Due to allegedly fraudulent persons impersonating Prof. Mojisola Christianah Adeyeye on Facebook and Linkedin, the National Agency for Food, Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has closed her social media accounts.
It also forbade the use or distribution of four subpar cough syrups that were on the blacklist among Nigerians and the general public. They are: Magrip N Cold Syrup, Kofexmalin Baby Cough Syrup, Makoff Baby Cough Syrup, and Promethazine Oral Solution.
Yesterday in Abuja, Adeyeye spoke to reporters at the agency's headquarters. She said: "NAFDAC has been alerted about the actions of some imposters and fraudulent persons impersonating the DG via her social media accounts, Facebook and Linkedin."
She said the impostors were asking for money in exchange for employment and other favours.
“This is a security breach. NAFDAC and the DG will never request for gratification to carry out its mandate. As a result of this, the social media account of the DG will no longer be in use until further notice.
“Members of the public are hereby advised to exercise due caution and report any such activity to EFCC (+2348093322644) or Department of State Services (+2349153391309) in Nigeria. For International, call UK Interpol (+44 797 115 3192) or US Federal Bureau of Investigation (+1-800-225-5324),” she said.
Speaking on efforts to prevent the circulation of killer baby cough syrup spotted in the Gambia, Adeyeye said the agency is apprehensive that the offensive syrup may have been distributed through informal markets to other countries or regions apart from the Gambia.
She explained that poor quality control might have led to non-detection of these dangerous by-products and hence the
fatality that it has caused in the Gambia.
Adeyeye urged members of the public in possession of the blacklisted products to discontinue sale or use and to submit stock to the nearest NAFDAC office.
“That is why we have heightened our vigilance. NAFDAC implores importers, distributors, retailers and consumers and stakeholders to exercise caution and vigilance within the supply chain to avoid the importation, distribution, sale, and use of substandard cough syrups,” she said.