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Tag: NAFDAC

  • Lack of collaboration hampers biotechnology effectiveness – Experts

    Lack of collaboration hampers biotechnology effectiveness – Experts

    Biotechnology experts say lack of collaboration in the face of limited resources will hamper the efficiency and effectiveness of the use and application of biotechnology in Nigeria.

    The experts told the News Agency of Nigeria in separate interviews on Friday in Abuja that only synergy would help the nation achieve food security.

    Dr Rufus Ebegba, the Director-General, National Biosafety Management Agency (NBMA), said that modern biotechnology was becoming increasingly important in addressing emerging food security, social and economic challenges.

    “With its perceived and real unintended consequences, regulatory agencies and stakeholders must unite with a sense of purpose, vision, mission and determination to ensure that our nation reap the benefits of biotechnology.

    “We have an excellent working relationship with, and Memorandums of Understanding with agencies like NAFDAC, SON, the Nigerian Customs Services, NABDA, ARCN, Ministries of Environment, Health and others.

    “We have been organising workshops and involved in seminars that encourages effective collaboration with other regulatory Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) on the use and application of biotechnology.

    “This is part of our effort to keep Nigerians abreast of laid down internationally accepted procedures for verification of GM foods and Feed Safety; and determine the future activities to build necessary capacity in the Nigeria biosafety regulatory system,’’ he said.

    He said that the agency had put in place world class measures, equipment and international arrangements that ensured the practice of modern biotechnology in Nigeria was one of the safest in the world.

    Prof. Benjamin Ubi, the President, Biotechnology Society of Nigeria (BSN), said collaboration in the adoption of biotechnology would facilitate sustainable agricultural production in the country.

    He said that the adoption of biotechnology applications was the panacea to the current food challenges facing the country.

    “Biotechnology, including genetic engineering and production of Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs), provides powerful tools for the sustainable development of agriculture, fishery and forestry, as well as meeting the food needs of the population.

    “GMOs currently account for about 16 per cent of the world’s crops, particularly crops like soybean, maize, cotton and canola, and there are indications that the growing trend will continue.

    “So, we must eat what we grow and grow what we eat. This means we ought to produce more and agricultural biotechnology is a tool for achieving this,’’ he said.

    Ubi also pledged the support of the BSN for the efforts of National Biosafety Management Agency (NBMA) to harness the potential of modern biotechnology.

  • NAFDAC waives 50% on registration fee of SMEs

    NAFDAC waives 50% on registration fee of SMEs

    The National Agency for Food, Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) says it has waived 50 per cent on registration fee for locally manufactured products to promote Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (SMEs).

    The NAFDAC spokesperson, Dr Abubakar Jimoh, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Friday that the measure would go a long way to promote economic development.

    Jimoh explained that it was a new policy of the agency under the leadership of its acting Director-General, Mrs Yetunde Oni.

    He said that the measure was in response to Federal Government’s policy to promote locally manufactured companies in order to boost the economy of the country.

    Jimoh said that in the past, a lot of people and some licensed consultants had extorted money from innocent Nigerians in the name of NAFDAC registration.

    “Sometime back, we discovered that a lot of people were extorting money from Nigerians for registration fee of products. We decided to license some consultants who are professionals.

    “But those unscrupulous elements fizzled into the consultancy firm that registered with us and continued their extortion from potential entrepreneurs.

    “They collect as much N250,000 to N300,000 for registration of less than N50,000, claiming that part of the money will be used to settle NAFDAC officials.

    “The agency has taken decision to stop them after the expiration of their licenses; we will stop them and deal directly with intending manufacturers,” he said.

    Jimoh explained that in the last seven years, the former NAFDAC director-general, Dr Paul Ohi, introduced a policy that all young graduates willing to establish businesses would be given waiver.

    He said that the policy was still in existence but young graduates from NYSC were not taking such advantage.

    The spokesperson noted that NAFDAC recently established a Small Business Desk to guide people going into SMEs on how to set up their small factories.

     

     

    NAN

  • NAFDAC arrests nursing mother, 7 others for producing adulterated drinks

    The National Agency for Food, Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC) on Saturday raided the Ogbaru relief market, near Onitsha, arresting eight persons over their alleged involvement in the production of fake alcoholic drinks.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that one of the suspects is a nursing mother.

    The agency also sealed three shops in the market, confiscating adulterated drinks and production materials worth millions of Naira

    Some registered drinks, being adulterated in the market included J&W, Baron Romero, Lord’s dry gin, Seaman Schnapps, Carlo Rossi, Red Label, Hennessy, McDowell’s and Remy Martins, among others.

    Addressing newsmen after the raid, Mr Waheed Agboola, Assistant Director, Enforcement and Investigation Directorate of NAFDAC in Lagos, expressed displeasure over the unhygienic production sites.

    “Factories are not supposed to be cited in markets; the factories are in unhygienic environment and we even saw maggots and cockroaches.

    “These fake products are sold within the market and it is difficult to differentiate between the original and fake products,’’ Agboola said.

    According to him, fake products are largely responsible for the increase in people having liver and kidney problems.

    “The unwholesome practice must have been taking place for years because we saw receipts, dated as far back as 2006, and nobody reported until recently.’’ he lamented.

    Agboola said the eight suspects would be screened to ascertain their level of culpability.

    He added that some of the suspects might be taken to Lagos for further investigation while others would be prosecuted in Onitsha.

    Also speaking, Mr Hassan Tanko, Chief Regulatory Officer, Enforcement and Investigation Directorate of the agency in Lagos, called for collaboration between the market leadership and the agency, to stem counterfeiting.

    He said the agency would sustain its sensitisation campaign against unwholesome practices, as well as prosecute suspects to serve as deterrence to others.

    “Nigerians are not fair to themselves from what we saw at the market’

    “We will invite the management of the market to explain why counterfeiting is taking place in the market,’’ Tanko said.

     

     

    NAN

  • NAFDAC reduces consumption of unwholesome drugs in Kebbi – Coordinator

    The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) says it has reduced the importation of unwanted, substandard and unwholesome drugs in Kebbi State last year.

    The state Coordinator of the agency, Alhaji Garba Abubakar, made this known this known to newsmen in Birnin Kebbi on Wednesday.

    Abubakar said that the amount involved had been reduced from N15 million in 2015 to N5 million in 2016.

    He said the reduction was sequel to the high-level surveillance and enforcement of laws against illegal drugs in the state.

    “We are able to achieve this reduction as a result of the increased surveillance, enlightenment campaigns in public places, including markets, shops and distributor offices, and enforcement.

    “We are able to enforce anti-malaria and antibiotic mobile authentication service; we have made sure all drugs are in compliance.

    “’So far only a few anti-malaria and antibiotics are not in compliance and we have mopped them up from the system,” he said.

    Abubakar assured that the surveillance, enforcement and campaigns would be sustained.

    He warned that: “We (NAFDAC) will seize all unwholesome cosmetics, imported fruit juice and other related substances.”

    The coordinator advised the public to always check the expiration dates and NAFDAC registration number of products before consumption.

    He, however, called on animal feeds and drug dealers to register with the agency.

    “Kebbi state is an agrarian state; as a result, we have the director of veterinary medicine.

    “We have given the livestock dealers time to register before we start mopping up the unregistered animal feeds and drugs;

    “Though, we went to all the three senatorial districts last year for enforcement,” he said.

    He commended the state government for its support in protecting the lives of residents.

     

  • BoI to finance only NAFDAC certified products

    The Bank of Industry (BoI) on Friday said that it would not finance products not certified by the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC).

    The Acting Managing-Director of the bank, Mr Waheed Olagunju, made this known in Lagos during the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the bank and NAFDAC.

    “It is only certified products that can be sold in the market profitably. It is important for BoI customers to be accredited.

    “Their accreditation by NAFDAC shows that they conform to best manufacturing practices.

    “BoI is supporting many local pharmaceutical companies under Manufacturers Association of Nigeria to export their products because they meet NAFDAC and World Health Organisation (WHO) standards,” Olagunju said.

    He said that the synergy would give BoI access to NAFDAC’s database to ascertain certified products before financing them.

    According to Olagunju, the synergy will facilitate economic growth by ensuring that Small and Medium Enterprise (SMEs) conform to best production standards.

    Olagunju said that both organisations would leverage on their local and international development partners for the success of the partnership.

    Mrs Yetunde Oni, Acting Director-General, NAFDAC, said that the collaboration would entrench Federal Government’s agenda on promoting non-oil sector of the economy.

    She said that the partnership would boost productivity of SMEs by ensuring granting of marketing authorisation to products that would adopt good manufacturing practice.

    Oni said that partnership with BoI would enable NAFDAC to reach the grassroots, support more entrepreneurs, especially SMEs, toward aiding business growth.

    “The collaboration is a win-win for both parties. While BoI provides machinery and technical support, NAFDAC will furnish BoI with information vital for decision-making toward economic development,” she said.

     

    NAN

  • NAFDAC impounds foreign juices worth N500,000 in Katsina

    NAFDAC impounds foreign juices worth N500,000 in Katsina

    The Katsina Office of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) on Monday confiscated foreign juices worth N500, 000 in ten supermarket outlets across the state.

    “The confiscated foreign Juices are: Pride Lemon Juice, Tama Grape Juice, Rubicon Guava Drink, Tep Tip Tama Rind Drink, Maaza Mango Drink, Original Pomegranate Drink, and Star Mango Drink.

    Mr. J.O.Agada, NAFDAC State Coordinator, led Officials of the Agency to conduct a mop-up exercise in supermarkets in Katsina.

    “The confiscated juice drinks are among the banned goods in the Nigeria Customs Service prohibited items list that should be removed from the shelves of the supermarkers.

    “We have the mandate to confiscate the banned juices so that our locally-produced juices will have a good market.

    “NAFDAC will not allow Nigerian super stores and markets to be dumping grounds.

    “We are hereby advising all the owners of the supermarkets to immediately desist from putting the banned products on their shelves for sale to innocent Nigerians.

    “Anybody caught with any foreign juice in future will have himself to blame as the Agency will prosecute him before the Court of Law,” he said.

    Agada called on the people of Katsina producing locally-made juices to register with NAFDAC so that the Agency would give them the guidelines for producing such commodities.

    “We are advising those that will package their products for local consumption to come to our office for the registration of the items,” he said.

    The coordinator said that anybody caught producing local items without NAFDAC approval would be dealt with.

    NAFDAC had been given the mandate from the Federal Government to clear all prohibited foreign goods from the supermarkets, to protect Nigerians from contracting undisclosed ailments.

     

    NAN

  • NAFDAC seeks stakeholders support to curb drug abuse in Taraba

    The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has urged the Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria (ACPN) and other stakeholders to assist its fight against substance abuse in Taraba.

    The agency’s Coordinator, Mr. Suleiman Muyideen, made the appeal in a statement on Wednesday in Jalingo.

    The statement expressed concerns over the alarming rate of substance abuse and general non-compliance with the agency’s enabling laws.

    “We took four consecutive days to hold series of meetings with all the stakeholders, where we solicited their support in ensuring that only genuine, effective and safe regulated products are manufactured in the state.

    “We deliberated on several issues, especially the alarming rate of substance abuse as it relates to cough syrup with codeine, tramadol as well as mobile authentication of anti-malaria drugs and antibiotics.

    “There was also discussions on banned drugs such as Nimesulide, Analgin (Dipyron), Gentamycin 280mg and Phenylpopanolamine among others with a view to stopping the abuse,’’ it said.

    The statement noted that in the four days, the agency also met with relevant stakeholders, including the National Association of Patent and Proprietary of Medicine Dealers (NAPPMED) and National Association of Nigeria Traditional Medicine Practitioners (NANTMP).

    Others are Herbal and Islamic Medicine practitioners, Non-Pharmacists operators of Pharmacies and Veterinary Drug Dealers.

    It added that the agency would no longer tolerate acts of non-compliance with its enabling laws by any individual or group in the state.

     

  • NAFDAC secure conviction of 8 drug offenders in 11 months- DG

    The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), has secured no fewer than eight convictions of drug offenders from February, this year, to-date.

    The acting Director-General of the agency, Mrs. Yetunde Oni, disclosed this in Sokoto on Wednesday.

    Oni also stated that 52 other drugs suspects were being prosecuted in various law courts across the country.

    She asserted that the Federal Ministry of Justice was taking the right steps to ensure the speedy prosecution of the suspects.

    Oni appealed for more funds to make the agency more effective and efficient, saying that their staffs were vibrant, robust and productive.

    According to the NAFDAC boss:“We need more funds to provide more vehicles and equipment for our laboratories and other needed logistics”.

    “The Nigerian drugs manufacturing processes should be improved and encouraged to produce quality products, to reduce importation.

    “Nigeria should be a producing nation, rather than being a heavily consuming nation.”

    Oni further urged Nigerians to key into the change agenda of President Muhammadu Buhari, hence we need to always learn do the right things.

    She lamented that drug abuse has become a common and very serious public health issue, especially among the youth.

    Gov. Aminu Tambuwal, represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Bashir Garba, stated that the state government had set up a high-powered, inter-agency task force to curb the menace of illicit drugs and other unwholesome substances.

    “Drug abuse has now regrettably extended even to matrimonial homes, with some couples being drug abusers.

    “The state government will support the agency and its sister agencies, to curb the menace.

    “Gov. Tambuwal is equally concerned with the menace and is determined to do everything humanly possible to counter it,” he said.

    The Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III, represented by the District Head of Hamma’ali, Alhaji Muhammad Abubakar, commended the agency for organizing the event.

    Abubakar pledged the support of the Sultanate Council to ensure that the menace was eradicated or drastically reduced.

     

  • Task force to curb drug counterfeiting in Sokoto

    The Sokoto State Government on Friday inaugurated an inter-agency task force to fight drug abuse and circulation of counterfeit drugs and other unwholesome products.

    According to NAN, reports that the task force inaugurated by the state Health Commissioner, Dr Balarabe Kakale, had its membership drawn from ministries, military, voluntary organisations and National Drug Law Enforcement Agency.

    The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control and the National Security and Civil Defence Corps also has representation.

    Kakale said: “The state government set up the task force out of great concern for the future of our people, especially youths.

    ” The task force is to be creating awareness and sensitising the public to the dangers of drug abuse, and tackling circulation of substandard and counterfeit medicines.”

    The commissioner charged the members of the committee to discharge their assignment without fear or favour.

    The Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Alhaji Almustapha Othman, and the Director, Pharmaceutical Services, Alhaji Muhammad Musa, solicited the support of the state residents and other stakeholders for the success of the task force.

    He advised dealers on illicit drugs and other killer-substances to steer clear of the state.

    ” If they don’t heed to this clarion call, nemesis will soon catch up with them, as their days are numbered.

    ” The state government will leave no stone unturned to apprehend them,” Kakale warned.

  • NAFDAC mops up imported fruit juices as Dec. 31 deadline approaches

    The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration (NAFDAC) says it has commenced mop up of the banned foreign fruit juices in Nigerian markets.

    Mr. Carolly Ngobiri of the Investigation and Enforcement Directorate, NAFDAC, Lagos office, made this known on Wednesday during the mop up at Gbagada area of Lagos.

    Ngobiri told newsmen during the exercise that such products still abound in major markets and supermarkets across the country.

    According to him, a circular issued on Dec. 19 from the directorate directed an urgent visit to all markets and supermarkets across the states to mop up these items.

    “We are here to carry out one of the NAFDAC’s mandates; to ensure that all foreign juices are removed from the Nigerian markets.

    “We have given them a deadline from now to Dec. 31 to stop their sales and remove them from the shelves.

    “To ensure that these are totally removed, we have started mopping up all the juices across the country.

    “By the end of Dec. 31, we do not want to see any imported juice in Nigeria.

    “At these places that we have gone to carry out our assignment, we have taken the items, documented them and invited the owners to come to our office for further interrogation.

    “NAFDAC is still working to safeguard and protect the health of all Nigerians,’’ he said.

    The NAFDAC official advised Nigerians to check all the date markings including the production and expiry dates, as well as NAFDAC registration number of each of the products, before purchase.