Rivers

Fake Drugs: NAFDAC, Drug Dealers Trade Blames

Published

14 years ago

May 23, 2011

The National Food and Drug Administrations Control (NAFDAC), has come under serious knocks from the National Association of Patent Medicine Dealers (NAPMD) in Rivers State over rising incidence of fake drugs in the state.

The two bodies, while trading blames at a one day seminar organised by the agency for Patent and Proprietory Medicine Dealers in Port Harcourt said both were responsible for the menace.

Responding to a paper titled, “Health Implications of Adulterated Products and Substandard Regulated Products” presented by Dr. Musa Umar of the Port Inspection Unit of NAFDAC, Chairman of NAPMD in Port Harcourt Mr. Onyewoke Justin said the agency failed in sanitinising membership of the body, but rather registered all sorts of persons as far as they are able to pay the fees.

Mr. Onyewoke flaked NAFDAC in the state for poor supervision and control at the local levels, since a lot of its members st the local areas were in dire need of constant training to meet challenges.

Another member of NAPMD in Eleme Unit, Patience Eke picked holes on the agency’s lapses in registration and approval of drugs.

Eke argued that at most times most of the drugs disapproved by NAFDAC still have the agency’s numbers as she decried the contradictory adverts made by the agency on list of drugs endorsed by it.

She submitted that the posture of NAFDAC at most times betrays their position on banning harmful drugs.

Some of the drugs under controversy include Novalgin, Ibrufen and antesonates – covering some anti-malarials that have been banned for retail by drug dealers.

Similarly, Baribo Kunanwe observed that since NAFDAC has failed in checking the influx of fake drugs in the state the establishment of a Central Drug Store was necessary.

He said if a Central Drug Store was established it would ensure that patent medicine dealers buy genuine products from the authorities.

Mr. Kunanwe also knocked NAFDAC for the increasing number of quacks in the industry. He insisted that unless the federal agency was alive to its responsibilities the menace of fake drugs would persist.

Responding, Dr. Musa Umar Deputy Director of Port Inspection said the burden of checking fake drugs was not the responsibility of the agency but all, especially the drug dispensers.

He emphasised that any drug that does not have NAFDAC registration number should be discarded, while condemning the attitude of most patent medicine drugs dealers for evading registration and training.

Meanwhile the Rivers State Government has threatened to arrest any patent medicine dealer who indulges in the sale of fake and counterfeit drugs to the public.

The State Commissioner for Health Dr. Sampson Parker who said this while declaring open a sensitisation workshop for Patent and Proprietary Medicine Dealers organised by the National Agency for Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) in Port Harcourt yesterday also threatened to close down any patent medicine store whose licences have not been renewed.

The Commissioner who was represented by Dr. Elizabeth Didia the secretary of the Rivers State Taskforce on fake and counterfeit Drug said that the workshop is an indication of the high regard which both the federal and state Governments have for them.

Dr. Parker who chaired the occasion stressed the need for them to assist the government by exposing those who continue to deal in fake and counterfeit drugs.

Meanwhile the National Agency for Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) says it has adopted the use of cutting Edge Technologies to check the incidence of fake and adulterated drugs in the country.

The Director General of the Agency Dr. Paul Orii who disclosed this in Port Harcourt that the move has not only boosted the International ratings of NAFDAC but more positive results in the fight against fake drugs are being obtained.

The Director General who was represented by the South South Zonal Director of the Agency, Mrs Lilian Duru also said that the Agency has become the first to deploy Truscan, a hand held device at borders and within the country to counterfeit medicine on the spot.

The Agency he said has also launched the world’s first mobile Authentication service which uses test messages for end-Patient regulated medication authentication while a Radio frequency identification system for verification of regulated products and documents have also been launched.

John Bibor

Rivers

Emohua Gears For Food Production, Employment Opportunities

Published

6 hours ago

June 20, 2025

The Tide

The Administrator of Emohua Local Government Area, Mr. Franklin Ajinwo, has said efforts are now underway to boost food production and create employment opportunities for youths in the Local Government and the State at large.

Ajinwo made this knwon recently at a stakeholders’ sensitisation programme by the Rivers State Rural Access And Agricultural Marketing Project (RAAMP) organised in partnership with the Federal Government and World Bank in Rumuakunde, Emohua, the Council’s Headquarters.

The council boss noted that Emohua, as an agrarian Local Government Area is blessed with vast arable hectares of land and waterfronts suitable for both agriculture and fish farming.

According to him, the speedy implementation of the programme will develop the area, create better employment opportunities for the teeming youths and provide good roads to ease transportation challenges plaguing farmers in the area.

“We are very favoured because we have large expanse of land used for rice cultivation in Rumuewhor and we also have fishes in our rivers. This initiative, which is geared towards improving food production, will enable us feed our locals and Rivers State by extension as it aims to broaden commercial activities that will attract others from far and near”, he said.

He also advocated for speedy commencement of the programme, pledging support, cooperation and synergy that will address unforseen challenges to ensure success.

Earlier in his keynote address, the Project Coordinator of RAAMP, Mr. Joshua Kpakol, highlighted the essence of the sensitisation visit and its benefits to those in the rural areas.

Kpakol disclosed that RAAMP has been in existence for about ten years and operational in about 19 States across the Federation with focus on food security, rural development, provision of hospitals and construction of roads that give farmers easy transportation access to their market sites.

Describing the project as a collective responsibility that is all embracing and can change the economic fortunes of the Area for good, he said synergy will help yield better results if sustained.

“The rural dwellers are the direct beneficiaries of this project. Every strata of the society will be involved as it won’t discriminate, its aims and objectives are geared towards providing modern amenities and services to our people free of charge that will make them happy”, he said.

In his overview of the Project, Engr Ibibia Owubokiri defined the project as a Third-Generation Rural Access Project aimed at strengthening the institutional and

financing base for sustainable management of State and Rural Networks.

He also revealed the focal points of the Project, which include, Improvement of rural access and trading infrastructure, Sector Reforms asset management and Agro-logistics Performance, enhancement and Institutional Development, as well as Project Management and Risk Mitigation.

Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Information and Communications, Emmanuel Ndah, was among dignitaries in attendance.

Rivers

Okrika SOLAD Charges Students On Involvement In Drugs, Others

Published

7 hours ago

June 20, 2025

The Tide

The Sole Administrator of Okrika Local Government Area, Engr. Tamunobipiboye Thompson Isodiki, has called on the leadership and membership of the Wakirike National Students Union to play a major role in re-orienting youth against drug involvement and other criminal activities.

Isodiki, who gave the advice recently when the Wakirike National Students Union and leaders of various tertiary institutions paid him a courtesy visit in his office, expressed concern about the alarming increase in the number of drug addicts and other criminal activities involving the young people.

He noted that if this trend is not checked, it would create serious problems in the Local Government Area.

“As students, I expect you to discourage young people who are seriously involved in these acts in order to create a crime-free society”, he said.

The Sole Administrator continued that, “my stay in office is not tenured, but I will pursue people-oriented programmes and projects for the overall benefit of our people.

“My decision to embark on the Joint Admission Matriculation Board (JAMB) Computer Based Testing (CBT) is aimed at reducing the pain experienced by the teeming population of candidates of our Local Government Area, to enable them write the test.”

He noted that the recent take-over of the Ogoloma Youth Centre by the Council was “a deliberate attempt to train youths to acquire skills, to provide middle level manpower, and create employment opportunities among our youth.”

He also addressed Bursary payment issue raised by the students, saying, “as essential as it is, the Government will study the situation among other pressing issues and within available resources we will pay Bursary in due time.

“Other groups have also visited the Council for one request or the other, and these are all based on funds.”

Isodiki, however, emphasized that a careful study would be undertaken to give the needed support based on the resources of the Council.

He also assured the students that the Council will partner with them in executing their planned laudable programmes.

While thanking the students for the visit, he urged them to be focused on their studies and avoid issues that would bring shame to their parents and the generality of the Local Government Area.

Also, speaking the Chief of Staff to the Sole Administrator, Dr. Paul Wakama, cautioned the students not to embark on journeys to campuses across the country for welfare, bearing in mind the prevailing security risks such journeys may entail.

He added that they should make do with the global communication advantage to reach out to other students.

Earlier, the National President of the Wakirike Students Union, Mr. Owubokiri Bright Jamabo, had congratulated the Sole Administrator on his appointment and announced him as the Patron of the union by reason of his appointment.

Jamabo disclosed that the Union would carry out summer classes during the long vacation to teach secondary school pupils in all subjects, including Okrika Language.

He appealed to the Sole Administrator to pay bursary to students and sponsor the various activities and programmes, especially the Cultural Day Programme, of the Rivers State College of Health and Science, and promised that the students would always support the Sole Administrator to succeed in office.

Soibi Max-Alalibo

Rivers

Andoni Charges Students to Prioritize Studies, Dev

Published

8 hours ago

June 20, 2025

The Tide

The Andoni Local Government Administrator, Surv. Atajit Francis, has urged students from the area to prioritize their studies to achieve their future goals and contribute to their community’s development.

Francis made this call during a courtesy visit by the National Union of Andoni Students (NUAS) led by Comrade Isaac Tugwell Owo at the council’s headquarters in Ngo Town.

WThe Andoni Local Government Administrator emphasized the need for students to manage their time and resources effectively, rather than relying on others, stressing that “prudent management would enable them to achieve their goals”.

He assured the students of the council’s commit to addressing their needs, including bursary payments, to cushion the effect of the current economic challenges and sponsorship of their proposed 4th Financial and Leadership Summit, despite limited resources.

The Andoni Local Government boss also stressed the importance of prayer and peaceful coexistence in driving development in the area.

Earlier in his remarks, the leader of the delegation, who doubles as the National President of the Andoni Students Union, (NUAS), Comrade Isaac Tugwell Owo, said, the visit was to congratulate the ANOLGA Administrator on his appointment, which he described as divine, given his track record of positively impacting lives.

Comrade Owo also sought support for their chapters’ cultural day, aimed at showcasing Obolo culture and providing training for secondary students in computer-based WAEC exams.