The Nigerian Army has pledged sustained collaboration with the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) to eliminate the circulation of fake and unwholesome food, drugs, and cosmetic products across the South-East.
The commitment was made by Maj.-Gen. Oluyemi Olatoye, General Officer Commanding (GOC) of the 82 Division, when he received a delegation from NAFDAC led by the agency’s South-East Director, Dr. Martins Iluyomade, during a courtesy visit to his office in Enugu on Tuesday.
Olatoye praised NAFDAC’s efforts in safeguarding public health, describing the agency’s role as essential in protecting citizens from harmful consumables.
“As directed by Nigerian Army Headquarters, we will continue to give you maximum security and even partner to do more,” he assured.
“Whenever you need us, reach out and we will surely be there to see that you carry out your mandate hitch-free and unhindered.
“We also solicit that you share confidential security information with us to nip other forms of criminality in the bud since you live among the people and interact with them daily,” Olatoye added.
The GOC further requested NAFDAC’s assistance in ensuring the safety of products sold within military barracks, particularly in the Mammy Markets under the division’s jurisdiction.
“We want a serious partnership to rid our Mammy Markets of activities of unscrupulous traders and their collaborators.
“We are requesting an enforcement activities within our barracks and we are ready anytime you are ready for it,” he said, expressing concern that some traders may be selling expired or counterfeit goods under the cover of operating within military premises.
Earlier in his remarks, Dr. Iluyomade said the agency visited to express appreciation for the Army’s support during recent enforcement operations targeting major drug markets in the South-East.
“We are here to say thank you. The success of that coordinated enforcement operations is because the Nigerian Army remained on ground to the last minute of the enforcement operations,” he said.
Iluyomade revealed that the agency had seized and destroyed fake, expired, and unwholesome drugs worth over N1 trillion during the exercise, aimed at protecting the health of Nigerians, especially in the South-East.
He also welcomed the Army’s call to sanitize the Mammy Markets and proposed a sensitization workshop for traders and military personnel.
“This is to ensure that the people are aware of what constitutes fake, expired and wholesome drugs, water, edibles and cosmetics products and join NAFDAC to monitor activities in their markets, malls and shops within each barrack,” he explained.
The visit ended with an exchange of plaques, signing of the Division’s Visitors Note, and a group photograph to commemorate the growing partnership between the two institutions.
