The operational capacity of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC, has been boosted by Bank of Industry, BoI.
The bank yesterday presented High Powered Liquid Chromatography equipment worth over  N45 million to the narcotics agency.
BoI pointed out that the gesture was in line with its efforts to support rapid industrialisation in the country. Waheed Olagunju, acting managing director, BoI, stated that the equipment would reduce time wasting and enhance efficiency during sample test for NAFDAC regulated products.
“It is right to collaborate with NAFDAC to be able to satisfy Nigerian small businesses that are seeking NAFDAC registration number in shorter time. We require that our customers under the regulation of NAFDAC get NAFDAC approval before we can grant them loans. If you don’t have NAFDAC number, you can’t sell your product. Unless we are sure you will sell your product, we will not approve loans for you. With this collaboration, NAFDAC will be saddled with the responsibility of recording those qualified to access loans,” said Olagunju.
According to him, with the machine, over 200 samples of different products would be tested within 24 hours as against five being tested before the introduction of the new technique.
An appreciative Yetunde Oni, acting director-general of NAFDAC, said that the equipment would help the organisation to detect substandard and falsified medical products as well as unwholesome foods.