From Obinna Odogwu, Awka
The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), on Friday, destroyed fake products worth N4,282,302,738 at a dumpsite in Awka, Anambra State capital.
Director General of the agency, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, said that the fake products were gathered from the South East and South-South geopolitical zones of the country.
The products are antibiotics, antihypertensive, antidiabetic, antiasthmatic, aphrodisiacs, antimalarial, anti-inflammatory, herbal remedies and psychoactive drugs.
Others are banned drugs such as Analgin, Tramadol (above 100mg), Gentamycin 280mg and controlled substances as well as vaccines which NAFDAC said were “improperly stored outside the cold chain.”
In addition to the above, there were also alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, and cosmetics such as creams, soaps and antiseptics; chemicals such as fake insecticide and unwholesome foods.
“The combined South-East and South-South zonal destruction exercise being carried out today is made up of spurious, counterfeited, substandard and falsified medicinal products, unwholesome processed food products.
“There also counterfeited and unregistered cosmetics and several other counterfeited unsafe NAFDAC regulated products seized by the agency from various suspects in the category of manufacturers, importers and distributors in the combined South East and South-South zones of the country.
“Among the products also scheduled for this destruction exercise are expired, defective and recalled products voluntarily handed over by compliant companies, Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) and market unions in the South East and South-South zones”, she said.
Adeyeye, represented at the event by the Director of Investigation and Enforcement, Francis Ononiwu, said that the exercise was in line with the mandate of the agency to eradicate fake drugs and other spurious NAFDAC regulated products from circulation in Nigeria.
“The public destruction of spurious products today would eliminate the risk of their reintroduction into the Nigerian market and it is a proof of NAFDAC’s resolve to safeguard the health of our nation by ensuring that only genuine medicines and wholesome foods of the right qualities are imported, exported, manufactured, distributed and sold in Nigeria.
“It is a known fact that drug counterfeiting is an act of economic sabotage and also represents a serious threat to public health.
“The present management of NAFDAC has taken a proactive approach towards tackling this challenge by the engagement of political, traditional and religious leaders in sensitizing their members, subjects and congregation respectively to desist from this practice.
Adeyeye said that her agency was able to record the remarkable achievements because of the support it received from other agencies and stakeholders in the region.
“In the year 2021, another remarkable seizure was made by the Nigerian Custom Service Benin-City, Edo State and handed over to NAFDAC for destruction as part of the collaborative effort and synergy between the agencies.
“The products intercepted and seized were 4x40ft containers of fake, banned and counterfeit products worth millions of naira. Some of the drugs include Tramadol 225mg Tablet, CSP with Codeine syrup, Bronclear with Codeine Syrup,Chloroquine Injection, Cold Caps.
“In July, 2021, a DAF truck loaded with unregistered drugs, improperly stored vaccines, controlled, banned and fake medicinal products worth millions of naira was intercepted along Asaba-Benin Express Road.
“On 7th February 2022, a J5 Bus with violating products including Tramadol Tablets, Rohypnol Tablets and other controlled drugs was intercepted along the same axis and the products were confiscated for destruction.
“Also present for destruction today are violating products including banned, controlled, fake and counterfeit products worth millions of naira. The products were recovered at an illegal warehouse located in a remote area at Oyi L.G.A., Anambra State by officers of NAFDAC in 2020 of which the suspect is still at large. The Agency obtained a court order on 2nd March, 2021 for forfeiture and destruction since the owners were not found.
“Furthermore, the Agency carried out an investigative analysis on finished and intermediate products at a drug company in Enugu, Enugu State. The products to be destroyed include Ascorbic acid tablets, Metronidazole tablets, B-complex tablets, Prednisolone tablets and cold tablets.”
The NAFDAC boss commended her investigation and enforcement team in the two regions, the police, Nigeria Customs Service, Delta State Task Force on Counterfeit and Drugs and Unwholesome Processed Food, Bridge Head Market (Ogbo-Ogwu) Union Onitsha, Anambra State and others for their support.