The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has cautioned the public of fake Coronavirus drugs and hand sanitizers in circulation. Speaking during a seminar conducted over the internet in Lagos state on Wednesday, the Director-General of NAFDAC, Prof. Moji Adeyeye said the agency has discovered fake Chloroquine and Hydroxychloroquine in circulation across the country.
The DG explained further that they also discovered fake hand sanitizers. She further disclosed that the discoveries were made during post-marketing surveillance of COVID-19 medical products.
“Post-marketing surveillance is part and parcel of NAFDAC. We stepped it up because we knew that companies were changing formula and formulations for us.
“We see falsified Chloroquine without any active ingredients in it. Of course, we also have had fake sanitizers and masks, which we have to deal with regulatory-wise.
“Chloroquine and Hydroxychloroquine are some of the therapeutics that Nigeria is using for clinical trial treatment only. We started with Chloroquine and then Hydroxychloroquine came in.”
It is noteworthy to mention that the Standards Organisation of Nigeria, SON, had last month urged Nigerians to be wary of substandard hand sanitizers specifically those without alcohol content in them which can easily be smelled by the user.