Nigeria: Odenigbo – Akunyili Laments Over Fake Drug Barons
DIRECTOR-General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Professor Dora Akunyili last Saturday said her agency has destroyed fake drugs worth over N20 billion in the last six years of its inception even as she lamented the activities of fake drug barons. She also disclosed that about 45 persons have been convicted in the process while 65 other cases are still pending in the court.
Akunyili, who stated this in Owerri, Imo State last Saturday during Odenigbo lecture entitled: Ogwudire: Ezi nka na nruru aka meaning "Effective Drugs, the Genuine Art and Science and its fake" however stated that NAFDAC through its efforts has reduced the incidence of fake drugs from its initial 41 per cent to 16.7 per cent in 2006, a situation, which she noted has encouraged drug manufacturing companies that hitherto left the business to come back to business.
Emma Ogu
3 September 2007