The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has expressed concern over dangers of drug hawking and ripening of fruits with carbide.

Director-General of the agency, Prof. Moji Adeyeye, who stated this during a media sensitisation workshop on dangers of drug hawking and ripening of fruits with carbide in Lagos, yesterday, organised by the agency, said the menace of drug hawking poses serious challenge to healthcare system, adding that NAFDAC is poised to eradicate the illicit practice.

Adeyeye, who was represented by Director, Chemical Evaluation and Research, Dr. Leonard Omokpariola, said: “Most of the drugs sold by hawkers are counterfeit, substandard and often expired and do not meet the requirements of regulated medicine.

“Drug hawkers prescribe medicines to their gullible patients. They are also major distributors of narcotics medicines to armed bandits, armed robbers, insurgents and kidnappers. They constitute serious threat to our national security.” She said any drug hawker arrested by NAFDAC would be prosecuted and be made to face a jail term.

“We solicit the support of other law enforcement agencies in ridding the country of this harmful and shameful practice.

“The war is on and we must fight it together,” she said. The director-general, who stated that ripening of fruits with carbide is another menace, said the agency would continue to engage the media in tackling this.

She said consumption of fruits preserved with carbide is hazardous to the health and could cause cancer, kidney, liver failure or weakness of immune system.

He urged Nigerians to buy drugs only from licensed pharmacists and medicine stores, as NAFDAC is committed to safeguarding the health of the nation.  He said: “I wish to warn that any drug hawker arrested by NAFDAC will be prosecuted and will face a jail term.

“NAFDAC enforcement officers are currently carrying out synchronised nation-wide operation. No offender will be spared from facing the full wrath of the law. In this regard, we solicit the co-operation and support of all other law enforcement agencies, Nigerian journalists and well-meaning Nigerians in riding the country of this harmful and shameful practice.”