Keep Up With Global Black News

Sign up to our newsletter to get the latest updates and events from the leading Afro-Diaspora publisher straight to your inbox.

Avatar photo
BY Mildred Europa Taylor, 10:48am May 08, 2018,

Nigerian govt shuts down 3 pharmaceuticals after codeine cough syrup exposé

Avatar photo
by Mildred Europa Taylor, 10:48am May 08, 2018,
A documentary of Nigeria's deadly codeine cough syrup epidemic --- BBC

Three major pharmaceutical companies in Nigeria have been forced to suspend operations after they were shut down on Monday for their alleged involvement in the codeine cough syrup abuse among the youth in the country.

The companies; Emzor Pharmaceuticals Ind. Ltd., Peace Standard Pharmaceutical Limited, and Bioraj Pharmaceutical Limited were closed down by the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) for failing to fully co-operate with inspectors from the Agency.

“Due to insufficient evidence gathered and apparent resistance to provide needed documents during our inspection on May 2, 2018, at the respective companies in Ilorin and Lagos, respectively, it has become necessary to shut down all the product lines of the three companies – Peace Standard Pharmaceutical Limited, plots 3 & 8, Adewole Industrial Estate, Lubcon Avenue, Ilorin, Kwara State; Bioraj Pharmaceutical Limited, 405 Kaima Road, Ilorin, Kwara State and Emzor Pharmaceuticals Ind. Ltd., Ajao Estate, Lagos.

“This is to allow for a full and comprehensive investigation. The three companies, therefore, remain closed,” a statement published by local media and signed by the Director-General of the Agency, Mojisola Adeyeye said.

Nigerian govt shuts down 3 pharmaceuticals after codeine cough syrup exposé

Cough syrup with codeine — NAN

It added that the firms could reopen at a later date, but this depends on the “the level of co-operation that is shown during the comprehensive investigation.”

Last week, the agency banned the production and import of cough syrup containing codeine.

This followed a recent BBC investigation that revealed the syrup was being sold on the black market and was being used by people to get high.

Two of the pharmaceuticals involved – Bioraj and Peace Standard denied doing any wrong, with Emzor saying that it had dismissed the employee found in the video and had begun investigations.

Last Edited by:Ismail Akwei Updated: May 8, 2018

Conversations

Must Read

Connect with us

Join our Mailing List to Receive Updates

Face2face Africa | Afrobeatz+ | BlackStars

Keep Up With Global Black News and Events

Sign up to our newsletter to get the latest updates and events from the leading Afro-Diaspora publisher straight to your inbox, plus our curated weekly brief with top stories across our platforms.

No, Thank You