The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has initiated a crackdown on illegal manufacturers and distributors of herbal preparations and unregistered products.
Their objective is to apprehend the culprits and reduce the use of such substances.
This action was taken in conjunction with the agency’s announcement of the arrest of Alhaji Salisu Sani, a herbal medicine practitioner based in Kaduna, also known as Baban Aisha.
He was allegedly involved in manufacturing herbal medicine with an expired registration license, as well as engaging in illegal advertising and sale of sacra herbs oral liquid.
During a press conference held at NAFDAC’s office on Monday, in Abuja, Professor Mojisola Christianah Adeyeye, the Director-General of the agency, stated that they had recently received reports regarding the illegal sale of Sacra Herbs oral liquid by the owner of Sacra Multi-Links Ltd.
Adeyeye explained that besides the expiration of Sacra Herb Links’ license, the company exceeded its authorized scope by prescribing the medicine for unverified conditions such as waist pains, typhoid, ulcer, piles, and toilet infection.
Adeyeye emphasized that NAFDAC is committed to ensuring that only safe medicines and high-quality food products are available to the public.
She mentioned that a nationwide effort to remove Sacra Herbs from circulation has commenced, and the agency has intensified its crackdown on illegal manufacturers and distributors of herbal preparations and unregistered products.
Their aim is to bring the culprits to justice and reduce the usage, advertising, and sale of unregistered herbal drugs.
Regarding the case of Sacra Herbs oral liquid, Adeyeye recounted that in 2018, NAFDAC received an application for product registration from Sacra Multi-Links Ltd.
The agency granted listing approval with NAFDAC registration number A7-2590L for the purpose of managing piles and associated pains.
The registration was valid until September 12, 2019. However, when the company applied for a renewal of the license in August 2020, it failed to meet the stipulated standards, resulting in the non-renewal of the product registration license.
Adeyeye clarified that the company had not submitted an application for the advertisement of Sacra herb, which makes the company’s illegal advertisement of the herbal preparation even more unjustifiable.
She further revealed that following the viral social media exposure of Sacra Multi Links’ illicit activities, the Investigation and Enforcement Directorate of NAFDAC conducted surveillance and enforcement actions.
This led to the sealing of the factory and the arrest of two complicit staff members.
The Managing Director of Sacra Multi Links, Alhaji Salisu Sani, voluntarily reported to NAFDAC’s office in Kaduna, and upon searching his vehicle, Sacra Herbs oral liquid and two additional unregistered herbal preparations, Baban Aisha Man Power and Delay and Cure Powder Kai Kadai Gayya, were discovered.
Adeyeye stated that all the products found in the possession of the company’s Managing Director and within the company were sent to NAFDAC’s laboratory for analysis.
The items seized during the raid included empty PET bottles, unlabeled brown liquid bottles, potash, a weighing balance, kettles, a Work Master heat gun, injection polyethylene, and new labels of Sacra Herbs.
NAFDAC has also taken action against distributors of herbal medicines, particularly Hajia Ayisha Special Snuff AK 47.
Acting on intelligence reports, the agency conducted a clampdown on the distribution of these herbal medicines, primarily in the northern part of Nigeria.