The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has destroyed counterfeit, expired and substandard products valued at N1.8 billion at its dumpsite in Kuje, Abuja, as part of efforts to protect public health and prevent harmful products from re-entering circulation.
Speaking during the destruction exercise, the Director-General of National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, Mojisola Adeyeye, said the operation was aimed at ensuring seized products do not find their way back into the market.
Represented by the agency’s Director of Investigation and Enforcement, Mr Iluyomade Martins, Adeyeye stated that the destroyed items included counterfeit medicines, expired products and other substandard goods considered dangerous to public health.
“What we are doing here today is to ensure these counterfeit and expired products are not recycled back into the system.
“For those who believe seized products always find their way back into circulation, we are showing clearly that this is not the case,” she said.
The NAFDAC boss advised Nigerians to purchase medicines and regulated products only from approved distribution channels and ensure they obtain receipts for proper traceability and reporting where necessary.
She warned that counterfeiters have become increasingly sophisticated, making fake products more difficult to identify, while disclosing that enforcement officers had recently faced attacks during operations against counterfeit drug dealers.
“Our officers were recently attacked on the field while trying to mop up counterfeit medicines, but that will not deter us from carrying out our duties,” she added.
Adeyeye further revealed that several offenders linked to counterfeit products had been prosecuted and convicted, with some suspects recently sentenced to 40 years imprisonment.
She noted that investigations and court cases involving counterfeit and substandard products remain ongoing across the country.
On the ban of alcohol packaged in sachets and PET bottles below 200 millilitres, she reiterated that the restriction remains in force, stressing that there has been no reversal of the policy.
According to her, the agency adopted a phased enforcement approach by first targeting manufacturers before extending enforcement to distributors and retailers nationwide.
“The next phase is market enforcement. Anybody found in possession of these banned products will face confiscation and prosecution,” she warned.
Adeyeye also highlighted the impact of the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope initiative on local pharmaceutical manufacturing, saying the policy had encouraged investment and increased local production capacity by more than 50 per cent.
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“With the current administration, we have witnessed more than a 50 per cent increase in pharmaceutical companies manufacturing locally. This is beneficial to public health, job creation and the economy,” she stated.
Also speaking, the Registrar and Chief Executive Officer of the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria, Ibrahim-Babashehu Ahmed, described the destruction exercise as crucial to safeguarding public health.
Represented by Mr Jerome Ame, Head of the Abuja Zonal Office of the council, Ahmed said fake pharmaceutical products had contributed to kidney damage and other health complications among Nigerians.
Stakeholders from the Nigerian Police Force, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, the Nigeria Customs Service and environmental agencies also pledged continued collaboration with NAFDAC in combating counterfeit products and improving consumer safety nationwide.
