The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Niger State, on Wednesday sensitised medicine dealers to safe drug distribution practices
By Rita Iliya
The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Niger State, on Wednesday sensitised medicine dealers to safe drug distribution practices at a workshop tagged “Regulatory Compliance.”
Mr James Kigbu, State Coordinator of NAFDAC, said the workshop was organised in collaboration with the Niger State chapter of the National Association of Patent and Proprietary Medicine Dealers (NAPPMED), in Minna.
He said the programme aimed to equip dealers with the knowledge and skills necessary to navigate Nigeria’s complex regulatory environment and ensure compliance with NAFDAC’s guidelines.
Kigbu emphasised that regulatory compliance was essential for ensuring the safety and effectiveness of pharmaceutical products, which in turn helped protect public health.
“The aim of this workshop is to refresh and, most importantly, to equip you to adapt to the multi-dimensional changes currently taking place,” he said.
He also outlined the agency’s five operational strategic pillars: strong leadership and governance, institutionalisation of best practices, safety and quality of regulated products, continuous monitoring along the supply chain, and efficient financial and performance management.
Kigbu urged dealers to take advantage of NAFDAC’s innovative tools, such as social media platforms, the Med Safety App for reporting adverse drug reactions, and the NAFDAC Green Book for identifying suspected counterfeit products.
He cautioned dealers against violating the agency’s regulations, stressing that medicines should never be treated as ordinary commodities.
Kigbu noted that NAFDAC’s recent recognition by the World Health Organisation (WHO) as a Maturity Level 3 agency reflected its strong leadership and dedication to upholding international best practices.
He encouraged patent medicine dealers to collaborate with NAFDAC to maintain the status and work toward achieving Maturity Level 4, the highest attainable level.
In his remarks, Igwe Otti, Chairman of NAPPMED Niger State, said the sensitisation was timely and necessary.
“As major stakeholders in the nation’s healthcare delivery system, it is essential for us to be well informed about developments in the pharmaceutical sector,” he said.
Otti encouraged participants to engage actively and ask questions to ensure clarity and understanding of the issues discussed. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)