The National Agency for Food, Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has dealt a significant blow to the proliferation of fake and counterfeit drugs in Nigeria with the destruction of counterfeit, substandard, and fake pharmaceutical and other products valued at over N1 trillion.
This bold move is a testament to NAFDAC’s commitment to safeguarding the health and well-being of Nigerians by ridding the country of harmful and ineffective products.
NAFDAC’s Director General, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, on Friday supervised the destruction of the seized counterfeit products, including Analgin, Tramadol 225mg, and other controlled substances, at the Anambra State Waste Management Authority Dump Site in Agu Awka, Anambra State.
Adeyeye, represented by NAFDAC’s South-East Zonal Director, Dr. Martins Iluyomade, said the confiscated fake, substandard, unregistered, and expired drugs were seized from Onitsha Bridge Head Drug Market and Ekumi/Tenant Road drug market in Aba.
Addressing journalists shortly before the destruction of the items, Adeyeye reaffirmed the agency’s dedication to guaranteeing the safety, wholesomeness, and efficacy of food, drugs, cosmetics, medical devices, chemicals, packaged water, and drinks for human consumption.
She said: “Today, we are destroying the fake, counterfeit and illicit drugs that were seized during our one month enforcement exercise.
“The products that were classified as illicit, expired, and banned were confiscated during a raid on Onitsha Bridge Head Drug Market (Ogbu- Ogu) and Ekumi/ Tenant Road drug market in Aba.
“The recent discovery of counterfeit and other products in these major markets in the country is mind-boggling.
“The discoveries made of the presence of unregistered products, banned products such as Analgin, and Controlled substances such as Tramadol 225mg amongst others, are part of the things making our country unsafe in terms of security.”
Adeyeye, who restated that the agency is committed to eradicating substandard drugs in the country, said: “We, as an agency have come to realise that the time has come to put an end to the circulation of substandard medicines in Nigeria.
“Different calls, different cries have been made and we have listened to those cries and rejig our ways and assured Nigerians that they can go to bed that whatever medicines that are now in the system are safe and fit for consumption.
“The enforcement exercise took us about a month from February 10 to March 5 and we want to say it is a continuous exercise. The current management of NAFDAC has an Non-renewable commitment to ensure that these fake drugs are stamped out.
” It is a bit complex even though we have said that medicines have been certified but still people get them in.
“Bulk volumes of narcotics and other medicines that are not approved because of their effect were confiscated. The volume that we found during this exercise is more than enough to destabilise a country, by research, there is a correlation between them and insecurity.
“The volume is huge and humongous and it is one of the highest in the world. From Onitsha and Aba, the total volume of trucks of fake drugs that have been moved out of these markets are over a 100 40ft containers. And it is over a trillion naira, the estimated value of products that are being destroyed today. Millions of people have been saved by this action alone.
“We assure all Nigerians that the medicines that are now available in the market are authentic and efficacious and we urge Nigerians that when they see something, they should say something.”
Adeyeye commended the media for its crucial role in spreading awareness about the fight against fake drugs in Nigeria, and urged Nigerians to join the crusade and speak out against counterfeit medications.
The Managing Director of Anambra State Waste Management Authority, Mr. Mike Ozoemanam, who represented Gov. Chukwuma Soludo, praised NAFDAC for its efforts in ridding the market of counterfeit and illicit drugs.
He said: “The governor visited the market during the enforcement exercise. He did not come there to play politics, but to support the agency.
“The governor took the bull by the horns because we saw the correlation between the fake drugs and the effect on our youths and you can see that the state is now quiet.
“Anambra people are good people and peace-loving people and we urge NAFDAC not to relent in their fight against fake and illicit drugs Whether banned or contaminated, we do not want it in Anambra State.”
Apart from its success in its fight against counterfeit drugs, the agency on March 14 also busted a notorious syndicate that has been duping foreign companies with fake NAFDAC documents.
The fraudsters operated through a complex three-pronged scheme involving a buyer, a bank, and a lawyer.
Over $950,000 was found in the scammer’s Nigerian bank accounts, with an additional $450,000 tracked to offshore accounts in Cotonou, Benin Republic.
The agency recorded a successful 2024 by destroying N120 billion worth of seized counterfeit products in the last six months.
Persecondnews recalls that NAFDAC has also launched a series of raids on supermarkets in major cities like Lagos, Port Harcourt, Aba, Ibadan, Kaduna, and the Federal Capital Territory, specifically targeting manufacturers and sellers of counterfeit medicines and unhealthy food products.
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