The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) says it 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 of the expired products took place in Kano and Awka, Anambra State, respectively.
It stated that staff of the agency had combed the nooks and crannies of the North- West, South -East and South-South to mop up expired drugs and unwholesome food products with a view to safeguarding the health of Nigerians.
“While counterfeit drugs and spurious food products worth over N1.4billion seized from both the SouthEast and South-South zones were destroyed in Awka, Anambra State on Thursday, similar dangerous drugs, and unwholesome food items worth N613million were destroyed at the Kalebawa dumpsite along Kazaure-Daura Road, Dambatta, Kano,” it said. Reacting to the development, DirectorGeneral of NAFDAC, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, vowed that there would be 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. Prof. Adeyeye, who supervised the exercise, said the destruction was part of the agency’s 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 the Director of Investigation and Enforcement in the agency, Kingsley Ejiofor, the director general listed the products to include sub-standard, 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, the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN) and the National Association of Proprietary and Patent Medicines Dealers (NAPPMED).
The NAFDAC boss explained that others were those confiscated by the customs, and other fake medicinal products intercepted at different times. According to her, the products include drugs such as antibiotics, anti-hypertensive, antimalarial, herbal remedies, psychoactive and controlled substances.