Our reporter/ The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) on Monday raised alarm over the nationwide proliferation of unapproved herbal products, which it describes as “dangerous”.
The NAFDAC Director General, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, told reporters in Abuja that most of the herbal medicines were in the form of snuff and oral liquids, which she said were mainly sold by street hawkers.
She also noted that the enforcement team of the agency was commencing a nationwide clampdown on the manufacturers and traders who sold such “uncertified” products.
The professor said the agency has commenced a nationwide mop-up of a substance referred to as “sacra herbs” in circulation.
“We have also intensified crackdown on all illegal manufacturers and distributors of herbal preparations and other unregistered preparations with a view to bringing perpetrators to book and minimising the usage of these substances,” she said.
According to Adeyeye, it would also not be out of place to put on record some other related enforcement actions carried out late last year.
“As it relates to the illegal manufacture, importation, advertisements and stay of unregistered herbal drugs, I want to assure Nigerians that NAFDAC is doing everything to ensure that only safe medicines and wholesome food of the right quality are sold to our citizenry,” she said.
“We are also making efforts to increase the number of staff that we have, because we need more staff to go on the street for surveillance and post-marketing and monitoring.”
Adeyeye also revealed that Salisu Sani, manufacturer of sacra herbs popularly known as Baban Aisha herbal medicine, has been arrested.
According to her, the agency carried out surveillance and enforcement action leading to the sealing of the herbal medicine factory and the arrest of two staff.
The NAFDAC DG said the manufacturer of the medicine is now in custody.
“We have commenced a nationwide mop up of the sacra herbs in circulation. We have also intensified crackdown on all illegal manufacturers and distributors of herbal preparation and other unregistered preparations, with a view to bring perpetrators to book and minimize the usage of the substance,” she said.
“It will also not be out of place to put on record some other related enforcement actions carried out recently as it relates to illegal manufacture, importation, advertisement, and sale of unregistered herbal drugs. The investigation and enforcement directorate of the agency recently clamped down on some distributors of some herbal medicines; Hajia Ayisha Special Snuff AK 47.
“This was a result of intelligence report received by NAFDAC that these herbal medicines are mainly in the northern part of Nigeria. Findings revealed that the herbal snuff was manufactured in Ghana and was approved for use as an analgesic by the Food and Drug Authority (FDA) of Ghana. But is being wrongly packaged and passed off as a snuff for the Nigerian market.
“Investigation further revealed an alarming trend in the use of these poisonous preparations by wide section of the populace, cutting across all genders and age groups, including young boys and girls, men and married women, drivers and artisans.
“The snuff, popularly called ‘shake’ or “angoro” herbal powder, comes under different street names, such as AK 47, moringa, black coffee (Dan Kano), magic powder, lufthansa and desert warrior.”
Adeyeye appealed to Nigerians to desist from the use of dangerous herbal medicines.
“Be assured that NAFDAC is doing everything to ensure that only safe and efficacious medicine, wholesome food, and quality regulated products are sold and used by Nigerians,” she said.
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