On Monday, the National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC) announced that it has initiated a nationwide operation to remove Sacra Herbs, a herbal concoction recently discovered to be toxic, from circulation.
Professor Mojisola Adeyeye, the Director-General of NAFDAC, disclosed this development during a press conference held at the agency’s headquarters in Abuja. The decision to conduct the mop-up exercise came after investigations by PREMIUM TIMES and DUBAWA revealed the significant safety risks posed by the herbal product.
Mrs. Adeyeye informed journalists that NAFDAC had already begun the process of removing Sacra Herbs from the market. The herbal product’s registration had expired over three years ago. She emphasized that the agency is intensifying its crackdown on illegal manufacturers and distributors of herbal and unregistered preparations to hold them accountable and reduce the usage of such substances.
Regarding another concerning product, “Hajia Ayisha Special Snuff AK 47,” the Director-General discussed the agency’s efforts in clamping down on its distributors. She explained that investigations revealed the product, originally manufactured in Ghana and approved by the Food and Drug Authority (FDA) of that country for use as an analgesic, was being packaged under different names in Nigeria.
Mrs. Adeyeye listed several other products that were seized during the operations, including Hajia Ayisha Masanda original powerful powder, Hajia Ayisha snuff Nasrullah snuff No. 1, Hajia Salma Special snuff, Lufthansa Man power snuff, 99 Bullet more power snuff, AK 47 Power snuff, Hajia Salma VIP Moringa, Forever Journey, Dr. Lambo Moringa snuff, Danmilla Kokoo herbal powder, The Desert Warrior, and Hajia Salma sundu.
NAFDAC highlighted that the chemical substance found in these dangerous products is pyridine, a toxic alkaloid belonging to a class of compounds present in certain Nicotiana species, including tobacco. Pyridine is highly addictive and associated with severe health consequences such as an increased risk of cancer, respiratory diseases, and cardiovascular diseases.
Since the publication of PREMIUM TIMES’ investigation, NAFDAC has faced public scrutiny concerning its regulatory functions. In response, the agency initiated an investigation into the findings and subsequently sealed off the facility where the product was being produced. During the operation, two individuals were arrested, and the producer, Salisu Sani, was apprehended when he visited the agency’s office.
Mrs. Adeyeye listed the items seized during the raid, which included empty PET bottles, unlabelled brown liquid, potash, alum, weighing balance, kettles, heat gun, HD injection polyethylene, HDPE polyethylene, and new labels of Sacra Herbs.
NAFDAC urged consumers to exercise caution when purchasing drugs, food, and other regulated products and encouraged them to report any suspicious activities within their surroundings to the nearest NAFDAC office.
Premium Times