The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has destroyed counterfeit drugs and vaccines, as well as cosmetics and expired food items worth over N2 billion.
A statement by its Resident Media Consultant, Sayo Akintola, said the destruction exercise took place in Kano and Awka, Anambra state.
It stated the operatives of the agency had combed the nooks and crannies of the three geo-political zones of the federation, namely, North West, South East and South-South to mop up expired drugs and unwholesome food products with a view to safeguarding the health of the Nigerian people.
“While counterfeit drugs and spurious food products worth over N1.4billion seized from both the South East and South-South zones were destroyed in Awka, Anambra state on Thursday, similar dangerous drugs, and unwholesome food items worth N613m were destroyed at the Kalebawa dumpsite along Kazaure-Daura road, Dambatta, Kano,” it said.
The Director-General of NAFDAC, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, vowed there is no hiding place for the merchants who derive joy in the unpatriotic act of circulating expired and falsified drugs and food products that are inimical to public health across the country.
Adeyeye, who supervised the exercise, said the destruction was part of the efforts to rid the market of unwholesome products and engender public confidence.
Describing diversion and falsification of medicines and vaccines as one and the same, she warned Nigerians to be vigilant and expose anyone who might want to divert COVID-19 vaccines donated by the international donors for profiteering purposes.
Represented by Barrister Kingsley Ejiofor, the Director of Investigation and Enforcement in the Agency, Prof. Adeyeye listed the products to include substandard, fake, falsely labelled medicines, unwholesome processed food products and cosmetics seized from manufacturers, distributors, and importers
She further stated that the expired drugs were also handed over voluntarily by complaint companies, Non-Governmental Organisations, Trade Unions, Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN) and the National Association of Proprietary and Patent Medicines Dealers (NAPPMED).
Adeyeye explained that others were those confiscated by Customs Service but violated, unregistered drugs, improperly stored vaccines, and tramadol, adding that
The list also included Rohypinol intercepted on Benin-Asaba Expressway and other fake medicinal products intercepted at different times.
According to her, the products include drugs such as antibiotics, antihypertensive, antimalarial, herbal remedies, psychoactive, controlled substances.
“The estimated value of the products destroyed in Kano is N613,300,290.00, while fake products worth N1,429,580,683.00 were destroyed in Awka, Anambra State, totaling N2,042,880,973.00.
“Food products such as spaghetti, vegetable oil, non-alcoholic beverages, sachet water, chocolates, noodles, etc. were also destroyed as well as cosmetics such as creams, pomade, and insecticides.
“It is proof of NAFDAC’s resolve to safeguard the health of the people and ensure that only genuine medicines that are wholesome are sold in Nigeria,” she said.
