NAFDAC and Sabon Gari Market Invasion

NAFDAC and Sabon Gari Market Invasion

Sani Garba

In my article titled ‘The problem with NAFDAC’ [www.gamji.com/NEWS3266.htm] I highlighted the problems affecting NAFDAC which up till now is nowhere to be address, in this one, I will dwelt on it recent activities in drugs market, most especially its invasion of Sabon Gari market, to see whether or not NAFDAC is tackling the issue of fake and non registered drugs in markets or it is a mere window dressing.

It is well known to Nigerian now that NAFDAC is very active in it activities than before in ensuring that any food, drugs etc is regulated and certified fit for human [and even animal] consumption. The law that established it stated in part II [Function and Powers] section 5 subsection A-S all about its activities. For instance, subsection A empowered NAFDAC to “regulate and control the importation, exportation, manufacture, advertisement, distribution, sale and use of food, drugs, cosmetics, medical devices, bottled water and chemicals”; sub section B also empowered it to conduct appropriate tests and ensure compliance with standard specifications designated and approved by the council…..” and many other provisions. However, with all these powers given to the agency still the issue I argue the other time was not address nor even plan to do. It recent invasion to Sabon Gari market will not make its struggle successful in as much as the source of the drugs [in question] imported is not blocked before even reaching the market[s] at all. Is it not a shame and failure for NAFDAC and the Nigerian customs to allow drugs that are not allowed in the country to be imported, hence, fighting drugs dealers is just a mere window dressing.

What is NAFDAC plan concerning other unregistered food, drinks, canned food etc, does only drugs is the target, because they [drinks etc] too are equally necessary to be checked, for they too are potential poison[s] like drugs and pose a great threat to the human and even animal lives. Therefore, not all the drugs NAFDAC is fighting will be wipe out in as much as the importers are allowed to enter the country. In addition, does even wiping out the drugs guarantee the safety and quality of the registered one considering maintaining standard is not in the habit of any Nigerian system and how the fakers operate is known by it, I said this because even though a drug is registered does not mean it cannot be faked as we have seen countless time, which even the representative[s] of the companies could not distinguish in some cases. Therefore the recent invasion of Sabon Gari market is commendable, for, it will in one way or the other make people now conscious on insisting to see NAFDAC registration number on the drugs they bought. However, the problems lies in those drugs that are not registered and are of good quality which there is no any other alternatives brand [registered] to replace them. As at now, many drugs disappeared based on having no number and the closure of the market and worth still doctors are prescribing them, which cannot be found. Therefore, if the remaining unregistered drugs were completely exhausted from the remaining pharmacies and medicals store there will definitely a crisis, for now, some hospitals are out of stock of the most essential drugs they could have had, which there are no registered drugs to replaced the non registered, I am not saying what NAFDAC is doing is not proper, but it could have been better had it been arrangement is done to close the gap now created by non-availability of the unregistered drugs. So, insistence of NAFDAC to see that any drugs in Nigeria must have its number from now to its dateline is out of context, for it is not all drugs that are not good and qualitative, rather it is our fault both the pharmacist, drugs dealers, government and others who allow others to come in to drugs business purposely to get money not to supply qualitative drugs. Had it been we are very active and concern in safeguarding the nation public health the issue of NAFDAC activities could have succeed since. Therefore, even the NAFDAC know where the room is leaking but tend to ignore it and look elsewhere.

I really commend the effort of NAFDAC by invading the market, because drugs are displayed in the most improper way as if they are useless items, and still whether or not we like it that is where the majority of the drugs supply to the pharmacies and hospitals is being bought, we hope it will soon extend it to bigger markets like Onitsha, Lagos, Aba and others for uniformity.

NAFDAC should know that registering drugs by it does not indicate whether or not the drugs is safe, but how it can maintain standard afterward by having each batch of the drugs or drinks all the times to see whether standard is maintained, for some can compromise standard on the pretext of being registered. I doubt if NAFDAC is collecting any new batch of each registered items registered by it always for maintaining standard, but it is only after revenue generation.

NAFDAC should also not centred its crusade on drugs only but on the whole of the product it is covering as prescribe by law, because milk production enterprises [or more commonly yoghurt] and even pure water are now springing up and some are putting NAFDAC number to deceive the buyer which in reality they does not have. In this context, it should employ more officers [professionals] whom will be charged with surveillance and control of all registered products and closing down of unregistered products.

Let me repeat myself, NAFDAC should regard its registration as means of controlling the drugs that reach to the patients without much stress not banning all drugs not registered by it without having alternatives, let it not ban the drugs that has no alternative. It has to be more active than before in fishing out where and how drugs fakers operate to curtail its coming to the markets and pharmacies. It should also be active at all the borders where it is design to check drugs in collaboration with customs. When this is done and the market is still saturated with fake drugs, then the failure is of the agency and the customs.

Lastly what I found unfathomable was: NAFDAC invaded Sabon Gari market [drugs sections] and closed it down, invited the representatives of the drugs sellers in the market to Lagos, but no sooner were they there to discuss the issue than they were arrested with no court order or any search warrant as if we are not in democracy or they have the power to detain some body with no clear charged against him. It is very unfortunate that these people were detained and two were allowed to come back and tell the story, this is an infringement of their fundamental human rights, which must be respected. Therefore, if NAFDAC really mean well to all, it should have human face and other good approach in it war against unregistered drugs, drinks and others, failure to accommodate and direct will backfire and its mission failed. Also all the shops closed down should be open on the condition that they will only sell genuine and registered drugs.