The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) on Wednesday carried out a significant exercise in Ibadan, disposing of substandard and falsified medicinal products valued at approximately ₦11 billion. The event took place at the Akinyele dumpsite, where Mrs. Roseline Ajayi, Director of the South West Zone, represented NAFDAC's Director General, Professor Mojisola Christianah Adeyeye.
During the exercise, Ajayi outlined the critical roles of NAFDAC, established under the Federal Government of Nigeria's law to regulate food, drugs, cosmetics, medical devices, and other related products. She emphasized the agency's commitment to ensuring public health and safety through various strategies, including product registration, laboratory testing, inspections, and enforcement actions.
"This destruction exercise is a vital component of NAFDAC's investigative and enforcement efforts to eliminate unwholesome, substandard, and counterfeit products from the market," Ajayi stated. She noted that the items being destroyed were collected from five southwestern states, excluding Lagos, as well as Kwara State due to its proximity.
The destroyed items included expired products that were voluntarily surrendered, as well as unregistered and counterfeit goods that had been confiscated during inspections. The total estimated value of these products amounted to ₦10,991,458,374.60.
The public destruction served multiple purposes, including sending a firm message that confiscated items would not be diverted for personal use, assuring citizens of NAFDAC's commitment to removing harmful products from circulation. It was also conducted under the supervision of the Oyo State government to minimize environmental impact.
Ajayi extended the Director General's gratitude to the public and various agencies, including the Nigerian Customs Service, Nigerian Police, and the Nigerian Security and Civil Defense Corps, for their support in the fight against counterfeit drugs and substandard products. She called on all Nigerians to join hands with NAFDAC in safeguarding the nation’s food and drug sector.
Ajayi also reiterated NAFDAC's mission to protect public health, stating, "Together, we can keep Nigeria safe and free from unwholesome medicinal and regulated products."
