"Face your work!" - Nigerians mock NAFDAC DG over arrest of Professor who claimed Ewedu Can Cure Ebola

The Director General of the National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and ‎Control, NAFDAC, Mr Paul sure loves some drama.

A few months ago, he announced that a popular Cameroon singer, Dencia will be arrested once she steps her feet into Nigeria for producing creams that are dangerous to health, however that one statement sparked lots of controversies and drama.

Well, the NAFDAC boss has once again made a controversial pronouncement!

While speaking at a press briefing on the activities of the agency, on Tuesday, Dr Paul Orhii, announced that the agency was concluding plans to arrest the Professor of Ophthalmology at the Lagos State Teaching hospital, LUTH, Prof Adebukola Adefule Oshitelu, who laid claims that ‘Genus Corchorus’ popularly known as Ewedu is capable of curing the Ebola Virus Disease. 

“One consequence of these unsupported and possibly fraudulent claims is that people may be misled into a false sense of invincibility on account of eating Ewedu or bitter kola and drop their guards. This is a national embarrassment and the Agency will not take such uncorroborated claims by supposedly learned people lightly… NAFDAC will immediately arrest and prosecute any Nigerian making such unverified claims as that could mislead the public,” he said.

Many Nigerians have however criticized such moves.

“Face your work NAFDAC. Please there are still fake drugs and items around so continue your good work in that direction.” A Nairaland user @Kingpin mocked.

A Facebook user Emmauel Ajasa, also posted “I believe that NAFDAC may be overstepping its boundary here. They are to regulate existing products and not regulate people’s thoughts and beliefs no matter how flawed such thoughts may be. What if the Prof is actually carrying out a study on the antiviral properties of Ewedu and the early results appear promising?”

Also commenting on the statement, a commenter on Vanguard’s online portal wrote “Does NAFDAC really have a case against the prof? No “drug” has been manufactured or sold here. Just suggestions on what to eat… But do I know.. I stand to be corrected.”

One Bruno on Bellanaija also wrote “Cowards. Why not arrest and prosecute Prophet TB Joshua for talking about his own ‘holy water’ cure? They should also arrest pastors who say they can cure ebola and other diseases. Cause they are exploiting ignorant Nigerians and misleading the public.”
Another Nairaland user opined “NAFDAC should first procure the ewedu stuff and test its efficacy before condemning it. Let us encourage indigenous inventors, instead of threat of arrest”

Last time we checked, the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) is a Nigerian government agency under the Federal Ministry of Health that is responsible for regulating and controlling the manufacture, importation, exportation, advertisement, distribution, sale and use of food, drugs, cosmetics, medical devices, chemicals and packaged water.