NAFDAC moves to reverse restriction of operations at nation’s ports, borders

Enugu to build world-class pharmaceutical plant
The newly inaugurated Governing Council of the National Agency for Food, Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has said plans were underway to reverse policies that restrain its operations at the nation’s ports and border posts.
 
It said due to the absence of the agency at the locations, fake and substandard products, as well as tramadol, which have caused damage to youths, have continued to find their way into the country.
 
The Chairman, NAFDAC Governing Council, Inuwa Abdul-Kadir, who disclosed this during his maiden visit and tour of NAFDAC’s facilities in Lagos, said the policies restricting its operations, were illegal, as they were counter productive to its mandate as instituted by law.

Also, Director General of NAFDAC, Professor Christianah Adeyeye, said with the increasing volume of work at the agency, there was the need for more funding to upgrade its facilities and laboratories in the country.
 
“Our facilities and laboratories need expansion and upgrading in terms of new technology, because ordinarily, Nigeria is one of the most largest or populous economy,” she added.

Meanwhile, an Indian Pharmaceutical Company, Sylvanus Bioscience Private Limited is set to build a world class pharmaceutical manufacturing plant at the Enugu Empower Free Trade Zone (EEFTZ) that would produce 85 per cent of the country’s pharmaceutical needs.

Managing Director of the Company, Dr. Ravindra Dubey said the plant would produce vaccines for Measles, Mumps, Rubella (MMR combined vaccine), Varicella (chickenpox), Vaccinia (smallpox) and Meningitis.
 
Addressing newsmen after a meeting with the Enugu State Executive Council and principal officers of the state House of Assembly at the weekend, Ravindra, said his company chose Nigeria because of its market viability and its strategic role in Africa.

He said Enugu State was chosen for the investment because it was the most peaceful and secure state in Nigeria and every investor looks for a stable and secure environment for their investments”.
 
Chief Executive Officer of EEFTZ, Emeka Eneh and the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Industrialisation and Public Private Partnership (PPP), Chibuzor Okafor, said activities of the industrial clusters in the free trade zone would create over 30,000 jobs.