August 3, 2025
The Nigeria Customs Service, on Saturday, officially handed over 16 seized containers loaded with fake and substandard regulated products worth an estimated N20.5 billion at Onne Port in Port Harcourt to the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC, reinforcing the ongoing institutional collaboration between both agencies.
The seized consignment includes large quantities of codeine syrup, tramadol tablets, falsified diclofenac, unregistered erectile dysfunction drugs, and unwholesome tomato paste, all smuggled into the country in violation of regulatory standards.
According to a statement issued on Sunday by NAFDAC’s Resident Media Consultant, Sayo Akintola, the seized items comprised 11 containers of various unregistered and banned pharmaceutical products and 4 containers of unwholesome tomato paste.
Among the intercepted items were:
1.3 million bottles of codeine syrup, a highly controlled prescription-only medication.
12.6 million tablets of tramadol, a potent and addictive opioid used for managing post-operative pain in adults.
9.3 million tablets of falsified and substandard branded diclofenac, a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug used in treating osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.
280 packages of Hyergra tablets, a falsified version of sildenafil citrate used for managing erectile dysfunction in men.
4 containers of unregistered and substandard tomato paste.
READ MORE; NAFDAC Seizes Fake And Expired Products Worth Over N1.5 Billion In Lagos Markets
NAFDAC Director-General, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, who commended the Nigeria Customs Service for their continued collaboration, used the event to issued a strong warning to individuals and companies involved in the illicit trade of fake and substandard goods to desist from the act or face the wrath of the law
“I warned unscrupulous merchants both at home and abroad, that under our watch, substandard and fake food and drug products will not be allowed access to our people.
“Recent threats of death, kidnapping of our staff and other attempts to dampen our zeal will continue to fail, because God, as well as our people are on our side,” she declared.
Prof. Adeyeye called on all well-meaning Nigerians to partner with NAFDAC by reporting all suspected cases of manufacture, importation, distribution or sale of fake and substandard products through NAFDAC’s offices nationwide or through the Agency’s various social media channels.
She warned that consuming unwholesome products poses serious health risks, including acute food poisoning and gastrointestinal illnesses caused by adulterants in expired food items.
Other dangers include nutritional deficiencies and reduced food value, chronic organ damage resulting from toxic metabolites and heavy metals, and a heightened risk of cancer due to expired colorants, dyes, and preservatives.
