating fake drugs in Nigeria is to streamline our drug distribution network. Nigeria is the only country in the world where drugs are sold in the open market (Idumota, Onitsha, Kano, Aba, etc) like other commodities, which is a big shame. Drug distribution should be handled only by trained pharmacists who are properly trained and knowledgeable about drugs. Dr. Orhii will not understand drug distribution because he is NOT a pharmacist. Until we close down the markets, we will NEVER control the scourge of fake drugs in Nigeria. After 8 years of Dora’s noise, fake drugs are still in Nigeria. WHO said about 40% of drugs in Nigeria are fake. The recent Amalar and Maloxine case is a pointer to this fact. There are incidences that the NAFDAC and public don’t get to hear and the fake products end up in the market. Infact, the cases that NAFDAC celebrate are those that refuse to settle NAFDAC and Customs at the ports.
I think Dr. Paul Orhii is only after contingency egunje. Govt must not approve of this proposal. Stinks!!!
The idea of NAFDAC is very commendable but why i discourage it is base on some fraudulent act with the official that will be appointed over the inspection. We are all mature and are in search of money, every one of us, no exemption. So no one is being fooled. If they can not control this in our border how then can they think they will achieve this. They are spending our money any how. Are we better than those Asian country who themselves could not control the production. Another question behind these issue is, can this Nigerian officials to be appointed avoid bribe because this is the problem at home and I’m not surprise they will take it abroad.
Wonders shall need end. Haaaaaaaa! Fake drugs that Nigeria could not control on her soil, is what she is now planning to control straight from China et’al. Na waoooooooo! I smell Niger Delta petro-dollar in action. 9ja na wah.
If I may ask,where is this fake drugs coming from?is not from these asian and western countries? what”s the essence of creating these offices, if fake drugs ll come into this country nothing ll stop it, period. or are we saying that those country don”t ve fake drugs?who thought us the processes of making fake products,they r the one. t hanks