March 8, 2025
The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC, said it has destroyed expired, substandard, and falsified medicines worth N100 billion in Ibadan, the Oyo state capital.
The agency said the action became necessary to prevent a re-introduction and circulation of the expired, fake, substandard, and falsified drugs.
The destruction exercise took place at the Akinyele dump site, in Ibadan.
In her remarks at the destruction site, the Director-General of NAFDAC, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, said as the lead agency and chair of the Federal Task Force on Fake and Counterfeit Drugs and Unwholesome Processed Foods, NAFDAC, was firmly committed to ensuring that food, drugs, cosmetics, medical devices, chemicals, packaged water, and drinks are safe, wholesome, and certified for human consumption.
Adeyeye, who was represented by NAFDAC Director of Narcotics and Controlled Substances, Yedunni Adenuga, said NAFDAC had established stringent guidelines for licensing, sale, and distribution of drug products as part of its commitment in ensuring safe and quality medicine.
READ MORE; NAFDAC Reopens Onitsha Market, 50 Truckloads Of Fake, Substandard Drugs Seized
She said NAFDAC’s recent discovery during it enforcement activities at the Idumota, Onitsha, Ariara, 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 among others, which are part of the things are 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, who graciously approved the use of over 1000 security personnel, including the military, police, and the Department of State Service, 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 N100 billion.
“During the three-week 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 operations, as large amounts of poorly stored vaccines and products were evacuated.
“The general public, community leaders, health practitioners religious leaders, and members of the press, I want to appeal for your assistance in the fight against falsified did Take medicines, NAFDAC Cannot do it alone it is a fight for all.
“We seek your cooperation in providing valuable information where such are being to prevent and ultimately eradicate the presence of unregistered and dangerous medicines and other violative products from our society.”
Adeyeye commended the Pharmacists Council of Nigeria, PCN, Nigeria Police Force, Depatment of State Services DSS, the Nigerian Army, the Nigeria Customs Service, NCS, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, Nigeria Security and Defence Corps, NSCDC and all stakeholders for their immense support and contribution towards the fight against substandard and falsified medicines and other unwholesome regulated products
