NAFDAC charges pharmaceutical companies on best practices

THE Acting Director-General of National Agency for Food and Durg Administration And Control  (NAFDAC), Mrs Yetunde Oni, has urged indigenous pharmaceutical companies in Nigeria to uphold best practices in their productions to avoid the wrath of the agency.

Speaking during a visit of the management of Peace Pharmaceutical Industries Limited, Ilorin, the NAFDAC boss said the agency, under her tutelage would not witch-hunt any company 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 company or  corporate body.

“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 Organisation’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.

She urged relevant companies in Nigeria to accept the hard push measures of the NAFDAC in good faith, pledging the readiness of the agency to give all the needed technical supports to them towards making them compete favourably with other pharmacutical companies.

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 the Oni-led NAFDAC, while ensuring quality control of foods and drugs in the country.