NAFDAC Committed To Riding Nigeria Of Dangerous, Substandard Products – DG

*Kicks off destruction of over ₦15bn worth unwholesome pharmaceutical products, consumables

By; BAYO AKAMO, Ibadan

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) on Thursday, commenced the destruction of counterfeit, expired, banned, and unwholesome pharmaceutical products and consumables valued at over ₦15 billion.

Speaking at the commencement of the exercise in Ibadan, the agency Director General, Prof Mojisola Adeyeye disclosed that the agency is committed into riding Nigeria of dangerous and substandard products.

The DG represented by the Director of Investigation and Enforcement, Dr. Martins Iluyomade, Prof Adeyeye said the destruction exercise was part of the agency’s renewed drive to rid the country of dangerous and substandard products.

She stated that the products to be destroyed during the exercise included Analgin, Cocodamol, codeine cough syrups, tramadol, oxytocin, falsified vaccines, and other unregistered or counterfeit medicines”, saying, “The street value of the destroyed items was put at ₦15 billion”.

” We are resolutely committed to ensuring that food, drugs, cosmetics, medical devices, chemicals, packaged water, and beverages consumed in Nigeria are safe, wholesome, and effective,” she said.

Professor Adeyeye added, “The destruction of these products eliminates the risk of their re-entry into circulation.”

She pointed out that in its recent enforcement actions, NAFDAC intercepted a consignment disguised as diclofenac which, upon inspection, turned out to be anti-malaria drugs worth millions of naira.

The NAFDAC DG noted, that similarly, raids uncovered factories illegally producing cosmetic products within a military barracks in Lagos, while additional contraband was seized across the country.

While charging community leaders, health practitioners, religious leaders, and the media as well as other Nigerians to intensify public awareness about the dangers of patronising quacks and unauthorized medicine vendors, she said “Together, we can protect the health and safety of all Nigerians,”

The Oyo State Director of NAFDAC, Mr. Samuel Adeyemi in his remarks, emphasized the agency’s zero tolerance for substandard and unregulated products and that members of the public should report suspicious products or dealers, saying, “If you see something, say something.”

The exercise, held at the Moniya dumpsite in Ibadan, was witnessed by top security agencies and regulatory bodies, including the Nigeria Police Force, Department of State Services (DSS), Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Oyo State Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources, Association of Community Pharmacists, and others.