NAFDAC confiscates herbal aphrodisiacs, others

NAFDAC confiscates herbal aphrodisiacs, others

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), says it has cracked down on manufacturers of a herbal intoxicant, popularly known as ‘Kurkura’; herbal aphrodisiacs and alcoholic bitters in Nigeria.

This is coming as a result of a series of reports on the use of ‘Kurkura’, particularly in the South-West and Northern regions of the country.

The Director-General, NAFDAC, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, who made this this disclosure at a press briefing in Abuja on Friday, said findings revealed a dangerous trend in the use of such substances laced with high concentrations of tobacco and cannabis.

According to the NAFDAC boss, the ‘Kurkura’ herbal preparations discovered in circulations included “Five Minutes Power Herbs Medicine, Haonu Laha Herbal Mixture, Gamzaki Tradomedical Herbal Ventures, Barakallahu Multipurpose Herbal Mixture, and Sabon Karfi Herbal Mixture.”

The DG said, while Haonu Laha Herbal Mixture was registered with the agency, it was laced with unapproved substances that were injurious to the body.

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“Kurkura is an illicit product illegally consumed for the sole aim of getting intoxicated. The substance when abused can be harmful to the body organs such as the brain, kidney, and liver. The damage to the kidney and liver cannot be overemphasised. This substance can cause irrational thinking, and an altered state of mind, which if taken by a driver can lead to a road traffic accident with the attendant fatality consequences or can lead to criminal behaviours such as rape, kidnapping, and murder.

“Another herbal preparation that is of concern is aphrodisiac and we have discovered the lacing of it with cannabis.

“In our recent operation, we impounded the following dangerous herbal aphrodisiac at some Islamic Herbal Medicines shops in Zaria, Kaduna State – Gagare Man Power, Minister For Man Power, Almenjou For Lazy Men in Bed, Nisan Zango Karfin Maza, Shagalin Ka Man Power, Dakan Jia Man Power enhancement, Wuff Male Sexual Performance, Afafata For Sexual Drive, etc.

“So far, one of the illegal factories involved in the production of such unauthorised products has been shut down and the owner arrested. Worthy of note is the discovery of the usage of Hyergra 200 (Sildenafil Citrate tablet), Amafranil tablets (Clomipramine tablet 25mg), and Cannon Extra (Paracetamol 500mg+Caffeine 30mg) in the production room. The owner admitted that he dissolves the Hyergra 200, Cannon Extra, and the Amafranil in a drum and mixes the content with boiled Kanafari, Garlic, Dundu, Marke, Hankufa, Sweetener, and Sodium Benzoate to make up the Man Power preparation. Yet the label on the preparation read 100 per cent herbal.

“The effect of such preparation on a person with heart challenges can only be imagined. The makers of these products were arrested and later granted bail. The investigation is ongoing.

“An alcoholic bitters product that is of grave concern is Japata Alcoholic bitters which was duly registered by NAFDAC but laced with marijuana or cannabis compared to the registered product that had only ethanol. Through intelligence, NAFDAC was able to shut down the company. This product when tested in the laboratory caused the death of the mice within five minutes. The alcoholic content was doubled compared with the registered product. The retained samples, kept at the point of registration, did not cause any injury to the animals.

“The product laced with cannabis was said to cause an altered state of mind and psychological problems to the user. The owner of the company is on the run and the matter has been shared with the NDLEA.”

Prof. Adeyeye pledged that the agency will continue with the raid on other illegal production outlets and the perpetrators will be dealt with in line with the extant laws and regulations.

“This drives home the fact that the eradication of fake and counterfeit drugs, adulterated and unwholesome processed foods, and other regulated products is a holistic battle that should involve every well-meaning Nigerian. I want to assure Nigerians that NAFDAC is doing everything to ensure that only safe medicine and wholesome food of the right quality are sold to our citizenry,” she said.

NAFDAC confiscates herbal aphrodisiacs, others
https://ournigerianews.com/nafdac-confiscates-herbal-aphrodisiacs-others/

NBC asked to reverse revocation of 52 TV, radio licenses

NBC asked to reverse revocation of 52 TV, radio licenses

Media Rights Agenda (MRA) has called on the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) to reverse its revocation of the broadcast licenses of 52 broadcast stations in Nigeria.

Our Nigeria News reports that the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) took the action on Friday following the publication of a list of stations yet to renew their licenses.

The NBC, it was gathered, said a two-week waiver was given to the stations in May to do so after which they risked the revocation of their licences.

Some of the affected stations include Silverbird TV, Rhythm FM, AIT/RayPower FM, and MITV.

According to the broadcasting regulatory body, three months after the publication, some stations are yet to pay their outstanding debts, in contravention of the 2004 National Broadcasting Commission Act CAP N11.

Read Also: NAFDAC confiscates herbal aphrodisiacs, others




“Therefore, after due consideration, NBC hereby announces the revocation of the licences of the stations and gives them 24 hours to shut down their operations’, the NBC said in a statement.

‘Our offices nationwide are hereby directed to collaborate with security agencies to ensure immediate compliance”.

However, in its reaction to this development, the MRA said the NBC was prioritizing its desire to make money off the broadcasters over the interest of citizens.

It urged the NBC to reverse its decision in the public interest to avoid creating a society of predominantly ignorant citizens, advising that the need to ensure that Nigerians are adequately informed through the media should supersede any other consideration by the NBC.

“We are shocked by this naked display by the NBC of a lack of appreciation of its principal role which is to contribute to the emergence of a knowledge society’, the MRA said in a statement on Friday. ‘Rather, it has chosen to create an environment in which millions of Nigerians will wallow in ignorance, deprived of access to crucial information that they need to make critical decisions in their lives or to enhance their livelihoods”.

The nonprofit, in the statement issued by its Head of Legal Department, Obioma Okonkwo, noted that the broadcasting stations are also negatively impacted by the inability of the government to create a conducive environment for them to operate.

“The fact that so many broadcasting stations have been unable to pay the license fees raises serious questions about the fairness and appropriateness of the fees being imposed on broadcasters by the NBC in such a challenging economic environment’, the statement added.

“As the NBC, which imposes the fees and collects them for its own use, there needs to be an independent inquiry into this apparent conflict of interest where the motivation of the commission is apparently to make as much money for itself as possible”.

The MRA argued that the action of the NBC has only worsened the prevailing lopsidedness in the broadcasting landscape in Nigeria.

NBC asked to reverse revocation of 52 TV, radio licenses
https://ournigerianews.com/nbc-asked-to-reverse-revocation-of-52-tv-radio-licenses/