Ramping up its anti-fake products war, 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 of Oyo State.
The Director General of NAFDAC, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, said the counterfeit drugs worth a hundred billion naira were confiscated from pharmaceutical drug marketers in Idumota market, Lagos.
The anti-fake drug czar noted that the step became necessary to prevent the reintroduction of expired, fake, substandard, and falsified drugs into circulation.
Speaking during the burning exercise, Adeyeye said 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.
According to her, NAFDAC has established stringent guidelines for licensing, sale, and distribution of drug products as part of its commitment to ensuring safe and quality medicine.
Adeyeye, who was represented at the event by NAFDAC Director of Narcotics and Controlled Substances, Yedunni Adenuga, said NAFDAC’s recent enforcement activities at the Idumota, Onitsha, Ariara, and Ezeuku open drug markets were mind-boggling.
“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 National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu, who graciously approved the use of over 1,000 security personnel, including operatives from the Military, Police and Department of State Services (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 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.”
