NAFDAC urges Nigerians to join in fight against fake food, drugs

The National Agency for Food, Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has urged Nigerians to join in the fight against fake and substandard food, drugs and cosmetic products in their various neighbourhoods.

The Acting Director-General of NAFDAC, Mrs. Yetunde Oni, made the appeal during a sensitization programme against fake and substandard food and drug products at the National Youth Service Corp (NYSC) Orientation Camp in Awgu near Enugu on Tuesday.

Oni, who was represented by a Deputy Director, Mr. Fori Tatama, said that nobody should condone activities of paddlers of fake and sub-standard drugs, foods and cosmetic since it leads to death and monumental health complications.

“We are calling on everybody to get involved; all hands must be on deck for us to eradicate fake and sub-standard drugs, foods and cosmetics in our society.

“Most especially, NAFDAC wants to get every youth involved in order to help shape the great future of the country against fake and sub-standard drugs, foods and cosmetic products as well as those who abuse norma
l drugs.

“This is why we are here to catch-them-young even as they are about to start their service year,’’ she said.

Oni, however, urged corps members willing to engage in production of food, drugs and cosmetics products to go to NAFDAC office and official for guidance.

“NAFDAC is also in the fore-front of promoting entrepreneurship and youths engaging in production especially as it concerns NADFDAC regulated products.

“The agency is also in the fore-front in promoting ease-of-doing-business in the country.

“So, the agency and its staff are willing and ready to put young people especially enterprising corps members to start-up in the right footing as the commence production in food, drug and cosmetic businesses,” she said.

The NAFDAC boss urged all corps members to join the NAFDAC-NYSC Community Development Service in order for them to be foot soldiers of the agency in the various neighbhourhoods they are posted to within the country.

“The agency activities have resulted in the effective regulation and control of food, drugs, cosmetics and other regulated products,” she affirmed.

Earlier, Head of Skill Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development in NYSC, Dr. Chinyere Duru, said that the NYSC had continued to encourage corps members to be self-reliant through being thoughtful and innovative in all they do.

Duru, who is an Assistant Director, thanked NAFDAC for the sensitization and collaboration with the NYSC to make the scheme effective throughout the country.

Highlight of the Sensitization was the donation of 100 piece of plastic chairs worth N250,000 to the NYSC Awgu orientation camp.

The sensitization was carried out simultaneously in NYSC orientation camps in the South-East, which included: Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu and Imo states.