NAFDAC raises alarm over circulation of  ‘dangerous’ herbal products

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) on Monday raised alarm over the nationwide proliferation of unapproved herbal products, which it describes as “dangerous”.

The NAFDAC Director General, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, told reporters in Abuja that most of the herbal medicines were in the form of snuff and oral liquids, which she said were mainly sold by street hawkers.

She also noted that the enforcement team of the agency was commencing a nationwide clampdown on the manufacturers and traders who sold such “uncertified” products.

She disclosed that the agency has commenced a nationwide mop-up of a substance referred to as sacra herbs in circulation.

“We have also intensified crackdown on all illegal manufacturers and distributors of herbal preparations and other unregistered preparations with a view to bringing perpetrators to book and minimising the usage of these substances.

 “As it relates to the illegal manufacture, importation, advertisements and stay of unregistered herbal drugs, I want to assure Nigerians that NAFDAC is doing everything to ensure that only safe medicines and wholesome food of the right quality are sold to our citizenry.

“We are also making efforts to increase the number of staff that we have, because we need more staff to go on the street for surveillance and post-marketing and monitoring,” she further said.

Adeyeye also revealed that Salisu Sani, manufacturer of sacra herbs popularly known as Baban Aisha herbal medicine, has been arrested.

According to her, the agency carried out surveillance and enforcement action leading to the sealing of the herbal medicine factory and the arrest of two staff. The NAFDAC DG said the manufacturer of the medicine is now in custody.

“This was a result of intelligence report received by NAFDAC that these herbal medicines are mainly in the northern part of Nigeria. Findings revealed that the herbal snuff was manufactured in Ghana and was approved for use as an analgesic by the Food and Drug Authority (FDA) of Ghana. But is being wrongly packaged and passed off as a snuff for the Nigerian market.

“Investigation further revealed an alarming trend in the use of these poisonous preparations by wide section of the populace, cutting across all genders and age groups, including young boys and girls, men and married women, drivers and artisans.

“The snuff, popularly called ‘shake’ or “angoro” herbal powder, comes under different street names, such as AK 47, moringa, black coffee (Dan Kano), magic powder, lufthansa and desert warrior.”
Adeyeye appealed to Nigerians to desist from the use of such dangerous herbal medicines.

“Be assured that NAFDAC is doing everything to ensure that only safe and efficacious medicine, wholesome food, and quality regulated products are sold and used by Nigerians,” she said.