The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control on Wednesday in Ibadan destroyed unwholesome products worth about N11 billion.

The destruction of the unwholesome, substandard, falsified, medicinal and other unwholesome regulated products was carried out at Akinyele dump, Ibadan, Oyo State.

The NAFDAC Director-General, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, represented by the South-West Zonal Director of the agency, Roseline Ajayi, said that the destruction was a key component of the functions of the Investigation and Enforcement Directorate.

She added that the directorate is charged with the responsibility of investigating unwholesome, substandard, fake and counterfeit regulated products.

She said that the move was to mop up unwholesome products from circulation to safeguard the health of citizens.

Mrs Adeyeye said the effort of ridding the system of unwholesome and substandard regulated products from circulation is being supported by sister agencies, including the Nigeria Customs Service and the Nigerian Police.

She explained that the items for destruction were collected from the five states of the South West Zone (excluding Lagos) of the agency and Kwara, in the North Central Zone (because of proximity) to the South-West zone.

She said, “These items include expired products that were voluntarily forfeited by those in the drug distribution channel, unregistered and unwholesome products seized from different outlets and warehouses, fake and counterfeit, as well as unregistered imported products smuggled into the country.

“The worth of what is being destroyed today is estimated to be N10,991, 458, 374.60. The purpose for this public destruction is to convey a strong signal that all items being confiscated by the agency are not being diverted for personal use. We assure the public that with NAFDAC and sister agencies, unwholesome products are being removed from circulation.”

According to her, the destruction under close monitoring by the Oyo State Government is to reduce the impact of pollution on the environment.

For the agency to fulfil its mandate, she said, several strategies were employed.

The strategies include registration and laboratory testing of regulated products, inspection of production facilities and warehouse, pharmacovigilance, chemical evaluation and research.

Mr Adeyeye, therefore, called for continued support and partnership with stakeholders to keep Nigeria safe and free from unwholesome, substandard, fake and counterfeit medicinal and other regulated products.

The NAFDAC Director, Investigation and Enforcement Directorate, Mohammed Shaba, said that the agency had destroyed unwholesome products worth N98.6 billion so far in 2024.

Mr Shaba urged the public to report any unscrupulous manufacturers who engage in illicit practices to the nearest NAFDAC office for prompt investigation.

Also, the Chairman, Oyo State Hospitals Management Board, Dr Akin Fagbemi, pledged the Oyo State Government’s continued support to ensure that unwholesome products were out of the system.

He added that “the government’s interest is to safeguard the health of the nation.”

The dignitaries at the destruction included representatives of the NCS, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency and the police, among others. (NAN)