The Kwara State Coordinator of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, Mrs. Juliana Abayomi, has canvassed death penalty for importers  and marketers  of fake and substandard drugs in the country.

Abayomi appealed to the Federal Government, the National Assembly and the judiciary to ensure that those found culpable in the importation and distribution of sub-standard drugs were given the death sentence because the menace of fake and substandard drugs had led to the death of many people.

The anti-drug enforcement boss spoke in an interview with our correspondent in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, on Saturday on the sidelines of the agency’s public enlightenment campaign on the dangers of drug misuse and abuse.

The exercise involved no fewer than 50 corps members under the NYSC’s community development unit and NAFDAC officials, who carried out enlightenment programmes at motor parks in Maraba and Offa.

The NDLEA coordinator said, “Honestly speaking, bringing in fake drugs is as worse as an armed robber shooting at a person.

“So if an armed robber could be sentenced to death, I do not see why somebody, who is involved in illegal or fake drug business, is not sentenced to death.

“It is as bad. When someone takes fake drugs, it could result to death. God knows how many lives that have gone as a result of substandard drugs.”

Abayomi also stated that NAFDAC officials and those of  other regulatory agencies recently went round Kwara North  Senatorial District for inspection and monitoring.

She said that some water manufacturing outfits and patent and pharmacy stores in the locality were punished because of their alleged indulgence in unwholesome practices.

She warned operators to adhere strictly to set standards and avoid jeopardising the health of the residents and their businesses.