As much as 63 percent of hand sanitizes being used in Nigeria against the COVID-19 virus is not registered, the government has said.
Such sanitizers could, therefore, be fake, Boss Mustapha, chairman of the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19 and Secretary to the government, said Thursday.
Mustapha spoke at the daily briefing on the activities of the task force in Abuja, .
“We regret to inform you that following a survey conducted by the Nigeria Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development (NIPRD) to check the influx of substandard goods, it was revealed that 63 percent of alcohol-based sanitizers in Abuja does not have NAFDAC registration numbers. There could also be similar situations around the country,” he said.
The Minister of Health had advised Nigerians to only pharmaceutical products from credible sources, Mustapha said.
“As part of the non-pharmaceutical measures, we recommended in line with global practice, the use of hand sanitizers. Ordinarily, that ought to stimulate local production because of increased demand.
“The PTF appeals to the patriotic spirit of Nigerians and request that they desist from manufacturing sub-standard goods which could further endanger other unsuspecting Nigerians who innocently purchase them.”
