An Act to amend the Counterfeit and fake drugs laws on Thursday passed through second reading. In the lead debate, Senator Biodun Olujimi (Ekiti South), took a sober reflection of huge casualties occasioned by application of fake drugs, stressing that if Senate does not rise to the occasion of enacting punitive laws, the menace would linger. She sought the cooperation of lawmakers in amending the Acts for purposes of riding the nation of fake drugs and unwholesome processed foods. “An Act to amend the counterfeit and fake drugs and unwholesome processed foods (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act Laws CAP C34 Laws of the federation and for other matters connected therewith, 2015.

Senator Barau Jibrin (Kano North) on his part, adduced reasons fake drugs persist despite efforts by NAFDAC at ridding the menace without success to lack of punitive sanctions. In his words: “Perpetrators of counterfeit drugs feel that there is no punitive laws and also they could easily manovoure their ways each time they were caught and go free, but it is time we introduce strict punishment,” he said. Corroborating, Senator Shehu Sani’s position in his applause for late former Director General of NAFDA, Dora Akunyili, he regretted that her effort has been whittled down, noting that the Senate would get to the root of those involved in the