Posted on: Wed 09-08-2023

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), yesterday, advocated media cooperation to stop hawking of drugs by unauthorised persons in the open market.

The agency’s advocacy was also aimed at ending artificial ripening of fruits with calcium carbide, insisting that such practices are dangerous to human health.

The Director General, NAFDAC, Prof. Moji Christiana Adeyeye, who stated this at the South East media sensitisation workshop on ‘Dangers of Drug Hawking and Ripening of Fruits With Calcium Carbide,’ in Awka, Anambra State, further warned the public to stop patronising drug hawkers.

She noted that several national dailies and non-governmental organisations have raised concerns on the looming danger and health implication of these two nefarious activities by certain unpatriotic and unscrupulous citizens, adding that NAFDAC will do everything to stop it.

She disclosed that the agency, since 2019, has taken some decisive steps such as, sensitisation of the public through different media outlets, enforcement through intelligence and raids in fruit markets resulting in seizures and destruction of products that did not meet the standard.

Adeyeye said that NAFDAC had noticed the dangerous practice of sale and consumption of fruits artificially ripened with calcium carbide, as well as illegal hawking of drugs in the open market.

She added that the essence of the workshop was for the media to further disseminate the health implication of patronising drug hawkers and consumption of fruits ripened with calcium carbide.

“I wish to assure you that NAFDAC will constantly engage the media as we strive to sensitise people at the grassroots on the positive impacts of our regulatory act

“The menace of drug hawking poses a serious challenge to the healthcare delivery system in the country, and this underscored NAFDAC’s determination to totally eradicate the illicit trade.

CAOS, Lt. Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja with Hon Abike Dabiri and her team at the Army Headquaters.

The Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja, has said Nigerian doctors abroad willing to return to the country will be absorbed into its military hospitals.

Lagbaja gave this assurance when he received the Chairman,  Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, and her team at the Army Headquarters,  Abuja on Tuesday.

In a statement signed by the Spokesperson, NiDCOM, Abdur-Rahman Balogun, the Chief of Army Staff, said the army would collaborate fully with the NIDCOM ‘s advocacy of bringing back home the best brains from the

diaspora to help develop the various sectors of the country.

Lagbaja expressed delight that Nigeria’s military abroad have been excelling in any military assignments given to them and making the country proud.

He noted, “It is therefore a thing of joy for me to partner with NIDCOM to celebrate these army warriors who have been making us proud abroad in all their military operations as a morale booster for them.”

Earlier, Dabiri-Erewa congratulated the new Chief of Army

Staff commended him for his professionalism and the new positive image army is getting since his assumption into office.

While showcasing the activities of the Commission and areas of collaboration, she urged the Army Chief not to rest on his oars in the discharge of their professional duties as Nigerians do appreciate their sacrifice.

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