Seven Archbishops and Rev Fathers drawn from both the Catholic and the Anglican Church in Nigeria have insisted that spiritual items which are not sold in the open market do not fall under the regulation of the National Agency for Foods and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC).
The issue may not be unconnected to the allegation brought against Prophet Jeremiah Fufeyin over the allegations of producing fake water by a controversial content creator, VeryDarkMan and authorities of NAFDAC.
The seven bishops and reverend fathers who earlier protested in full regalia at the Delta State office of NAFDAC, insisted that the food and drug regulatory agency goofed in its responsibility to Nigerians.
In their separate arguments, they said the products are for spiritual interpretation and use, so men who are not spiritual cannot benefit from them. They added that since the materials are of spiritual significance, government agencies have no authority to regulate spiritual products.
Speaking, Most Revd Calixtus Oke of the Evangelical Church (Old Catholic Church) and Rector of Union Theological Institute and Seminary in Port Harcourt, described the action of the agency as unwarranted harassment on Prophet Jeremiah Fufeyin.
He described Prophet Fufeyin as “our brother, whom we cannot allow to be stigmatized when he is doing his pastoral assignment,” adding that “NAFDAC is acting beyond its regulatory boundaries.”
“NAFDAC has regulatory powers over drugs, foods and related products in Nigeria but noted with a clause that “in this case, we have used in Churches oil, candles, sacramental, and other spiritual materials that are related to Christianity.”
Most Revd Samuel Baaba, the Metropolitan Archbishop of the Charismatic Anglican Church of Nigeria, said there are limits to which government agencies interfere with what churches are doing, especially when it comes to matters of faith.