The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) apprehended three drug vendors and confiscated substandard drugs valued at N250,000 in Kaduna.
Mr. Nasiru Mato, the agency’s coordinator in the state, revealed this during an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Kaduna on Thursday. He explained that the initiative was a component of the continuous endeavors to eradicate drug peddling within the state.
He added that “drug hawking exposes medicines to severe temperatures, humidity, and unfriendly climate conditions. This is unacceptable.”
Mato also said that the agency had intensified surveillance and hunting of “self-acclaimed” doctors who engage in illegal practice.
He said, “It is the actions of such persons that led to the raid at Sabon Tasha and seizure of unregistered aphrodisiacs and analgesics.
“All drugs and medical items must be kept at the recommended temperature and relative humidity to ensure their safety, quality, and efficacy.”
He recommended that consumers consistently exercise caution regarding the origin of medicines, ensuring to verify NAFDAC registration numbers, manufacturing dates, expiry dates, batch numbers, manufacturer names, and complete location addresses.
Additionally, he encouraged consumers to procure medicines from licensed drug vendors rather than engaging with unauthorized sellers, emphasizing that the prohibition on drug hawking and advertising remains in effect.
“Drug hawkers must not be allowed to toy with the lives of the people,” he said. Mato also cautioned against self-medication, saying it can be detrimental to health.
He reiterated NAFDAC’s determination to continue to educate unsuspecting consumers on the inherent dangers of patronising drug hawkers.