The Kwara State Government has urged the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) to step up efforts in combating fake and substandard drugs and food products within the state.

This call was made yesterday in Ilorin by the State Commissioner for Health, Dr Amina El-Imam, during a courtesy visit by the state Coordinator of NAFDAC, Mr Nadabo Nathan.

Dr El-Imam underscored the importance of promoting healthy living among Nigerians and encouraged the agency to enforce strict adherence to quality standards. She stressed that urgent action must be taken against producers of counterfeit medications to safeguard public health.

“The agency should beam it's searchlight on quacks who mislead members of the public with the advertisement of their fake products.

“Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq of Kwara is very much committed to the delivery of quality healthcare services to the state.

“The present administration is ready to collaborate with the agency, to enable it carryout its statutory duties as expected.

“We are ready to reactivate the state taskforce committee on drug, to checkmate the problem of fake and substandard drugs and food” Alumi said.

Earlier, the State Coordinator, NAFDAC, Mr Nadabo Nathan, said the visit was to familiarise and collaborate with the government in curbing the menace of quacks across the state.

Nathan, therefore, appealed to the state government to reactivate the taskforce committee on drugs so as to assist and ease the agency's job.

He expressed gratitude to the government for the constant support and ensuring that the agency succeeded in its statutory duties.

NAN