NAFDAC Destroys N43bn Fake, Substandard Products In Oyo

The National Agency for Food, Drugs Administration, and Control (NAFDAC), on Thursday, destroyed substandard products including fake drugs, medical devices and other unwholesome regulated products worth N43 billion in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.

At the exercise which was carried out at the Lapite dump site, Moniya in the Akinyele Local Government Area state, the NAFDAC Director-General, Christiana Adeyeye, said the counterfeited products were voluntarily handed over to the agency by compliant companies, Non Governmental Organizations, and Trade Unions.

While giving the breakdown of the seized products, Adeyeye who was represented by the Director of Investigation and Enforcement, Shabba Mohammed, said several raids were carried out at various locations which led to the seizure of several unregistered and registered pharmaceutical products.

Her words: “The confiscated products include aphrodisiacs, sex enhancement drugs, over the counter, and prescription-only medicine drugs. Over 30 wares were seized in total. Products peddled by these drug hawkers including banned Codeine substances, narcotic drugs, Antimalarial, Aphrodisiacs, Analgesics, and Antibiotics worth over 48 million naira, were confiscated.

“The agency gathered intelligence on illegal warehousing, sale and distribution of schedule one Narcotics by some Pharmaceutical vendors in Lagos and other locations in the country.

‘The Investigation and Enforcement Directorate raided some Pharmaceutical warehouses and premises across the country to confiscate products worth over seven hundred million naira.”

Explaining further, she explained that some other products for destruction were mopped up from circulation during Investigation and Enforcement Directorate raids. “These include illicit and unregistered pharmaceutical products such as Codeine syrup, expired tramadol, aphrodisiacs, anti-malaria and many other drugs.
Other products are contraband soaps, tomato paste, unregistered and counterfeit drinks, food products, perfumes and body spray.

“We want to use this opportunity to encourage the public to join NAFDAC in the fight against counterfeit and fake drugs unwholesome processed food and other NAFDAC-regulated products by reporting unscrupulous manufacturers and businessmen who engage in illicit practices to the nearest NAFDAC office for prompt investigation”, Adeyeye urged.

The exercise was witnessed by security agencies, Oyo state government representatives, and a host of other stakeholders.