The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has destroyed drugs worth over N613 million in Kano state.
The items destroyed include drugs such as antibiotics, anti-hypertensive, anti-malaria, herbal remedies, psychoactive and controlled substances.
Others include foods, such as spaghetti, vegetable oil, non alcoholic beverages and satchet water. Also cosmetics such as creams and pomade, as well as chemicals such as fake insecticides were destroyed.
NAFDAC Director General, Prof Christianah Mojisola Adeyeye, said the items destroyed were “fake, counterfeit, substandard, expired and unwholesome regulated products.”
She explained that the Northwest exercise was in line with NAFDAC strategy aimed at eradicating fake drugs and other spurious NAFDAC regulated products from circulation in the country.
“The products destroyed today are made up of substandard, fake and falsely labeled medicines, unwholesome processed food products, cosmetics and other counterfeit unsafe NAFDAC regulated products seized by the agency from manufacturers, importers and distributors.
“Also expired drugs voluntarily handed over by compliant companies, Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs), Trade Unions, Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PCN) and National Association of Proprietary and Patent Medicine Dealers (NAPPMED) are included in the exercise.
“The destruction of these products will no doubt eliminate the risk of their reintroduction into the Nigerian market,” Prof Adeyeye said.
The NAFDAC DG described drug counterfeiting as an act of economic sabotage that also represents a serious threat to public health.
She disclosed that NAFDAC is today being proactive in its approach by engaging political, traditional and religious leaders in sensitising their wards on the dangers of drug and substance abuse.
Prof Adeyeye said NAFDAC, whose responsibility is to regulate and control the manufacture, importation, exportation, advertisement, distribution, sale and use of food, drugs, cosmetics, medical devices, chemicals and packaged water in the country, will sustain collaboration with the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), the police and other stakeholders to keep them updated with current regulatory requirements.
“The manufacture, distribution, sale and use of medicine and foods must be effectively controlled to ensure prescribed standards of identity, safety, quality and efficacy are met,” she insisted.
