BY WILLIAMS ABAH
The National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control, NAFDAC, has received the international organization, ISO, accreditation for its laboratory in Kaduna state. The certificate was received in Abuja on Thursday by the acting director general, national agency for food and drug administration and control, NAFDAC, Mrs. Yetunde Oni.
Receiving the accreditation certificate, Mrs Oni said that henceforth, any result coming from its laboratory in Kaduna state is competent and will be recognized internationally. She also said that NAFDAC’s laboratory in Oshodi, Yaba in Lagos state, and Agulo in Anambra state as well as Kaduna state had received international Organization of standardization ISO’s certification.
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According to Mrs. Oni, she said the laboratory in Maiduguri, Portharcout, and Yaba were on the queue for certification, adding that they would be accredited before the end of 2017. Mrs. Oni further disclosed that the process of accreditation for Kaduna laboratory started in November 2015 with assessment of facilities by experts from United State of America. She also said that test would be conducted on high liquid performance chromatography, food products, dissolution test, and ultra violet, among others in Kaduna laboratory.
In his remark, the chief executive officer, united state Pharmacopeia USP, Dr. Ronald Piervincenzi, said that the accreditation was a giant stride achieved by NAFDAC. Dr. Ronald further stated that the development was an indication that the agency is committed to the fight against counterfeit drugs in the country. He also said that this will help to ensure quality drugs for tropical diseases like Malaria, adding that USP was committed and will continue to provide technical assistant to NAFDAC as well as promoting quality medicines and medical products.
In his closing remark, the Minister of state for Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire urge NAFDAC to continue to be transparent, and courageous in discharging its duties. He also said that government under the leadership of President Muhammedu Buhari, would continue to support the agency to ensure that only regulated drugs will be use in Nigeria.
