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Friday, May 05, 2006

Julius Berger, a Nigerian Multinational Sanctioned for Unethical Drug Policy

Julius Berger Nigeria PLC, a Nigerian offshoot of the German multi service group- Bilfinger Berger, and a major player in Nigerian socioeconomic landscape has been nailed for unethical ‘pharmaceutical practices and discriminatory administration of drugs’ by the Nigerian National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) late last month. The regulatory agency has since shut down all four pharmaceutical drug stores of Julius Berger.
“…The organisation keeps two separate stores, at different climatic conditions for the storage of drugs for expatriate staff and Nigerian staff...While drug stores for expatriate staff of the company conformed to required conditions, the stores that serve Nigerian staff did not only fail required conditions, but it contained drugs made by blacklisted Sinochem Nigbo of China.”—ThisDay, April 28, 2006. Fake Drugs: NAFDAC Seals Julius Berger Drug Stores
The NFADAC boss, Ms Dora Akunyili, states:
"Julius Berger has committed multiple offences in Nigeria. A situation where the expatriates do not use drugs given to their Nigerian counterparts. Apart from that, they also sell out the same drugs to Nigerian drug marketers and also supply clinics. They will never taste the drugs meant for their Nigerian workers. We are not pushing them out of the country, but we want them to know that what they have done is wrong and NAFDAC will not leave them to just go unpunished. The company they sold some of these fake drugs to are already known to us. We will ensure they stop such barbaric act in Nigeria".—ThisDay, May 5, 2005. Fake drugs: Julius Berger to pay fine.
This is despicable! It marks a new low in corporate irresponsibility and flagrant disregard for human lives by both indigenous and multinational companies operating in Nigeria. This shameful neo-colonialistic mentality and attitude of Julius Berger must not be treated lightly; it demands the most stringent punishment and sanctions possible under the law.


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