The National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has issued a warning to Nigerians against the use of the drug - Weight Rapid Loss Capsule.

This information was given in an alert with NO. 049/2022, signed by Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, the NAFDAC Director-General. The information was issued to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday, Jan.22, in Abuja.

Mojisola declared that the drug has been found to have potential to cause cancer. 

She also added that the result of the laboratory analysis showed that the drug, manufactured by Ingi Oman, contained banned substance "phenolphthalein", which the U.S. Food and Drug Administration recognized as unsafe.

The Director General also added that the capsule, being marketed as the "most effective weight loss supplement" and sold through social media platforms like instagram, also contains microbial growth above the permissible limits.

She stated that "phenolphthalein has been found toxic to genes, as it can cause damage or mutations in the DNA. Studies have also shown its potential carcinogenic risks.

"NAFDAC implores consumers to stop the purchase and use of the product.

"Members of the public in possession of the product should discontinue use or sale, and submit stock to the nearest NAFDAC office."

Mojisola advised healthcare professionals and consumers to report any adverse effect experienced with the use of the product to the nearest NAFDAC office.

Consumers are also advised to adverse effect via pharmacovigilance@nafdac.gov.ng or E-reporting platforms available at www.nafdac.gov.ng.

Mojisola encouraged the public to also report any incident concerning the use of the drug via the Med-safety application, which can be downloaded on android and IOS stores.