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 organization.
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 chemicals, as well as antibiotics, antihypertensives, antimalarials, herbal snuff and herbal remedies, were among the products burned, according to Adeyeye, who also listed drugs seized from drug peddlers.
She also included a container of unregistered Faurecia instant powdered milk that was sent to the agency by the Nigeria Customs Services (NCS) along with other food items like spaghetti, vegetable oil, and non-alcoholic beverages.
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 organizations (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.
“I have said it on several platforms that drug counterfeiting is an act of economic sabotage, and it also represents a serious threat to public health, and NAFDAC under my watch has been repositioned to fight this menace.
“The agency has adopted a proactive approach by engaging political, traditional, faith leaders, journalists and other Nigerians to sensitise their wards on the dangers of dealing on substandard and falsified medicine.
“I wish to use this medium to urge all and sundry to be on the look-out for spurious and counterfeit medicines, unwholesome foods and other regulated products and report same to NAFDAC,” she said.