Abuja, June 11, 2023 – The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has called for stronger collaboration with the National Counter-terrorism Centre (NCTC) to combat the menace of drug abuse, misuse of chemicals and alcoholism in the country
Prof Mojisola Adeyeye, the Director-General of NAFDAC, made the call during a courtesy call on Rear Admiral Yaminu Musa, the National Coordinator of NCTC, in Abuja.
She said the purpose of the visit was to strengthen the working partnership between the two agencies which had similar interests.
Aeyeye said the collaboration had been very positive and pledged NAFDAC’s commitment to the centre in terms of research.
‘We can only do research in collaboration with other agencies or the academia which has been a major contributor to the growth of NAFDAC to higher grounds.’’
NAFDAC boss congratulated the National Coordinator of NCTC for the monumental achievement in building its new centre, which she said “showed commitment to integration’’.
“This new Centre to me, shows integration because silo mentality was what we were doing or sometimes we still do it. We cannot work in silos. It is when we work together, we bring agencies of government together that we get a lot of results’’.
Adeyeye stressed that collaboration between the two agencies was guaranteed in the area of research.
Rear Admiral Yaminu Musa, the National Coordinator of NCTC, said that the essence of the meeting was to draw up the modalities of partnership between the two agencies.
“It’s only when we partner with you, that you become aware that things we can do on your behalf then we can be called useful’’.
Musa said the two agencies had had some engagements in the past and some decisions were taken, but asked rhetorically: ‘’To what extent have the decisions been implemented and what are the factors mitigating against implementation of those not implemented that we can review because we are starting a new race?’’.
“This is the right time for the two agencies to review previous activities and be able to re-strategize and inform the new government on areas that needed further push whether it is policy push or strategy categorization of plans.
’If we do it now, and we do it right, we will be setting the new government on that pedestal to understanding us better and for us to be able to deliver more for the government’’.
Musa told the history of the centre which started as a directorate under the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) and is now established as the National Counter Terrorism Centre.
He said the centre recognised NAFDAC as a formidable stakeholder in the centre’s evolution and development of some of its policies in addressing some issues of insecurity in the country.
Musa said that the centre intended to partner with research-based institutions like NAFDAC in many areas and access global support to be domiciled at relevant institutions that require it for the purpose of operational use, training purpose, and research, including equipment.
In another development, officials of NAFDAC have busted a syndicate of peddlers of unauthorized chemicals in Lagos where a good number of arrests were made.
Adeyeye described the chemicals as precursors to narcotics or bombs.
‘’If it is restricted chemical, we have got to monitor it when it comes in; when moving it from one place to another NAFDAC also monitors that transfer because chemicals can be used to do many bad things,’’ said
NAFDAC boss said the agency had been very stringent on regulation of chemicals to protect the nation, stressing that ‘’we are very stringent on regulatory management of chemicals which include inspection, testing and approval and post approval surveillance.
‘’The fact that we have given someone licence does not mean we have to fold our arms. We have to keep checking to make sure that they are still abiding with regulations’’.
“As chemicals are essential for our use, they are also delicate and dangerous, this is why it must be ensured that only genuine chemicals are available and are properly handled, stored, and managed.
‘’This is why NAFDAC ensures that it employs the strategy of inspection, investigation and enforcement, post marketing surveillance as well as sensitization to curb the activities of erring manufacturers and peddlers of unapproved chemical products who either deliberately circumvent the agency to sell unwholesome regulated products to the public or due to ignorance or lack of sensitization do not toe the lawful path in dealing in NAFDAC regulated products.” {GBN)
