NAFDAC commences pre-shipment analysis of imported drugs from China, India

Chinazor Megbolu   |  

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has announced it would start pre-shipment analysis of drugs imported into Nigeria from China and India suspected to be the countries of origin of most fake and counterfeit drugs that are brought into the country.

The Federal Government agency in a statement issued in Abuja by the Resident Media Consultant, NAFDAC, Mr. Sayo Akintola, on behalf of the Director-General of NAFDAC, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, in her message in commemoration of Nigeria’s 60th Independence Anniversary, obtained on Monday, hinted the goods to be analysed are those especially from China and India.

The NAFDAC management maintained the drive is with a view to curbing the menace of substandard drugs being imported into Nigeria.

The agency in the statement noted it entered into partnership with pre-shipment agents in China and India in a bid to take the war against importation of illicit drugs to their countries of origin.

The organisation further declared that they are also partnering with Nigerian Customs Service (NCS), where it had seized tramadol with estimated street value of N1.7 trillion while unwholesome foods and other regulated products worth over N4 billion were seized and destroyed in exercises across the nation.

The agency also averred that a staff of the agency had developed a software that helps to track and monitor ships on the high sea.

“A major achievement of her leadership, following our relentless efforts, was the return of the Back to the Ports in May 2018 (all thanks to the Office of the National Security Adviser), coupled with rigorous inspection and enforcement activities.

“Because of this, the agency has, in collaboration with Nigerian Customs Service, seized and destroyed unwholesome foods and other regulated products worth over N4 billion in exercises across the nation.

 “Tramadol with estimated street value of N1.7tn has also been seized,” Adeyeye said.