The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has raised an alarm regarding the sluggish demand for locally produced medical syringes in Nigeria.
This comes as over 1.5 billion unsold units were discovered in a single local factory.
Professor Mojisola Adeyeye, the Director General of NAFDAC, expressed concern, highlighting that the situation is particularly disconcerting considering the quality of facilities in Nigeria’s local pharmaceutical companies, which are on par with those in the United States or Europe.
In response, Adeyeye has assigned the task of addressing the trend of syringe importation to the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA).
Emphasizing the need for ANLCA to prioritize national interests over personal gains, she stressed their role as clearing agents at the nation’s ports.
During a familiarization visit by the newly inaugurated executives of ANLCA to the NAFDAC Lagos corporate office, Adeyeye underscored the importance of licensed customs agents ensuring legal and safe import/export processes while adhering to required standards.