The National Agency for Foods and Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC), has destroyed unwholesome medicines, and products worth N4,700,000,000, in Port Harcourt, the Rivers state capital.
This action is in line with the agency’s mandate to protect and promote public health as well as ensure that only safe and quality foods, drugs, and other regulated products are manufactured, imported, exported, advertised, distributed, sold, and used in the country.
The was made known on Friday, February 7, by Prof. Christianah Mojisola Adeyeye, Director-General of NAFDAC, at the RIWAMA dumpsite Aluu, Ikwerre Local Government Area of the state, where the exercise took place.
Prof. Adeyeye who was represented at the occasion by the South South Zonal Director of NAFDAC, Pharmacist Chukwuma Oligbu, stated that “the destruction of these harmful products is not just a routine exercise; it is a firm statement of our unwavering resolve and commitment to protect the lives of our people from the dangers of counterfeit and substandard medicines, unwholesome food, Medical devices and other hazardous regulated products.
“These products, if allowed to circulate could cause untold harm including treatment failures, drug resistance, prolonged illnesses, and even loss of lives”
She maintained that the products destroyed worth billions of Naira were not only fake products but some are expired.
“The products being destroyed during this exercise are made up of Substandard and Falsified Medical Products, Unwholesome Processed Food products and food additives, Unsafe Cosmetics, Counterfeits and other Expired NAFDAC Regulated Products seized by the Agency from manufacturers, importers and distributors. Also, up for destruction today are Damaged and Expired products voluntarily handed over by compliant companies, Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), Association of Community Pharmacists (ACPN) and Trade Unions, to the Agency.
“The estimated street value of the products planned for destruction is (N4,700,000,000)”
The seizure according to her is from all the states in the South South region in collaboration with the security agencies in the region.
“The Agency through intelligence gathering in July, 2024 discovered several warehouses in Port Harcourt, Rivers State were some Alcoholic beverages were being re-validated and re-introduced into circulation. After a properly coordinated surveillance, the warehouses were raided and products confiscated. Also, through this operation, a warehouse of unregistered Cosmetics product was raided and products worth several millions in Naira were confiscated”.
“Seized unregistered imported vegetable oil without Vitamin A fortification, and assorted unregistered cosmetics product from Delta State are also to be destroyed today”.
“The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) in Edo State handed over two (2) 40ft containers of various Pharmacological classes of unregistered and substandard drugs which is part of the items to be destroyed today”
The event witnessed the presence
of Prince Obi Ohia, Special Adviser on Environmental Sanitation to Rivers State Governor Sir. Sim. Joseph Fubara, heads of law enforcement security personnel in Rivers state, NAFDAC directors in Edo, Delta, Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Cross Rivers state and the pharmaceuticals stakeholders in Rivers state.
