The federal government says it
will spend over N1 billion to compensate manufacturers of codeine-containing
cough syrup who had their products seized or withdrawn from circulation.
Moji Adeyeye, director-general,
National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC),
disclosed this on Monday in Lagos.
The government had in May 2017
banned the production and importation of codeine and tramadol in the country
following a BBC documentary exposing the abuse of codeine-based cough syrup.
Some companies were also shut
down for illegal production and distribution of the products but were later
reopened.
According to Adeyeye, over two
million bottles of codeine were seized from companies across the country in a
bid to curb the use of the syrup by youth to get high.
She explained that some companies
where the products were recalled from were producing legally and not guilty of
any wrongdoing, hence the move by the government to reimburse them.
“It is about a year ago when the
documentary about codeine was made which led to the Ministry of Health banning
the product,” Adeyeye said.
“Since that time, we have been
having a series of meeting with many government agencies and committees such as
National Security Adviser group, the Presidency and the Ministry of Health.
“The final point is that we
recalled about 2.5 million bottles of codeine and then put them on hold. This
is sad because some companies did not commit the crime.
“So we put all the codeine on
hold including the powder that they are using to the syrup. It will cost about
N1 billion plus to reimburse these manufacturers.
“We are working on whatever the
Ministry of Health is doing now to reimburse those companies affected. We just
called a meeting about the last two weeks on it.
“The amount that is tied to the
companies and they will be reimbursed because most of them legally produce the
product in spite of the bad distribution channels.
“In tackling fake and substandard
products, we do raids and many a time, our staffs don’t sleep, they keep vigil,
mainly to intercept those drugs in concert with the Nigerian Customs Service.
“We are also working with the
local manufacturers to make sure that their products attain the international
standard.”
Meanwhile, the house of
representatives has proposed a fine of N2 million and a two-year jail term for
organisations that will go against the ban on tramadol and codeine in the
country.
According to the proposal,
individual offenders will be liable to N500,000 fine and two years imprisonment
or both on conviction.
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