The exercise which was tagged ‘The investigation and Enforcement, South-South zonal destruction exercise of various categories of NAFDAC Regulated products’ was supervised by the Director -General of NAFDAC, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye on Friday at the Rivers State dumpsite in Ikwerre LGA.
Adeyeye who was represented by the NAFDAC Director, South South Zone, Chukwuma Oligbu, stated in her address that the destruction of the harmful products is a firm statement of the agency’s unwavering commitment to protect lives from the dangers of fake drugs, counterfeit and substandard medicines, unwholesome food, medical devices and other hazardous regulated products.Her words, “These products, if allowed to circulate, could cause untold harm including treatment failures, drug resistance, prolonged illnesses, and even loss of lives.
“The products being destroyed during this exercise are made up of substandard and falsified medical products, unwholesome processed food products and food additives, as well as unsafe cosmetics, counterfeits and other expired NAFDAC regulated products seized by the agency from manufacturers, importers and distributors.
“Also, up for destruction today are damaged and expired products voluntarily handed over by compliant companies, Non-Governmental Organisations, Association of Community Pharmacists and Trade Unions, to the agency. The estimated street value of the products planned for destruction is N4, 7 billion.”
According to her, NAFDAC, through intelligence gathering in July, 2024 discovered several warehouses in Port Harcourt, where some alcoholic beverages were being re-validated and re-introduced into circulation, adding that after a properly coordinated surveillance, the warehouses were raided and products confiscated.
She further revealed that, through the operation, a warehouse of unregistered cosmetic products was raided and products worth millions of naira were confiscated, and added that seized unregistered imported vegetable oil without vitamin A fortification, and other assorted unregistered cosmetic products from Delta State are amongst those to be destroyed.
She also disclosed that the Nigeria Customs Service in Edo State handed over to the agency, two 40-ft containers of various pharmacological classes of unregistered and substandard drugs which are part of the items to be destroyed as well.
The NAFDAC boss commended Nigeria Customs Service, Nigeria Police Force, the Department of State Security, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, partner agencies and the Rivers State Waste Management Agency for their unflinching support in the fight against substandard and falsified medicines and harmful products.
She assured the public that NAFDAC remains customer focused and agency minded, and solicited the support of all stakeholders, including health professionals, Law enforcement agencies, industry players and the general public to support this fight by reporting suspicious activities and ensuring compliance with Regulatory standards.
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