By Chinyere Joel-Nwokeoma
Lagos – The President, Society of Testing Laboratories Analysts of Nigeria, Dr Femi Oyediran, has called for proper synergy between it, the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) and NAFDAC, to get rid of fake products in the country.
Oyediran stated this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on the sidelines of the 1st Nigerian Food Safety and Investment Forum on Tuesday in Lagos.
He said that all the safety agencies needed to work together to help the country to eradicate consumption of fake products.
Oyediran attributed the rejection of Nigerian goods by European countries to improper synergy among the safety institutions, occasioned by improper analysis.
He said that each agency needed to play it’s role for the country to move forward in terms of safety.
The President said that the association was working toward testing and analysing of samples of products to help the government in its fight against fake products.
Oyediran added that lack of awareness was contributing to the rise in fake products in the country, noting that Nigerians were not aware that even water could be tested before consumption.
He, however, called on NAFDAC to ensure proper monitoring of products after registration, to protect Nigerians.
Oyediran said that procurement and maintenance of laboratory equipment were a major challenge being faced by the association.
“We use high-tech and very expensive equipment and these are very expensive to bring into the country,” he said.
He said that quality of chemicals that lead to wrong analysis was another challenge affecting the association.
Oyediran said that the association needed financial intervention from the Federal Government to compete favourably with their counterparts in other parts of the world.
NAN reports that the association is a professional body that analyses food, drugs, cosmetics, medical devices and water, among others. It is an offshoot of the Institute of Public Analysts of Nigeria.