The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has destroyed counterfeit, expired, and unwholesome products valued at N15 billion in Ibadan, Oyo State.
The destruction exercise took place on Wednesday at the Moniya dumpsite. NAFDAC Director-General, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, represented by the Director of Investigation and Enforcement, Dr. Martins Iluyomade, said the move was to safeguard public health and prevent dangerous products from re-entering circulation.
According to Adeyeye, the items destroyed included counterfeit and expired medicines, banned medical products, and unregistered drugs such as codeine-based cough syrups, Tramadol, Oxytocin, Analgin, Co-codamol, and expired vaccines.
She disclosed that some of the seized products came from recent operations, including the interception of a container disguised as diclofenac but loaded with anti-malaria drugs worth millions of naira. The suspect behind the shipment has been arrested and is facing prosecution.
Adeyeye further revealed that NAFDAC uncovered illegally manufactured cosmetics and packaging materials during a raid on a military barracks in Lagos.
Other items destroyed were seized during nationwide clampdowns on black-market drug peddlers and counterfeiters.
She thanked the Nigeria Customs Service for handing over more than 25 seized containers of prohibited products, including Tramadol, Artesunate injections, and frozen poultry, which were part of those destroyed.
The NAFDAC DG urged community leaders, health professionals, religious leaders, and the media to enlighten Nigerians on the dangers of patronising unlicensed drug sellers.
She also called for increased public vigilance and collaboration to strengthen the fight against substandard and harmful products.
Adeyeye commended the Nigeria Police Force, Nigerian Army, DSS, Pharmacists Council of Nigeria, and other stakeholders for supporting the agency’s mission to protect public health.