The National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control, NAFDAC, says Nigeria is on course in joining the list of vaccine producing countries.
The Director General of NAFDAC, Professor Christiana Adeyeye stated this at a sensitization on Covid-19 vaccines as well as food, drugs, and other regulated products held in Lagos.
According to the NAFDAC boss, Nigeria is now on stage two of the four maturity stages outlined by the World Health Organisation to certify the production of vaccines.
The NAFDAC boss, who was represented by the Director of Port Inspection in the agency, Professor Samson Adebayo said the present administration was working to achieve the feat.
“The WHO is saddles with the responsibility of assessing regulatory agencies, the process in which NAFDAC has started, but because of Covid19, there has been a delay, but we are still on it”
Speaking on the safety of food and drugs, Professor Adebayo appealed to foodstuff sellers to stop using poisonous substances to preserve or protect consumable items.
The media were also enjoined t sensitize the public on the danger of unwholesome practices such as using dyes for palm oil, pain relievers to cook beef, carbides to ripen fruits, bleach to ferment cassava, which cause deadly diseases.
Contributing, the Special Adviser to the Governor of Lagos State on Civil Engagement, Princess Aderemi Adebowale stated that public awareness on unwholesome practices should be a continuous exercise.
Princess Adebowale said that it was the duty of the government to enlighten the citizens on the activities of those she described as enemies of public health.
“This kind of sensitisation is one that should be intensified. It should not be a one off thing, it is should be done on a regular basis, telling our people that they should not buy drugs from unregistered pharmacies”
The traditional ruler of Ojoduland and spokesperson for the traditional leaders at the event, Asiwaju Adeleke Osilaja, who commended NAFDAC for its effort in food security, advised stakeholders in the health care industry to bring the message of the program to the grassroots by attending and giving enlightenment at community meetings.
“We usually have monthly community where we have the youths,trade associations and other stakeholders, NAFDAC should use this platform to reach out to the communities, through the traditional leaders”.
The event was attended by representatives of religious groups, community leaders, the police, and other stakeholders.
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