Codeine: Emzor to collaborate with FG in combating drug abuse

L-R: Nkeru Okoro, Executive Director Operations; Uzoma Ezeoke, Executive Director, General Duties; Dr. Stella Okoli, OON, GMD/CEO; Chinelo Umeh, Regulatory Affairs Manager; and Richard Ohahuru, Inventory Manager, all of Emzor Pharmaceuticals Industries Limited at press briefing on the reopening of Emzor Pharmaceuticals Liquid Factory at the Company’s head offices in Lagos recently.

Emzor Pharmaceutical says it will collaborate with the Federal Government in fight against drug abuse among youths in Nigeria. This comes after Emzor Pharmaceutical Industries was closed down by National Agency for Food and Drug Administration (NAFDAC), over alleged role in the abuse of the drug in the country.

Speaking at a press briefing on the reopening of the company’s liquid production line earlier shut by the NAFDAC, Dr. Stella C. Okoli, Group Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Emzor Pharmaceutical  expressed appreciation at the company’s re-opening but was disappointed that drugs meant for treatment of ailment was being abused by youths in the country.

“We are deeply touched to know that our hope and future, the youths of this country have issues with drug abuse.

“As a mother, my heart is heavy as I reach out to the families affected. We shall all work together to overcome this problem. We must join hands in harmony to solve the problem of drug abuse. Emzor is a major player in pharmaceutical for more than 40 years proving medicine at an affordable cost. And we have been rewarded with confidence and comments by our customers,” she said.

Okoli added that the management of drug addiction is a collective effortand tackling the problem of drug abuse required a multi-sectoral approach.

“Emzor will seek to make relevant and impactful contributions to the multi-agency discussions on the way forward that are sure to follow in the days and months ahead.

“We commend the Federal Government and the relevant agencies and NAFDAC for their prompt response to what is a serious matter of deep concern to all Nigerians. We also commend the Federal Ministry of Health for their prompt response as all Nigerians called for action towards controlling the situation.”

She further said: “At Emzor, we are committed to making unlimited wellness available to all Nigerians, through our range of more than 120 high quality healthcare products, which are all duly approved by NAFDAC. For more than 30 years, Nigerians have trusted our brand name, which stands for quality and reliability. “This trust we have earned, through unrelenting hard work and commitment to the highest standards and best practices in pharmaceutical manufacturing. The events of these past two weeks have only served to further strengthen that commitment.”

Mrs. Uzoma Ezeoke, Executive Director, General Duties and Human Resources and Finance, stressed the necessity of the framework to make everyone properly guided in the industry.

She said Emzor is currently holding talks with the Pharmaceutical Council of Nigeria (PCN) on the issue, which they believe would yield the desired results.

Also, the company’s Regulatory Affairs Manager, Mrs. Chinelu Umeh, debunked the claim that the company did not respond to NAFDAC’s claim until its factory was shut down. She noted that the GMP certificates are given by NAFDAC bi-annually and the company has permit for the product in question.