The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has smashed a gang which specialises in forging import documents.
NAFDAC’s Head of Investigation and Enforcement, Kingsley Ejiofor, told reporters in Lagos yesterday that the agency received complaints from three countries about impersonation and scam by some Nigerians.
The gang, he said, posed as NAFDAC officials to process NAFDAC registration documents for intending importers of regulated products.
The complaints were from the High Commission of Nigeria in New Delhi, India reported on behalf of a company called Bharti Phosphates; Dr Yaser Dezhkam, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Dr Haps Company, a German firm and manufacturer of pet food supplement and one Akem from Tunisia who wanted to confirm whether he should pay money to a company in Nigeria called Samjoe Ventures for the registration and shipment of 5,000 metric tonnes of calcium carbonate.
According to him, the cases were investigated and it was discovered that they were hatched and executed by the same syndicate.
“This professional criminal group is an international gang headed by Mr Eze Okoronkwo who is resident in Aba, Abia State. The other Nigerian collaborators are Ndukwe Darlington Ukonu, Nwabugo Okoro, Ohanaokwu Chinonye and one Mr Smart who resides in India. Their Indian collaborators are Miss Kokula Hongva, Hoi Ching Suamtak, Tongso M. Anal and Aneng Mate. The other countries whose nationals allegedly collaborated and acted as brokers to the syndicate are the Philippines, Tunisia, El-Salvador, United States, Canada, Mauritania, Denmark, Mexico, Greece, Switzerland, Indonesia and the Republic of South Korea,” he said.
Ejiofor said the syndicate collected $13,640 from its victims and was about to collect another $57,720 before the bubble bust.
The syndicate, he said, went about sourcing for brokers with dollar or euro account, promising that the broker will be entitled to between 30 and 40 percent of the venture’s proceeds.
“They contact the companies thereafter through known websites i.e. company or group websites e.g European Union-Distributors website. The victim is then gradually fleeced while being presented with fake documents”, he said.
According to him, some of the fake NAFDAC documents produced by this syndicate include certificates of registration, some bearing the forged signature of the acting Director-General; notification of products approval (NAFDAC document is ‘notification of product registration); some documents with fake documents with fake NAFDAC letter-head purportedly issued by the agency but which are actually non-existent, for NAFDAC does not issue any of such documents; Confirmation of file number for immediate issuance of NAFDAC certificates and Demand Proforma Invoice.
He said: “Other documents purported to have emanated from other government agencies and private firms include Certificate of incorporation from the Corporate Affairs Commission, tax payment receipt (with payment in US dollars), from the Federal Inland Revenue Service, payment receipt (with payment in US dollars) from the Federal Ministry of Justice, Letter from the FCT High Court titled ‘Statutory affidavit of support for our NAFDAC registration’, Power of attorney, payment verification form from non-existence Barclays Bank Plc, Lagos and Form M.”
The suspects, he said, would be transferred to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Tag: NAFDAC
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NAFDAC smashes forgery gang
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NAFDAC seizes N2.5m items
Items worth over N2.5 million, comprising imported fruit juices and others, were impounded by the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) in Sokoto State, Coordinator Hamis Yahaya said yesterday.
Yahaya, who spoke in Sokoto, said the items, including food seasoning, were confiscated during a raid by the agency’s officials at supermarkets and markets.
He said: “The items were seized after surveillance on the retail outlets.
“Most of them were imported from China through Niger Republic. They were not registered by NAFDAC.
“We urge supermarket operators to come to the agency for listing of their goods.”
The coordinator said officials would sustain the raid, to rid the state of fake products.
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FG gives NAFDAC two weeks ultimatum to register SMEs
The Federal Government on Tuesday directed the National Agency for Food Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) to register all Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) exhibitors at the ongoing 1st Nigeria Food Safety and Investment Forum within two weeks.
The Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole, gave the order at the forum organised by the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) in Lagos.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the forum is designed to enhance food safety and foster international business cooperation.
Adewole also ordered that all the SMEs should be given 50 per cent rebate certification registration by NAFDAC.
He also mandated the agency to compile the list of the affected SMEs exhibitors who were finding it difficult getting certification and ensure that the process was concluded within the next two weeks.
The minister, however, said food borne diseases impedes socio-economic development by straining healthcare systems and arming national economies, tourism and trades.
“Food safety incidents have had negative effects on public health, trades and livelihoods and on countries’ economies,” NAN quoted the minister as saying at the forum.
“People are consequently exposed to significant risks of food contamination.
“Unsafe foods containing harmful bacteria, viruses and parasites are indicated in over 200 diseases ranging from diarrhoea to cancer.
“An estimate shows that about 600 million people accounting for one in 10 globally fall ill after eating contaminated food.
“And about 420,000 die every year; in addition, children under five years old carry 40 per cent of the food-borne disease burden with 125,000 deaths every year.”
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Calling on NAFDAC
Sir: The ministries of health ( federal and states), National Agency for Foods, Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Consumer Protection Council (CPC) and the Standards Organization of Nigeria (SON) have one role or the other to play in the regulation of the quality or standards of foods and drugs sold or consumed in Nigeria.
It is however disheartening that events unfolding are revealing lots of lapses or negligence by those agencies.
For example, there are several multivitamin drugs in Nigeria claiming to have all the major vitamins and minerals. However, a deep look at the quantities of the vitamins and minerals in the drugs and even some food items shows how highly infinitesimal they are compared to the daily requirements for the target adults thereby misleading Nigerians into the path of under-nutrition or malnutrition because they believed they have taken drugs or foods that’s giving them the requisite vitamins and minerals not knowing they were illusion.
In the same veins, some soft drinks and juices contain the inscription, “NO ADDED SUGAR” while the list of the ingredients contains sucrose. Can NAFDAC please tell us the difference between sugar and sucrose?
Nigerians need not be deceived anymore. So many Nigerians are currently suffering different types of health problems because of what they ate, swallowed or drank while many are still toeing the same line today.
This is a clarion call to the ministries of health and other relevant quality control agencies to wake up from their slumber and compromise and be more proactive in their operations to save innocent Nigerians from the deceits of the food, drinks and drug manufacturers or marketers in Nigeria.
A stitch in time saves nine.
- Jide Owatunmise,
Ikorodu, Lagos State.
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BoI, NAFDAC to drive SMEs growth
The Bank of Industry (BoI) and National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) have partnered to drive Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) operations in the country.
The acting Managing Director, BoI, Mr. Waheed Olagunju, explained that the partnership would see both organisations develop the SME sector deploying the use of standardisation.
The acting BOI boss, during the signing of memorandum of understanding (MoU) with NAFDAC?, ?added that “For this country’s economic recovery to be fast-tracked, both agencies must work hand in hand to support particularly Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs). Those who produce food must receive NAFDAC certification and endorsement before they can access credit and the importance of this is that if you do not have NAFDAC numbers, you cannot sell your products in the open market and a situation where you cannot sell, your business model will become defective while your business plan will not materialise and unless we are able to establish that you can sell your products when they are produced, we will not lend to you, because it is only when you sell that the cash flow projections on which loan repayment is predicated is when the cash flow projected can be realised. For us it is very important for our customers to be accredited by NAFDAC.”
Olagunju, explained that in 2017, the development finance institution will see much of its developmental funds targeted at ailing firms and brown field projects, maintaining that these projects have a faster turnaround time by way of job creation and other positive multiplier effects.
“In 2016, we granted loans to more than 800 companies. In 2017, we plan to do more than a thousand because that is one of the fastest ways of ensuring quick recovery of the Nigerian economy and we are concentrating on brown fields, because new projects take about 18 to 24 months to implement before they start feeling the impact of such companies by way of job creation and other multiplier effects, but we are focusing on ailing firms because their turnaround times are usually shorter and as such, they can begin to employ quicker than green field projects,” he said.
Responding, the acting Director General, NAFDAC, Mrs. Yetunde Oni, said the signing of the MoU for is a culmination of exchanges between the two organisations on ways to further entrench the policy thrust of the federal government on development of the non-oil sector of the economy.
She pointed out that the collaboration with BoI is win-win for all parties, saying that it is business support plus [BS+]. -
NAFDAC secures conviction of eight drug offenders in 11 months, says DG
The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), has secured eight convictions of drug offenders from February.
Acting Director-General Mrs Yetunde Oni spoke in Sokoto yesterday.
News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)reports that Oni spoke at the launch of the agency’s National Education and Awareness Campaign, with the theme, “Drugs are Dangerous: Know The Facts”.
Oni added that 52 others were being prosecuted in across the country.
She averred that the Federal Ministry of Justice was taking steps to ensure their speedy prosecution.
Oni appealed for more funds to make the agency more effective and efficient, saying its workers were vibrant, robust and productive.
“We need more funds to provide more vehicles, equipment for our laboratories and other logistics.
“The Nigerian drug manufacturing processes should be improved and encouraged to produce quality products, to reduce importation.
“Nigeria should be a producing nation, rather than a heavily consuming nation.”
Oni urged Nigerians to key into the change agenda of President Muhammadu Buhari.
She lamented that drug abuse was a common and serious public health issue, especially among youths.
Governor Aminu Tambuwal, represented by Secretary to State Government Prof. Bashir Garba, said the state government set up a high-powered, inter-agency task force to curb the menace of illicit drugs and unwholesome substances.
“Drug abuse has regrettably extended even to matrimonial homes, with some couples being drug abusers.
“The state government will support the agency and its sister agencies, to curb the menace.
“Tambuwal is equally concerned with the menace and is determined to counter it,” he said.
The Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III, represented by District Head of Hamma’ali Alhaji Muhammad Abubakar commended the agency for organising the event.
Abubakar pledged support of the Sultanate Council to ensure that the menace was eradicated or reduced.
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NAFDAC decries low report of adverse drug effect in 2016
The Acting Director General of the National Agency For Food and Drug Administration and Control, Mrs. Yetunde Oni, has decried the low rate of response to Adverse Drugs Reaction (ADR)
Mrs. Oni said only 2361 report was received in 2016 on ADR, which is a far cry from the reality.
She bemoaned the idea of people not reporting cases of ADR, which she said is a very serious issue.
The NAFDAC acting boss therefore called on the public to take the report of Adverse Drugs Reaction more seriously. Going forward, NAFDAC has concluded plans to partner with healthcare institutions, the academia and other relevant stakeholders for effective monitoring of medicines and their usage.
She spoke at a media chats on Pharmaco-vigilance and malaria held in Abuja.
Mrs Oni who was represented by Prof. Samson Adebayo, director of planning research statistics, said that “Each participating country is expected to have a reporting rate of 200 ICSRs per one million inhabitants per year. This means that Nigeria with a population of over 140 million people is expected to generate about 28,000 ICSRs per year”, he said.
According to her, this is a far cry from the reality
Oni further stated that if all medicines are adequately monitored, it will be easy to detect those causing Adverse Drugs Reaction.
The National Pharmacovigilance Programme which was officially launched in September 2004 aims to enhance patient care and safety in relation to the use of medicines; and to support public health programmed by providing reliable and balanced information to assess the risk-benefit profile of medicines.
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NAFDAC mops up imported fruit juices in Kaduna
THE National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) on Friday commenced mop up of banned foreign fruit juices in Kaduna State markets. Mr Natim Mullah-Dadi, the State Coordinator of the agency said that the exercise was as a result of Federal Government import prohibition list with emphasis on super and central markets in the state. Mullah-Dadi said the essence of the mop up was to safeguard health of the general public and to ensure healthy environment for residents.
“ There is an import prohibition list that bans the importation of fruit juices in retail pack into the country and Kaduna state is inclusive. “All fruit juices in retail pack are banned and people should avoid buying them because when you engage in selling such products, they are not made in Nigeria.
“People do not have adequate knowledge about what the product is all about. All juices in retail packs must be done away with in all super markets and central markets so that we can save lives. “We are mopping out all the foreign fruit juices in the markets so as to encourage our manufacturers here in the country and to also create job for our youths,’’ he said. All products that are banned cannot be sold in the country, because they do not have the NAFDAC registration number. He advised the general public to always check manufacturing and expiry dates as well as NAFDAC registration number of the product before purchase.
“We have always communicated to the sellers that before they sell the products, they should make sure it has NAFDAC registration number and also the buyers must do same. Mullah-Dadi assured that the agency would continue to sensitise sellers of such products until there was total compliance. “We will continue the mop up exercise and use it as an avenue to sensitise the sellers of these products. “ We shall also organise a reawareness workshop for all the super markets and retail owners around Kaduna State to enable them see reasons on why products that had been banned must not be sold.’’
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NAFDAC donates gifts to Imo secondary schools
The National Agency for Food Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) yesterday donated gifts to six winners of the 2015/2016 NAFDAC Consumer Safety Club’s quiz competition in secondary schools in Imo State.
Speaking at the ceremony in Owerri, the state Coordinator of NAFDAC, Mr. Mmamel Victor, said the club was established by the agency to extend its public enlightenment and sensitisation activities to Nigerians.
Winners of the competition emerged from Logos International Secondary School, Awo-omma; Federal Government College, Okigwe and Owerri Girls Secondary School.
The other schools where the winners emerged include Alavana Model Secondary School, Owerri; Federal Government Girls College, Owerri and Holy Ghost College, Owerri.
Victor said the duties of the members were to inform, educate and enlighten the people in a bid to promote a healthy culture and proper usage of drugs, to prevent drug misuse and abuse.
He said they helped to circulate bulletins, organise workshops as well as sensitisation and public health talks, to enlighten the public on the activities of NAFDAC.
The coordinator said to ensure the eradication of fake, unwholesome, sub-standard drugs, packaged foods and other consumables; everybody should join NAFDAC in the campaign.
He said if the younger ones understood what constituted danger in the abuse of drugs and other consumables and passed the messages to their parents and friends, the country would be safe.
Imo State Coordinator of the club Mrs. Helen Nwachukwu said the competition, which was held in September 2015, was for participants in the junior and senior categories.
She hailed the teachers and pupils for participating in the competition.
Nwachukwu advised more schools to join the club.
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Society seeks better forex policy, qualified hands for NAFDAC, others
The government has been urged prioritise the food and pharmaceutical sectors in the allocation of foreign exchange.
According to the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN) President, Alhaji Ahmed Yakasai, food and pharmaceutical products are tied to security.
Yakasai spoke in Lagos at a briefing on the 89th annual national conference of the society billed for next week in Niger State.
He said no country played with the pharmaceutical sector because, after diagnoses and consultations, comes treatment with drugs.
“Talking about security of a nation as ours, food and medicines are largely and highly connected to security. That is why we are saying the pharmaceutical sector has suffered a setback. After the entire healthcare is given by a doctor or nurse to a patient, if we do not have quality drugs to give the sick patient, the healthcare system has collapsed. Yet it is alarming that the pharmaceutical sector is witnessing the folding up of companies, downsizing and not producing to maximum capacity due to lack of forex to purchase raw materials.
“A situation where drug manufacturers have exhausted raw materials for production, have to source for forex even at between 28 percent to 30 percent interest rate, have had to cut capacity utilisation of their machines from 35 percent to 22 percent and companies, paying staff salaries without commensurate output, wherein some have totally shut down are all indications that the healthcare sector is gradually collapsing”.
Yakasai added that more frightening was the fact that drug supply was being affected because “we can no longer fulfil the prerequisite of the Federal Government that has stipulated that indigenous pharmaceutical products should take 70 percent of the nation’s drug demand. So we are calling on the government to, as a matter of urgency, mandate the CBN to supply forex to drug manufacturers to forestall a total collapse of the sector and its unpalatable consequences. Our nation needs to develop an efficient manpower base in the quest for self-sufficiency and economic growth and the pharmaceutical sector can do that. If the current trend is allowed to continue, the nation’s security is gradually being compromised.”
The PSN also urged the government to avoid past mistakes and errors in dissolving health boards whenever boards of ministries, agencies and government’s parastatals (MDGs) are disbanded.
“We hasten to remind the Federal Government that Section 1 of the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria (PCN) Act provides for perpetual succession which ordinarily should exclude the PCN from recurrent dissolution alongside other boards of parastatals,” said Yakasai.
He said the recent dissolution of the Pharmacy Board, “has stalled disciplinary procedures, accreditation of Faculty of Pharmacy for training pharmacists, schools of technology for training pharmacy technicians and other support personnel in the pharmacy work force”.
The PSN, therefore, called on the government to appoint a chairman for PCN, and the Director-General of the National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC) from among suggested names PSN sent to government.
Yakasai urged the government to ensure lawful appointments on all pharmaceutical platforms. He said the society believed that it is the government that should appoint people at the Pharmacists Council of Nigeria (PCN), National Agency for Food Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) and National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development (NIPRD), which are major agencies in the sector.
“Our concern is predicated on public interest, especially in the value such appointments can bring to bear on public health endeavours. To avoid an unpalatable discourse, PSN has recommended its representatives to the Minister of Health as provided in Section 3 (1) F of the PCN Act,” said Yakasai.
He said NAFDAC is a strategic agency the present administration should appoint qualified hands for, ‘’since this incumbent government abhors corruption, we believe it will be mindful of appointing elements who have antecedents that are tainted with corruption or other vices in previous positions they held in public or private sector.
“To appoint regulators, especially in our sector, such must be premised or built around persons who are conversant with the terrain to be regulated. I, therefore, appeal to the Federal Government to give us lawful and befitting appointments in the pharmaceutical sector”, said Yakasai.
The week-long 89th annual conference of the society is expected to witness the decoration of the first set of honorary members of the society notably: Messrs Femi Soremekun (MD Biofem Pharmaceuticals), Fidelis Ayabae (MD/CEO Fidson Healthcare) and Dr Anthony Chukwuka Obiora (Chairman, Greenlife Pharmaceuticals).
During the conference, the PSN will donate to the Federal Government a consignment of drugs for distribution at Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) Camps in the Northeast. “It is part of our corporate social responsibility to our citizens who are unfortunate to be refugees in their own country; and we understand that their drug needs are mostly for malaria, diarrhoea, cough, analgesics, multivitamins and antibiotics,” said Yakasai.