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The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has announced the destruction of counterfeit, expired, and substandard drugs valued at N4.7 billion in Rivers.
The Director-General of NAFDAC, Christiana Adeyeye, made this statement during the destruction event held at the Rivers state dump site in Port Harcourt on Friday.
Adeyeye, who was represented by Chukwuma Oligbu, the NAFDAC director for the South-South zone, clarified that these products were seized from the six states within the South-South region: Rivers, Bayelsa, Edo, Delta, Akwa Ibom, and Cross River.
She emphasized that the investigation, enforcement, and destruction operation reflected the agency's strong commitment to safeguarding public health. As stated by her, the elimination of these hazardous products is not merely a routine task.
“It serves as a definitive manifestation of our unwavering resolve to shield the public from the threats posed by counterfeit and substandard medicines, subpar food, medical devices, and other dangerous regulated items. These products, if allowed to circulate, could inflict serious harm, including treatment failures, drug resistance, long-term health issues, and potentially fatalities,” she asserted.
Adeyeye detailed that the destroyed goods included substandard medical products, unsafe processed food items, food additives, and counterfeit cosmetics. She also mentioned expired NAFDAC-regulated items seized from manufacturers, importers, and distributors. Some damaged and outdated products were voluntarily surrendered to the agency by compliant businesses, Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), the Association of Community Pharmacists (ACPN), and trade unions.
The DG indicated that this achievement stemmed from intelligence operations in July 2024, noting that the estimated street value of the destroyed products reached N4.7 billion.
She disclosed that the agency uncovered multiple warehouses in Port Harcourt where certain alcoholic beverages were being revalidated and reintroduced into the market.
“Following an organized surveillance operation, the warehouses were raided, and the products confiscated. Additionally, a warehouse containing unregistered cosmetic products was seized, resulting in the confiscation of items worth several millions of naira. Unregistered imported vegetable oil lacking Vitamin A fortification and various unregistered cosmetic products from Delta state were also amongst those destroyed,” she explained.
Adeyeye praised the collaborative efforts with other agencies, notably the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) in Edo state, which handed over two 40ft containers filled with various categories of unregistered and substandard drugs that were subsequently destroyed.
The DG expressed gratitude to the sister agencies that supported NAFDAC in this operation, which included the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Nigeria Police Force (NPF), State Security Service (SSS), National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).
She also acknowledged the assistance from the Rivers State Waste Management Agency (RIWAMA) and the media, reiterating the agency's commitment to safeguarding the public from harmful products.
Adeyeye urged all stakeholders, including health professionals, law enforcement agencies, industry members, and the general public to contribute to this cause by reporting any suspicious activities and ensuring adherence to regulatory standards.
Dignitaries at the event included the narcotics commander from the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency and the Comptroller of the Nigeria Customs Service Eastern Marine Command, along with other officials from various agencies.
