National Agency for Food, Drug Administration and Control, yesterday, destroyed counterfeit, substandard and fake pharmaceutical and other products worth N1 trillion at Anambra State Waste Management Authority Dump Site.
Director General of the agency, Mojisola Adeyeye, who performed the exercise at the dump site located in Awka South Local Government Area, said the affected products include Analgin, controlled substances such as Tramadol 225mg, amongst others.
Adeyeye, who was represented by the South-East Zonal Director, Dr Martins Iluyomade, said the fake, substandard, unregistered and expired drugs were confiscated from Onitsha Bridge Head Drug Market (Ogbu- Ogu) and Ekumi/ Tenant Road drug market in Aba.
Addressing journalists before the destruction of the items, the NAFDAC boss reiterated the agency’s commitment to ensure that food, drugs, cosmetics, medical devices, chemicals, packaged water and drinks are safe, wholesome and effective for human consumption.
She said, “Today, we are destroying fake, counterfeit and illicit drugs that were seized during our one month enforcement exercise. The products that were classified as illicit, expired and banned were confiscated during a raid on Onitsha Bridge Head Drug Market (Ogbu- Ogu) and Ekumi/ Tenant Road drug market in Aba.
“The recent discovery of counterfeit and other products in major markets in the country is mind-boggling. The discovery of unregistered and banned products such as Analgin, and controlled substances such as Tramadol 225mg amongst others, are part of the things making our country unsafe in terms of security.
She noted that the agency intends to put an end to substandard drugs.
“The time has come to put an end to the circulation of substandard medicines in Nigeria.
“The enforcement exercise took us about a month from February 10 to March 5 and we want to say that it is a continuous exercise. The current management of NAFDAC has a commitment to ensure that these fake drugs are stamped out. It is a bit complex.
“Bulk volume of narcotics and other medicines that are not approved because of their effect were confiscated. The volume that we found during this exercise is more than enough to destabilise a country, by research, there is a correlation between them and insecurity.
“The volume is humongous and it is one of the highest in the world. From Onitsha and Aba, the total volume of trucks of fake drugs that have been moved out of these markets are over 100 40ft containers. And it is over a trillion naira, the estimated value of products that are being destroyed today. Millions of people have been saved by this action alone.
“We assure all Nigerians that the medicines that are now available in the market are authentic and efficacious, and we urge them that when they see something, they should say something.”
