By Ankeli Emmanuel (In Sokoto State)
The Sokoto/Zamfara States Customs Area Comptroller, Musa Omale, has handed over 1,198 cartons of pharmaceutical products containing 3,027 unregistered drugs of various categories to the National Agency for Food and Drug Control (NAFDAC).
Addressing newsmen before presenting the consignments to NAFDAC, the Customs Area Comptroller, Omale, reassured that they will continue to sustain their roles of keeping the nation's border safe.
"As the gate keepers of the National Borders and in our continued efforts to safeguard the life and health of citizens, the Nigeria Customs Service, Sokoto/Zamfara Area Command hands over seized and unregistered Pharmaceutical Drugs to National Agency for Food and Drugs Sokoto office today".
The drugs handed over include, 450 Cartons of Real Extra Tablet, 405 cartons of sex enhancement drugs, 148 cartons of condom, 30 cartons of vernos chewable drugs and others.
Before the hand over, Comptroller Omale said they are mandated by the law and in line with the collaboration policy thrust of Comptroller General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, to ensure that no contrabanned good is allowed into the country.
He further noted that because of the health dangers counterfeit drugs posses to the global community, importation of Pharmaceutical Drugs into Nigeria through the land borders is prohibited for the purposes of control.
And to achieve this aim, Omale said, "the Nigeria Customs Service has streamlined the importation of all Pharmaceutical Drugs through designated sea port and are only cleared after meeting the pre-requisite documentation".
Comptroller Omale who warned smugglers to desist from the act, stressed that the Command is battle ready to curtail their nefarious deeds, reassured that, his men are ever vigilant at all entry points to block smugglers.
Responding to the feat, the Sokoto State NAFDAC Coordinator, Garba Adamu, thanked the Nigeria Customs Service for the continued surveillance and cordial relationship, adding, those bringing expired, unregistered drugs into the country through land borders are criminals. NNL.
