Nigerian Senate set to amend laws on counterfeit drugs manufacturing

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An Act to amend the Counterfeit and fake drugs laws on Thursday passed through second reading.

In the lead debate, Senator Biodun Olujimi (Ekiti South), took a sober reflection of huge casualties occasioned by application of fake drugs, stressing that if Senate does not rise to the occasion of enacting punitive laws, the menace would linger.

She sought the cooperation of lawmakers in amending the Acts for purposes of riding the nation of fake drugs and unwholesome processed foods.

?An Act to amend the counterfeit and fake drugs and unwholesome processed foods (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act Laws CAP C34 Laws of the federation and for other matters connected therewith, 2015.

Senator Barau Jibrin (Kano North) on his part, adduced reasons fake drugs persist despite efforts by NAFDAC at ridding the menace without success to lack of punitive sanctions.

In his words: ?Perpetrators of counterfeit drugs feel that there is no punitive laws and also they could easily manovoure their ways each time they were caught and go free, but it is time we introduce strict punishment,? he said.

Corroborating, Senator Shehu Sani?s position in his applause for late former Director General of NAFDA, Dora Akunyili, he regretted that her effort has been whittled down, noting that the Senate would get to the root of those involved in the menace.

He added that Nigeria could liaise with India, China and other countries involved in aiding importers of counterfeit drugs to make laws in their jurisdiction to punish these perpetrators.

?I want to applaud the effort of late Dora Akunnyili who also lost her life tackling fake drugs menace, but her effort has been slowed down now. More so, the battle against counterfeit drugs by NAFDAC now is on the surface which requires that Nigeria should take the battle abroad, especially those countries like India, China and so on?, Sani suggested.

Before referring the motion to the Committee on Health, the Senate President, Bukola Saraki vowed that the cabals involved in the menace would not be spared any longer.

?Distinguished colleagues, there are cabals driving fake drugs in Nigeria and from the proposal to amend the act, I assure you they will not be spared as we will make sure we put stringent laws in place to deal with them,? he noted.