Ban of codeine in nigeria news

Here are some recent news articles and updates on the ban of codeine in Nigeria:

Background: In 2018, the Nigerian government banned the sale of codeine, a cough syrup containing the opioid drug, following widespread reports of its misuse and addiction. The ban was announced by the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) and the Federal Ministry of Health.

Recent updates:

  1. Codeine ban still in place: Despite some reports of codeine still being sold in some parts of the country, the ban remains in place. In June 2020, the Director-General of NAFDAC, Mojisola Adeyeye, reiterated that codeine was still banned in Nigeria and warned against its sale or consumption.
  2. New regulations: In response to the codeine ban, the Nigerian government has introduced new regulations to regulate the sale of cough syrups and other medications containing codeine. The regulations require pharmacies and patent medicine stores to obtain a license from NAFDAC before selling such products.
  3. Codeine alternatives: In an effort to reduce the demand for codeine, the government has introduced alternative cough syrups and medications that do not contain codeine. These alternatives are being promoted through public awareness campaigns and education programs.
  4. Enforcement challenges: Despite the ban, some reports suggest that codeine is still being sold in some parts of the country, particularly in the northern regions. The government has acknowledged that enforcement challenges remain, but has vowed to continue to crack down on illegal codeine sales.
  5. International cooperation: Nigeria has also been working with international partners to combat the misuse of codeine and other opioids. In 2020, the country signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the United States to collaborate on drug control and prevention efforts.

Recent news articles:

  1. "Codeine ban: Nigeria's war against drug abuse" (The Guardian, June 2020)
  2. "Codeine ban: FG warns against sale, consumption" (Punch, June 2020)
  3. "Nigeria's codeine ban: A year on, challenges persist" (Premium Times, June 2019)
  4. "Codeine ban: FG introduces new regulations" (Vanguard, March 2020)
  5. "Nigeria's codeine ban: A step in the right direction" (The Cable, June 2018)

I hope this information is helpful!