The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) conducted a raid on Friday in Abuja to apprehend sellers of unsafe drugs in the Nyanya/Mararaba area. The team leader, Mr. Umar Suleiman, stated that the raid was a result of prior surveillance carried out by NAFDAC’s enforcement unit. The operation aimed to verify the presence of Baban Aisha Herbal products in the market.
Previously, NAFDAC had raided the Baban Aisha production factory on the Abuja/Kaduna road due to the sale of unregistered herbal products. The agency accused Baban Aisha of registering only some of their herbal medicines and using that privilege to sell unregistered ones as well.
In addition to this, NAFDAC also raided and closed the Al-Nassar Islamic Herbal medicine store on Minna Road, Suleja, Niger State.
Regarding the Baban Aisha products, Suleiman mentioned that advertisements for them were currently not permitted. During the operation, NAFDAC apprehended five hawkers of unsafe drugs, while one managed to escape. The seized drugs included sex enhancers like Night Rocket, Black Diamond, Double Rocket, AK-47, and others. They also confiscated other herbal preparations such as Transformer, Maibulala, and Maibusher.
In Suleja alone, the drugs found in one shop were valued at N35 million, and the estimated worth of the hawkers’ drugs was N10 million. Some of the drugs in the Suleja shop were not herbal and contained unapproved pornographic images. NAFDAC aimed to target the main supplier in Suleja to prevent retailers from accessing the source.
Suleiman mentioned that NAFDAC plans to expand its search operations to regulated products like food, cosmetics, medical devices, detergents, packaged water, and chemicals. The agency prioritizes drug products due to their potential effects on the body since they are consumed daily. Their upcoming search mission will focus on pharmaceutical stores and warehouses, aiming to eliminate counterfeit and fake drugs from the country.
Suleiman expressed gratitude to NAFDAC’s Director-General, Prof Mojisola Adeyeye, for her support to the investigation and enforcement unit, which strengthened their operations.
Embugushiki Godiya, the Desk Officer for Investigation and Enforcement in the Federal Task Force of NAFDAC, commended the media for supporting their unit and raising awareness about their activities. The raid serves as a warning to others planning to sell unsafe medicines.
NAFDAC urged Nigerians to refrain from buying drugs from hawkers, as doing so would discourage their activities. The agency acknowledged the media’s significant role in enhancing their enforcement efforts.
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