The Speaker of the Niger state House of Assembly, Abdulmalik Sarkindaji has indicated that the Assembly is at the verge of promulgating a law that will curb the circulation and proliferation of fake drugs in markets and substance abuse among the people especially the youths.
The Speaker pointed out that the proliferation of fake and substandard drugs in the market calls for urgent attention adding that the 10th Assembly will do everything possible to minimize the trend.
The Speaker spoke on Monday after he led members of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigerian (PSN) on a 4.5km road walk to mark World Pharmacists Day in Minna, the Niger state capital.
He said, “These problems of fake drugs and drug abuse will soon become a thing of the past in the state. As you know, we have a professional pharmacist as a member of the 10th Assembly. “We are in the process of promulgating appropriate legislation to tackle these problems. I can assure the people that in no distance time, we will start moving motions and passing laws to curb this menace”.
He decried the increasing rate of fake drug hawkers who have been pouring into markets and selling fake drugs to people especially in rural communities.
He added saying,
“The Assembly will continue to collaborate with the Pharmacists Society of Nigeria (PSN) in the fight against fake drugs and abuse”.
He called on professional Pharmacists in Niger state to remain dedicated to the duties and adhere to ethics of the profession for the benefit of the people.
Also speaking , the Chairman of PSN in Niger state, Pharmacist Yakubu Maji Isah appealed to residents of the state to avoid irresponsible self medication, adding that ” people should stop patronizing street hawkers of drugs, that peddle fake drugs which are killers”.
He pointed out that the society is ready to collaborate with the state lawmakers to eradicate the menace of drug abuse and proliferation of fake drugs in the state.