Nigeria, Cameroon sign fact on fake drugs

In a move to check the movement and circulation of fake and substandard drugs in the country, Nigeria Wednesday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Cameroon.

The MoU is expected to curb movement of fake drugs within the two countries.

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) and the Cameroon Standard and Quality Agency signed for their respective countries in Abuja.

In his remark, the Director- General of NAFDAC, Dr. Paul Orhii, said the counterfeiting of products has been a major problem.

He admitted that the agency has been having hectic time dealing with counterfeiters because of the sophistication in printing technology and the globalization of the counterfeiting business.

He said that Nigeria is at the forefront of efforts to ensure that activities of the counterfeiters are brought under check.

He, however, stressed that this is only achievable with the cooperation of other countries.

Orhii said, “Counterfeiting of products has been a major problem. The counterfeiters have devised ways because of the sophistication in printing technology and the globalization of the counterfeiting business had become very highly complicated to deal with and one country alone cannot deal with this problem.

“That is why Nigeria is at the forefront of making sure that we come together to form international coalition to fight the menace of counterfeiting. If we come together as a region, we can form a block that can stop fake drugs from coming to our countries.”

He also commended the Cameroonian delegation for the initiative.

He said: “I thank you for extending this hand of partnership that you said you want us to do for the benefit of our countries. Yours is a relatively younger agency, ours had been there but we are still learning. We share borders and a lot of product go from Nigeria to Cameroon and back from Cameroon to Nigeria. Therefore, it makes sense that we have to move together to make sure that these products that go across our borders are safe.”

The Head of Cameroonian delegation who is also the Director General of Cameroon Standard and Quality Agency, Dr. Charls Booto n’Ngon, said: “The MoU is to enhance cooperation between our country and Nigeria and to reinforce the application of standard and the respect of specification for all products which come to Nigeria from Cameroon and those that come to Cameroon from Nigeria . That is the main objective of our being here.

“Since Nigeria and Cameroon have been into cooperation for a long time, we want to reinforce the protection of our people. We have come to Abuja to sign a memorandum of understanding with NAFDAC for the benefit of our people. We will also make arrangements with our high commissioner for Dr .Orhii to come to Cameroon so that we can finalise everything to enhance this cooperation.”