The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has destroyed substandard, falsified, expired, and unwholesome products valued at more than N15 billion at the Moniya dumpsite in Ibadan, Oyo State.
Speaking during the destruction exercise on Wednesday, NAFDAC Director-General, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, said the move was aimed at protecting public health by ensuring such dangerous products do not re-enter the Nigerian market.
Adeyeye, who was represented by Dr. Martins Iluyomade, the agency’s Director of Investigation and Enforcement, said the items destroyed included counterfeit, expired, controlled, unregistered, and banned medicines and medical products.
She explained that the consignments included Analgin, Co-codamol, codeine-containing cough syrups, Tramadol, Oxytocin, and various expired vaccines, all of which posed significant health risks if consumed or circulated.
Revealing the magnitude of the menace, Adeyeye said: “The estimated street value of the destroyed products was more than N15 billion,” stressing the seriousness of illegal pharmaceutical operations in the country.
She cited a recent seizure involving a container falsely labeled as diclofenac but filled with anti-malaria drugs. According to her, the shipment contained 277 cartons with more than 100,000 tablets, which were smuggled into the country before being intercepted by NAFDAC officers. “The suspect linked to the shipment has been arrested and will face legal prosecution to serve as a deterrent to other illegal drug importers and distributors,” she added.
The NAFDAC boss further disclosed that the agency confiscated a wide range of illegally manufactured cosmetics and packaging materials during a raid on a military barracks in Lagos. She noted that some of the items destroyed were seized during nationwide raids on black-market drug sellers, counterfeiters, and unlicensed medicine dealers.
Adeyeye urged Nigerians to join in the fight against substandard products by shunning unlicensed drug sellers and reporting suspicious pharmaceutical activities. “Community leaders, health professionals, religious figures, and journalists must educate the public on the dangers of patronising unlicensed drug sellers and unregistered pharmaceutical outlets,” she said.
She expressed appreciation to the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) for handing over more than 25 seized 40-foot containers of prohibited products, including Tramadol, Artesunate injections, and frozen poultry. “These prohibited products are part of what we are destroying today, and their removal marks another victory in the battle against violative and harmful substances,” she said.
Adeyeye also acknowledged the support of the Nigeria Police Force, Nigerian Army, Department of State Services (DSS), Pharmacists Council of Nigeria (PCN), and other stakeholders for their collaboration in safeguarding the health of Nigerians.
