NAFDAC has begun a national crackdown on illicit producers and distributors of alcoholic bitters and'manpower' herbal medications to bring culprits to justice and reduce use.
Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, director-general of NAFDAC, said unlawful companies producing unlicensed items had been shut down and three owners detained.
She noted that agency activities indicated a serious trend in the use of drugs mixed with tobacco and occasionally cannabis by all genders and age groups, especially craftsmen, drivers, and commercial motorbike operators.
Adeyeye said the agency got information on the usage of 'Kurkura' in the South West and Northern axis of the country and acted.
According to her, 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.
She said the agency impounded the following herbal aphrodisiac in Zaria, Kaduna State: Gagnaire Man Power, Minister For Man Power, Almenjou For Lazy Men in Bed, Nisan Zango Karfin Maza, Shagalin Ka Man Power, Dakan Jia Man Power improvement, Wuff Male Sexual Performance, Afafata For Sexual Drive.
Only Haonu Laha Herbal Mixture is registered among the above-listed mixtures, although it contains unapproved, harmful chemicals.
She said Kurkura is an illegal product used to become inebriated and can injure the brain, kidneys, and liver if misused.
She joked, "Kidney and Liver damage can't be overstated."
The NAFDAC chief warned that the chemical may create illogical thinking, an altered state of mind, which, if used by a motorist, can lead to deadly road accidents or criminal behaviors like rape, abduction, and murder.
"Another herbal medication of concern is aphrodisiac, which contains cannabis," she noted.
The production area had Hyergra 200 (Sildenafil Citrate tablet), Anafranil (Clomipramine tablet 25mg), and Cannon Extra (Paracetamol 500mg+Caffeine 30mg).
“The owner stated he dissolves Hyergra 200, Cannon Extra, and Amafranil in a drum and combines the substance with cooked kanafari, garlic, dundu, marke, hankufa, sweetener, and sodium benzoate to make'man power' The label says 100%Herbal. Imagine the impact on someone with cardiac issues.
Japata Alcoholic Bitters, registered by NAFDAC but laced with marijuana or cannabis, is a cause for worry. NAFDAC closed the firm using intelligence. This substance killed lab mice in five minutes. She claimed that the alcoholic content had been increased.
Adeyeye said the agency would continue raiding unlawful manufacturing locations and punishing offenders according to law.
“This drives home the fact that eradicating fake and counterfeit drugs, adulterated and unwholesome processed foods and other regulated products is a holistic battle which should involve every well-meaning Nigerian,” she said.
She urged users of NAFDAC-regulated products to be vigilant about the medications, food, and other items they buy and to report any suspicious activity to the local NAFDAC office.
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