On Tuesday, the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) raised alarm over the use of four cough syrups, which it said are “linked to acute kidney injuries and children’s deaths in The Gambia.”

NAFDAC quoted World Health Organisation (WHO) as saying the four products from India are: “Promethazine Oral Solution, Kofexmalin Baby Cough Syrup, Makoff Baby Cough Syrup and Magrip N Cold Syrup.”

According to a report in Channels Television,  NAFDAC Director-General, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, has also said at a briefing that “the products are manufactured by an Indian company, Maiden Pharmaceuticals, which had failed to provide guarantees about their safety.”

NAFDAC DG was also quoted as saying that “although the drugs are not expected to be in Nigeria – as it has not been ratified by the agency – Nigerians should stay vigilant as it “may have been distributed, through informal markets, to other countries or regions.”