By Wuraola Oyedokun
The Director-General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, on Thursday , flagged off the destruction of fake products worth N43 billion in Ibadan.
Adeyeye, who was represented by the Director, Investigation and Enforcement of NAFDAC and Chairman, Federal Task Force on Counterfeit and Fake Drugs and Unwholesome Processed Foods, Shaba Mohammed, warned unscrupulous elements in the enterprise of producing fake products to desist from the ignoble act.
The destruction was done at the Moniya dump site in Lapite, Akinyele Local council Area of the state.
Items destroyed included fake medicines, expired drugs, medical devices, unwholesome chemicals and other products.
The Director General said the counterfeit products were voluntarily handed over to the agency by compliant companies, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), and trade unions.
Breaking down the seized counterfeit products, Adeyeye disclosed that several raids were conducted at various locations, leading to the seizure of numerous unregistered and registered pharmaceutical products.
The confiscated products include aphrodisiacs, sex enhancement drugs, over-the-counter (OTC) medications, and prescription-only medicine (POM) drugs.
She urged Nigerians to report unscrupulous manufacturers and businessmen who engage in illicit practices to the nearest NAFDAC office for prompt investigation.
The DG said: “Over thirty types of products were seized in total. Items sold by these drug hawkers, including banned codeine substances, narcotic drugs, antimalarials, aphrodisiacs, analgesics, and antibiotics worth over forty-eight million naira, were confiscated.
“The agency gathered intelligence on the illegal warehousing, sale, and distribution of Schedule 1 narcotics by some pharmaceutical vendors in Lagos and other locations in the country.
“The Investigation and Enforcement Directorate raided pharmaceutical warehouses and premises across the country, confiscating products worth over seven hundred million naira.
“Some of the products for destruction were mopped up from circulation during Investigation and Enforcement Directorate raids. These include illicit and unregistered pharmaceutical products such as codeine syrup, expired tramadol, aphrodisiacs, antimalarials, and many other drugs.
“Other products include contraband soaps, tomato paste, unregistered and counterfeit drinks, food products, perfumes, and body sprays.
“We want to use this opportunity to encourage the public to join NAFDAC in the fight against counterfeit and fake drugs, as well as unwholesome processed foods and other NAFDAC-regulated products. Report unscrupulous manufacturers and businessmen who engage in illicit practices to the nearest NAFDAC office for prompt investigation.”
‘’The vision of the Agency is to become a World Class Regulator that ensures availability of quality and safe Food, Drugs, and other Regulated Products. The mission of the Agency is to protect and promote the public health by instituting an effective and efficient regulatory system that ensures only the right quality food, drugs and other regulated products are manufactured, exported, imported, advertised, distributed, sold, and used.
‘’This administration is fully committed to the fulfillment of this vision and mission to safeguard the health of all Nigerians. This is being achieved through implementation of various policies and strategies to make the impact of NAFDAC felt in every family in Nigeria and the Diaspora where NAFDAC regulated products are consumed.
‘’As part of the strategies to fight counterfeiting of regulated products in the country and the implementation of the National Drug Distribution Policy, the Federal Government directed the establishment of Four (4) Coordinated Wholesale Centers (CWC) across the country. The Kano CWC took off early this year as the flagship’’.
Various stakeholders present at the site in their goodwill messages lauded the efforts of NAFDAC.
Among them were the Oyo State Commissioner for Environment and National Resources, Architect Abdulmojeed Mogbojubola, represented by Mr. Akorede Rafiu, who thanked NAFDAC for using Oyo State.
The Oyo State Police Commissioner, Ayodele Sonubi, who was represented by ACP James Olah Agene, reiterated the police’s commitment to continuing partnering with NAFDAC and other agencies.
SP Oluwole Ogundele, OC, Anti-Narcotics, State CID, Ibadan, said: “We must work against unwholesome products because of their adverse effects”.
On his part, the consultant on the Dumpsite to the Oyo State Government, Alhaji Oyeniyi Mumini.