NAFDAC Assures Nigerians of Food, Drugs, Safety, Destroys Products Worth N100bn
The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration control, NAFDAC has reiterated its commitment to ensuring that food, drugs, packaged water, and drinks are safe, wholesome and effective for the consumption of Nigerians.
This assurance which was given by the Director General, NAFDAC, Prof. Christiana Mojisola Adeyeye, at the destruction of several NAFDAC regulated products worth One hundred billion Naira (100, 000,000,000)
According to Prof. Adeyeye, who was represented by Director, Narcotics, the destruction of the NAFDAC regulated products is part of the Agency’s commitment in ensuring safe and quality medicines and the establishment of stringent guidelines for licensing, sale and distribution of drug products.
The DG noted that the seizure of the goods was as a result of the Agency’s recent enforcement activities at Idumota, Onitsha, Ariara Ezeuku open drug markets which brought about the discoveries of thousands of unregistered products, banned products such as Analgin, controlled substances such as Tramadol 225mg amongst others.
The DG further stressed on the commitment of of NAFDAC to ensure that Maternal and Child care are upheld which was demonstrated during the recent enforcement operation as large amount of poorly stored vaccines and Maternal products were confiscated.
She said, “It is my great honor to welcome you to this critical destruction exercise of various NAFDAC-regulated products. This initiative is essential to prevent the reintroduction of expired, fake, substandard, and falsified drugs into circulation.
“As the lead agency and chair of the Federal Task Force on Fake and Counterfeit Drugs and Unwholesome Processed Foods, NAFDAC is firmly committed to ensuring that food, drugs, cosmetics, medical devices, chemicals, packaged water, and drinks are safe, wholesome, and effective for human consumption. 
As part of our commitment in ensuring safe and quality medicines, NAFDAC has established stringent guidelines for licensing, sale, and distribution of drug products.
“Our recent enforcement activities at the Idumota, Onitsha, Ariara, Ezeuku open drug markets was mind boggling. The discoveries made of the presence of unregistered products, banned products such as Analgin, Controlled substances such as Tramadol 225mg amongst others, which are part of the things making our country unsafe in terms of security.
Today, you are witnessing the destruction of expired, falsified, controlled, unregistered, and banned medicines removed from Idumota Open Drug outlets. The estimated street value of these products being destroyed stands at One Hundred Billion Naira (N100,000,000,000).
“I want to reiterate NAFDAC’s commitment to ensuring that Maternal and Child Care are upheld, and this was demonstrated during the recent operation, as large amounts of poorly stored vaccines and products were evacuated.
The DG appreciated the National Security Adviser, Prof. Nuhu Ribadu, various security agencies – Nigerian Army, Police, DSS, NCS, NSCDC, NDLEA, Pharmacist Council of Nigeria and other stakeholders who partook in the enforcement exercise and who have contributed in the fight against substandard and falsified medicine and other unwholesome regulated products.
She also noted that about 40 suspects were arrested during the enforcement operation and that further investigation is being carried out and those found culpable will be charged to court.
This operation could not have been made possible without the support of the NSA who graciously approved the use of over 1000 security personnel including the Military, Police and DSS.
“During the three weeks exercise, several suspects were apprehended. Further Investigation is being carried out; those found culpable will be sanctioned.
I want to extend my sincere appreciation to the Pharmacists Council of Nigeria (PCN), Nigeria Police Force, Department of State Services (DSS), the Nigerian Army, the Nigeria Custom Service (NCS), National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Nigeria Security and Defence Corps (NSCDC) and all stakeholders who have contributed in the fight against substandard and falsified medicines and other unwholesome regulated products,” Prof. Adeyeye said.
Prof Adeyeye however call on the general public, community leaders, health practitioners, religious leaders and members of the press to assist the agency in the fight against falsified and fake medicine admitting that NAFDAC alone cannot get the job done.
To the general public, community leaders, health practitioners, religious leaders, members of the press, I want to appeal for your assistance in the fight against falsified and fake medicines, NAFDAC cannot do it alone, it is a fight for all.
“We seek your cooperation in providing valuable information where such are being sold or/and kept to help us prevent and ultimately eradicate the presence of unregistered and dangerous medicines and other violative products from our society.
