The operations of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) in Sokoto State are being severely constrained by worsening insecurity, leaving the agency unable to access more than half of the state’s 23 local government areas, according to the State Coordinator, Abdulsalam Lawal.
Lawal, who spoke on Monday during an interaction with journalists in Sokoto, described insecurity as the agency’s ‘biggest obstacle’, stressing that many communities remain out of reach for routine inspections.
‘There are areas we would have loved to reach for routine inspections, but the insecurity makes it impossible’, he said.
He noted that although the command recently received solar power support and currently has two operational vehicles, manpower shortages continue to limit field operations.
‘We urgently need more personnel to expand our coverage’, he added.
Commenting on the surge in women-led micro businesses, especially producers of homemade items showcased at a recent trade fair, Lawal expressed displeasure that the agency was not invited.
‘Honestly, I wasn’t even aware of the fair. Had NAFDAC been invited, we would have used the platform to sensitise producers on proper registration procedures’, he said.
According to him, the agency has simplified its processes to make compliance easier for small businesses.
‘We have simplified the process so much that even a one-room facility can be guided to meet requirements’, he said, urging entrepreneurs to seek direct guidance from NAFDAC instead of relying on hearsay or middlemen.
On food safety, Lawal disclosed that NAFDAC carries out routine checks on cold rooms and vendors dealing in frozen fish and chicken to prevent the sale of spoiled products resulting from poor refrigeration.
‘We classify them as cold stores and check their cooling efficiency even though they are not registered manufacturers’, he explained.
He also issued a stern warning against the purchase of medicines from roadside sellers, describing them as ‘merchants of death’.
‘Many of the drugs hawked in baskets under the sun are fake or degraded. The more people patronise them, the more they thrive’, he cautioned.
‘Always buy medicines from registered pharmacies or patent medicine stores’.
Lawal further appealed to producers of NAFDAC-regulated products—foods, drugs, cosmetics, detergents, medical devices and packaged water—to approach the agency for proper registration instead of operating illegally from their homes.
‘Our goal is to safeguard the health of the populace. Don’t produce inside your bedroom and expect NAFDAC to look away’, he warned.
‘We are always ready to assist anyone who wants to follow the right procedures’.
