Health

NAFDAC Clamps Down on Unapproved Herbal Products

By Web News 614

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has raised the alarm over the nationwide proliferation of unapproved herbal products.

The enforcement team of the Agency has commenced a nationwide clampdown on the manufacturers and traders who sell such uncertified products, she describes the products as dangerous.

The Director General of the Agency, Professor Mojisola Adeyeye, stated this in Abuja.

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has issued a warning over the dangerous nationwide growth of unlicensed herbal items.

She clarified that the majority of herbal remedies were marketed as snuff and oral liquids, primarily by street vendors.

“We are also making efforts to increase the number of staff that we have because we need more staff to go on the street for surveillance and post-marketing and monitoring,” she noted.

She explained that most of the herbal medicines were in the form of snuff and oral liquids, which she said were mainly sold by street hawkers.

FRCN Abuja / Titilayo Kupoliyi

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Health

NAFDAC Arrests Importer of Fake Drugs

By Web News 667

Operatives of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC, have arrested a 32-year-old businessman, Obinna Igbo, for alleged importation and sale of fake Amanta Forte, an unregistered anti-malarial drug.

In a statement by its media consultant, Sayo Akintola, the drug control agency revealed that Igbo claimed to have imported the fake drugs from India and sold them at Shop E200, Freedom Line, Onitsha Head Bridge Market, Anambra State.

The statement also noted that the accused was arraigned before a Federal High Court on four counts of “unlawful importation, possession, sale, and distribution of fake Amanta Forte soft gel (Artemether 80mg + Lumefantrine 480mg Capsules) drug at Head bridge market Onitsha, Anambra State.

“The Director-General of NAFDAC, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, in her submissions, disclosed that officials of the Investigation and Enforcement Directorate of the Agency received intelligence on the importation and sale of the fake anti-malaria drug and swung into action immediately.

“She confirmed that the operatives raided three pharmaceutical outlets in Onitsha while the offending product was found in one of the stores and was subsequently evacuated while the shop was placed on hold.”

The statement also quoted Adeyeye as saying that the operatives also visited Emma Medicals and Ekeh Mountain Global Ventures Limited. A thorough screening was conducted, but the offending product was not displayed on their shelves. Still, their sales records confirmed that they sold the product, the statement noted.

However, the NAFDAC boss confirmed that the three shops had been placed on hold. At the same time, their Managing Directors were invited for further interrogation.

She said the three suspects were interrogated independently and their statements extracted.

“Prof. Adeyeye explained that efforts to arrest Mr. Igbo proved abortive. He was on the run, knowing that NAFDAC was trailing him. Still, the three suspects promised to assist the Agency in apprehending him if given the opportunity.

“She further disclosed that a tracking device was engaged in tracking him down in Onitsha, Anambra State, where he was eventually arrested and taken into custody by the Investigation and Enforcement officers of NAFDAC in Asaba before he was later transferred to the Lagos office.”

Punch / Titilayo Kupoliyi