Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has donated 50 computers and accessories to the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) in an effort to support and encourage its fight against fake and adulterated drugs in the country.
This is to also assist NAFDAC to attain the presidential declaration of zero tolerance to counterfeit drugs in the country.
While donating the computers in Abuja on Wednesday, Abdullahi Dikko, comptroller general of Customs, noted that the donation was part of the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) of the Nigerian Customs Service to render support to NAFDAC.
He said the anti graft agency “has been working tirelessly to safeguard public health.”
Dikko explained that NCS has always enjoyed a harmonious working relationship and strong collaboration with NAFDAC, particularly with the introduction of the fast track Automated System for Customs Data (ASYCUDA) programme.
He said: “When we started having challenges with the 48 hours clearance, we believe that NAFDAC was the first agency that we approached and they gave us 100 per cent cooperation.
“As we are today, most of the successes achieved in clearing process honestly if you mention two agencies, NAFDAC should be number one.
The Comptroller General, however, applauded NAFDAC for its collaborative role in ensuring the success of the Customs fast track clearing system at the ports.
In his response, Paul Orhii, director-general of NAFDAC, commended the Comptroller General and the entire management of NCS for the donation and the existing collaboration between the two sister agencies.
He recalled many instances of collaboration between NAFDAC and the Customs, especially in the various enforcement operations carried out at the Ports of Entry and border posts aimed at intercepting counterfeit drugs and other substandard regulated products.