Saturday, February 8, 2025

NAFDAC destroys N1.4bn counterfeit goods seized in South-East, South-South

The products, worth N1.4 billion, were destroyed at the Anambra Waste Dump in Awka.

• March 11, 2021
NAFDAC Director-General Mojisola Adeyeye
NAFDAC Director-General Mojisola Adeyeye

The National Agency for Food Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC) on Thursday destroyed substandard, falsified and expired products in the South-East and South-South geopolitical zones.

The products, worth N1.4 billion, were destroyed at the Anambra Waste Dump in Awka.

NAFDAC Director-General Mojisola Adeyeye who supervised the exercise, said the destruction was part of the efforts to rid Nigerian market of unwholesome products and engender public confidence.

Mrs. Adeyeye, who was represented by Kingsley Ejiofor, Director of Investigation and Enforcement, listed the products to include those seized from manufacturers, importers and the ones voluntarily turned-in by regulation compliant companies.

She said others were those confiscated by Customs Service but violated, unregistered drugs, improperly stored vaccines and tramadol.

The list also included Rohypinol intercepted on Benin-Asaba Expressway and other fake medicinal products intercepted at different times.

“The public destruction of spurious products today would eliminate the risk of reintroduction into the Nigerian markets.

“It is a proof of NAFDAC’s resolve to safeguard the health of the people and ensure that only genuine medicines that are wholesome are sold in Nigeria.

“The estimated street value of the products destroyed today is N1,429, 580 billion and they include antibiotics, vaccines, alcoholic, cosmetic and chemical products,” Mrs. Adeyeye said.

She said a warehouse of banned, controlled, fake and counterfeit products, worth millions of naira, had been discovered in Oyi local government of Anambra.

The NAFDAC boss said that the items were awaiting destruction, pending the setting aside of a court order.

She said apart from seizures and destructions, the agency had been able to secure conviction of culprits, ranging from one year to five years and options of fine.

According to her, drug counterfeiting is an act of economic sabotage and a serious threat to public health.

She said NAFDAC was proactively tackling the challenge by engaging political, traditional and religious leaders to sensitise the public.

Mrs. Adeyeye also raised the alarm on the circulation of fake COVID-19 vaccines in Africa and warned Nigerians not to take the vaccine from diverted stock or unapproved locations.

Leader of the medical section of Ochanja Central Market, Onitsha, Boniface Muonurikpe, described the public destruction as a welcome development.

Mr. Muonurikpe said market associations were willing to work with relevant regulators to ensure that only genuine products were sold.

He said that the activities of fakers had robbed Nigerian markets of public confidence.

Also, the Director of NAFDAC in the South East, Olajumoke Oyetola, said officers in the zone would stop at nothing to rid the markets of spurious products.

Mrs. Oyetola appealed to manufacturers and importers to place the lives of Nigerians above other considerations.

He regretted that many had ended up losing their lives as a result of consuming fake products.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the NAFDAC director general was accompanied during the exercise by the agency’s senior directors in the two zones. 

(NAN)

We have recently deactivated our website's comment provider in favour of other channels of distribution and commentary. We encourage you to join the conversation on our stories via our Facebook, Twitter and other social media pages.

More from Peoples Gazette

Abubakar Kyari

Agriculture

FG tasks ECOWAS on leveraging financing strategies for agroecology

The federal government has urged stakeholders in the agriculture and finance sectors in the West Africa region to leverage financing strategies to enhance agroecology practices

Katsina State

Politics

Katsina youths pledge to deliver over 2 million votes to Atiku

“Katsina State is Atiku’s political base because it is his second home.”

Governor Alex Otti

States

Gov. Otti tasks Abia state executive council on enhanced performance

Mr Otti said periodic assessments and leveraging past achievements are vital to improving governance and institutional efficiency.

PRESIDENT BOLA TINUBU

NationWide

Tinubu running transparent govt devoid of religious, ethnic sentiment: Aide

“I want to assure you that the Tinubu administration is non-partisan; it is devoid of ethnic or religious sentiments,” said Ms Omotayo.

Lanre Ogunlowo

States

Ogun CP urges motorists to exercise patience

Ms Odutola said the CP went on an unscheduled security and safety tour to Ewekoro when he met a gridlock on the Lafarge dual carriageway.

Iddo Bridge

States

FG announces Iddo Bridge height restrictions

The comptroller added that the ultimate goal was to improve the bridge and provide better service to the public.

Pigs

NationWide

Nigeria leads in pork production in Africa, says association

The minister urged the association to identify areas of interest that could drive higher productivity.

Mosquitoes

States

Over one million children received malaria prevention drugs in Plateau in 2024: Group

He said that the intervention was part of the state government’s efforts to eradicate malaria by 2030.