The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control has said it will investigate products under its regulation, regardless of whether they are owned by religious organisations or individuals.
NAFDAC also stated that it is determined to investigate products that claim to be registered with the agency.
Speaking exclusively with our correspondent on Monday, NAFDAC’s Resident Media Consultant, Sayo Akintola, restated that the agency is responsible for regulating and controlling the manufacture, importation, exportation, advertisement, distribution, sale, and use of food, drugs, cosmetics, medical devices, chemicals, packaged water, veterinary, and narcotics.
Akintola said, “NAFDAC is not a religious organisation. It was not established to regulate religious products, several other religious organisations are claiming to have spiritual materials, and this has never bothered NAFDAC.
“But the moment you say you have a product that falls under our regulated products, definitely we have to get involved. If you also claim that the products carry the NAFDAC number, we will be involved. We are concerned about the health of the public.
“We have to ascertain that if the products fall under the global standards, they don’t result in cancer for whoever applies it to their body.”
On Sunday, NAFDAC’s Director General, Prof Mojisola Adeyeye, alerted Nigerians to the activities of a faith-based organisation, Christ Mercy Land Delivery Ministries, led by Prophet Jeremiah Fufeyin, using the agency’s name to deceive the unsuspecting public.
Adeyeye said Fufeyin showcased the use of Miracle Water and Miracle Soap on social media to heal barrenness, claimed that the women would carry twins if they used the soap, and openly told his congregation that the Soap is NAFDAC registered.
The NAFDAC DG, however, said none of the products (Miracle & Healing Water, River Jordan Water, the Miracle Water from the Pool of Bethsaida, A New Beginning Mount Camel Miracle Water, Water of Life, Miracle Water from The Pool of Bethsaida, A New Beginning Pool of Bethsaida Water, and Father Smelled Perfume) advertised and sold by Fufeyin are registered with NAFDAC.
She advised the public to stop patronising any of the miracle products.
Speaking further, the NAFDAC’s Resident Media Consultant reaffirmed that Fufeyin’s claims are false.
“It was a false claim that they have NAFDAC’s number. Once NAFDAC approves a product, it means it is certified good for human consumption. So, it could be used in church, it could be used in mosque, it could be used anywhere, it could be used at home, and for whatever you want to use it for.
“That you send your application to NAFDAC does not give you the liberty to commence operations. NAFDAC has to investigate everything,” he added.