In a move to safeguard public health and safety, the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has destroyed fake, adulterated, and unregistered foods, drugs, and cosmetic products worth N1.367 billion in Abuja.
The items destroyed included a wide range of products and were incinerated at the Kuje dumpsite in the FCT.
Speaking during the exercise, the Director-General of NAFDAC, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, said the destruction of the products is a crucial and routine operation that the agency conducts across all zones of the federation.
Adeyeye, represented by Dr. Festus Ukadike, a Director in her office, said: “We carry out these exercises at least once a year in each zone, depending on the volume of seizures made by the agency.
The goal is to eliminate substandard, falsified, and expired NAFDAC-regulated products from the supply chain.
“In 2024, NAFDAC achieved remarkable progress, making substantial seizures that underscore our commitment to safeguarding public health.
“We carried out several destruction exercises across the zones, including Lagos, where products worth over N120bn of falsified, substandard, and unwholesome food products were destroyed.
“Our relentless pursuit of justice against health trafficking cartels has resulted in the seizure of over 6,000 bags of rebagged rice in the FCT alone.
“These deceitful cartels aim to exploit and harm the unsuspecting Nigerian populace for economic gain. NAFDAC has zero tolerance for such activities and has initiated a thorough investigation to ensure that all involved face appropriate sanctions.”
The DG noted that the products destroyed were seized during the agency’s operations in the FCT and surrounding areas, alongside items handed over by compliant companies and organisations.
Among the destroyed products were various drugs, including psychoactive and controlled substances, antibiotics, antihypertensives, antimalarial, herbal snuff, and herbal remedies, as well as medications confiscated from street hawkers.
The destroyed cosmetics comprised a variety of skin care products, including creams, lotions, pomades, and skin-lightening agents seized from spas and beauty centers, while other items destroyed included counterfeit Izal and Jik disinfectants, as well as fake medical devices.
In addition to the seized items, expired and spoiled products voluntarily surrendered by non-governmental organisations and the Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria were also destroyed.
She added: “The estimated street value of the products slated for destruction today is N1,36 billion.
“NAFDAC has significantly ramped up its post-marketing surveillance and enforcement activities to counter the threats posed by counterfeit medicines and foods to national security.
“The agency is proactively engaging political, traditional, and faith-based leaders, as well as journalists and the general public, to galvanize support and commitment in the fight against substandard and falsified products.”
Also speaking, Dr. Ifeanyi Okeke, the Director General of the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), praised NAFDAC’s efforts in destroying harmful products, stressing the importance of eliminating substandard goods from the nation to ensure public health and safety.
Okeke issued a stern warning to manufacturers, importers, and related parties, stressing that non-compliance with regulations would be strictly enforced under the renewed hope agenda.
Okeke,thewho was represented by Gamagira Mohammed, the FCT Coordinator of SON, said: “The rules are there, the guidelines are there. If you are not sure, NAFDAC and SON are there to guide you on standards.
“I believe we will continue to strengthen our collaboration so that Nigeria can grow, and everybody will be healthy in the interest of the country.”
The Chairman of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN), FCT Chapter, Pharm. Salamatu Orakwelu, said:“I commend NAFDAC for this step that you’ve been taking annually, and I assure you that as pharmacists, all measures will be taken to ensure compliance and to support your efforts.”
Persecondnews recalls that the agency destroyed N120 billion worth of seized counterfeit products in the last six months of 2024.
It also launched raids on supermarkets in major cities, including Lagos, Port Harcourt, Aba, Ibadan, Kaduna, and the FCT, targeting manufacturers and sellers of counterfeit medicines and unhealthy food products.
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