The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control has destroyed seized fake and expired drugs, unwholesome processed food and sub-standard products from the South-South zone valued at N4.7bn.
The Director-General of NAFDAC, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, supervised the destruction held at the Rivers State dumpsite in Aluu in the Ikwerre Local Government Area of the state on Friday.
The exercise was tagged ‘The investigation and Enforcement, South-South zonal destruction exercise of various categories of NAFDAC Regulated products’.
In her address, Adeyeye said the destruction of the harmful products was not just a routine exercise; but a firm statement of the agency’s “unwavering resolve and commitment” to protect lives from the dangers of counterfeit and substandard medicines, unwholesome food, medical devices and other hazardous regulated products.
Adeyeye, who was represented by the NAFDAC Director, South-South Zone, Chukwuma Oligbu, stated, “These products, if allowed to circulate, could cause untold harm including treatment failures, drug resistance, prolonged illnesses, and even loss of lives.
“The products being destroyed during this exercise are made up of substandard and falsified medical products, unwholesome processed food products and food additives, as well as unsafe cosmetics, counterfeits and other expired NAFDAC regulated products seized by the agency from manufacturers, importers and distributors.
“Also, up for destruction today are damaged and expired products voluntarily handed over by compliant companies, Non-Governmental Organisations, Association of Community Pharmacists and Trade Unions, to the agency.
“The estimated street value of the products planned for destruction is N4, 7 billion.”
She disclosed that NAFDAC, through intelligence gathering in July, 2024 discovered several warehouses in Port Harcourt, Rivers State capital where some alcoholic beverages were being re-validated and re-introduced into circulation, saying, “After a properly coordinated surveillance, the warehouses were raided and products confiscated.”
The NAFDAC DG added, “Also, through this operation, a warehouse of unregistered cosmetics products was raided and products worth several millions in naira were confiscated. Seized unregistered imported vegetable oil without Vitamin A fortification, and assorted unregistered cosmetics products from Delta State are also to be destroyed today.
“The Nigeria Customs Service in Edo State handed over two 40-ft containers of various pharmacological classes of unregistered and substandard drugs which are part of the items to be destroyed today.”
The NAFDAC boss commended the Nigeria Customs Service, the Nigeria Police Force, the Department of State Security, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, partner agencies and the Rivers State Waste Management Agency for their unflinching support in the fight against substandard and falsified medicines and harmful products.
She assured the public that NAFDAC remained “customer focused and agency minded” and solicited the support of all stakeholders, including health professionals, Law enforcement agencies, industry players and the general public to support this fight by reporting suspicious activities and ensuring compliance with Regulatory standards.
“NAFDAC is fully committed to ensuring that only safe, high-quality and efficacious medicines and wholesome food products are available to Nigerians and foreigners alike,” the NAFDAC DG noted.
Speaking earlier, the acting Sole Administrator, Rivers State Waste Management Agency, Obi Ohia, lauded NAFDAC for the efforts, saying the feat will help reduce death rates and improve the health status of citizens.
Ohia added, “RIWAMA has an agency and as a main regulator for waste management in Rivers State has provided our facilities which is the dumpsite for this exercise.”
While noting that the destruction will serve as a deterrent for smugglers, he called on sister agencies to emulate what NAFDAC has done, saying, “The Rivers State Waste Management Agency is ready, willing and able to provide you with all the necessary facilities you need to carry out the exercise.”
