When Regulators Start Talking Like Politicians

By Kelechi Deca 

Our ancestors said that "We are grateful to God for giving everyone the opportunity to go to the farm, and not making it a privilege for a few, if not, some people would return from the farm to regale us with tales about the Cassava, while some would tell us that the Cocoyam asked after our wellbeing."

There are things anybody can tell Nigerians because the high level of ignorance is obvious. 

But there are things nobody needs to tell Nigerians, irrespective of the level of benightedness.

And that thing is that Nigerians have experienced a NAFDAC that worked effectively, efficiently, and successfully such that over 30 countries across Africa started using the NAFDAC number as the yardstick for product authenticacity.

I know because I travelled around the continent and carried out series of researches on customer perception of cross boarder products.

So let nobody try to draw the wool across our eyes on this matter. 

Recently, the Director-General, of NAFDAC, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye turned her chest into a drum she beats at the slightest whim.

Unfortunately, she is oblivious of the fact that the beats from that drum seem tuned specifically for her own inner acoustic meatus because she is the only person hearing her chest-thumping boasts.

To this end, I use my church mind to wholeheartedly suggest, that she visits Yabaleft for a test on auditory hallucinations.

Imagine such a prideful statement that she returned to Nigeria after 34 years in the United States because she wanted to help restore the country’s reputation.

Can someone help inform her that she has dropped the ball, and has totally messed up as head of one of the very few institutions we "used to hold bodi" that was working and saving lives?

Madam Prof. maybe this is your best, please listen to the streets, your best is not good enough.

NAFDAC presently is at its reputational nadir. I doubt if it can go downer than this.

It may have nothing to do with your personal competence or capacity, it may be institutional.

Moreso, it may be a fallout of deteriorated system, poor remuneration, inadequate workforce, technology and technical competence to police a fast growing highly innovative counterfeiting industry.

Above all, poor government support structures have a contributory factor. Irrespective of what you say about President Obasanjo, one thing you can't take away from him is that ability to bring the full weight of Aso Rock behind his appointees who are delivering results.

Without OBJ, I doubt if Prof. Akunyili would have achieved as much. But first, there was a Dora, who was willing to give her all.

So Madam Prof.

If we're expecting services beyond your abilities and capacities, we're sorry Ma. 

It is because we've seen the light before and we know what it looks like.

#NAFDAC #NafdacALERTS #foodsafety #drugsafety #kelechideca