The
National Agency for Foods and Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has
alerted Nigerians of the prevalence of fake alcoholic drinks, especially dry gin,
in the nation’s markets.
Dr Abubakar Jimoh, its Director, Special Duties,
told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Jos on Tuesday that the agency had
continued to advise consumers of alcoholic beverages to be alert and be very
wary of fake and unregistered drinks.
“Drinking alcohol is bad enough and people are always advised to
take it in moderation; so, the danger associated with taking a fake drink can
only be imagined,” he said.
Jimoh said that the agency had taken its campaign against fake
drinks to Plateau, Gombe, Benue, Bauchi and many other states in North, and had
engaged traditional and religious leaders to lead the efforts.
The NAFDAC official
explained that it was usually difficult to distinguish between the fake and
genuine drinks because “many producers usually gather empty bottles with
NAFDAC-approved badges and pour the fake contents into them.
“Our
advice is that the consumers must always be on the watch-out,” he said.
He
called for more proactive steps from governors to protect members of the
public, and alleged that most governors had always paid lip service to the
campaign against fake drugs and drinks.
Jimoh
expressed satisfaction over the agency’s achievements in its war against
counterfeit drinks and drugs.
“The
prevalent rate used to be 16.7 per cent, now we have battled it down to 3.4 per
cent and shall never relent in the war,” he said.
-NAN
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