By; Aliyu Muraki/Lafia.
The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control NAFDAC has destroyed fake, banned, adulterated and unwholesome products worth eight billion naira seized across the north central zone.
The Director General of the NAFDAC Professor Mojisola Adeyeye, disclosed this at the destruction exercise held in lafia the nasarawa state capital
Professor Mojisola Adeyeye said the products were seized from manufacturing facilities, sales outlets, markets and motor parks.
Represented by the north central coordinator of the agency, Mr Joseph Edor, she said that most of the confiscated products were banned alcoholic beverages packaged in sachets and small containers of less than 200 mililitres.
According to her, NAFDAC was established by decree No.19 of 1993, as amended, to protect public health by ensuring that only quality, safe and effective regulated products were manufactured, imported, distributed and sold in Nigeria.
She explained that the ban on alcoholic beverages packaged in sachets and glass bottles below 200 mililitres was introduced because their affordability, availability and portability made them susceptible to abuse by youths and underage school children.
“Research indicated that early exposure to alcohol affects the brain and other vital organs of human such as the liver and kidneys,” she said.
Professor Adeyeye added that early alcohol consumption could impair brain development, cause brain damage, undermine pupils’ academic performance, reduce productivity and contribute to various illnesses.
She said the ban and subsequent enforcement operations were aimed at curbing abuse, addiction and the adverse health effects associated with the products.
The NAFDAC boss said other items seized included expired, counterfeit and unwholesome food products, drugs and cosmetics.
She commended other law enforcement agencies, sister agencies and stakeholders for their continued collaboration with NAFDAC, particularly in intelligence querdaring and providing security during enforcement operations.
Also speaking, the nasarawa state coordinator of the NAFDAC, Dr Gyani Stephen, said the destruction exercise was not intended to hurt anyone but to protect public health and save lives.
He urged traders involved in the sale of fake and banned products to desist from the practice or face the full wrath of the law.
In his remarks, the Nasarawa State Commandant of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency NDLEA, CN Saidu Daniel, represented by Yakubu Awoh, commended NAFDAC for its efforts to safeguard the public health in the country.
He said allowing dangerous products into the market could have endangered millions of lives and adversely affected the mental health of many people.
COV/Aliyu Muraki/Lafia.
