By BEN AGANDE
ABUJA— Members of the House of Representatives yesterday condemned the withdrawal of some agencies, especially the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC, the Standard Organization of Nigeria, SON, and the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, from the nation’s ports, saying the action of government was inimical to the health of the nation.

This is coming on the heels of the decision of the House to investigate alleged lopsidedness in the award of contracts by the Federal Executive Council in favour of the South-South region of the country.

In a motion brought by Uzo Azubuike on the withdrawal of NAFDAC and other agencies, the House directed its committees on Health, Drugs and Narcotics as well as Industries to investigate the matter with a view to restoring these agencies to the ports in view of the crucial roles they play.

Azubuike noted that though the withdrawal of some agencies from the ports, “on the face of it, looks good as it will facilitate quick clearance of goods, the inclusion of NAFDAC and SON means that substandard goods and drugs would flow into our country unchecked. It is possible that some dubious people somewhere want to flood this country with fake drugs.”

In his contribution to the debate, Ahmed Musa said rather than target NAFDAC and SON in the policy to withdraw some agencies from the ports, “these agencies should be empowered to nip the importation of fake drugs and substandard products into the country in the bud.”