NAFDAC destroys N2.6bn worth of products in Rivers
NAFDAC Destroys Counterfeit Medicines and Unsafe Food Products Worth ₦2.6 Billion
In a recent operation, the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) destroyed counterfeit medicines and substandard food products valued at an estimated ₦2.6 billion. The agency’s Director of Investigation and Enforcement, Martins Iluyomade, attended the event on behalf of Director-General Professor Mojisola Adeyeye.
Iluyomade noted that the process commenced last year when he and the Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service inspected the containers before they were transferred to NAFDAC for destruction. He acknowledged the collaboration with the Customs Service, highlighting that the exercise underscored the commitment of both agencies to their existing memorandum of understanding.
“To all Nigerians, our work is to safeguard the health of the nation,” Iluyomade stated, reinforcing NAFDAC’s dedication to public health. In his capacity as Chairman of the Federal Task Force on Counterfeit Medicines, Fake Drugs, and Unwholesome Processed Foods, he also called for stronger cooperation among security agencies to combat the circulation of counterfeit products.
“We need more synergy among all security agencies,” he said, describing the issue of unsafe food and medicines as a significant security concern. Iluyomade emphasized that the protection of public health is intertwined with ensuring access to safe food and medications.
He urged the public to report suspected counterfeit products through NAFDAC’s official channels, cautioning against publicizing complaints online before notifying the agency. “If you see something, you say something,” he encouraged, asking for community support in the agency’s enforcement efforts.
Rita Chukwuma, Deputy Director and representative of the NAFDAC South-South Zonal Director, emphasized that the operation was part of NAFDAC’s regulatory responsibility. She explained that the destroyed products included those intercepted by NAFDAC and expired items voluntarily submitted by companies. The initiative aims to prevent these harmful products from entering the market.
Chukwuma stated that NAFDAC collaborates with military, police, paramilitary organizations, and other relevant agencies to fulfill its regulatory duties.
A.E. Kolesho, representing the enforcement units of the Nigeria Customs Service, warned of the serious health risks posed by unsafe products. “They are responsible for many of the sicknesses we are experiencing today,” Kolesho said, expressing support for NAFDAC’s ongoing enforcement activities to protect the public from the dangers associated with compromised products.
