The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, on Wednesday, said it has sanctioned no fewer than 35 companies in Kano as of the first quarter of 2023.
The NAFDAC State Coordinator, Kasim Idrisa Ibrahim, who made the disclosure to newsmen, while spotlighting the activities of the agency during the period under review, noted that the agency carried out 280 regulatory activities, within the period, adding that the agency equally carried out 85 unscheduled visits to companies and other business premises.
In addition, it carried out 108 surveillances, as part of redoubled efforts towards ensuring best practices, among manufacturers in the state.
According to Ibrahim, the affected businesses were sanctioned for various Offences, ranging from non-compliance with NAFDAC guidelines in production to poor storage practices, as well as production of sub-standard products, including other sharp practices, capable of endangering the lives and health of the general public.
“We have made a number of arrests in connection to these cases, some of whom are on administrative bail, some transferred to our enforcement department in Kaduna, while some were detained, depending on the magnitude of the crime committed”, he added.
Furthermore, the State Coordinator described the poor level of drug storage in Kano, as very alarming, pointing out that the Agency is doing everything humanly possible to address the situation and will leverage the pharmaceutical market, equipped with modern storage facilities on Zaria Road, where all drug sellers in the state are expected to relocate to toward tracking fake and adulterated drugs.
“One major problem in the state is poor storage of drugs. The efficacy of drugs in treating a patient starts with how and where the drug is stored.
“Drug sellers in the state have been observed to expose these products to harsh weather conditions. You sometimes find drugs which are supposed to be stored at a cool temperature under shelves above room temperature.
“Rather than provide relief to the consumer, such products end up causing more problems for the consumer and in some cases leads to loss of life.
“We are concerned because Kano is the Hub. Most of the neighboring states and as far as Adamawa, to Taraba states in the North-East, get their drugs from Kano. If we get it wrong here, it means the problem is spreading. This, we must not allow to continue,” he assured.