The Nationwide Company for Meals and Drug Administration and Management (NAFDAC) has confiscated and destroyed counterfeit merchandise value over ₦120 billion in three months throughout the nation.
This nationwide crackdown, spanning the six geo-political zones and the Federal Capital Territory, is a part of the company’s intensified efforts to rid the markets of substandard and falsified medicines, in addition to unwholesome meals objects.
NAFDAC Director Common, Prof Mojisola Adeyeye, mentioned the seizures, which type half of a bigger mop-up operation, focused pretend medicines, counterfeit alcoholic drinks, and unsafe meals merchandise.
She emphasised the company’s dedication to safeguard public well being, notably through the festive season when client purchases and consumption are at their peak.
In December alone, NAFDAC destroyed expired and unregistered medicine value ₦11 billion in Ibadan. In Lagos, operations on the Tyre Village, Commerce Honest Advanced, led to the confiscation of pretend medicines valued at ₦300 million. Additional motion in opposition to counterfeit alcohol within the state resulted within the seizure of things value ₦2 billion, following studies of expired drinks being illegally revalidated.
The company additionally recorded main successes in Nasarawa State, the place counterfeit rice and different unwholesome meals merchandise valued at ₦5 billion had been seized. Raids at Karu Market and a manufacturing facility on Abacha Street uncovered expired and repackaged rice supposed on the market.
The same operation in Abuja’s Wuse and Garki markets led to the confiscation of over 1,600 baggage of pretend rice, with a complete market worth of ₦5 billion. In Aba, NAFDAC carried out a two-day operation uncovering large-scale manufacturing and distribution of counterfeit items, together with drinks, powdered milk, vegetable oils, and carbonated drinks.
Merchandise valued at ₦5 billion had been seized, and 150 retailers at Eziukwu Market had been sealed to forestall additional circulation of the objects. Adeyeye famous that the company’s enforcement efforts have led to the removing of dangerous merchandise from markets in main cities akin to Lagos, Port Harcourt, Ibadan, Kaduna, and Abuja. She reaffirmed NAFDAC’s dedication to defending Nigerians from the hazards posed by these merchandise, urging customers to stay vigilant.
NAFDAC suggested the general public to purchase solely NAFDAC-registered meals, drinks, and medicines from respected retailers. “Merchandise bought effectively under regular costs or displaying poor packaging, spelling errors or uncommon designs ought to elevate suspicion,” she mentioned.
The Director Common additionally inspired healthcare professionals and customers to report suspected substandard or falsified merchandise to the company. She warned retailers of pretend items to desist, vowing that NAFDAC would intensify its crackdown on people and organizations prioritising revenue over public security.
Adeyeye famous that the company stays resolute in guaranteeing solely high quality, secure, and healthful merchandise can be found to Nigerians, not solely through the yuletide however all through the approaching yr.
