Introduction

Nigeria is unarguably one of the most populous nations in Africa. You would have ordinarily thought that such a population, if productive would translate into massive wealth for the Nigerian people, owing to the benefits that come with a productive population.

The inability of the political elites, to explore the mineral resources which we have in commercial quantities for the interest of the masses as a nation, which often is as a result of a culture of criminality, that is deeply entrenched with us as Nigerians, is the ironical reason why we are the poverty capital of the world, despite living in a nation with so many resources.

This culture of criminality, where people as long as they are rich and politically connected, can almost always get away with whatever they do, which runs fowl of the nation’s law, with no consequences, is the sole reason why we have remained an overly underdeveloped nation despite our having become independent over many years.

Some scholars have consistently argued that there are more rewards for being criminal minded in Nigeria, than being a responsible citizen who lives and abides by the laws of the land, as criminals are often more rewarded by our system than those who really work hard in sincerity to make the nation great.

The Business of Regulation

These above listed factors lead me to the topic of today’s conversation, and it is about how complicit most of our regulatory agencies have become, with respect to the flooding of substandard products into the Nigerian markets across the country.

We all know that the National Agency for Food, Drug Administration and Control, Federal Competition & Consumer Protection Commission, Standards Organization of Nigeria and some other regulatory bodies are statutorily saddled with the responsibility of making sure that food, drugs and all other products, that are brought into our markets, for use by the Nigerian people are always of the best of standards.

Despite whatever the Federal legislature stated the responsibility of these regulatory bodies to be, in the laws they might have promulgated while establishing these regulatory bodies, it is scary to face this reality that in the Nigeria of today, we as citizens, seem to be living largely at the mercy of God Almighty, as we cannot really say that these regulatory bodies are deliberate about doing their jobs irrespective of whose ox world be gored, in the enforcement of established and well gazetted quality standards as are unique, for various products.

Assuming that these regulatory bodies were doing their work as it ought to be done, we would not have private citizen like the Edo State born popular social media influencer known as VeryDarkBlackMan (Martins Otse) on social media, doing the full job of a government agency at a time, as could be seen in his fierce battle with skin care vendors whose products were without NAFDAC registration number, who were out to make so much money from “gullible Nigerians”, while exposing these clients of theirs, to all sorts of cancers on the long run.

Should we talk about pennis enlargement and breast enlargement creams, being sold all over Instagram, online vendors and other social media handles, where are they really getting the approvals for selling these products from?

Read also; Monthly dating renewal subscription for slay queens.

How about the dildos that are being sold to our women largely too, who sees to it that the frequency that these toys are supposed to vibrate at, is maintained by the producer?

For how long would our country be a dumping ground for all sorts of goods that are not globally accepted because of their poor quality, as a result of the compromise entertained by the people who should have protected us?

Just some years ago, a certain Professor of Pharmacy – Prof. Dora Akunyili paid the ultimate price as it is said in the military parlance, which was with her life, in a bid to make sure that drug counterfeiting was stamped out from Nigeria to the lowest bearable minimum.

Ever since that phenomenal and patriotic woman left NAFDAC till date, we the Nigerian people seem to have gone back to the era where anyone can produce anything, anywhere and have them sold in the market with no known consequence to them, for selling substandard products to the Nigerian people.

Read also; Kidnapping for ransom or forceful organ harvesting, the “new oil well”.

It is no longer news, that the fizzy drinks which most Nigerian consume at a relatively high quantity, in most cases do not even have quality seals, to assure us the consumers, that the necessary agencies have effectively done their jobs on these products before we purchase them for consumption.

Someone would also argue that certain security marks and QR codes, are inscribed on the containers of these products but I am always forced to remind these people, that most of these containers for these products are also reusable, and as such we cannot just depend on these security marks on the containers of these products only, to ascertain the quality of what we are buying to consume.

How about the “poison” most of us, who consume alcoholic beverages, are exposed to, in our quest to get a bottle or two, of our favorite beer to chill and ease off stress, after a busy day.

Just after sipping a few glasses from these drinks in some cases, the taste alone instantly in some cases tells you that you are about setting yourself up for destruction, as your organs may most likely never remain the same again after their consumption.

I do not want to even make mention of what happens, in most of our night clubs and lounges, where people pay exorbitant fees for wines, whiskey and all sorts of cognacs, only to be served poorly adulterated products.

 Consumption of these adulterated products, in most cases, damage the health of these patients irredeemably, as in some extreme cases, these patients often suffer severe kidney or liver injury as a result of consuming these adulterated products.

Read also; Just before excessive body weight kills you.

We are not ignorant of the once in a while strategic media supervised bursting of locations, where these adulterations are being carried out, but we never in most cases hear of what happened to them afterwards and how the trial was concluded, to serve as a strong warning to others who are contemplating taking such paths to making quick money.

No one is spared

For someone who may argue that they do not take alcohol and as such, so are naturally not bothered with whatever happens with alcoholic beverage consumption. How on earth can you ascertain that the quality of the sachet water and other similar products you are drinking, are safe for your consumption?

Have you ever sat down to ask yourself, about these perfume vendors that are always massively adulterating perfumes which we often patronize, what the health implication of these products are on our respiratory system? I also ask myself similar questions, for the roll on I use on a daily basis.

As Nigerians, people have reasons to be concerned also about the quality of the lubricant and latex used in the production of condoms. How are we sure that these materials being used are not of poor quality, which may later adversely affect the fertility of their consumers, unknown to them. This here in no way suggests that I am advocating for unprotected random sexual engagements, we must be responsible and strive to do what is in our interest and that of our female partners at all times.

Then most times when we step out in the evenings to get some fish barbecue to munch on, I am always asking myself questions, as to the quality perspective of the procedures followed in the production of the feed, which those fishes might have consumed over the months to become so massive in size and ready for consumption.

Realities of the instability of the Nigerian economy

We are well aware that with the choking cost of goods in the market, which has everything to do with the unstable rate of the dollar to naira, while we as Nigerians complain of lack of electricity, an African country like Tanzania, had to put off some of their power generating turbines for generating so much energy more than they can consume.

Yet most of our policies as a nation are seeing to it that, business owners are being asphyxiated on a daily basis without providing basic infrastructure for the citizens.

Read also; Reason couples hide their investments and details from each other.

One other easy way to still try to be in business, despite the high cost of manufacturing your products in Nigeria, knowing that further increasing the cost of your services, may put you out of business instantly, since unfortunately the earning power of the Nigerian people is not increasing with the rising inflation, would be to smartly cut corners to reduce the cost of production and still sell at the relatively affordable price.

We are Nigerians, we also know it so well that the problem of the Nigerian State cannot only be traced to the politicians, who often write away billions of naira with their pen, after which they are secured by the Police officers, whose salaries are paid with taxpayers’ money. Our hydra headed problem of corruption and cutting corners, is a purely a Nigerian thing and it pervades all strata of our society.

Way forward for the Nigerian State

When you live in a country with a large population of hypocrites who hate to face the truth, you would then come to terms with the reality that what most people condemn in public, they often do worse when an opportunity to exert their authority or influence unjustly comes, as long as it is for selfish gains.

Know that every member of the regulatory bodies may most likely not be a criminal, we are also well aware that the criminal minded ones are always more vocal, vicious, powerful at networking and daring, when it comes to subverting the system to achieve their aims for the instant benefit they would get.

This is a passionate appeal to the Nigerian government, to henceforth prioritize the quality of the people who are recruited to regulate the quality of what is produced or imported into Nigeria, as the people who are currently doing such jobs seem not to be well aware of the scope of the task assigned to them.

We want to see these regulators, live up to the demands of their offices and save the Nigerian consumer from needless deaths, by doing the job of enforcing quality implementation, to the best of their ability.

There should also be decentralization of these regulatory body’s operations by government, so that their effect could be felt at the local government levels.

Lately, it is no longer news that most power banks, phone chargers and other phone accessories, flashlights that are in the market, are of acutely substandard quality, such that most of them spoil within a few weeks of purchasing them.

Read also; Sudden death realities and its implications.

Here is a clarion call to the Nigerian government, through the legislative arm of the government to summon these regulatory agency Chiefs, and demand from them the best of services to the Nigerian people.

Nigerians should not be seen as people who live in a lawless country, where anyone who is wealthy and politically connected, can endanger the lives of the citizens of the nation and still oppress us to keep our mouths shut and not ever dare to complain while we only resort to influencers to help us make noise about our plight online.

Assuming that these regulators are being compromised on an industrial scale is what we do not want to do. When these regulators, are compromised by the manufacturers, it gives them the confidence that they can always get away with whatever they choose to do with respect to the production of their goods which often in such cases is substandard, as long as they can play ball.

It is our wish and hope to see these regulators doing some more work and engaging more with the Nigerian people, whom they have been called to serve, on the way forward. These compliance engagements should be done more often.

We know that some of the staff of these regulatory agencies out of greed cannot afford not to make themselves available not to be compromised, this is where leadership should come in as there should be dire consequences, for making yourself available for such ugly deals.

First Name

Last Name

Email address:

Leave this field empty if you’re human: