Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has donated 50 computers and accessories to boost the concerted efforts of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) to eradicate Counterfeit Drugs and achieve the presidential declaration of zero tolerance to counterfeit drugs in the country.
Comptroller-General of Customs, Dr. Abdullahi Dikkko who made the donation at a very brief ceremony on Tuesday (today) in Abuja said it was part of the corporate social responsibility of the Nigerian Customs Service to render support to NAFDAC who has been working tirelessly to safeguard public health.
He 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.
His words; “when we started having challenges with the 48hours clearance, we believe that NAFDAC was the first Agency that we approached and they gave us 100 percent cooperation. As we are today, most of the successes achieved in clearing process honestly if you mention two (2) Agencies, NAFDAC should be number one”.
The Comptroller-General commended NAFDAC for its collaborative role in ensuring the success of the Customs Fast track clearing system at the ports.
Receiving the donations, the Director-General of NAFDAC, Dr. Paul Orhii thanked the Comptroller-General and entire management of the NCS for the donation and the existing collaboration between the two sister Agencies.
Dr. Orhii noted that there were so 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.
He said; “There are so many instances where the Nigerian Customs Service helped us to seize large quantities of banned products sometimes, unwholesome NAFDAC regulated products that would have ended up in the Nigerian market. More importantly, the Nigerian Customs has allowed us access to their Computer Systems (ASYCUDA) to view contents of shipments even before they arrive our ports. They also helped to train our officers”.
The Director-General maintained that the NCS has remained a strong ally in the concerted efforts of NAFDAC to safeguard the health of Nigerians and also a shinning model of a performing Government Agency.
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