The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has destroyed counterfeit drugs at the Moniya dump site in Akinyele Local Government Area, Oyo State.
NAFDAC Director-General, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, revealed that the counterfeit drugs, valued at ₦100 billion, were seized from pharmaceutical drug marketers in Lagos’ Idumota market.
She emphasized that the action was necessary to prevent the circulation of expired, fake, substandard, and falsified drugs.
During the destruction exercise, Adeyeye reaffirmed NAFDAC’s commitment as the lead agency and chair of the Federal Task Force on Fake and Counterfeit Drugs and Unwholesome Processed Foods to ensuring the safety and effectiveness of food, drugs, cosmetics, medical devices, chemicals, packaged water, and beverages for public use.
She highlighted that NAFDAC has implemented strict regulations for licensing, sale, and distribution of drug products to guarantee their safety and quality.
Represented by NAFDAC’s Director of Narcotics and Controlled Substances, Yedunni Adenuga, Adeyeye described recent enforcement activities in open drug markets, including Idumota, Onitsha, Ariara, and Ezeuku, as revealing and critical in combating counterfeit drugs.
“The discoveries made of the presence of unregistered products, banned products such as Analgin, Controlled substances such as Tramadol 225mg amongst others, which are part of the things making our country unsafe in terms of security.
“This operation could not have been made possible without the support of the NSA who graciously approved the use of over 1000 security personnel including the Military, Police and DSS.
“Today, you are witnessing the destruction of expired, falsified, controlled, unregistered, and banned medicines removed from Idumota Open Drug outlets.
“The estimated street value of these products being destroyed stands at One Hundred Billion Naira (N100,000,000,000). During the three weeks exercise, several suspects were apprehended. Further investigation is being carried out; those found culpable will be sanctioned.
“I want to reiterate NAFDAC’S commitment to ensuring that Maternal and Child Care are upheld, and this was demonstrated during the recent operation, as large amounts of poorly stored vaccines and products were evacuated.
“The general public, community leaders. health practitioners, religious members of the press, I want to appeal for your assistance in the fight against falsified did Take medicines, NAFDAC Cannot do it alone it is a fight for all.”