…Says using Calcium Carbide to ripen fruits is deadly
By Hassan Zaggi
The Director General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Prof. Mojisola Christianah Adeyeye, has warned drug hawkers in all parts of the country to desist from the act or risk arrest and prosecution.
She gave the warning at the flag-off of the NAFDAC media sensitization workshop on dangers of drug hawking and ripening of fruits with calcium carbide in Abuja.
She recalled that since 2019, NAFDAC took some decisive steps such as sensitization of the public through different media outlets, enforcement through intelligence and raids in fruit markets that have resulted in seizures and destruction of violative products.
Prof. Adeyeye, therefore, said that: “I wish to warn that any Drug Hawker arrested by NAFDAC will be prosecuted, will face a jail term, and our Enforcement Officers are currently carrying out synchronized nation-wide operation.
“No offender will be spared from facing the full wrath of the Law.”
She, therefore, called on security agencies in the country to join in the fight against the menace of drug hawking, stressing that the act is a security risk to all Nigerians.
“In this regard, we solicit the co-operation and support of all other Law Enforcement Agencies, Nigerian Journalists and well-meaning Nigerians in riding the country of this harmful and shameful practice,” the NAFDAC DG stressed.
The flag – off for the sensitization workshop, according to her, “is again a fulfilment of my promise to sustain and strengthen NAFDAC’s existing collaboration with Association of Nigeria Health Journalists towards mobilizing, educating, sensitizing, and conscientizing Nigerian Journalists to play frontline role in our concerted efforts to eradicate the menace of drug hawking and ripening of fruits with Calcium Carbide in Nigeria.
“It is my candid opinion that sensitization workshop of this nature is a training the Trainers’ programme with the great expectation that participants will assume the role of champions in the vanguard of the campaign against drug hawking and the use of calcium carbide to ripen fruits.”
The NAFDAC Director General regretted that the menaceof drug hawking poses serious challenge to the general healthcare delivery system in the country.
She lamented that many drug hawkers are knowingly or unknowingly merchants of death and suppliers of hard drugs to criminals who expose essential and Life Saving Medicines to the vagaries of inclement weather which degrade the active ingredients of the medicine and turn them to poisons thus endangering human lives.
“Most of the drugs sold by the illiterate and semi-literate drug hawkers are counterfeit, substandard or expired, and therefore, do not meet the quality, safety and efficacy requirement of regulated medicines.
“Prescription drugs are also sold by the itinerant Drug Hawkers who also hold consultation, recommend and prescribe medicines to their gullible “patients”.
“Drug Hawkers are also the major Distributors and Suppliers of narcotic medicines to criminal networks such as armed bandits, insurgents, kidnappers and armed robbers.
“Drugs are sensitive life-saving commodities which should not be sold on the streets/motor parks or open markets just like any other article of trade,” the NAFDAC Director General, said.
Speaking on the use of the Calcium Carbide to ripen fruits, Prof. Christianah Adeyeye said that consumption of fruits such as mango, banana, plantain, guava, orange, grape, etc or any other fruits ripened with calcium carbide is dangerous to health.
She announced that NAFDAC has commissioned what she described as “a scientific study on the best approach towards mitigating the health hazards posed by ripening of fruits with carbides.
“I have mandated some of my directors and support staff to take these campaigns to the nooks and crannies of this country.
“We are confident of winning the war against these two hydra-headed public health menaces.”
While calling on well-meaning Nigerians to support NAFDAC in fighting the two-fold war against drug hawkers and the use of Calcium Carbide in the ripening of fruit, the NAFDAC DG, said consumption of fruits ripen with Carbide “may cause cancer, heart, kidney and liver failure.
“They may also cause frequent thirst, irritation in mouth and nose, weakness, permanent skin damage, difficulty in swallowing, vomiting, skin ulcer and so forth. Higher exposure may cause undesired fluid build-up in lungs (pulmonary oedema).
“Acetylene produced by Calcium Carbide affects the neurological system and reduces oxygen supply to the brain and further induces prolonged hypoxia.
“The impurities are hazardous to pregnant women and children and may lead to headache, dizziness, mood disturbances, mental confusion, memory loss, cerebral oedema (swelling in the brain caused by excessive fluids), sleepiness, seizure etc.
“Calcium Carbide is alkaline in nature and erodes the mucosal tissue in the abdominal region and disrupts intestinal functions.
“Consuming such artificially ripened fruits could result in sleeping disorders, mouth ulcers, skin rashes, kidney problems and possibly even cancer.
“Other symptoms of poisoning include diarrhoea (with or without blood), burning or tingling sensation in abdomen and chest difficulty in swallowing, irritation in eyes/skin, sore throat, cough, shortness in breathing, numbness etc.”
