Fake drugs: NAFDAC reads riot acts to pharmaceutical companies

The acting Director General of NAFDAC, Mrs Yetunde Oni, has urged indigenous pharmaceutical companies in Nigeria to uphold best practices in their productions to avoid wrath of the agency.

Speaking during a visit on management of Peace Pharmaceutical Industries Limited Ilorin at the weekend, the NAFDAC boss said the agency under her tutelage would not witch hunt any companies that fall within the purview of her jurisdiction.

Mrs Oni, who said that the agency would not rest on its oars until all the Nigerian drugs manufacturing companies attained international status, warned that no rule would be bent for any erring companies or corporate bodies.

“We wish to let you all know that we are here to do our utmost for the nation and her people. We will therefore challenge you managers of pharmaceutical companies in Nigeria  to continually strive towards meeting World Health Organization’s (WHO) pre qualification criteria”, she said.

She also commended the Ilorin based pharmaceutical company for being the choice of the Kwara state government to produce drugs used during the recent “Roll Back Malaria” campaign in the state.

Oni while recounting the success story of the company during the exercise noted that if it could measure up to the expected standard at the state level, its consideration for national and international assignments would be imminent.

Urging relevant companies in Nigeria to accept the hard push measures of the NAFDAC in good faith pledged the readiness of the agency to give all the needed technical supports to them towards making them compete favourably with any other globally.

Earlier in his address of welcome,  the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Ilorin based company, Mr Samuel Akinlaja extolled the virtues of Oni led NAFDAC ensuring quality control of foods and drugs in the country.

Akinlaja, while attesting to the doggedness of the Kwara state Director of the agency Mrs Rose Ajayi upholding the ethics of effective monitoring of pharmaceutical companies in the state,  disclosed that the development has brought out the best in the production capacities of his company.