The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) on Friday destroyed counterfeit, substandard, and expired pharmaceutical products worth over one trillion naira at the Anambra State Waste Management Authority Dump Site in Agu Awka, Anambra State.
NAFDAC’s Director General, Mojisola Adeyeye, represented by the agency’s South-East Zonal Director, Dr. Martins Iluyomade, led the destruction exercise in Awka South Local Government Area.
The affected products included banned and controlled substances such as Analgin and Tramadol 225mg. The confiscated items were seized from Onitsha Bridge Head Drug Market (Ogbu-Ogu) and Ekumi/Tenant Road drug market in Aba during a month-long enforcement operation.
Speaking before the destruction, Adeyeye reaffirmed NAFDAC’s commitment to ensuring the safety and effectiveness of food, drugs, cosmetics, medical devices, chemicals, packaged water, and beverages in Nigeria.
“Today, we are destroying fake, counterfeit, and illicit drugs seized during our enforcement exercise. The discovery of unregistered and banned products in major drug markets across the country is alarming. The presence of such substances contributes to security risks in Nigeria,” she stated.
She emphasized that NAFDAC remains determined to eliminate substandard medicines from circulation.
“We have listened to public concerns and realigned our strategies to ensure that only safe and approved medicines are available in Nigeria. Nigerians can be assured that the drugs currently in circulation meet the required safety standards,” Adeyeye added.
