The Osun State Government has pledged stronger institutional support for the operations of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) as the agency rolls out renewed strategies to combat counterfeit and substandard drugs in the state.
The assurance was given on Wednesday when Governor Ademola Adeleke received the Osun State Coordinator of NAFDAC, Stephen Aina, and members of the agency’s management team at the Government House, Oke-Fia, Osogbo.
Welcoming the delegation, the governor said the state recognised NAFDAC’s mandate as critical to safeguarding public health, stressing that unregulated drugs and consumables posed serious dangers to residents and the healthcare system.
Governor Adeleke described inter-agency collaboration as essential in tackling the spread of fake and substandard products in markets and medical facilities across the state.
He said the Osun State Government was ready 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, noting that effective regulation could not be achieved in isolation.
Responding to NAFDAC’s request for inclusion in the State Security Council, Adeleke acknowledged the relevance of regulatory agencies to public safety and said the proposal would be examined within the existing security framework to improve 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.
The governor 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. Stephen Aina, thanked the Osun State Government for its support, describing the prevailing peace in the state as conducive to effective regulatory work.
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 been engaging young people through outreach initiatives to promote 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 logistics, noting that such assistance would improve efficiency and strengthen the agency’s capacity to deliver on its mandate.
Elijah Adeyemi
