By Asmau Ahmad
The National Agency for Food, Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), has called on mothers to check and verify the authenticity of products before purchase.The Chief Legal Officer of the agency, Mr Umar Shamaki, made the call in an interview with new men on Wednesday at Awka. Shamaki said that enforcement officers in the agency had clamped down on importers and sellers of unwholesome baby and children products.
He said that it also recently arraigned a Chinese national for the importation of counterfeit diapers.
“Though, they have deviced some means now in trying to packaging their products more than even the original owners because we have seen instances like that.
“But generally, they should check NAFDAC registration number, the other dates markings; the date of manufacture, expiry date, batch number.’’
Shamaki said that NAFDAC, as an agency, had been living-up to its mandate of safe guarding the health of the nation by raiding the outlets of the unwholesome and counterfeit products reported or known to the agency. According to him, members of the public, especially mothers, who mostly buy edibles and consumables for their families, should not relent to play their part in ensuring the authenticity of the products they purchase.
Shamaki also appealed to good spirited individuals to always alert NAFDAC state offices when an importer or seller was found distributing or selling the unwholesome products.
“We cannot fight this battle alone; we need the cooperation and partnership of every Nigerian that cares for the wellbeing and health of others.
“The faking or counterfeiting of drugs, foods and cosmetics you hide today might tomorrow hurt you or those related or close to you.’’
