By Oluseye Ojo, Olanrewaju Lawal Birnin
The National Agency for Food Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC) yesterday destroyed N100 billion worth of expired, falsified, controlled, unregistered, and banned medicines removed from Idumota Open Drug outlets in Lagos State.
The drugs were burnt at Moniya dump site in Akinyele Local Government Area of Oyo State, in the presence of representatives of Nigeria Customs Service, Pharmaceutical Council of Nigeria, Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria, Nigeria Police Force, and National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NAFDAC) among others.
The Director-General of NAFDAC, Prof Mojisola Adeyeye, in her address on the occasion, noted that the discoveries from the recent enforcement activities by NAFDAC at the Idumota, Onitsha, Ariara, and Ezeuku open drug markets were mind boggling.
She assured Nigerians that NAFDAC as the lead agency and chair of the Federal Task Force on Fake and Counterfeit Drugs and Unwholesome Processed Foods, is firmly committed to ensuring that food, drugs, cosmetics, medical devices, chemicals, packaged water, and drinks are safe, wholesome, and effective for human consumption.
Adeyeye, who was represented by the agency’s Director of Drugs, Narcotics and Controlled Substances Mrs. Yedunni Adenuga, said: “The discoveries made of the presence of unregistered products, banned products, such as Analgin, controlled substances, such as tramadol 225mg amongst others, 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 1,000 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 N100 billion.
“During the three-week exercise, several suspects were apprehended. Further investigation is being carried out; and 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 public, community leaders, health practitioners, religious leaders,
members of the press, I want to appeal for your assistance in the fight against falsified and fake medicines. NAFDAC cannot do it alone; it is a fight for all.
“We seek your cooperation in providing valuable information, where such are being done to prevent and ultimately eradicate the presence of unregistered and dangerous medicines and other violative products from our society.”
Meanwhile, NAFDAC has said it would partner the Kebbi State Government to ensure proper control of drug distribution networks and collaboration with other Federal Government agencies, like the NDLEA, and PCN in the state.
While NAFDAC is soliciting support from the state government on the proper adherence to the drugs regulations in all the 21 local government areas, proper storing of medicines, centralising the distribution of pharmaceutical drugs, usage of Green book and the Scan to verify app among the people of the state, Kebbi State Government is also seeking synergy among the three federal agencies to ensure proper control of drugs, medicine in the state.
These were the outcome of the discussions of the NAFDAC Kebbi State Coordinator, Alhaji Muyideen F. Suleiman during his working visit to the Commissioner for Health, Alhaji Musa Ismail in his office.
While addressing the Commissioner and his management staff, the state coordinator of NAFDAC, Suleiman, explained that there was need for the adoption of the Apps known as the Green book and the Scan2verify on the mobile phones of the people of the state, to confirm the genuineness and detect any fake drugs before purchasing them for final usage.
Earlier, the Director of Pharmaceutical Services, Alh Atiku Bala Wala, assured the NAFDAC state coordinator that many of the issues raised, especially the transportation of medicines via vulnerable vehicles and improper storage are already being addressed both by the PCN while the establishment of the DMA in the state would completely end the problems.
Also speaking, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Health, Dr. Nuhu Koko who commended NAFDAC for safeguarding the people against the counterfeit drugs, disclosed that some drug dealers and supermarkets were still found tampering with the expiry dates of drugs and imported food products displayed for sale in their shops and supermarkets.