NAFDAC canvases life imprisonment for fake drug dealers

Life imprisonment has been recommended for fake drug dealers by the National Agency for Foods, Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC), its Director –General, Dr. Dora Akunyili, has stated.

Speaking during a media interview in Abuja, Akunyili said a proposal to amend the Act setting up the organisation would soon be resubmitted to the National Assembly.

She said the Agency had not spared any efforts in the past seven years in its bid to get the existing laws amended.
``We have being submitting revised laws to the National Assembly for the past seven years but we hope to secure the amendment this time around,'' she said.

Akunyili said the existing laws governing the operations of the organisation were not harsh enough to deter fake drugs dealers.

``Until these laws are amended, fake drug dealers will continue to get away with this terrible crime of exterminating people's lives,'' she said.

She noted that the penalty for dealing in fake drugs or unwholesome food in this country, presently, is three months to five years imprisonment with an option of N10,000 fine.

``This amount I find very ridiculous and painful because N500,000 is to a criminal what N5 is to the poorest Nigerian,'' Akunyili said.

The new law being proposed, she said, ‘’ will be so stiff that we are not giving any option of fine.
Similarly, she said, ``We are not suggesting capital punishment, though the evils of fake drugs are worse than the combined scourge of malaria, HIV/AIDS and armed robbery.

``Malaria can be prevented and treated, HIV/AIDS can be
avoided, armed robbers may probably not kill but fake drugs take their toll on al.
Akunyili said the organisation had destroyed fake products worth more than N24 billion in the last seven years.
``We also got 45 convictions while 61 cases are currently pending in courts,'' she added