The National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control has lauded sister agencies involved in ports operations for their synergy and cooperation which has improved its regulatory functions.
Dr Abubakar Jimoh, NAFDAC’s Director, Special Duties, said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria on Wednesday in Abuja.
Jimoh noted that agency’s renewed presence at the ports, after the agency was removed from ports operations in 2011, has also improved efficiency.
He said: “The synergy and cooperation with sister agencies at the ports, like the Nigeria Customs Service and the Immigration Service has been very effective.
“We are all working toward the same goal, and such cooperation is necessary since the customs are like the `landlord’ of the port.
“We have also keyed into the customs `e-platform’ so that, anytime they share pre-shipment information of goods coming into the country, the agency keys in for pro-activeness.’’
Jimoh said the agency had so far recorded series of seizures and had destroyed fake products worth about N10 billion.
He assured that the agency was determined to do even better in 2019, adding that the agency presently ranks as a top 20 drug regulation agency globally.
Jimoh said: “Between January and December, the agency has recorded series of seizures and has destroyed fake and substandard drugs worth over N10 billion and we are poised to improve on our regulatory functions in 2019.
“Our aim is to meet the standard of America’s FDA, which is the global standard for food and drug regulation.
“Presently, we are ranked as one of the top 20 medicine regulatory agencies in the world; we will strive to make top 10 by 2019.’’
The director promised that challenges of obsolete equipment would be tackled, while commending the judiciary for its role in prosecuting food and drug counterfeiters.
He added: “We shall update our obsolete equipment and ICT infrastructure so that we will be able to give the counterfeiters a run for their money in 2019.
“The judiciary has equally displayed improved understanding and cooperation in prosecuting offenders and we hope to sustain our understanding with them.’’
