The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has destroyed seized fake, expired, substandard, and falsified drugs and products valued at ₦15 billion in Ibadan, Oyo State.

According to the Director General of the Agency, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, the destruction, held in Ibadan, became necessary to prevent reintroduction of the drugs into circulation, The Nation reported.

Adeyeye, who was represented at the event by NAFDAC Director of Investigation and Enforcement, Dr. Martins Iluyomade, said NAFDAC as lead agency and chair of the Federal Task Force on Fake and Counterfeit Drugs and Unwholesome Processed Foods is committed towards ensuring that foods, drugs, cosmetics, medical devices, chemical, packaged water and drinks are safe, wholesome and effective for human consumption.

She said, “There is no doubt that drugs are a critical aspect of NAFDAC’s mandate, and the agency has established strict guidelines governing the licensing, sale, and distribution of drug products.

“The products we destroyed today include expired, counterfeit, uncontrolled, unregistered, and banned drugs such as Analgin, Cocodamol, Codeine cough syrup, Tramadol, Oxytocin, and various types of vaccines.

“The estimated street value of these products being destroyed today stands at fifteen billion naira only.”

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She stated that the confiscation of those products will eliminate the risk of their re-entry into the Nigerian market.

She acknowledged the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) efforts in handing over 25 40ft containers of pharmaceutical products, including Tramadol 225mg, Artesunate injection, CSC cough syrup with codeine, as well as frozen chicken, which is prohibited.

She also appreciated the Police, Nigerian Army, DSS, NDLEA, NSCDC, and Pharmaceutical Council of Nigeria, among others, for their support.

She urged stakeholders to educate their families and wards about the dangers of patronising quacks and unauthorised medicine dealers.

She, however, sought the cooperation of Nigerians in providing information to help prevent and ultimately eradicate the presence of unregistered and dangerous medicines and other volatile products from society.

In his remark, SK Tijani, who spoke on behalf of the Controller General of the Nigerian Customs Service, Bashir Adeniyi, said there is synergy between Customs and NAFDAC in the fight against fake, expired, substandard, and unwholesome drugs and products across the nation.

He said all stakeholders must play their role in making sure that the nation is free from criminal activities, such as importing and producing the products and drugs.