Imported fake and substandard drugs in Lagos. Photo by Biodun Ogunleye

By Tony EDIKE , Enugu
DIRECTOR-GENERAL of the National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control, NAFDAC,  Dr Paul Orhii said yesterday that about  5.7 percent of the world trade estimated at more than $280 billion is lost annually to fake, counterfeit, adulterated and other related substandard food products.
Dr Orhii disclosed this while declaring open a one day workshop organized by NAFDAC in collaboration with the Fake Proof and Quality Awareness Initiative Organization in Enugu.

The DG, who was represented by the Head of NAFDAC in Enugu, Pharm. Udoekpo Ekpo said that the occasion was put in place to create awareness on the dangers of fake and low quality products as well as to highlight government’s programmes and policies to curb the incidence of fake and counterfeit products in the country.

He said that the agency had intensified action to ensure that the ongoing battle against fake drugs and counterfeit projects was won, and called on Nigerians to support the campaign in the interest of the entire citizenry.

Also speaking, Chief Val Mbamara, who chaired the workshop, said the forum which would hold in all states of the country and Abuja was timely in view of the high level of ignorance and increase in fake, adulterated, substandard food, drugs, cosmetics, chemicals, packaged water and the attendant risk to the health of innocent consumers.

He explained that the workshop with the theme; “National Enlightenment on Dangers of Fake and Adulterated Products”  organized for the South_East manufacturers, sellers and consumers alike, was expected  to engender the restoration and consolidation of the dignity of God and humanity.

The chairman, Fake_Proof and Quality Awareness Initiative, Enugu, Chief Stanford Onuirimba, said the forum was designed to re_awaken the minds of the participants and urged the participants to take advantage of it.

The President, National Association for Patent Medicine Dealers, NAPMED, Enugu state chapter, Chief Sylvester Chukwu, said that the workshop would go a long way to re_educate and re_inform the dealers on some of the prevailing codes, standard products, materials as well as measurements and processing as was set by NAFDAC for goods manufactured or imported for sale in Nigeria.

In a paper delivered by a lecturer at the Imo state university Owerri,  Dr Mrs Chinwe Okereke, she warned the stakeholders in the sector on the legal implications of associating themselves with any thing negating the general polices and international best practices when manufacturing, importing or selling  of any item of food, drug or cosmetics in Nigeria.

Okereke advsed  consumers to watch closely the drug or food item they buy before consumption with a view to identifying their genuineness and report to the appropriate agencies when any drug  or food  item was found wanting for necessary sanctions against the producer.