NAFDAC Engages Stakeholders on Menace of Drug Hawking, Ripening of Fruits with Carbide

Segun Awofadeji in Bauchi

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has organised a one-day media and other stakeholders’ engagement to develop an influencing strategy in the campaign against the menace of drug (medicine) hawking and ripening of fruits with carbide.

The media sensitisation workshop on the ‘Dangers of Drug Hawking and Ripening of Fruits with Calcium Carbide’, organised by the North-east zone of the agency held in Bauchi yesterday, was aimed at ending artificial ripening of fruits with calcium carbide, stressing that such practices are dangerous to human health.

In her remarks at the occasion, the Director-General of NAFDAC, Professor Mojisola Adeyeye, warned Nigerians  to be wary of eating fruits ripened with calcium carbide, pointing out that the  agency takes stringent regulatory actions to stem the dangerous tide of drug hawking and ripening of fruits with calcium carbide across the country.

 She urged Nigerians to stop buying drugs from hawkers as well as patronising the sellers of fruits ripened through the use of calcium carbide due to the danger it poses to their health.

  The director-general, who was represented by the Director, Chemical Evaluation and Research of the agency, Dr. Leonard Omokpariola, said the dangerous practice by some unscrupulous persons is killing unsuspecting members of the public, hence the need to bring journalists in to the matter with a view to creating awareness for members of the public to be aware and abstain from patronising them.

According to her, “There have been clarion calls by well-meaning Nigerians on the need to take stringent regulatory actions to stem the dangerous tide of drug hawking and ripening of fruits with calcium carbide.”

She stated that there have also been several concerns on the looming danger and health implication of these two nefarious activities by certain unpatriotic and unscrupulous people in the country.

 The DG said: “In 2019, we immediately took some decisive steps such as the sensitisation of the public through different media outlets, enforcement through intelligence and raids in fruit markets that have resulted in seizures and destruction of dangerous products.”

  The workshop, she said, was being held in fulfilment of the agency’s promise to sustain and strengthen NAFDAC’s existing collaboration with journalists towards mobilising, educating, sensitising, and conscientising members of the public on the dangerous practice.

    Professor Adeyeye added:  “We are doing it for Nigerian journalists to play a frontline role in our concerted efforts to eradicate the menace of drug hawking and ripening of fruits with calcium carbide in Nigeria.”

Earlier in his address, Director, Public Affairs of the agency, Dr Abubakar Jimoh, described the media as a tool for behavioral change and development

  Jimoh, who said the training became paramount to safeguard public health and safe lives, pointed out that disseminating accurate and quality information would bridge the gap on public ignorance around issues of sub – standard goods and use of harmful chemicals.