By Ahmed AHMED
The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has accused drug hawkers for supplying and distributing narcotics medicines to criminals in the country.
Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, Director General DG of the Agency made the accusation at the North East NAFDAC media sensitization workshop on danger of drug hawking and ripening of fruits with calcium carbide on Monday in Bauchi.
She noted that drug hawkers and peddlers constitute a serious threat to national security.
According to her, drug hawkers are also the major distributors and suppliers of narcotic medicines to criminal networks such as Armed Bandits, Insurgents, Kidnappers and Armed Robbers.
“Drugs are sensitive life-saving commodities which should not be sold on the streets/motor parks or open markets just like any other article of trade.
“I wish to warn that any Drug Hawker arrested by NAFDAC will be prosecuted, will face a jail term, and our Enforcement Officers are currently carrying out a synchronized nation-wide operation.
“No offender will be spared from facing the full wrath of the Law. In this regard,”
The DG, represented by Director Chemical and Evaluation and Research of the Agency Dr. Leonard Omokpariola solicited the cooperation of Law Enforcement Agencies, Nigerian Journalists and well-meaning Nigerians in ridding the country of this harmful and shameful practice.
Prof Adeyeye noted that the consumption of fruits ripened by calcium carbide and the purchase of drugs from street hawkers could lead to serious health problems that include cancer and several other ailments that can lead to untimely death.
On his part, Dr Abubakar Jimoh Director of Public Affairs of the Agency said the objective of the sensitisation workshop for journalists in the North East was to take ownership of the fight against the dreaded and harmful practice of drug hawking.
He said the agency also organized the sensitization workshop for the journalists to enhance their skills in reporting health-related issues and cases.
Dr Jimoh said the north east media sensitization workshop for the journalists was critical considering their role in educating societies about happenings within and outside the country.
He lamented the bad activities of some individuals who are harming the nation’s well-being by selling substandard products to the public, urging journalists to always expose such elements so as to make the environment conducive for all
The Director charged journalists to be more professional in their reportage and issues affecting the public health in the country.
Earlier, Bauchi State Coordinator of the Agency, Mrs Josephine Dayilim appealed to all stakeholders to assist the agency in educating citizens the effect of calcium carbides on their health.
She said the sensitization workshop is part of fulfillment of the DG’s Prof. Adeyeye effort to sustain and strengthen NAFDAC’s existing collaboration with the Association of Health Journalists in Nigeria.
“Towards mobilizing, educating, sensitizing, and concertizing 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.
Mrs Dayilim also called on the Stakeholders and journalists to report any suspicious fruit vendors that are using chemicals to ripen fruits to the agency for prompt action.
At the sensitisation workshop Journalists were drawn from six North East States of Bauchi, Gombe, Yobe, Borno ,Taraba, and Adamawa.