The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has destroyed counterfeit, substandard, falsified, expired and unwholesome regulated products valued at over ₦1.8 billion at the Kuje dumpsite in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.
The destruction exercise involved the incineration of seized counterfeit medicines, banned sachet alcohol, expired pharmaceuticals, fake chemicals, and other unsafe products confiscated across Abuja and surrounding areas. The items also included products voluntarily submitted by companies, NGOs, and the Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria (ACPN) for safe disposal.
Speaking during the exercise, the Director-General of National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, represented by the Director of Investigation & Enforcement, Dr. Martins Iluyomade, warned that counterfeit drug syndicates are now using sophisticated cloning techniques to imitate genuine products, making detection increasingly difficult for consumers.
He disclosed that the agency recently intercepted several containers of suspicious products falsely declared in an attempt to evade detection at the ports, stressing the need for stronger inter-agency collaboration and increased public vigilance.
NAFDAC reiterated that the destruction exercise demonstrates its commitment to ensuring that seized products do not re-enter the supply chain. The agency also reaffirmed its enforcement of the ban on alcoholic beverages packaged in sachets and PET bottles below 200ml, warning that offenders and traders in possession of such products will face prosecution.
The agency further urged Nigerians to avoid patronising suspiciously cheap medicines and other regulated products, advising the public to report suspicious activities to the nearest NAFDAC office or through its official call centre.
