By CHINYERE Nnaemeka
The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has advised manufacturers and sellers of products regulated by the Agency in Imo State to desist from producing and selling items that are fake or substandard.
The NAFDAC Zonal Director for South East Zone, Pharmacist Martins Iluyomade gave the charge on Thursday at the Conference Hall of the Federal Secretariat, in Owerri, the Imo State capital, during a Stakeholders Meeting organized by the State Director of the agency, Mrs Mercy Ndukwe, for executives of the associations that deal on NAFDAC regulated products in the state.
Speaking, the Zonal Director, Iluyomade made the participants understand that the agency is poised to ensure that products manufactured and sold here, in the country are both locally and internationally of standard.
He urged them to at every point in time, ensure that the quality of product they roll out during production inspection is what they will continue with at the long run.
“NAFDAC is going beyond testing your products only at the production inspection stage, but have constituted a committee that goes out to the markets to purchase any product of our choice for our personal analysis. We have closed down four different companies which were found wanting in not maintain their standard.
“So it will no longer be business as usual for if we get it right among ourselves, Nigeria will no longer be seen as a dumping ground for all kinds of fake and substandard products.’Iluyomade said’.
He advised them to always make the well being of the people their first priority and not to sort after making money to the detriment of the people’s health.
Ilutomade said the manufactures and sellers of NAFDAC regulated products are the most critical sector of the Nigeria economy, adding that no matter the situation of the country people will always have need for food, water, and medicine.
He also urged the participants to remember that they are not allowed to sell any product not certified by NAFDAC, even the ones from outside the country.
The South East Zonal Director added that some of the products imported are substandard and so need to be properly checked before use.
He further assured them that the new NAFDAC Administration will do it’s best to protect their interest, but will not fail to punish anyone whose stock in trade is to make others cry through producing or selling standard products.
“We are with you, want to partner with you and help you unlock the potentials you have because, at this critical point the country is in, we want to see a way to tackle the economic challenges by ensuring that products produced here, in the country are in high demand both here and outside the country.
“I make bold to say that for this economic quadroon to be tackled, I believe the South Easterns are the China of our time that will save us from the situation, by making sure the industrialization process of the country is actualized.
“I say this with all assurance because the South Easterners are the ones that have the drive, tenacity, the never-say-die-spirit, and are hardworking. So I believe it is time for use to get it right, ‘Iluyomade averred”.
Speaking earlier, the State Director of NAFDAC, Mrs Ndukwe said the essence of the meeting was to collaborate with the stakeholders, and intimate them with the activities of the agency for the year.
This, she said is to ensure that they, the stakeholders do not ignorantly default on the guidelines of NAFDAC while going about their businesses.
Ndukwe assured of such meetings been held as often as possible not just for the executives of the associations, but for all the members of each of the associations.
She appreciated the stakeholders for honouring their invitation, and the NAFDAC South East Zonal coordinator who she said is visiting Imo State for the first time since his appointment in October 2023.
In response, the Imo PSN Chairman and former SA to the governor on Health, Dr. Ajero Norbert who assured the NAFDAC Zonal and State Directors of doing their best to support the activities of the agency in the state, pointed out the need for NAFDAC to look into some of the trainings; Traceability which they conducted for them last year, that they have been expecting to be onboarded for, but uptill date nothing has been down about it.
He also beckoned on the Zonal Director to look into the issue of them not selling imported drugs not certified by NAFDAC, saying that most of those drugs are Service Drugs which are needed for emergencies and that the point of waiting for it to be authenticated by them before it can be sold has made it scare in the country as the process takes time.
This the Zonal Director assured the agency will look into
Other participants – Chairman NAIP and Evergreen Morning Star Pharmacy Ind. Ltd; Dr. Okey Unogu, Honorary member of NAIP, and Managing Director of Cympok Pharmacy; Dr. Cyril Okafor, Chairman of ACPN and MD of Right Care Pharmacy, Dr. Chigozie Agbanusi, among others took turns in asking their questions which was responded to by the director.
The participants were taken through Use of NAFDAC Automated Products Administration and Monitoring Systems(NAPAMS) portal by the state Principal Regulatory Officer of the Agency, Mr. Obinna Okonkwo, which centered on how they can seamlessly go through the registration process with their phones.
Okonkwo took the participants through the steps of the registration, and urged them to contact the state office if they are having any difficulty.
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