The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), on Thursday destroyed substandard and falsified goods estimated at N1,367 billion in Abuja.
Speaking during the destruction exercise, the NAFDAC Director-General, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, said that the exercise was part of the agency’s routine operations across all the zones of the federation and FCT.
Adeyeye, represented by Mr Festus Ukadike, a Director in the D-G’s office, said that the goal was rid the country of some of the agency regulated goods that are of low qualities in the supply chain.
She said that in 2024, the agency achieved remarkable progress, making substantial seizures that underscored its commitment to safeguarding public health.
“We carried out several destruction exercises across the zones, including investigation and enforcement.
“Our relentless pursuit of justice against counterfeiting cartels has resulted in the seizure of over 6,000 bags of re-bagged rice in the FCT alone.
“These deceitful cartels aim to exploit and harm the unsuspecting Nigerian populace for economic gain,” he said.
Adeyeye said that NAFDAC had zero tolerance for such activities, adding that it had initiated thorough investigation to ensure that all involved face appropriate sanctions.
“Some of the goods to be destroyed are psychoactive and controlled substances, antibiotics, antihypertensives, antimalarials, herbal snuff, and herbal remedies, including drugs seized from hawkers.
“We also have food products like cookies vegetable oil, non-alcoholic beverages, and items from supermarkets with labelling only in foreign languages, lacking English translation, ” she said.
She said that there were also cosmetics product, chemicals and expired and unwholesome products voluntarily submitted for destruction by Non-Governmental Organisation (NGOs) and Association of Community Pharmacy of Nigeria (ACPN) .
Adeyeye said that NAFDAC had significantly ramped up its Post-Marketing Surveillance and Enforcement activities to checkmate the threats posed by counterfeit medicines and foods to national security.
She said that the agency was proactively engaging political, traditional, faith-based organisations and institutions, journalists and the public to galvanise support in the fight against substandard and falsified products.
Mr Gamagira Mohammed, the FCT Coordinator, Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON), commended NAFDAC for its determination to rid the country of fake and substandard goods and medicine.
Isiaku said that SON would continue to strengthen collaboration with NAFDAC to ensure that standards are enshrined in the Nigerian culture.
Salary Orakwelu, Chairman, Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN), Abuja branch, also commended NAFDAC, saying that the ultimate goal of all food regulatory agencies is to take care of consumers.
She assured NAFDAC of her Society’s unwavering support.
The destruction exercise was done in the presence of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF), Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Department of State Security (DSS).
Others are the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), SON, PSN, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), and Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC).
