The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NAFDAC) on Wednesday reiterated call for stiffer penalty for fake drug manufacturers and peddlers in the country.

Speaking at a three-day international conference on "Medicine Regulation of Claims: From Conception to Launch" in Ibadan the drug agency boss, Dr Paul Orhii, stressed the need for review of the laws. The conference was organised by the Centre for Drugs Discovery, Development and Production (CDDDP), Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Ibadan in collaboration with Reckitt Benckiser, United Kingdom.

Represented by the Deputy Director in charge of Drug Evaluation, Mrs Titilope

Owolabi, Orhii said that the review of the laws would serve as deterrent to others. While noting that the existing law stipulates 15 years jail term and N500,000 fine upon conviction, he said the agency wants it review  to life jail term and confistication of property. He disclosed that the agency had been spearheading global efforts in combating production of fake and counterfeit drugs.

As part of the effort, Orhii said that with effect from last month 80 million

Nigerians had the opportunity of being informed through SMS of whether drug is fake or genuine. The drug agency boss who stressed the need for zero-tolerance for counterfeit and fake drugs said that through Mobile Authentic Service (MAS), Nigerians would be informed of fake and genuine malaria drugs.

He added that the agency would continue to provide enabling and conducive regulatory environment where both manufacturers and consumers would derive maximum benefits.

In his welcome address, the Vice Chancellor, University of Ibadan, Professor Isaac Adewole disclosed that the institution had been positioned as one of the leading universities saddled with the responsibility of providing high level research in Africa. He said the conference would be able to address the challenges of regulating product claims and advertisement to healthcare professionals and consumers.

According to him, this is of particular importance at this time of extravagant claims by different manufacturers of both orthodox and herbal formulations available in the Nigerian market.

The Dean Faculty of Pharmacy and director CDDDP, Professor Chinedum Peace Babalola called for collaborative efforts between the centre and stakeholders in the drug industry for the betterment of the society.