Nigeria's desire to achieve the United Nation's set Millennium Development Goals (MDGs),which emphasizes gross reduction in infants and maternal mortality rates may become a mirage if current government's decision ordering NAFDAC operatives out of the nation's seaports nationwide is not urgently reversed.The withdrawal from seaport order handed to the agency recently by government is an ill wind that will eventually do the nation and its citizens more harm than good.The much publicised decision was ill conceived, unpatriotic, untimely and unnecessary. It is a time bomb which when exploded, would have a disastrous effect on the nation's healthcare delivery system which is currently being laboriously overhauled by the nation's rejuvenated health boosting organ, the National Agency For Food, Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC).I wish to warn against incessant hasty implementation of retrogressive policies which is capable of retarding the nation's long desired economic and socio-political development. The pronouncement is indicative of the policy's lack of adequate and broad-based consultations before its adoption and subsequent implementation.The Federal Government should not allow itself to be misled by some self-centered individuals merely masquerading as patriots by daring to toy with the nation's life-saving agency whose dynamic and selfless contributions towards efficient and effective healthcare delivery system are being ideally applauded both locally and internationally. It is absolutely indecent of government to either by omission or commission resort to leave the nation's maritime gateways at the mercy of merchants of death-manufacturers and dealers in counterfeited pharmaceuticals and unwholesome processed edibles.Although I am not against government decision to rationalise security agencies at seaports, I am opposed to the inclusion of NAFDAC in the list of agencies to be withdrawn. The scientific and very sensitive nature of the agency's operations automatically exempts it from the list of withdrawable agencies.The federal government should not deliberately turn the agency into a toothless bulldog by initiating draconian policies which will in turn impart negatively on the agency's operations which will invariably amount to series of negative consequences for Nigerians.Experience has shown over the years that the nation stands to lose enormous financial resources by withdrawing the agency from seaports than combating illicit importation of counterfeited pharmaceuticals and unwholesome processed foods at the pre-entry stage is easier and less expensive than the very strenuous, time consuming and highly capital intensive post-entry approach. Therefore government should have a rethink by reverting to the statusquo.Ample evidences abound that operations of the agency at Nigerian seaports over the years have been highly revealing and marvelously rewarding having successfully curtailed influx of fake drugs and unwholesome processed foods into the country as evidenced by numerous multi-billion naira worth of seizures and interceptions made severally by the agency at the seaportsThe development could make us a laughing stock in the sight of the international community. It is unheard of for the same government that expends huge tax payers funds on sanitising the nation's health care sector in a bid to achieve longevity in Nigerians life expectancy to suddenly resort to deliberately throw her maritime doors open to influx of these deadly substances.Although effective and efficient trade facilitation which necessitates speedy clearance of goods from the nation's seaports is a sin-qua-non to speedy economic growth, NAFDAC has in no way inhibited trade at the seaports as it has despite its very scientific nature, employed series of technological sophistication to ensure that its operations are in tune with governments desire for speedy exit of imports from the seaports.I commend the agency's Management team for their patriotic efforts which brought about the introduction and adoption of ideally co-ordinated anti-counterfeiting strategies like the Electronic Clearance procedure, deployment of cutting edge technologies such as the Truescan,the GSM SMS text messaging system, the Radio Frequency identification system as well as the Black Eye machine to mention a few in a bid to ensure speedy clearance of imports with a view to facilitating trade and enhancing port decongestion while simultaneously protecting Nigerians by ensuring that they are adequately guaranteed access to very safe, quality and efficacious medicines and wholesome processed foods.The uniqueness of the agency's scientific functions which cannot be duplicated by other agencies is highly indicative of the need for NAFDAC's operations not to be disrupted through incessant policy reversals while the agency deserves all the necessary support and encouragement from all and sundry to enable it record greater achievements rather than attempting to curtail its operations through implementation of restrictive and anti-people policies.
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