Substandard products, including counterfeit pharmaceuticals and medical devices, with a total value of ₦43 billion, were recently set ablaze by the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC).
NAFDAC destroyed the said items on Thursday at the Moniya dump site located in the Akinyele Local Government Area in Ibadan, the capital of Oyo State.
Representatives from various security agencies and the Oyo State Government monitored the exercise.
During the proceedings, NAFDAC’s Director-General, Professor Christiana Mojisola Adeyeye, who was represented by Pharm Shabba Mohammed, the Director of Investigation and Enforcement, indicated that the products were voluntarily surrendered to the agency by compliant companies, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and trade unions.
Professor Adeyeye elaborated on the extensive measures that facilitated the confiscation of numerous registered and unregistered pharmaceutical products, highlighting a series of raids conducted in various locations.
The confiscated items encompassed aphrodisiacs, sex enhancement medications, over-the-counter drugs, and prescription-only pharmaceuticals.
“Over thirty different products were seized in total,” Adeyeye noted, highlighting that the confiscated items included banned substances such as codeine and narcotics, with a total value exceeding ₦48 million.
“The agency has been actively gathering intelligence on illegal warehousing, sale, and distribution of narcotics by pharmaceutical vendors in Lagos and other states.
“Recent raids conducted by the Investigation and Enforcement Directorate resulted in the confiscation of products worth over ₦700 million.
“In addition to counterfeit pharmaceuticals, the operation also targeted contraband items such as unregistered soaps, tomato paste, and counterfeit beverages,” the NAFDAC DG noted.
Adeyeye underscored the critical role of public participation in the fight against counterfeit medications and substandard food items.
She encouraged individuals to report illegal activities to the closest NAFDAC office for prompt investigation.
“Through these measures, NAFDAC seeks to safeguard public health and safety while fostering adherence to regulations within the pharmaceutical sector,” she remarked.
