The National Agency For Food and Drugs Administration and Control NAFDAC on Thursday destroyed substandard drugs, falsified and expired regulated products worth over N1.4 billion in South East and South-South.
The Substandard products were destroyed at the Anambra Waste Dump,Awka by officials of NAFDAC in company of sister agencies including Police,NDLEA NSCDC and FRSC.
NAFDAC’S Director General, Prof Mojisola Adeyeye who conducted the exercise said it was part of of efforts to rid Nigerian markets of unwholesome products and engender public confidence.
Adeyeye who was represented by the Director of Investigation and Enforcement,Mr Kingsley Ejiofor said the items include seized from manufacturers, importers, expired and those voluntarily turned in ny regulation compliant companies.
Others are those confiscated by Customs Service but violated including unregistered drugs, improperly stored vaccines, tramadol,Rohipinol intercepted on Benin- Asaba road and other fake medicinal products intercepted at different times.
According to the DG, a warehouse of banned,controlled fake and counterfeit products worth millions of naira had been discovered in Oyi Local Government Area of Anambra State and was awaiting destruction pending the setting aside of a Court Order.
She said that apart from seizures and destruction, the Agency had been able to secure conviction of culprits ranging from one year to five years as well as option of fine.
Adeyeye said the” public destruction of spurious products today would eliminate the risk of reintroduction into Nigerian markets and it is a proof of NAFDAC’S resolve to safeguard the health that only genuine medicines are wholesome are sold in Nigeriia.
” The estimated street value of the products destroyed today is N1.429,580 billion and they include antibiotics, vaccines, alcoholic,cosmetic and chemical products” she said.
She raised alarm on circulation of fake Covid-19 vaccines in Africa and warned Nigerians against taking vaccines from unapproved locations..
