The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has inaugurated it’s newly completed warehouse to serve as additional storage facility for seized regulated products.
Dr Paul Orhii, Director-General of the Agency inaugurated the warehouse for use at Oshodi, Lagos. Dr. Orhii said that the agency was faced with the challenge of storage space after fire gutted the agency’s warehouse in 2012.
The unexpected incident brought about a challenge to the agency in the storage of seized items; but we refused to be distracted from our resolve of zero tolerance to counterfeit medicines and other NAFDAC regulated products.
The structure replaces the industrial facility that was burnt in December 21, 2012 and will provide the agency with additional storage facility required for seized regulated products. It comes as a modern and well-equipped warehouse with amenities and services such as security, safety and retrieval of products to avoid redistribution.
The agency has been making giant strides in office and industrial developments, by completing and commissioning of state of art regional laboratory complex in Agulu, Anambra State; completion of Kaduna laboratory, razed down by fire in 2004; acquisition of Lagos administrative office, which is awaiting commissioning.
Other projects embarked by the agency include structural uplift, refurbishment and upgrade of NAFDAC headquarters in Abuja and laboratories in Yaba, Oshodi and Maiduguri; and acquired and renovated office in Port Harcourt.
NAFDAC Director-General, Dr. Paul Orhil said at the commissioning ceremony that the agency “need for the warehouse became evident to make more allowance for counterfeit product being intercepted through our enforcement activities as they await to be tendered as exhibit in court prosecution.
He noted that NAFDAC properties are covered by insurance and this help to remove the burden of repair and replacement from the agency incase of unfortunate incident like fire or any form of damage.
He recalled that the fire incident that destroyed the warehouse in Oshodi in 2012, “ brought about a challenge to the agency in the storage of seized items, but we refused to be distracted from our resolve of zero tolerance to counterfeit medicines and other NAFDAC regulated products. We continued to forge ahead in our fights against the proliferation of counterfeit regulated products.
He also said that infrastructural development had remained one of the major achievements of the agency’s under his administration to ensure that NAFDAC maintain its position as the 20 top regulatory agency in the world.