The Senate has enforced a stern restriction on the sale and consumption of 42 Anti-malaria drugs that are considered killing to life and which were recently banned by the European Union in all countries within it.
The European Union had directed that EU countries must as a matter of necessity, not stock any drugs that contains Plasmotrin, Artequin, Co-artinate, Arco, Artecon and Dialquin because they are found to be very dangerous and causes kidney failure.
However, Senate on Tuesday revealed that it has observed that all banned drugs in Europe are still being sold and consumed in Nigeria and its states. It said the only difference between Nigerians and Europeans is body color, noting that the body organs are same and so what is dangerous to health affects all and sundry.
The legislature further said it will not hesitate to raise its legislative hammer against defaulters and directed the senate committee on Health to urgently investigate the matter, and report back to it for further legislative action to avert deaths and save lives of the citizenry.
The Senate’s resolution to enforce the ban of the dangerous drugs in the country came through a motion tagged “Anti-Malaria Drugs banned by the European Union, still being sold and consumed in Nigeria,” which was sponsored by Senator Theodore Orji (Abia Central).
According to Orji, “this situation is already trending and generating panic and concern among medical practitioners and members of the public.
“The National Agency For Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) and Standard Organization of Nigeria (SON) which hitherto waged ceaseless war on the influx of fake and substandard items into Nigeria, have not in anyway adequately addressed this issue.
“Most of the drugs in the banned list of drugs are very popular and common in Nigeria and are easily obtained across the counter with or without proper requisite prescription.”