In a significant effort to protect public health, the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) recently destroyed counterfeit, expired, banned, and unwholesome pharmaceutical, cosmetic, and food products valued at approximately N20 billion in Ibadan, Oyo State. The exercise, conducted at the Moniya Dump Site along Akinyele Road, served as the South-West Zonal Flag-Off for the ongoing campaign to eliminate unsafe products from circulation.
The Director-General of NAFDAC, Professor Mojisola Christianah Adeyeye, reaffirmed the agency’s dedication to eradicating substandard and falsified medical products, illicit drugs, unwholesome foods, chemicals, medical devices, and other prohibited goods from the Nigerian market. Represented by the Deputy Director in charge of the Pharmaceutical Division, Investigation and Enforcement Directorate, Pharm. Florence Ubah, she explained that the destroyed items were seized from manufacturers, importers, and distributors nationwide. Some products were voluntarily surrendered by compliant companies, NGOs, and trade unions.
“These items include substandard and falsified medical products, unsafe cosmetics, counterfeit and unwholesome processed foods, food additives, and other expired NAFDAC-regulated products,” she stated. Professor Adeyeye emphasized that the destruction exercise is part of a continuous strategy to ensure that expired and counterfeit products do not re-enter the market.
The exercise was also supported by the Nigeria Customs Service, which handed over 25 containers of pharmaceutical products for destruction, demonstrating strong collaboration in the fight against unsafe goods. In addition, the agency received backing from the Nigeria Police Force, Nigerian Army, Department of State Services, Pharmacists Council of Nigeria, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, and other stakeholders committed to safeguarding public health.
Professor Adeyeye urged community leaders, health professionals, religious institutions, the media, and the general public to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activities involving fake or unregistered medicines. She highlighted the importance of educating families and communities about the dangers of patronizing quack medicine dealers and unauthorized drug outlets, stressing that the fight against counterfeit and unsafe products is a collective responsibility that requires active participation from all sectors of society.
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