Approximately N1,367,000,000 worth of counterfeit, contaminated, and unregistered foods, medications, and cosmetics were destroyed by the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control on Thursday in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.
At the region’s Kuje dumpsite, the products were destroyed.
The demolition exercise is an essential and regular operation that NAFDAC carries out in all federation zones, according to a brief statement made by Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, the agency’s director-general, during the exercise.
Prof. Adeyeye, who was accompanied by Dr. Festus Ukadike, the Director of her office, said “We carry out these exercises at least once a year in each zone, depending on the volume of seizures made by the agency. The goal is to eliminate substandard, falsified, and expired NAFDAC-regulated products from the supply chain.
“In 2024, NAFDAC achieved remarkable progress, making substantial seizures that underscore our commitment to safeguarding public health. We carried out several destruction exercises across the zones, including Lagos, where products worth over N120bn of falsified, substandard, and unwholesome food products were destroyed.
“Our relentless pursuit of justice against health trafficking cartels has resulted in the seizure of over 6,000 bags of rebagged rice in the FCT alone. These deceitful cartels aim to exploit and harm the unsuspecting Nigerian populace for economic gain. NAFDAC has zero tolerance for such activities and has initiated a thorough investigation to ensure that all involved face appropriate sanctions.”
The DG added that the materials destroyed were confiscated during the agency’s activities in the FCT and neighbouring areas, alongside items handed over by conforming enterprises and groups.
Antibiotics, antihypertensives, antimalarials, herbal snuff, herbal remedies, psychotropic and restricted substances, and medications confiscated from street vendors were among the merchandise.
The cosmetics destroyed included creams, lotions, pomades, and skin-lightening products seized from spas and beauty centres; other items included counterfeit Izal, Jik, and medical devices; and expired and unwholesome products voluntarily submitted for destruction by Non-Governmental Organisations and the Association of Community Pharmacy of Nigeria.
Other items included food items such as cookies, vegetable oil, non-alcoholic beverages, and items from supermarkets with labels in foreign languages that lacked English translations.
“The estimated street value of the products slated for destruction today is N1,367,000,000. NAFDAC has significantly ramped up its post-marketing surveillance and enforcement activities to counter the threats posed by counterfeit medicines and foods to national security.
“The agency is proactively engaging political, traditional, and faith-based leaders, as well as journalists and the general public, to galvanise support and commitment in the fight against substandard and falsified products,” she added.
Dr. Ifeanyi Okeke, the Director General of the Standards Organisation of Nigeria, praised NAFDAC for destroying the products and cautioned importers, manufacturers, and other relevant parties that the renewed hope agenda would not tolerate non-compliance with regulations.
“The rules are there, the guidelines are there. If you are not sure, NAFDAC and SON are there to guide you on standards,” Okeke said, speaking through Gamagira Mohammed, the FCT Coordinator of SON.
“I believe we will continue to strengthen our collaboration so that Nigeria can grow, and everybody will be healthy in the interest of the country.”
“I commend NAFDAC for this step that you’ve been taking annually, and I assure you that as chemists, all measures will be taken to ensure compliance and to support your efforts,” said Salamatu Orakwelu, Chairman of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria, FCT Chapter.