NAFDAC Arrests Manufacturers of Unregistered Products

Ayodeji Ake

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), as part of its efforts to rid Nigeria of counterfeiters, has arrested the Managing Director, Tasty Time Nigeria Ltd, Mr. Kole Isaac, for the production, distribution and sale of unregistered Tasty Time and Glucozeaid Energy Drink with fake registration number 01-2474L.

Giving a detail of the raid at a press conference in Lagos recently, the Acting Director General, NAFDAC, Dr. Yetunde Oni, said the agency has uncovered offending product with 17 other unregistered products in the company’s warehouse and factory, adding that the MD could not produce evidence of registration of any of the products with NAFDAC.

“Following the intelligence report by the agency’s Pharmaco vigilance and post marketing surveillance, a facility suspected in Mile 12 area of Lagos to be producing Lamjib Herbal Medicine using the NAFDAC registration number, while the suspect claimed the product is duly registered with NAFDAC and even tendered registration certificate to the investigators,” she said.

She said the fake NAFDAC certificate was forged by one Mr. Yahaya in collaboration with two others; Mr. Abubakar Ibrahim a.k.a Lamido and Mr. Idris Adamu based in Sokoto through a computer, where they printed and way billed it to the company.

Oni, who was represented by the Director of Investigation, NAFDAC, Mr. Kigsley Ejiofor, noted that the agency has been on the path of ensuring that Nigerians have rights to good quality, safe, effective and wholesome regulated products.

“NAFDAC is taking steps to arrest the situation of fake registration numbers on regulated products, forgery of NAFDAC documents and other unauthorised finished products through renewed enforcement drive and post registration market surveillance,” he said.

Addressing the issue of fake registration numbers, Director for Special Duty, Mr. Abubakar Jimoh noted that NAFDAC registration takes a very stringent process that may take over three months due to the processes involved to ensure the products are of good quality.

He said that, although, there have been rampart issue of fake registration numbers flying around, it still doesn’t mean NAFDAC will stop giving out registration numbers, adding that it was the only way of sealing authority.

“We want anyone who want a registration number to come to NAFDAC themselves so they don’t fall into the hands of fakers. A business desk was created over five years ago to help people on consultation,” he said.

Jimoh argued that parading people who sells counterfeit products doesn’t regard NAFDAC as anti-SME, but rather, trying to ensure Nigerians get quality products for consumption.