To prevent mortality and enable real-time testing of drug and beverage authentication, a Non-Governmental Organization (NGO), Southern Nigeria People’s Mandate (SNPM), has urged the Federal Government (FG) to establish modern laboratories for the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC).
The call aims to identify illicit drug producers and tackle traffickers across the country.
In a statement released in Enugu State recently, according to a Voice of Nigeria report, the NGO also demanded that the FG should employ more personnel and equip the anti-drug agency with logistics and technology.
Amid rising concerns over the increasing circulation of fake drugs and substandard beverages in Nigeria, the National President, Chief Augustine Chukwudum, and Secretary General, Mr. Segun Diya, highlighted the dangers posed by what they described as “merchants of death.”
They warned that counterfeit pharmaceutical products and unregulated beverages were putting public health at serious risk.
The SNPM urged the federal government, led by President Bola Tinubu, to strengthen security measures to prevent the entry of fake drugs and beverages into the market.
Read Also: NAFDAC probes suspected fake Amoxycillin capsules
The group emphasized that some locally manufactured products did not meet health and safety standards, making stricter regulations and monitoring essential.
Additionally, the organization stressed the need for accountability, ensuring that individuals involved—both distributors and their accomplices—face legal consequences.
While advocating for tougher measures against counterfeit drug syndicates, SNPM cautioned against blanket market closures, citing the economic impact on over two million Nigerians who rely on these markets for their livelihoods.
Instead, they urged the government to adopt a more strategic approach that prioritizes public safety while safeguarding economic interests.
The group reaffirmed its commitment to working with relevant authorities to combat the proliferation of fake drugs and ensure consumer protection.
