NAFDAC seeks NYSC support in fight against fake drugs

John Oba

National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has courted the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) in its fight against fake and counterfeit drugs.
Its director-general, Dr. Paul Orhii, sought the assistance when he paid a courtesy call on the NYSC director-general, Brigadier General Johnson Bamidele Olawumi, yesterday.

He said the agency was saddled with huge responsibilities of fighting the fake drug business that worth $75 to 200 billion globally and ensuring that every single bottle of water business worth N10 billion daily was healthy for Nigerians with just 2, 000 staff.
He said drug was a major problem as manufacturing of fake drugs has increase globally with less than 30 per cent of essential medicine Nigerians takes were produced in the country.

He said: “When you look at the fact that our borders are open and porous, because of the crackdown by the US on illicit drugs, most drug barons are now diverting their resources counterfeit drugs. It is less risky and more lucrative; this is where NYSC has helped us a lot.”
Responding, Olawumi said the fight against fake and counterfeit drugs was fight for all Nigerians “since this business has become a global phenomenon and Nigeria is an attractive place for it to flourish.”