The PTML Command of the Nigeria Customs Service has intercepted a container load of expired drugs which were imported by a Non Governmental Organization (NGO) from the United States of America (USA).
While handing over the containers to Port Inspector Manager of the National Food and Drugs Agency (NAFDAC); Mrs Maureen Ebigbayi, the Area Controller of PTML Customs command, Mr. Adegoke Folorunsho said the drugs were discovered by eagle eye officers of the command during 100 percent examination exercise.
The PTML Command of the Nigeria Customs Service has intercepted a container load of expired drugs which were imported by a Non Governmental Organization (NGO) from the United States of America (USA).
While handing over the containers to Port Inspector Manager of the National Food and Drugs Agency (NAFDAC); Mrs Maureen Ebigbayi, the Area Controller of PTML Customs command, Mr. Adegoke Folorunsho said the drugs were discovered by eagle eye officers of the command during 100 percent examination exercise.
Adegoke said that the container belonging to one Dr. Kelechi .R. Mezu of Mezu Inernational Foundation was declared as personal effects, but on examination, it was discovered to contain concealed items such as expired drugs, hospital items and other personal effects.
The customs boss noted that some of the drugs have expired since April 2010, some in 2011 while the least expired on 30th of April 2014.
He said the NGO applied for waiver to bring in the drugs but according to him, there are strict regulations in the clause which states that the drugs must have shelve life of six months after clearance. He however expressed shock that Customs examination of the drugs revealed that they had expired even before they were imported.
"If these drugs are allowed to go out, they might be harmful to people who are going to consume them, so we need to seize them and transfer to the appropriate sister agency, NAFDAC" Adegoke stated.
While receiving the container load of the items, Port Inspection Manager of NAFDAC; Mrs Ebigbayi Maureen commended customs for its corporation and information sharing with NAFDAC.
Ebigbayi who noted that items in the containers were mainly medical devices, said that the container has been impounded and will be placed under laboratory evaluation at NAFDAC headquarters in Lagos.
She lamented that NAFDAC has been encountering challenges of donated items coming into Nigeria as expired. She assured Nigerians that with the full cooperation of the Customs and other agencies, none of such items will get into circulation for use.
According to her, the container belongs to "Dr. Kelechi .R. Mezu of Mezu International Foundation located at 1008 Recester Road, Peakview Maryland, this means that he has an NGO there and he uses it to bring in donated items, but we need something doesn't mean they should give us what is bad"
"In our list of items that could be imported, there is no drugs with expiration date less than 2015, that was the basis on which the approval was given. Secondly, no items is allowed to come into this country with less than six months shelve life" she stressed
The NAFDAC top man assured that the NGO will forfeit the container and pay for the destruction of the items after it must have been given administrative charges by enforcement arm of NAFDAC.
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