KADBUSA Statement On The Looting Of NAFDAC Laboratory And Office At Narayi By Hoodlums On The 23th Of October 2020

We wish to bring to the notice of the good citizens of Kaduna State the looting and vandalization of the National Agency For Food and Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC) Laboratory and Office located at Narayi by hoodlums.

In the course of this sad incident, fake, expired and seized contraband products were looted.

They also made away with some controlled substances such as codeine and tramadol, which are some of the most commonly abused substances in the country. These looted substances constitute a big threat to public health, and were seized through the proactiveness of the agency under the able leadership of His Excellency, Malam Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai.

Wrong usage of these substances are well known to alter the mental state of their users leading to intoxication in the short term and withdrawal and dependence state in the long term. Prolonged usage can also lead to behavioural changes such as reckless, impulsive and compulsive acts and eventually mental disorder.

These substances also lead to precipitation and worsening of already existing major mental illnesses such as depression, anxiety disorders amongst others. Severe physical health outcomes including liver damage, respiratory depression, coma and death are not left out.

We therefore appeal to everyone to be vigilant and avoid all forms of self medication as well as indiscriminate purchase and usage of over the counter medications except on the prescription of authorized medical experts. Parents and guardians should also ensure that their children and wards are not allowed to partake in the usage of these drugs.

Security Agencies and the general public should be vigilant so that these criminal elements will be fished out and brought to justice.

God bless Kaduna State.
God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria

Dr Joseph M. Maigari FWACP, FMCPsych.
Director General,
Kaduna State Bureau For Substance Abuse, Prevention and Treatment ( KADBUSA)