By Ademola Adegbite
The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, on Thursday, destroyed over N55 billion worth of fake, banned, substandard, unwholesome illicit drugs and pharmaceutical products in Ibadan, Oyo State.
The Director-General of the agency, Mojisola Adeyeye, announced this during the routine exercise, held at the dumpsite in Moniya, in the Akinyele Local Government Area of the state.
This was in line with the agency’s mandate, and a strategy aimed at preventing re-introduction of Expired, Substandard and Falsified Medical Devices, as well as other Spurious, Unsafe and Unwholesome NAFDAC Regulated Products from being re-introduced into circulation.
NAFDAC has been charged with the responsibility of ensuring that the health of every Nigerian is safeguarded, and as such is committed to eliminating SFs medical products, illicit drugs, unwholesome foods, chemicals, medical devices, and other products.
Adeyeye, whose message was delivered by the Agency Deputy Director, Pharmaceutical Division, Investigation and Enforcement, Papa Lagos, Florence Ubah maintained that the products being destroyed during the exercise are made up of substandard and falsifed medical products, unwholesome processed food products and food additives, unsafe cosmetics, counterfeits and other expired NAFDAC regulated products seized by the Agency from manufacturers, importers and distributors.
“It is important to state that, up for destruction today (Thursday) are damaged and expired products voluntarily handed over by more than 70 compliant companies, Non-Governmental Organizations, and Trade Unions, to the agency. This is commendable.
The estimated street value of the products being destroyed is worth N55,436,844,470,” Adeyeye said.
She, therefore, thanked the Nigeria Police, Nigeria Customs Service, the Nigerian Army, Department of State Services, Pharmacists Council of Nigeria, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, Nigeria Security Civil Defence Corps, and all stakeholders who have united in the fight against substandard and falsified medicines and other unwholesome regulated products.
The DG then appealed to religious leaders, community leaders, health practitioners, journalists, and all Nigerians about the importance of educating their families and wards aboutthe dangers of patronizing quacks and unauthorised medicine and food dealers.
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