@POLITICSNGR

The Federal Ministry of Health has directed the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) to ban with immediate effect further issuance of permits for the importation of codeine as active pharmaceutical ingredient for cough preparations.

PoliticsNGR learned that the Minister of Health, Professor Isaac Adewole made this known in his office in Abuja on Tuesday, May 1, 2018.

He said that the directive became necessary due to the gross abuse Codeine usage has been subjected to in the country.

In its stead, the Minister said Codeine containing cough syrups should be replaced with dextromethorphan which is less addictive.

He also directed the Pharmaceutical Council of Nigeria, (PCN) and NAFDAC to supervise the recall for labelling and audit trailing of all codeine containing cough syrups in the country, while he has also banned sales of Codeine containing cough syrup without prescription across the country.

He noted that the National Agency for Food and Drug administration and Control had an emergency meeting with the Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Group (PMGMAN) to inform them that there is an embargo on all new applications for registration of codeine- containing cough syrups as well as applications for renewal has been abolished.

The Pharmacists Council of Nigeria (PCN) has been directed to continue enforcement activities on Pharmacies, Patent and Proprietary Medicine Vendor’s Shops and outlets throughout the country.

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control [NAFDAC] was also directed to fully carry out its functions among others: to regulate and control the manufacturing, distribution and sale of drugs, including inspection at points of entry of drugs, drug products and food for compliance with the new directive.

The Minister stated that the FMOH shall ensure collaboration among regulatory agencies namely, NAFDAC, PCN, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria (NMCN), for effective implementation of extant Acts, regulations, policies and guidelines on codeine control and usage.

‘Furthermore, these agencies shall work together to increase pharmacovigilance around codeine, tramadol and other related substances of abuse,’ Adewole stated.

Already, NAFDAC has developed IEC materials that will be used in an already planned national campaign against drug abuse, an awareness programme thatincludes Young Pharmacists Group of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria. This will soon be flagged off in Kano and Lagos.

As a way of discouraging youths to shun the drugs, the Federal Government through Federal Ministry of Health shall partner with National Orientation Agency (NOA), Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Football celebrities, members of the Actors Guild of Nigeria, Performing Musicians of Nigeria and other celebrities to drive national campaign against drug abuse.

‘The FMOH shall ensure that Drug treatment intervention for victims of substances abuse shall be undertaken across the spectrum of health care delivery system in the country,’ Adewole stated.

He stated that Civil Society Organizations shall be strengthened to deliver effective sensitization, prevention, treatment and rehabilitation services.

Recalled that in view of the serious public health concerns drugs abuse poses to Nigerians , a working group which comprised of experts from various Ministries, Agencies of Government (including regulatory agencies), Development Partners and Associations was constituted in January and tagged Codeine Control and other Related Matters Working Group (CCRWG).

The CCRWG was formally inaugurated on January 23, 2018 with clear Terms of Reference of developing key recommendations and strategies to address the menace of codeine, tramadol and other related substances in Nigeria.

The CCRWG submitted its interim report on April 12, 2018 and recommended short-, medium- and long-term measures for implementation in a memorandum submitted to the Minister, today, 1st of May 2018.

Finally, Professor Adewole restated the commitment of FGN to ensure the full implementation of the National Drug Distribution Guideline (NDDG) by January 01, 2019 and closure of all open drug markets penultimate the implementation date of the NDDG that is, December 31, 2018. It is a public knowledge that easy access to codeine, tramadol and other substances of abuse is promoted by the chaotic drug distribution system.

https://politicsngr.com/breaking-fg-bans-production-codeine-based-syrups-nigeria/

just ordinary cough medicine, people started abusing it.nawao.for me I think d addicts we surely get anoda alternative.no b naija we dey

Well done. We have just created a new way for criminals to make money; illegal importation of codeine and manufacture of (substandard) codeine.

And have found a way to remove codeine so that the freaks addicted to it can go find something else to get addicted to

Lol

Nice

good...
it's surprising that cough is not endemic,but cough syrup are one of the highest selling drugs in Nigeria

tramadol is next.

lol

Shuuu!!

Can't ban grass from growing sha

ok

How would science students cope?

Loads of lazy youths would soon start exhibiting withdrawal symptoms.......

Hmmm

Some people will still find a way to illegally import it into the country, anything to make money even if the user will run mad...

Even though it will be more expensive, the prospective mad people will still buy it.

This is about the best antitussive in the world, now it will no longer be available for people that really need it.
Shame on today's youths!!!

Codeine just got more Expensive

Awon science students

NAFDAC lack the capacity and manpower to effectively monitor drug use in Nigeria.... Let's not deceive ourselves

*Illegal importation of codeine-containing syrups from Benin republic
*Wrong labelling... Eg, labelling codeine-containing substances as dextromethorpha. This is Nigeria, nobody checks the composition on drugs

*Creating unemployment for Nigerians, shifting opportunities for employment to neighbouring countries.

*BBC that did that documentary has helped uk-based manufacturers to increase their importation to Nigeria... Pfizer, GSK, Becham, etc. They will produce same, and ship into tge country.


Leaders without foresight

This is just a lip service solution to the problem of addiction in the country.

The underlying causes of the abuses hitherto addiction must be addressed.

You marry a 13year old girl to a 55year old man, no way such a girl will not find delight in reality distorting substance. Or is it that boy whose parent rely on him to sale 100 mangoes in the night before the entire family can eat? Or is it the young man who after NYSC has been on the street for nearly 4years without job?

The country is simply unbearable and those who can't bear the heat resort to drug abuse to dodge the reality.

Fix the economy and most things will fall in place. Productive and happy people hardly do drugs.

Misplaced priorities

ghen ghen no more 'slow' for my neighbors.

You see what all these new songs have caused? Oya give me Codeine Diet...

Lols another eay loading

Uhmmm

Take a look at my signature.

Good development.
Fallout from d recent BBC report
Lazy youths should focus on gutter water syrup.

gurunlocker:
Some people will still find a way to illegally import it into the country, anything to make money even if the user will run mad...

it will be more expensive

Make dem withdraw am small small for the sake of people wen don dey addicted o.

Codeine is not even that important for making cough syrup sef

We are always reactive instead of being proactive? It has taken the colonial BBC to tell us of our own problem before we decided to own up to, and do something about, it; such slavish mentality.

If proactive measures aren't taken to criminalize the consumption and selling of these drugs, then the ban has only succeeded in worsening things - Codeine will be further demystified, thus becoming more expensive; this is a sure way of building deadlier cartels and criminal empires.

In summary, Buhari is at fault.

nice one govt. ... after u can't die of cough !!!!

Good move.

gurunlocker:
Some people will still find a way to illegally import it into the country, anything to make money even if the user will run mad...

sad that most Nigerians don't mind killing for money

So govt don’t get to do their jobs until thr’s a major media investigation? No health inspectors, no mass health research, nothing What are the responsibilities of the Ministry of Health? All the stupid not-fit-for-purpose committees in Abuja sitting on billions of naira hv no clue about the deteriorating health problems in the country, until a media organisation showed them what’s going on

When are we going to hv sane ppl in the govt Too many questions with no answer... I’m just so tired!