Oyo leverages dry port, partners NAFDAC to rid state of illicit drugs – ITREALMS

ITREALMS:

The Governor of Oyo State, Engineer Seyi Makinde has said they are ready to leverage the dry port, just as partnering with the National Agency for Foods, Drugs, Administration, and Control (NAFDAC) to rid the state of illicit drugs, reports ITREALMS.

Governor Makinde, who stated this while receiving the Director-General of NAFDAC, Prof Mrs. Mojisola Adeyeye in a courtesy visit to his office, said that NAFDAC was very crucial to the sustenance of sound health in the country.

A statement by the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Makinde, Mr. Taiwo Adisa, also indicated that the state government was already warming up to take full advantage of the Dry Port being constructed in Ibadan.

The Governor said: "Health is one of the pillars which this administration is resting on. We believe if there is security and a healthy body, we can go out to work and move from poverty to prosperity.”

"NAFDAC and this government will definitely be partners in progress. A couple of things have also happened here so far. In Oyo State, I believe in the next maybe a year or two, we will have our own dry port here. It is in our own interest and that of NAFDAC that we plan for expansion in the scope of activities for the state office here because of the headache of Apapa in Lagos,” he said.

The Governor said that his administration will assist NAFDAC to combat the menace of illicit, and substandard drugs across the State adding that the State would look into the requests tendered to him by the agency and act as appropriate.

“It was imperative for the state to support NAFDAC in order to ensure protection of lives of the people against illicit drugs and dangerous processed food,” he said.

He said that with the emergence of Dry Port in Ibadan, the work of the agency would be definitely needed.

“If somebody is coming from the Northern part of the country and he can pick his container here in Ibadan, why would he have to drive to Lagos. They will pick it from here and make a turnaround back to the Northern part of the country,” he said.

Further, he stated that now that the standard gauge rail line by the Federal Government has reached Ibadan, the state will make adequate use of the Dry Port located at Olorisa-Oko in Akinyele Local Government as according to him, people from the South East, South-South, the North and majority of South West states would not have reasons to go to Apapa in Lagos to clear their cargoes. 

Ayo Midele/Editor

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