Nigeria announces ban of importation and production of syrup with codeine
By Chinyere Ogbonna – Nigeria has announced a ban on the production and importation of cough syrups containing codeine with immediate effect. This followed investigation into its role in an addiction epidemic. The Minister of Health, Professor Isaac Adewale made the announcement in Abuja the nation’s Federal Capital Territory.
Professor Adewale said that the directive became necessary due to the gross abuse Codeine usage has been subjected to in the country. In its stead, the Minister said Codeine containing cough syrups should be replaced with dextromethorphan which is less addictive. He said that the federal government had also banned sales of codeine containing cough syrup without prescription across the country.
The directive by the Federal Ministry of Health urged the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) to stop further issuance of permits for the importation of codeine as an active pharmaceutical ingredient for cough preparations. The Ministry spokesman, Mr. Osbundun, told journalists that the remaining stocks in shops could be sold only with a prescription.
There were indications that the syrup was being sold illegally to be used by young Nigerians to get high. The wife of Nigeria’s President, Aisha Buhari, in an Instagram post expressed concern “deeply saddened” by the rise of the problem, especially in the northern part of Nigeria. “I call on all security agencies, lawmakers, judiciary, drug manufacturers, civil society, regulators, teachers, parents, neighbours and you to take this as a personal war and halt the menace,” she added.
“Those that want to import the substance, it is been banned now. It is completely banned,” he added.
Employee fired. According to Mr. Osbundun, the cough syrup was actually legal, but it was however against the law to sell it to people without a doctor’s prescription or those who did not have a pharmaceutical licence.
He also directed the Pharmaceutical Council of Nigeria, (PCN) and NAFDAC to supervise the recall for labelling and audit trailing of all codeine containing cough syrups in the country, while he has also banned sales of Codeine containing cough syrup without prescription across the country.
He noted that the National Agency for Food and Drug administration and Control had an emergency meeting with the Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Group (PMGMAN) to inform them that there is an embargo on all new applications for registration of codeine- containing cough syrups as well as applications for renewal has been abolished.
The Pharmacists Council of Nigeria (PCN) has been directed to continue enforcement activities on Pharmacies, Patent and Proprietary Medicine Vendors Shops and outlets throughout the country.
The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control [NAFDAC] was also directed to fully carry out its functions among others: to regulate and control the manufacturing, distribution and sale of drugs, including inspection at points of entry of drugs, drug products and food for compliance with the new directive.
The Minister stated that the FMOH shall ensure collaboration among regulatory agencies namely, NAFDAC, PCN, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria (NMCN), for effective implementation of extant Acts, regulations, policies and guidelines on codeine control and usage.
‘Furthermore, these agencies shall work together to increase pharmacovigilance around codeine, tramadol and other related substances of abuse,’ Adewole stated.
Already, NAFDAC has developed IEC materials that will be used in an already planned national campaign against drug abuse, an awareness programme that includes Young Pharmacists Group of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria. This will soon be flagged off in Kano and Lagos.
As a way of discouraging youths to shun the drugs, the Federal Government through Federal Ministry of Health shall partner with National Orientation Agency (NOA), Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Football celebrities, members of the Actors Guild of Nigeria, Performing Musicians of Nigeria and other celebrities to drive national campaign against drug abuse.
‘The FMOH shall ensure that Drug treatment intervention for victims of substances abuse shall be undertaken across the spectrum of health care delivery system in the country,’ Adewole stated.
He stated that Civil Society Organizations shall be strengthened to deliver effective sensitization, prevention, treatment and rehabilitation services.
Recalled that in view of the serious public health concerns drugs abuse poses to Nigerians, a working group which comprised of experts from various Ministries, Agencies of Government (including regulatory agencies), Development Partners and Associations was constituted in January and tagged Codeine Control and other Related Matters Working Group (CCRWG). The CCRWG was formally inaugurated on January 23, 2018 with clear Terms of Reference of developing key recommendations and strategies to address the menace of codeine, tramadol and other related substances in Nigeria.
The CCRWG submitted its interim report on April 12, 2018 and recommended short-, medium- and long-term measures for implementation in a memorandum submitted to the Minister, today, 1st of May 2018.
Finally, Professor Adewole restated the commitment of FGN to ensure the full implementation of the National Drug Distribution Guideline (NDDG) by January 01, 2019and closure of all open drug markets penultimate the implementation date of the NDDG that is, December 31, 2018. It is a public knowledge that easy access to codeine, tramadol and other substances of abuse is promoted by the chaotic drug distribution system. The Nigerian Senate estimates that as many as three million bottles of codeine syrup were drunk every single day in just two states, Kano and Jigawa both in the northeast part of the country.
Reports say Codeine is a pain killer but also an addictive opioid. If taken in excess, it can cause schizophrenia and organ failure. Codeine syrup is commonly mixed with soft drinks and often consumed by students in Nigeria especially in parts of the north.
The codeine is imported, but the syrup is made in Nigeria by more than twenty pharmaceutical companies.
Nigeria’s drug enforcement agency is fighting this epidemic. In a recent raid, it seized twenty-four thousand bottles of codeine syrup from a single lorry in Katsina state also in the northern part of the country. Codeine syrup addiction is a problem across Africa, with reports of addiction in Kenya, Ghana, Niger, and Chad. In 2016, India also banned multiple brands of codeine cough syrup following reports of addiction.
