To keep citizens safe, the Director-General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Mojisola Adeyeye, has urged Nigerians to provide more intelligence reports to help combat counterfeit products. She explained that the agency needs help to address the issue and emphasised the need for public support.
In recent times, NAFDAC) has admonished the public over the use of open-drug markets in cities like Kano, Aba, Onitsha, and Lagos, as they have been associated with the sale of substandard drugs, posing a serious public health threat.
NAFDAC can not monitor every location and relies on information from communities about the presence of fake products. The Director assured that once alerted, NAFDAC agents can respond within one to two hours, citing previous cases where swift action was taken based on credible intelligence. If a company is found to have violated the law, NAFDAC will shut it down immediately.
How To Contact NAFDAC
The agency urges the public to report any relevant information by calling their helpline at 080-162-3322. Individuals can contact NAFDAC by email at “sf.alert@nafdac.gov.ng“, visit the nearest NAFDAC office, or use the E-reporting platforms available on the NAFDAC website. Reports can also be made through the Med-Safety app, which can be downloaded from Android and iOS stores, or via email at “pharmacovigilance@nafdac.gov.ng.”
It is important to note that, based on intelligence reports, significant actions have been taken locally. Any company found breaching the agency’s standards and regulations will be shut down and will remain closed until appropriate corrective measures are implemented.
NAFDAC’s Efforts in This Fight
NAFDAC has shut down numerous companies, and while some owners contacted the agency’s head requesting their businesses be reopened, NAFDAC did not oblige. The agency prioritises public health and has permanently closed a few establishments for non-compliance.
NAFDAC has advanced its technological capabilities for detecting substandard products, especially drugs, through the GS1 track-and-trace system. Consumers are encouraged to scan barcodes on drug packaging to access details such as the product’s origin, manufacturing date, and expiry date. The agency also has digitized package leaflets that are often found inside products. Buyers can download electronic information using a scanner to learn more about the product.
Nigerians can now use their mobile phones or a specialised app to scan barcodes and obtain product information. The NAFDAC boss highlighted the agency’s extensive awareness campaigns through media outlets like the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN), the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the Nigeria Television Authority (NTA), and TVC to educate the public about substandard goods. She also cautioned consumers, noting that excessively low prices often indicate poor quality.
Reports from the public remain a vital tool in fighting counterfeits. Recently, NAFDAC exposed an illegal production site for counterfeit alcoholic drinks on Offin Road, Balogun, Lagos Island, which was only possible through a complaint.
About NAFDAC
The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) is a federal agency in Nigeria operating under the Federal Ministry of Health. Its primary role is to regulate and oversee the manufacturing, importation, exportation, advertisement, distribution, sale, and use of food, drugs, cosmetics, medical devices, chemicals, and packaged water to keep citizens safe.
Led by Prof Moji Christianah Adeyeye, NAFDAC aims to become a world-class regulatory authority, ensuring the availability of high-quality and safe food, drugs, and other regulated products. With six zonal offices, including the FEderacl Capital Territory (FCT) and Lagos state, its mission is to safeguard and promote public health by implementing an efficient regulatory framework that guarantees that only quality products are manufactured, imported, exported, advertised, distributed, sold, or consumed.
