From Olanrewaju Lawal, Birnin Kebbi
The National Agency for Food, Drugs Administration, and Control (NAFDAC) has reinstated its determination to flush out dealers of counterfeit agrochemical products in Kebbi State.
State Coordinator of the agency Alhaji Muyideen Folorunsho Suleiman stated this while briefing newsmen at the NAFDAC state office, Birnin Kebbi.
Suleiman also disclosed that the agency has taken its advocacy to several stakeholders, including the agrochemical dealers and traders, on the need to secure proper registration with the agency in the state.
He expressed disappointment over the recent discovery of a warehouse being used specially for storing unregistered regulated products, especially agrochemicals and human medicines, in Jega town.
The agency’s state coordinator noted that “this was at variance with the advocacy and efforts of the agency towards listing all agrochemical dealers for proper identification, monitoring, and control of sale and distribution of agrochemicals to prevent counterfeits.
“Some of the agrochemical dealers from Zuru LGA and Koko-Basse areas have been properly educated on the rules guiding the sales of these products, and some of them who have completed the process have been given listing certificates.
“We are still appealing to others to follow suit, and members of the Bakers Association in the state should fully comply with the NAFDAC regulations and guidelines, as many of them who have done so will soon be issued their registration certificates while enforcement actions to compel defaulters to follow suit.”
Meanwhile, NAFDAC has opened a new office in Birnin Kebbi, Kebbi State capital, with modern facilities.
It could be recalled that the agency was using a rented apartment opposite Eid Praying Ground at Gesse Phase 2 before the Director General NAFDAC, Professor Mojisola Christiana Adeyeye, completed this new permanent office located in the Gwandagaji area for her staff in Kebbi State.
While speaking on the development, Kebbi State Coordinator of the Agency, Alhaji Muyideen Folorunsho Suleiman, commended the DG of NAFDAC for completing the new befitting and permanent office for the agency Kebbi State for use by the staff.
He explained that all the administrative staff, regulatory officers, as well as security guards have their separate offices, stressing that, “this really makes our daily routine activities go on smoothly and offers us a convenient space to work in a relaxed atmosphere.”
“On behalf of my colleagues and staff in Kebbi State, we are grateful for this beautiful, permanent office completed by our DG, Professor Mojisola C. Adeyeye. This gives us the conducive environment to operate, and we shall continue to be discharging our duties as expected to reciprocate this kind gesture by God’s grace,” he said.
Suleiman expressed worries over the security situation in some parts of the state, saying that “this is the only problem they are trying to overcome as it is gradually improving.”
He noted that to strengthen the inter-agencies collaboration, he has visited the Commissioner of Police, and Comptroller of Customs and will soon do the same with FRSC, NSCDC, Comptroller of Immigration, and other security agencies to seek their support and cooperation whenever they need their prompt interventions in the course of their duties, especially when carrying out surveillances in some notorious local government areas.
