The Kano state Consumer Protection Council, KSCPC, says it has seized over over N1 billion naira worth of fake, Counterfeit drugs and unwholesome foods across the state in the last three months of the year.
The Acting Chairman of the anti-fake drug agency in the state Baffa Dan Agundi in a media briefing organized by the Kano state Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, said most of the seizures were made in the Rimi, Sabon Gari and Singer markets.
“In the last three months of my assumption as the acting chairman of the agency, 13 persons were arrested in connection with the N1billion worth of seizures, 9 suspects are on the run with court arrest warrants issued on them, 2 court judgements were also secured.”
“Many also opted for plea bargain to settle out of court as mediation is quranteed in the law establishing the agency,” said Baffa
He said the successes were recorded due dedication of the selected staff, incentives and reward to whistle blowers.
He said the agency is not performing optimally because of shortage of manpower.
“We have just 100 staff in addition to Volunteers as against the 5,000 personnel needed for our operations,” explained Baffa.
According to him him, the agency is waiting for a date to be picked by state governor Dr. Umar Ganduje for the seized fake drugs and unwholesome foods to be destroyed as the store is over filled.
He said the agency will soon sign an MOU with NAFDAC to further deepen it’s operations.
He reiterated that the shut down order given by the KSCPC recently to Restaurants and other food vendors across the state, in order for them to get tested medically, was appropriate and meant to safeguard the lives of the people.
Giving example, Baffa said in a restaurant were 9 workers were tested for Hepatitis, 6 of them came out positive, as such there was the need for all others to go for tests and be medically fit for the job with certificates obtained.
He added that the agency will not relent in its core mandate of seizing, seeking forfeiture and destructing fake, counterfeit drugs and unwholesome foods in the state to safeguard lives of the people, while urging people to stop politicizing activities of the agency.
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