The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC, has destroyed confiscated fake and falsified pharmaceutical and food products worth N4.7 billion in the South-South region.
During the destruction exercise on Friday at the Rivers State Waste Management Agency, RIWAMA, site, near Port Harcourt International Airport, NAFDAC Director-General Professor Mojisola Adeyeye said the operation demonstrated the agency’s commitment to protecting Nigerians.
Represented by the South-South Zonal Coordinator, Chukwuma Oligbu, Prof. Adeyeye emphasised that these products, if circulated, could cause treatment failures, drug resistance, prolonged illnesses, and even death.
“The destruction of these harmful products is not just routine; it is a firm statement of our unwavering resolve to protect our people from the dangers of counterfeit and substandard medicines, unwholesome food, medical devices, and other hazardous regulated products,” she said.
The destroyed products included substandard and falsified medical products, unwholesome processed food and additives, unsafe cosmetics, counterfeits, and other expired NAFDAC-regulated products seized from manufacturers, importers, and distributors. Damaged and expired products voluntarily handed over by compliant companies, NGOs, the Association of Community Pharmacists, and trade unions were also destroyed.
Prof. Adeyeye said the items were seized through intelligence gathering in July 2024, which uncovered warehouses in Port Harcourt where alcoholic beverages were being revalidated and reintroduced into circulation. The warehouses were raided, and a warehouse containing unregistered cosmetic products was also raided, leading to the seizure of goods worth millions of naira.
NAFDAC also confiscated unregistered imported vegetable oil lacking vitamin A fortification and assorted unregistered cosmetic products from Delta State. The Nigeria Customs Service, NCS, in Edo State handed over two 40-foot containers of unregistered and substandard drugs.
NAFDAC called on all stakeholders to report suspicious activities and ensure compliance with regulatory standards. It reiterated its commitment to ensuring that only safe, high-quality, and efficacious medicines and wholesome food products are available.
Prof. Adeyeye commended NCS, police, Department of State Security, NDLEA, NSCDC, RIWAMA, and the media for their support.
Meanwhile, RIWAMA pledged its support to NAFDAC. Its sole administrator, Prince Ohia, commended NAFDAC and urged other agencies to join the fight against fake products.
Representatives from the NCS, NDLEA, NSCDC, NAFDAC South-South state coordinators, and the Rivers State Fire Service attended the exercise.