By Damola Emmanuel
Just as the National Agency for Food, Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC, ramp up its campaign against some killer children cough syrups, dare-devil hackers have reportedly invaded the social accounts of its Director General, Prof. Mojisola Christianah Adeyeye, forcing the agency to shut them down.
NAFDAC made the startling revelation, Wednesday, at its corporate headquarters in Abuja, at a press briefing ascribing it to alleged activities of fraudulent individuals impersonating the DG on Facebook and Linkedin.
At the press parley addressed by Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, NAFDAC also warned Nigerians and the general public against the use or circulation of four blacklisted substandard cough syrups: Promethazine Oral Solution, Kofexmalin Baby Cough Syrup, Makoff Baby Cough Syrup and Magrip N Cold Syrup.
“The attention of NAFDAC has been drawn to the activities of some impostors and fraudulent individuals impersonating the DG via her social media accounts, Facebook and Linkedin,” she announced, adding that the impostors were asking for money in exchange for employment and other favours.
“This is a security breach,” the DG continued, “NAFDAC and the DG will never request for gratification to carry out its mandate. As a result of this, the social media account of the DG will no longer be in use until further notice.
“Members of the public are hereby advised to exercise due caution and report any such activity to EFCC (+2348093322644) or Department of State Services (+2349153391309) in Nigeria. For International, call UK Interpol (+44 797 115 3192) or US Federal Bureau of Investigation (+1-800-225-5324),” she said.
Prof. Adeyeye also spoke on the agency’s ongoing efforts to prevent circulation of killer baby cough syrup spotted in Gambia. The agency, she said, was apprehensive that the toxic cough syrup may have found its way into the Nigerian market through informal channels used for other countries or regions other than The Gambia.
She explained that poor quality control might have led to non-detection of these dangerous drugs resulting in the fatalities so far recorded in The Gambia.
Adeyeye, therefore, advised Nigerians already in possession of the blacklisted drugs to discontinue their sale or use, and submit their remining stock to the nearest NAFDAC office.
“That is why we have heightened our vigilance,” she continued. “NAFDAC implores importers, distributors, retailers and consumers and stakeholders to exercise caution and vigilance within the supply chain to avoid the importation, distribution, sale, and use of the substandard cough syrups.”
