The Kano State Government has confiscated and destroyed expired and illicit drugs worth N5 billion at over 15 destruction exercises held across the State.
Kano State Governor Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje made the assertion at the destruction exercise of Fake, Counterfeit and abusive drugs which took place at the NDLEA premises in Kano.
Ganduje represented by his Deputy Dr Nasiru Yusuf Gawuna stressed that the menace of drug abuse, illicit drugs, substandard and fake drugs in the state had become worrisome.
” I want to say that to this time, those illicit and expired drugs worth over N5b have been confiscated and destroyed in Kano. Today as we are witnessing again, fake, expired, unwholesome and abusive drugs through seizure, confiscation and forfeiture worth N543 million are going to be destroyed ” he announced.
He attributed the success of the seizures to the commitment of the present administration through its task force committee on counterfeit, fake and unwholesome processed food which had been working tirelessly to rid the State of abusive drugs.
Ganduje said ” the committee specifically consists of members from the Nigeria Police Force, Civil defence, KAROTA, Hisbah, Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria, NAFDAC, PCN, Ministry of Information, Ministry of Justice, Vigilante and the Community “.
According to him, the seizure and destruction of such drugs had destabilised international trade in unwholesome and abusive drug products, as most of the drugs were supplied on loan from abroad.
The Governor said the State had mandated that all employments and appointments by the State Government be subject to a confirmatory laboratory result of non-drug use, adding that ” this administration is also in the process of establishing Drug Abuse Control Agency to have an effective drug demand reduction and supply reduction services ”
Dr. Ganduje further appreciated the effort of the National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency, Kano State Branch for their active support to the Government’s Programmes which are meant to address the issue of drug abuse in the State.
Earlier, the State Commissioner Ministry for Health Dr. Aminu Ibrahim Tsanyawa explained that the drug abuse control basically consists of three major components that include demand reduction, Supply reduction and Harm reduction.
To achieve better results, Dr. Tsanyawa reiterated the determination of the State Ministry of Health in partnering with all necessary Stakeholders particularly the 3 Federal regulatory agencies namely PCN, NAFDAC, NDLEA and the Security Agencies in ridding the State of the menace of drug abuse, fake and counterfeit products.
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