The Director General, National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Prof. Moji Adeyeye, has expressed deep concerns over the activities of illegal importers, who are importing unregistered containers of medical syringes at the expense of local pharmaceutical companies, with quality brands, saying this could lead to the natural death of local brands, if they are not checked.
Adeyeye, who noted with regrets the intelligence reports at her disposal, indicating some sharp practices at the port of entry in allowing illegal importation of unregistered containers of syringes into the country, charged members of the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA), to rise to their obligation, by prioritising public interest above personal interest.
She attested to the high quality of medical syringes produced in the country in volumes, adding that with such huge investment in local production, importation of unregistered syringes will be counter-productive for the pharmaceutical industry.
The NAFDAC boss, made the statement recently while receiving members of the newly inaugurated executives of ANLCA, led by its National President, Mr Emenike Nwokochi, at the NAFDAC Lagos corporate office.
According to her, ‘’Nigeria has lost billions of naira in trade that could have benefitted our people. About 70 per cent of our exports are rejected, food products especially. All these rejected products did not go through NAFDAC regulatory assessment. It disgraces us as a country.’’
She revealed that a publication by USFDA stated that some syringes that come from Southeast Asia are of bad quality, adding that those products didn’t fly by night and land in different warehouses in Nigeria: rather, they entered the country through individuals.
As licensed customs agents, she emphasised their pivotal role in facilitating the legal and safe import and export of goods, ensuring compliance with required standards. She welcomed the familiarisation visit, highlighting its objective to establish effective collaboration and cooperation. ‘The aim is to enhance the positioning and promotion of trade in regulated products, both domestically and in the international market’.
She also noted that the visit and discussion were important, considering the volume of food and agricultural commodities from Nigeria that is currently facing challenges at entry points in some countries in Europe, the United States of America and the United Kingdom, where they have been repeatedly rejected.
Prof. Adeyeye narrated to her guests how she marveled at the stupendous investments committed to local production of syringes in Nigeria by a local pharmaceutical company during a recent facility tour.
She said that the standard of the facilities she met on ground was comparable to whatever facility that could be found in the US or any country in Europe, adding that after the facility tour and being led into the warehouse, she was highly disturbed at the sight of huge unsold products.
Being licensed customs agents, the NAFDAC boss charged them to be responsible in ensuring that their members know the importance of the assessment of accompanying shipping documents and that goods are cleared through customs and all necessary regulations. By adhering to rules and regulations that govern the import and export of goods, she said they are helping to protect society, the environment, and consumers.
National President of ANLCA, Mr Emenike Nwokochi, also joined Adeyeye in condemning the negative practices in the country, which has put Nigeria in bad light abroad. ‘’It’s shameful that when you buy yam abroad they tell you it is from Ghana, or any other country in West Africa when Nigeria is the highest producer of yam’’.
As the Naira continues to fall to the dollar, he said ‘’we can’t do anything to help the Naira other than to increase the level of exports in the country to provide alternative source of raising foreign exchange.’’
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