National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) says it has commenced investigation into purported imported garri from India.
It is recalled that regular and social media recently alerted Nigerians of imported garri from India in some Nigerian markets.
Speaking at a one-day zonal campaign on current regulatory issues in the safe use of drugs, animal feeds, pesticides and chemicals in Ilorin on Tuesday, the acting director general of the agency, Mrs. Yetunde Oni, said the imported Indian garri had no NAFDAC number.
The NAFDAC boss, who said that preliminary investigations had revealed that the product was made in Ghana, added that it was packaged in UK.
She also said that efforts were on to know how the product got into the country, adding that garri is a staple food in Nigeria hence it should earn its people foreign exchange.
Mrs. Oni, who lamented that a substantial percentage of products are faked in the country, said that the agency would not rest until the people behind adulterated and unwholesome products are arrested and prosecuted.
The NAFDAC boss also gave an update on consumption of unwholesome drink by some youth in a part of the country, saying that three of the people that consumed an harvested plant soaked in an alcoholic drink mixed with tramadol had died, while others were still receiving medical attention in hospital.
She called on traditional and religious leaders to help in sensitising people in their communities on fake and unwholesome products, adding that the agency could not fight the battle alone.
While calling on Nigerian farmers with export potential produce such as cocoa, kolanut, benny seed, etc, to pass through the agency for control and regulations, the NAFDAC director general said that misapplication of pesticides or fertiliser to their crops could lead to rejection or low pricing in international markets.
She also charged people in animal production on safe use of chemicals, saying that drugs administered on animals should be allowed to wear oyt from the animal system so that the effects of the drugs were not passed on to humans.
Also speaking, the Kwara state governor, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed, who was represented by the secretary to the state government, Alhaji Sola Gold, advocated stiffer penalty for persons found guilty of producing fake or adulterated products, urging people to report anyone in the business of producing unwholesome products.
The governor, who urged the agency to keep up the good work, said that it is only healthy and happy people that could be productive.
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