Following the increasing rate of its gross abuse, the Federal Ministry of Health has directed the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) to ban the importation and production of cough syrups containing codeine as active pharmaceutical ingredient for cough preparations.

According to Premium Times, a statement issued on Tuesday by the Federal Ministry of Health said that the minister Professor Isaac Adewole gave the directive to the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) in his office on Tuesday.

In its stead, the minister said codeine containing cough syrups should be replaced with dextromethorphan which is less addictive, Sahara Reporters learnt.

READ ALSO: Kids and Breastfeeding Mums Should Stop taking Cough Syrup or Pain Medications that Contain Codeine or Tramadol – FDA Warns

This directive follows a documentary by BBC Africa through its BBC Africa Eye unit on Nigeria’s fast-rising codeine addiction.

In the documentary, a staff of Emzor Pharmaceutical illegally sold 60 bottles of codeine syrup to undercover journalists.

Emzor later fired the staff and released the following statement:

READ ALSO: See NAFDAC Warning Against Consuming Fruits Ripened With Calcium Carbide

The first lady, Aisha Buhari had also lamented the fast-rising drug addiction following the documentary: