The Bayelsa government warns that influx of fake drugs, drinks, and cosmetics in markets is fueling liver, kidney, and lung diseases.

The Commissioner for Information, Orientation and Strategy, Ebiuwou Koku-Obiyai, described the situation as a “serious emergency” requiring urgent attention from the government and residents.

She said in an interview with journalists on Sunday in Yenagoa that the ministries of environment, health, and the consumer protection unit of the Ministry of Trade and Investment are already working to tackle the menace.

She disclosed that some offenders had been arrested and prosecuted, while confiscated goods were destroyed to safeguard public health.

“Environmental Sanitation Authority is already in court with some of the people who are selling these fake drugs, fake drinks and other fake items and those fake goods were confiscated.

“The Ministry of Environment went out for their normal checks, when they got to Swali market, they saw soft drinks, body cream, and hair relaxers that are all fake and expired.

“For us as a government, we want the people of Bayelsa to remain healthy. Anything we can prevent, we start to prevent it, and we believe in joining hands with all of the agencies that are in charge of these.

“We will be able to stop the influx of those kinds of things. The ones we have seen, we have confiscated; they are even being arrested,” she said.

Ms Koku-Obiyai linked the rise in chronic health conditions to the consumption and use of substandard products.

“Some of these harmful chemicals that are injected or added to fake drugs, soft drinks, or wine have direct effects on the liver, kidney, and even the lungs,” she said.

Ms Koku-Obiyai urged residents to be extra vigilant while shopping, stressing the importance of checking expiry dates, NAFDAC registration numbers, product colours, and textures before purchase.

The commissioner emphasised that the government remained committed to reducing the spread of fake products, assuring that enforcement agencies would sustain their clampdown on offenders.

She also encouraged residents to report suspicious items, assuring them that their identities would be protected.

(NAN