In Abuja on Wednesday, the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) destroyed counterfeit and expired commodities worth more than N500 million.
The agency’s Director-General, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, said during the exercise that some of the commodities had also been voluntarily turned in to the organisation.
The D-G added that the exercise is consistently conducted around the nation while being represented by Mr. Francis Ononiwu, NAFDAC Director of Investigation and Enforcement.
According to the head of NAFDAC, the items were destroyed in order to stop their reintroduction into the supply chain.
Drugs made comprised of psychoactive and banned substances, such as antibiotics, antihypertensive, antimalarial, herbal snuff and herbal remedies, as well as drugs seized from drug hawkers, were among the products incinerated, according to Adeyeye.
She also listed culinary items including pasta, vegetable oil, non-alcoholic drinks, and a 40-foot container of unregistered Faurecia instant powered milk that the Nigeria Customs Services (NCS) had given the agency.
Others included imitation pesticides, medical gadgets, and cosmetics including creams, lotions, and pomade, including skin-lightening creams seized from SPAS and beauty salons.
Additionally destroyed were products that were voluntarily turned over for destruction by non-governmental organisations (NGOs), complaint corporations, and the Association of Community Pharmacies of Nigeria (ACPN).
The head of NAFDAC claims that the items being destroyed have an estimated street value of N535, 000, 657.
“Drug counterfeiting is an act of economic sabotage and a major threat to public health, as I have stated on numerous occasions. NAFDAC has been repositioned to combat this issue under my leadership.
“The agency has adopted a proactive strategy by involving journalists, other Nigerians, political, traditional, and religious leaders to educate their wards on the risks of trading in substandard and fake pharmaceuticals.
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She urged everyone to be vigilant for fake and counterfeit medications, unhealthy foods, and other regulated products and to report them to NAFDAC.
Security personnel and NAFDAC during the destruction
According to Mr. Isiaku Gamajira, FCT Coordinator, Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON), NAFDAC is a sister organisation when it comes to product regulation, which is why SON was present at the ceremony.
He emphasised that the lack of understanding among many individuals regarding how to obtain certification for their products is the main factor behind the rejection of most Nigerian exports abroad.
We are aware of the government’s zero-rejection policy for Nigerian goods, and we also have a programme known as product certification, under which any Nigerian goods intended for export are given a certificate.
“While carrying out all of these tasks, we make sure to adhere to the standards established in accordance with the exporting nation’s government and offer a certificate of performance to prevent Nigerian products from being rejected at the point of entrance.
“We have locations across the nation where you may get information about product certification; our addresses are also posted online for you to get in touch with us.
“When individuals come to us for help, we give them the right advice. SON has been carrying out its compliance activities, one of which is the seizure of inferior items. Just now, we blew up several tyres.
Tyres are a product on which lives depend, and SON has a strong interest in compliance action, seizure in that regard. On September 29, SON destroyed a large number of tyres, and these are some of the things we do.
Gamajira remarked, “If you see the magnitude of what we have destroyed in the previous several months, you will be startled. Most of these tyres are imported; it is our own common treasure.
In order to rid the nation of inferior medicines, Mr. Enejoh Amade, Chairman of the Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria (ACPN), FCT Chapter, stated that his organisation will continue to support NAFDAC.
He claimed that by delivering certain expired medications gathered from ACPN members, his group had collaborated with NAFDAC on the exercise.(NAN)
