The Osun State Government has pledged stronger institutional support for the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) in its efforts to combat counterfeit and substandard drugs across the state.
The assurance was given on Wednesday in Osogbo when Governor Ademola Adeleke received the Osun State Coordinator of NAFDAC, Mr. Stephen Aina, alongside members of the agency’s management team at the Government House, Oke-Fia.
Welcoming the delegation, Governor Adeleke described NAFDAC’s mandate as critical to the protection of public health, noting that the circulation of unregulated drugs and consumables poses serious risks to residents and the healthcare system.
He stressed that inter-agency collaboration is essential in addressing the menace of fake and substandard products in markets and medical facilities across the state, assuring that the government is ready to work closely with NAFDAC to strengthen enforcement, expand public sensitisation and improve compliance with regulatory standards.
“Protecting lives requires cooperation, vigilance and shared responsibility,” the governor said.
Governor Adeleke also emphasised the importance of intelligence sharing among regulatory agencies, security outfits and local communities, adding that effective regulation cannot be achieved in isolation.
Responding to NAFDAC’s request for inclusion in the State Security Council, the governor acknowledged the relevance of regulatory agencies to public safety and said the proposal would be considered within the existing security framework to enhance coordination.
He further encouraged NAFDAC to deepen engagement with traders, manufacturers and residents, while urging members of the public to report any outlet suspected of dealing in fake or substandard drugs.
“Citizens must see themselves as partners in this fight,” he said, while warning that regulatory enforcement must be carried out transparently and without compromise.
Earlier, the NAFDAC State Coordinator, Mr. Aina, commended the Osun State Government for its support, describing the prevailing peace in the state as conducive to effective regulatory activities.
He said NAFDAC had intensified monitoring and public education programmes across the state to ensure that only safe and quality products are available for consumption.
Aina also disclosed that the agency had been engaging young people through outreach initiatives to promote entrepreneurship, while advising business owners to register their products in line with existing regulations.
He appealed for additional government support, including operational vehicles, staff accommodation and other logistics, noting that such assistance would enhance efficiency and strengthen NAFDAC’s capacity to deliver on its mandate.
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