The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has sealed Emzor Pharmaceuticals Industries located in Lagos, Peace Standard Pharmaceutical Ltd and Bioraj Pharmaceutical both in Ilorin, Kwara State as it probes the abuse of codeine –based syrup in the country.

In a statement released on Monday by its Director-General, Prof. Mojisola Adedeye, NAFDAC said the clampdown was due to the failure of the affected companies to provide required documents to its officials during the inspection of the facilities on May 2.

The statement read in part: “Due to insufficient evidence gathered and apparent resistance to provide needed documents during inspection on May 2, 2018 at the respective companies in Ilorin and Lagos respectively, it has become necessary to shut down all production lines of the three companies.

“The companies are the Peace Standard Pharmaceutical Ltd. at plot 3 & 8 Adewole Industrial Estate Lubicon Avenue, Ilorin, Kwara State and Bioraj Pharmaceutical Limited, No. 405 Kaima Road, Ilorin, Kwara State.

“Also shut down was the Emzor Pharmaceuticals Ind. Ltd, Ajao Estate, Lagos. This is to allow for a full and comprehensive investigation. The three companies therefore remain closed.

“On May 2 and 3, a team of nine NAFDAC officers were sent to carry out investigational inspection at the companies that are licensed to manufacture codeine-containing syrup, and which were implicated in a BBC documentary.”

The statement added that the NAFDAC team which comprised of two officers from its Drug and Evaluation Research (DER) unit, seven from Investigation & Enforcement (I & E) unit and ten mobile policemen were sent to access and monitor from records, the utilization, sales and effective distribution of the codeine-containing syrup to the end users.

The statement further stated that while full investigations continue, the companies will remain shut, noting that their eventual reopening will depend on the level of cooperation they show during the period of the comprehensive investigation.