Osun State Government has pledged stronger institutional backing for the operations of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC.
This is as NAFDAC officials outlined renewed strategies to curb counterfeit a d substandard drugs in the state.
The assurance was given when the Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, received the State Coordinator of NAFDAC, Stephen Aina, alongside members of the agency’s management team at the Government House, Oke-Fia, on Wednesday in Osogbo.
Welcoming the delegation, the governor said the state recognised NAFDAC’s mandate as central to safeguarding public health, noting that unregulated drugs and consumables posed serious dangers to residents and the healthcare system.
Governor Adeleke described inter-agency collaboration as essential to addressing the spread of fake drugs and other substandard products in markets and medical facilities across the state.
He stated that the Osun State Government was prepared to work closely with NAFDAC to strengthen enforcement, expand public sensitisation and improve compliance with regulatory standards.
“Protecting lives requires cooperation, vigilance and shared responsibility,” the governor said.
The governor also emphasised the importance of intelligence sharing among regulatory bodies, security agencies and local communities, adding that effective regulation could not be achieved in isolation.
Responding to a request by NAFDAC for inclusion in the State Security Council, Governor Adeleke acknowledged the relevance of regulatory agencies to public safety and said the proposal would be examined within the existing security framework to enhance coordination.
He encouraged NAFDAC to deepen engagement with traders, manufacturers and residents, while urging members of the public to report any outlet suspected of dealing in fake or substandard drugs.
“Citizens must see themselves as partners in this fight,” he said.
Governor Adeleke stressed that regulatory enforcement must be carried out transparently and without compromise, warning against inducement or negligence in the discharge of official duties.
Earlier, the NAFDAC State Coordinator, Mr Aina, expressed appreciation to the Osun State Government for its support, describing the prevailing peace in the state as conducive to the agency’s regulatory activities.
Aina said NAFDAC remained committed to ensuring that only safe and quality products were available for consumption, adding that the agency had intensified monitoring and public education programmes across the state.
He disclosed that NAFDAC had also been engaging young people through outreach initiatives aimed at promoting entrepreneurship, while advising business owners to register their products in line with legal requirements.
The coordinator appealed for additional government support, including operational vehicles, staff accommodation and other logistics, noting that such assistance would improve efficiency and enhance the agency’s capacity to deliver on its mandate.