In Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, the Federal Government, through the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC, destroyed some substandard products, including fake medicines and medical devices, worth N43 billion.
The substandard products were destroyed on Thursday at the Moniya dumpsite in the Akinyele Local Government area of the state amidst the presence of representatives from security agencies and the Oyo State Government.
Professor Mojisola Adeyeye, the NAFDAC Director-General, was represented by the Director of Investigation and Enforcement, Shabba Mohammed, who declared that the products were voluntarily surrendered to the agency by compliant enterprises, non-governmental organisations, and trade unions.
Adeyeye recalled the enormous work that followed with the seizure of several unregistered and registered medicinal items at different searches.
She explained that the seized items included aphrodisiacs, sex enhancement drugs, over-the-counter pharmaceuticals, and prescription drugs.
In the light of this, the boss of NAFDAC called for the collaboration of the public in the fight against fake medicines and food products. According to her, anyone finding any illegal practice should report to the nearest office of NAFDAC for necessary investigation.
“Over thirty different products were seized in total,” she noted, highlighting that the confiscated items included banned substances such as codeine and narcotics, with a total value exceeding N48 million.
“The agency has been actively gathering intelligence on illegal warehousing, sale, and distribution of narcotics by pharmaceutical vendors in Lagos and other states.”
“Recent raids conducted by the Investigation and Enforcement Directorate resulted in the confiscation of products worth over N700 million.
“In addition to counterfeit pharmaceuticals, the operation also targeted contraband items such as unregistered soaps, tomato paste, and counterfeit beverages.
“By taking these actions, NAFDAC aims to protect the health and safety of the public while promoting compliance within the pharmaceutical industry,” she stated.
