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Tag: NAFDAC

  • Suicide: NAFDAC bans sniper in open market

    Suicide: NAFDAC bans sniper in open market

    The National Agency for Food, Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has placed a ban on the sale of ‘sniper’ (insecticide) in open markets and supermarkets.

    NAFDAC’s Director, Veterinary Medicine and Allied Products Directorate, Dr. Bukar Usman, who made this known on Wednesday at the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Ibadan said that the agency had asked agro-dealers to stop the sale of the product in open markets and supermarkets.

    According to him, sniper is an agro-cultural product meant to be used only in the farms and not for households.

    Usman maintained that the directive was not an outright ban of the product but a restriction of its use and availability to farms alone.

    He also called on manufacturers and dealers to cooperate with NAFDAC to mop up the 100ml size of the product which was cheap and easily acquired, adding that all agro-chemicals meant for farms should not be used in households.

    “There are appropriate products for the control of mosquitoes and other household pests” he added.

  • NAFDAC to ban sale, consumption of Paraquat, Atrazine products in Nigeria

    The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) says it will soon ban the use of Paraquat and Atrazine products by farmers.

    The agency said it would mount evidence that the products hurt applicators and the environment.

    Dr Husman Bukar, the Director, Veterinary Medicine and Allied Products Directorate, NAFDAC, said this at the launch of a herbicide (Lifeline), produced by United Phosphorous Limited (UPL).

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the product launched at the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Ibadan, was also developed with UPL, IITA and Springfield Agro Company Lagos.

    Bukar said the decision was coming at a time when new herbicides that are safer and environmentally friendly were being registered in Nigeria.

    “A date for the ban has not been announced but it will happen very soon. Paraquat has been banned in several countries and we cannot continue to allow it to come into Nigeria,” he said.

    He also announced stricter measures to curtail the use of Snipper (Dichlorvos or 2,2-dichlorovinyl dimethyl phosphate) in homes to end the abuse of the pesticide which in recent times had been associated with suicides in Nigeria.

    “Recently, some suicide cases have been associated with people drinking Snipper, henceforth, we call on the agro-chemical industry to enhance their distribution channels so that this product (Snipper) gets to only accredited distributors and marketers.

    “We have also placed a ban on the manufacture of smaller packs of Snipper which are easily purchased for household use.

    “On the use of glyphosate by farmers, NAFDAC has placed a ban on glyphosate-based formulations with tallow-amine (an emulsifier and wetting agent for agrochemical formulations.

    “Agrochemical companies have been given the grace period of between now and December 2019 to withdraw all glyphosate formulations with tallow-amine from the Nigerian market,” he said.

    Also speaking, Mr Shanni Srivastava, the UPL Country Manager, said his company was working towards ensuring that only safer and environmentally friendly herbicides are introduced in the Nigerian market for the benefit of farmers.

    He said the debut of Lifeline was to offer a better and safer alternative to paraquat which in several countries in Africa had been banned.

    On his part, the President of the Maize Farmers Association of Nigeria, Mr Aminu Abubakar, described Lifeline as an excellent weed control herbicide in maize.

    Abubakar said that most of the maize farmers were now using the product and commended UPL for inaugurating the product in Nigeria.

    He also commended IITA and Springfield Agrochemicals for collaborating with UPL to ensure that Nigerian farmers benefited from the innovation.

    Mr Tope Olabokunde, a cassava farmer, who participated in the Technologies for African Agriculture Transformation (TAAT) programme where Lifeline was used by researchers from IITA, said the product was a good controller of weeds.

  • NAFDAC denies report of 70 per cent fake medicines in Nigeria

    The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has denounced a newspaper report that 70 per cent of medicines in Nigeria were fake.

    A press statement by Prof. Moji Adeyeye, Director General of the agency on Friday, said that the false report was published by Vanguard Newspaper.

    Adeyeye said that a study jointly carried out by NAFDAC, the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the Department for International Development (DFID) in 2005 revealed that fake medicines stood at 16 per cent.

    She added that a survey conducted by NAFDAC in 2017 and 2018 on some widely used drugs showed that Nigerian medicines were 98 per cent wholesome.

    She described the report as “categorically untrue and grossly inaccurate.’’

    `NAFDAC wishes to inform members of the public, especially health care providers, policy makers and development partners to disregard an online publication at https://www.vanguardngr.com that 70 per cent of all drugs in Nigerian markets are fake.

    “NAFDAC in collaboration with WHO, DFID and United States Pharmacopeia conducted series of studies on quality of medicines in Nigeria and the report runs contrary to what Vanguard reported.

    “A study of Counterfeit and Substandard Medicines in Nigeria conducted by NAFDAC in collaboration with WHO and DFID in 2005 revealed that counterfeit medicines stood at 16.7 per cent in 2005.

    “This was as against 40 per cent in 2001,’’ she said.

    She added that subsequent tests carried out between 2010 and 2012 revealed that the situation was even better than in 2005.

    “The National Survey on Quality of medicines using Truscan® device was conducted by NAFDAC across 29 States including FCT, Abuja from January 2010 to April 2012.

    “The medicines involved in the survey included antibiotics, antimalarials and antidiabetics. A total of 5,790 samples of medicines were tested.

    “5,419 samples of medicines out of 5,790 (93.6 per cent) tested during the survey passed quality tests while 371 samples (6.4 per cent) failed.

    “Another survey on the quality of medicines was conducted in Lagos state in May, 2012 using the Truscan® device.

    “A total of 235 samples of medicines comprising antimalarials, antibiotics, antidiabetics and anti-inflammatory agents were tested,’’ she said

    Adeyeye said that 226 samples of 235, equating 96.2 per cent passed quality test while nine samples equating 3.8 per cent failed.

    She said that in a further survey carried out in August, 2015, 96.4 per cent of the samples of antimalarial medicines passed while 23.6 per cent out of the samples failed.

    She said that NAFDAC carried out further surveys between 2017 and 2018 which showed that Nigerian medicines were 98 per cent wholesome.

    She urged Nigerians to disregard the report.

    “The report of series of studies conducted by NAFDAC with relevant stakeholders established that the online publication in Vanguard has no scientific basis, is untrue and grossly misleading and as such it should be disregarded.

    “One of the focus and priority areas of my administration is reducing substandard and falsified drugs through emphasis on local manufacturing. Promotion of local manufacturing has been on my priority list.

    “This is to reverse the trend of 30 per cent locally manufactured drug products toward 70 per cent.

    “Local manufacturing ensures drug security, reduces unemployment and increases contribution of the pharmaceutical industry to the nation’s GDP,” she said.

    The NAFDAC DG distanced the agency from any workshop organsed by Christabel International Organisation, where the statements were said to have been made.

    “NAFDAC hereby states that the Agency was never a party to any sensitisation workshop organised by Christabel International Organisation at Onitsha.

    “For the avoidance of doubt, NAFDAC is hereby unequivocally refuting her participation or involvement in the said workshop.

    “The agency hereby wishes to inform the general public that the fight against fake drugs and other unwholesome NAFDAC regulated products is something that the Agency considers as a daily routine activity,’’ she assured.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Vanguard Newspaper, on 19th April, published the contentious report online, under the headline, “70% of drugs in Nigerian markets fake — NAFDAC, NDLEA, NOA.’’

  • NAFDAC warns Nigerians against use of e-cigarettes

    NAFDAC warns Nigerians against use of e-cigarettes

    The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has alerted Nigerians on the dangers of e-cigarettes.

    Prof. Moji Adeyeye, NAFDAC’s Director-General, in a statement on Thursday, said that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration revealed that there were risks involved with the use of e-cigarettes.

    She advised Nigerians who used it to desist, adding that users of the product stood the risk of having convulsion.

    “NAFDAC has been informed by U.S. Food and Drug Administration of the risks involved with the use of e-cigarette.

    “Most users of e-cigarettes have experienced seizures, with most reports involving youth or young adult users.

    “Seizures or convulsions are known potential side effects of nicotine toxicity and have been reported in the scientific literature in relation to intentional or accidental swallowing of e-liquid,’’ she said.

    She also advised healthcare providers to investigate the use of e-cigarette by their patients, especially those with seizure.

    “Ask patients about e-cigarette use (e.g. vaping), particularly when providing care following a seizure, ask for the particulars of the brand, duration and nature of the use.

    “Consider testing cotinine levels, a nicotine metabolite, in addition to the typical urine toxicology screening tests.

    “Healthcare professionals and patients are also encouraged to report adverse events or side effects related to the use of these products to the nearest NAFDAC office,’’ she said.

  • NAFDAC raises alarm over prevalence of drug addicts

    NAFDAC raises alarm over prevalence of drug addicts

    The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) says Nigeria is sitting on a keg of gun powder due to what it described as the high rate and prevalence of drug addicts across the country.

    The agency said it was shocking that Nigeria was leading even beyond the international coverage of drug abuse globally.

    The Director, Public Affairs, NAFDAC, Dr Abubakar Jimoh, said this on Saturday while speaking with newsmen in Ilorin.

    Jimoh said the agency has an average conservative estimate of about 15 million people who are on drugs and 3 million of them could be conveniently called drug addicts.

    According to him, this development had forced the agency to conclude that the level of drug abuse has led to the high level of violence, kidnapping, terrorism, armed robbery and even dangerous driving by some Nigerian drivers.

    He said most youths under the age bracket of 19 to 22 and even parents, both male and female, have seriously engaged in taking hard concoction.

    Jimoh recalled that NAFDAC had recently destroyed billions of Naira worth of containers loaded with tramadol and other related hard drugs which if it had ordinarily gone into circulation would have destroyed several lives.

    He also disclosed that NAFDAC had shifted away from being just a mere regulatory agency of public health institutions, but now a key driver in the present transformation agenda in changing the diversification of the economy.

    He said that NAFDAC was controlling the chemicals imported by the petrochemical industries into the country.

    He said the agency has now been laying emphasis on the promotion and development of the Small and Medium Size Enterprise (SMEs).

  • NAFDAC cautions Nigerians on consumption of FanYogo gin, ginger; says product not registered

    The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) says it has not registered FanYogo Gin and Ginger drink in Nigeria.

    Its Director-General, Prof. Moji Adeyeye, made the clarification on Thursday in Abuja.

    Adeyeye said that the drink, which contained 12.5 per cent alcohol, and being circulated in the social media, was not a product of Fan Milk Plc.

    “The attention of NAFDAC has been drawn to the images of Fan Milk “FanYogo Gin & Ginger” purported to contain 12.5 per cent alcohol being circulated widely to the general public via social media.

    “The management of NAFDAC is using this medium to reassure the general public that the said product is not registered by NAFDAC; is not known to NAFDAC and is not in circulation in Nigeria.

    “NAFDAC has carried out a thorough investigation at the facility of Fan Milk Plc.

    “We can confirm that no such product is being developed by the company and no stock of packaging materials of the said “Fan Yogo Gin & Ginger” were found in the premises,” she said.

    Adeyeye added that Fan Milk PLC had also notified NAFDAC that the said product did not originate from the company.

    “The company, Fan Milk PLC, known to NAFDAC as a producer of milk products, has also issued a letter to NAFDAC in which they referred to the image circulating in the news and social media as a ‘false, mischievous and malicious image’.

    “The communication to NAFDAC includes the following statements which we share below for the re-assurance of the general public –

    “The product or image in question is not among any of the current Fan Milk Nigeria products currently produced in Nigeria and anywhere within the West Africa Cluster.

    “FanYogo is one of the brands produced by Fan Milk Ghana Limited, one of our sister companies. The purported ‘FanYogo Gin & Ginger’ will not be registered in Nigeria.

    “The image came to fore just as Fan Milk Ghana started a public poll to decide the release of a new flavor.

    “The images are the imagination of some mischief makers that have seized the opportunity to distort the social media space.

    “The poll has since been shut down considering that children may be exposed to the images.

    “The NAFDAC management wishes to reassure the general public that the agency is fully alive to her responsibilities, ” Adeyeye said.

    She assured the public of the safety, wholesomeness and quality of processed foods and other regulated products offered for sale.

  • NAFDAC alerts public on fake cholera vaccine

    NAFDAC alerts public on fake cholera vaccine

    The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has alerted the public, especially healthcare providers, on the existence of fake Dukoral Oral Cholera vaccine circulating in Bangladesh.

    According to a statement by Prof. Moji Adeyeye, the Director-General of NAFDAC, the packaging of the falsified Dukoral vaccine displays texts in English and French language.

    Adeyeye said that the World Health Organisation (WHO) had quarantined some quantities of the falsified vaccine.

    “We are raising this alert to health care providers and the society at large about the existence of falsified Dukoral Oral Cholera vaccine circulating in Bangladesh.

    “The WHO Country Office and Health Authorities in Bangladesh have quarantined the 8,000 falsified packs of Dukoral Oral Cholera vaccine so far identified.

    “The details of the falsified Dukoral Oral Cholera vaccines identified in Bangladesh are as follows –
    Product Name Dukoral Oral Cholera Vaccine/ Vaccin Oral contre le Cholera
    Batch Number KV8262B1
    Expiry Date 2020-04
    Stated Manufacturer Valneva Canada Inc.

    “Note that the logo of the manufacturer Crucell is also displayed,” she said.

    The NAFDAC boss clarified that the manufacturer of genuine Dukoral Oral Cholera Vaccine was Valneva Sweden AB, formerly Crucell Sweden AB.

    “Valneva Sweden AB, the manufacturer of genuine Dukoral Oral Cholera vaccine stated that the combination of the manufacturers, Valneva Canada Inc and Crucell should not exist on any packaging of the vaccine in the market.

    “Dukoral Oral Cholera vaccine manufactured by Valneva Canada Inc is not registered by NAFDAC.

    “All importers, wholesalers and retailers are implored to desist from illegal importation, distribution and sale of the falsified vaccine,” Adeyeye warned.

    She added that surveillance had been strengthened by NAFDAC at all ports of entry to prevent illegal importation of the falsified Dukoral Oral Cholera vaccine from Bangladesh.

    “NAFDAC has also heightened surveillance to prevent distribution and sale of the falsified vaccine.

    “Health care providers and other members of the public are advised to be vigilant and contact the nearest NAFDAC office with any information on the falsified Dukoral vaccine.

    “Anybody in possession of the falsified vaccine should submit it to the nearest NAFDAC office,” she advised.

    Adeyeye further urged consumers to report any adverse event related to the use of vaccines to the nearest NAFDAC office via – NAFDAC PRASCOR 20543 (toll free from all Network ) or via pharmacovigilance@nafdac.gov.ng

  • NAFDAC to destroy N198bn seized tramadol

    National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) said it was set to destroy Tramadol consignment valued at N198 billion which it impounded recently.

    Director-General of the agency, Prof. Moji Adeyeye, made this known on Sunday in a speech at an event to commemorate her one year in office in Abuja.

    She said that the drug would be burnt and disclosed that NAFDAC had in the last one year, destroyed sub-standard and falsified medicines, unsafe drugs and unwholesome food and chemicals worth N3 billion.

    Adeyeye said that with the support of the Presidency, National Security Adviser’s office and sustained awareness campaign on the implications of NAFDAC’s absence at the ports, the agency returned to the ports in May, 2018.

    “The agency seized and destroyed sub-standard and falsified medicines and unsafe drugs worth N3 billion, including unwholesome foods and other unregulated products, in the last one year.

    “We intercepted and destroyed 25 containers of Tramadol worth N1.7 billion

    “There is a plan underway to destroy more than 30 containers of Tramadol and other unregistered products worth N198 billion.

    “Three persons involved in the distribution of the banned tramadol have been arraigned at the Federal High Court in Lagos,” she said.

    Adeyeye said that if the impounded drug had infiltrated Nigerian markets, it would have caused a national security issue as youths addicted to the substance would have taken to violent crimes, including armed robbery and insurgency.

    She disclosed that when she assumed duty at NAFDAC a year ago, the agency was in debt to the tune of N3.2 billion, mainly due to the non-payment of withholding tax to the Federal Government.

    She, however, announced that the agency cleared all the debt within one year “due to proper financial management”.

    The NAFDAC boss added that “Our Ports Inspection Directorate has been able to recover N533 million of evaded administrative charge from stakeholders unpaid from 2014 to 2017.

    She said that NAFDAC, under her leadership, cleared a backlog of 6,000 applications for registration of products.

    Adeyeye said that the agency would on Dec. 15, begin online registration of drugs and foods.

     

  • NAFDAC, customs seize tramadol worth N193bn in one year

    NAFDAC, customs seize tramadol worth N193bn in one year

    The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control says it has confiscated containers of tramadol with a street value of N193bn.

    In a statement by the Director-General of the agency, Prof. Moji Adeyeye, the seizures were made during a joint examination of containers at the Apapa Port, Lagos which was coordinated by the Nigeria Customs Service.

    According to Adeyeye, about 23 out of 80 40ft containers on the agency’s watch list since November 2017 were examined on Wednesday, November 14 and Thursday, November 15 and it contained tramadol.

    The statement read in part, “These examined containers consist of 128,922 cartons of high strength of tramadol (120mg, 200mg, 225mg and 250mg), which was estimated to be worth about N6,446,100,000 in addition to 321,146 cartons of other unregistered pharmaceutical products. The worth of tramadol on the street is estimated to be at about N193,383,000,000 on an average cost of N1,500,000 per carton of tramadol.”

    She said the drugs emanated from India, adding that the seizure was an outcome of previous communications with the Comptroller General of the Nigeria Customs Service in September 2018 about containers suspected to be conveying tramadol and other unregistered pharmaceuticals as well as other NAFDAC regulated products.

    She said about 23 40ft containers examined so far were loaded with tramadol of various strengths from 120mg to 250mg and other unregistered pharmaceutical products that are known to be injurious to the health of the public, most importantly the youth.

    “Since then, the Port Inspections Directorate of NAFDAC has been tracking these containers with daily update on the progress,” Adeyeye said.

    Adeyeye said the prevention of these dangerous drugs from entering into the Nigerian markets would protect millions of youths from hazards of drug addiction which can pose threat to families, Nigerian workforce and the security of the nation at large.

    “Of course, this would have increased the number of casualties from insurgency, armed robbery and other social vices which are known to be the aftermath effect of use of illicit drugs,” the NAFDAC boss said.

    She thanked Customs for cooperating with the agency, adding that strengthening the synergy between them was the best way to boost effectiveness.

  • Visiting WHO team scored our laboratory zero – NAFDAC DG

    …Says 80 per cent of our equipment faulty

    The Director-General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Prof Mojisola Adeyeye, has said that 80 per cent of the equipment belonging to the agency has not been working.

    Adeyeye made the statement on Monday in Lagos while receiving members of the Senate Committee on Health who were on a tour of federal health institutions in the state.

    She said, “80 per cent of our equipment is no longer working and that is a major challenge to deliver on our mandate. The last time, the World Health Organisation visited our laboratory in Yaba, they scored us zero.”

    The NAFDAC DG also complained that the agency was understaffed and awaiting the approval of the Head of Service of the Federation to recruit more personnel.

    On the debt profile of the agency, Adeyeye said she met a debt of N3.2bn when she assumed office, but she was able to reduce it to N400m.

    The Vice-Chairman of the committee, Senator Clifford Ordia, urged the NAFDAC boss to jettison the idea of procurring buses manufactured abroad and patronise locally made vehicles in order to help grow the economy.

    The Chairman Senate Committee on Health, Senator Lanre Tejuosho, commended Adeyeye for her efforts in revamping the agency.

    Tejuosho, however, told the DG to prioritise the needs of the agency and present them to the Ministry of Health so that it would reflect in the 2019 budget.

    The committee also visited on-going projects at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Idi-Araba, the Federal Medical Centre, Ebute Meta, Federal Neuro-Psychiatrist Hospital, Yaba and the National Orthopaedic Hospital, Igbobi.

    Speaking with journalists at the end of the exercise, Tejuosho said the general observation in all the places the team visited was the problem of funding and prompt release of fund to the hospitals.

    “Most of them have only received about 10 per cent of their 2018 capital budget, which makes it difficult for us to blame them for lack of performance. We cannot expect them to do a lot with only 10 per cent of the fund they need for the whole year.

    “We chose the institutions that we visited today because they are the institution our people need to reverse medical tourism. Like the National Orthopaedic Hospital in Igbobi, they must be given special attention. This is because once you have an orthopeadic case, it is very difficult to be flown abroad until you are stabilised,” Tejuosho said.

    He also promised that his committee would ensure the improvement of the budget appropriation for the hospitals, as well as appeal to the Federal Government to make enough funds available to the health sector.