The Minister of State for Health, Dr. Tunji Alausa has called for a total ban on the importation of medical syringes into the country to encourage local production and help to grow the nation’s economy.
Resident Media Consultant of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Sayo Akintola disclosed this in a statement issued on Sunday, March 24, 2024.
According to him, the Director General of NAFDAC, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye reiterated the need for a holistic approach by all the relevant agencies of government to solve the problem of substandard falsified medical devices coming into the country through the ports.
He said the statements were made on Thursday during the official visit of the Minister of State for Health, Dr. Tunji Alausa, Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Mrs. Doris Nkiruka Uzo-Anite, Minister of State for Youth, and Sports Development, Mr. Ayodele Olawande, Director-General of NAFDAC, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, United Nations Deputy Secretary General, Dr. Mrs. Amina Mohammed and the Chief Executive Officer, Nigeria Investment Promotion Commission (NIPC), Mrs Aisha Rimi.
to the multi-billion Naira ultra-modern Afrimedical Manufacturing and Supplies Limited Syringe factory located within Karameh Industrial City, Arepo, Ogun State
While there, the Health Minister reaffirmed the determination of the Federal Government to provide the necessary support to the local manufacturing sector to enhance its contribution to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
The DG of NAFDAC, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, disclosed that the Agency had put an end to granting import authorisation to importers including international partners.
According to her, the NPHCDA had also been directed to patronise the local manufacturers of syringes to provide employment opportunities to Nigerians through the expansion of operations of the Nigeria manufacturing companies.
She added that the NPHCDA was given the last import order in December 2023 with the instruction that they should begin to source from the local manufacturers thereafter.
She further explained that NAFDAC has halted syringe imports to promote locally-made syringes. This suspension applies even to syringes previously imported by NAFDAC’s international partners. The goal is to shift the focus towards supporting domestic syringe manufacturing.
Chairman of Mikano International, the parent company of Afrimedical Manufacturing and Supplies Limited, Mr. Mofid Karameh told the visiting top government officials and UN Deputy Secretary General that his company is poised to revolutionize the landscape with its aim to restore Nigeria as the premier hub in Africa.
