The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC, has destroyed counterfeit, expired, and substandard drugs and pharmaceutical products worth over N55 billion in Ibadan, Oyo State.

 

The destruction took place at the Moniya dumpsite in Akinyele Local Government Area, in a move aligned with NAFDAC’s ongoing efforts to safeguard public health. The agency is committed to preventing the reintroduction of expired, substandard, and falsified medical devices and other unsafe products into circulation.

 

During the event, NAFDAC’s Director-General, Mojisola Adeyeye, represented by Florence Ubah, Deputy Director of the Pharmaceutical Division, Investigation and Enforcement, highlighted the significance of the exercise. The products destroyed included counterfeit medicines, unwholesome processed foods, unsafe cosmetics, food additives, and other expired and falsified items seized from manufacturers, importers, and distributors.

 

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“This exercise is part of our mandate to eliminate substandard and falsified medical products, illicit drugs, and other dangerous goods from our markets,” Ubah stated. “Today’s destruction involves products voluntarily handed over by over 70 compliant companies, NGOs, and trade unions, and their estimated street value totals N55,436,844,470.”

 

Ubah also expressed appreciation to the Nigeria Police, Nigeria Customs Service, Nigerian Army, Department of State Services, Pharmacists Council of Nigeria, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, and other stakeholders for their continued support in combating the circulation of substandard and counterfeit goods.

 

In her remarks, Ubah stressed the importance of public awareness, urging religious leaders, community heads, health professionals, journalists, and all Nigerians to educate their families about the dangers of purchasing from unqualified vendors and illegal drug dealers.

 

NAFDAC, established by Decree No. 15 of 1993 (now the NAFDAC Act Cap N1 LFN 2004), works to ensure that only safe and high-quality food, drugs, and other regulated products are manufactured, imported, and circulated within Nigeria.

 

Source: Punch