NAFDAC Destroys Fake, Expired Food, Medicine, Cosmetics Worth N10bn in North East Nigeria

N10bn Fake Food, Medicine, Cosmetics Destroyed by NAFDAC

“These products, if allowed to circulate, could have caused untold harm to countless individuals...”

NAFDAC Cracks Down on Counterfeits: N10bn Worth of Fake, Substandard Products Destroyed - Ensuring public safety, NAFDAC destroys harmful medicines, food, cosmetics, and more in North East Nigeria

The National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has made a significant move in protecting public health by destroying fake, expired, and substandard medicine and consumer products worth over N10 billion. Director General Professor Mojisola Adeyeye announced this breakthrough in Gombe, explaining that NAFDAC officials confiscated these harmful products from manufacturers, importers, and distributors across the six states in the North East geo-political zone.

This accomplishment is part of NAFDAC's ongoing efforts to curb substandard and falsified medicines, which have become a global problem. 

The agency has deployed multifaceted strategies, including enforcement of regulation and control of active pharmaceutical ingredients, ensuring good manufacturing practices, and reducing the number of registered imported products to encourage local manufacturing.

Some of NAFDAC's notable achievements include:

• Pre-Shipment Provisional Registration: Ensuring products meet quality specifications before registration.

NAFDAC's efforts demonstrate its commitment to safeguarding Nigeria's health and well-being. By destroying harmful products and promoting local manufacturing, the agency aims to reduce the prevalence of substandard and falsified medicines to less than 5% by 2025.

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has taken a bold step in protecting public health by destroying substandard, fake, and falsely labeled products worth over N10 billion. Represented by Kenneth Azikwe, North East Zonal Coordinator, NAFDAC's Director General, Professor Mojisola Adeyeye, revealed that the destroyed products included medicines, unwholesome food items, and cosmetics that pose serious risks to public health.

This exercise demonstrates NAFDAC's unwavering commitment to ridding markets of harmful products. As part of its strategic plan, NAFDAC aims to reduce substandard and falsified medicines to less than 5% by 2025, significantly lower than the global prevalence of 10%. 

The agency has deployed multifaceted strategies to achieve this goal, including:

• Laboratory Testing: Operating ISO-17025 accredited laboratories to test product quality

• Enforcement of Regulation: Controlling active pharmaceutical ingredients imported into the country to ensure they meet required standards.
• Good Manufacturing Practices: Ensuring compliance through adequate oversight.
• Pre-Shipment Provisional Registration: Verifying product quality before registration.
• Cutting-Edge Monitoring Technologies: Utilizing tools like Truscan and GPHF Minilab to detect substandard products.
• Post-Marketing Surveillance: Continuously monitoring registered products to prevent substandard products from entering the market.

“The products we are about to destroy, including food, drugs, and other regulated items worth N10 billion, were seized through the diligent efforts of our regulatory and enforcement officers in the zone, who work tirelessly to intercept and confiscate these dangerous items,” Adeyeye said.

“These products, if allowed to circulate, could have caused untold harm to countless individuals. By removing them from circulation, we are taking a decisive stand against those who seek to profit at the expense of public safety.”

NAFDAC's Director General, Professor Mojisola Adeyeye, has reaffirmed the agency's commitment to ensuring that only safe and quality products are sold and consumed in Nigeria. This includes food, drugs, cosmetics, medical devices, chemicals, and packaged water.

The agency is taking a strong stance against unscrupulous dealers who prioritize profits over public safety. James Agada, NAFDAC's Gombe State Coordinator, emphasized that the recent destruction of harmful products worth N10 billion is a key part of the agency's market control strategy. This exercise aims to rid markets of substandard, falsified, and unwholesome products that pose serious risks to public health.

NAFDAC's Commitment to Quality Products

Ensuring Quality Standards: NAFDAC is dedicated to upholding rigorous standards and innovative practices to safeguard public health.

Market Control Strategies: The agency employs cutting-edge technology, laboratory analyses, and robust enforcement to ensure only high-quality products reach the market.

Protecting Public Health: NAFDAC's efforts have earned international recognition and collaboration with leading health organizations worldwide.

NAFDAC's efforts to destroy harmful products and promote local manufacturing are a crucial step in protecting Nigeria's health and well-being. By doing so, they're reducing the risk of increased hospital admissions, prolonged hospital stays, treatment failures, and even death. This proactive approach also helps prevent the development of drug resistance, a significant public health concern.

Benefits of NAFDAC's Initiatives:

Reduced Hospital Admissions: By removing substandard and falsified products from the market, NAFDAC decreases the likelihood of patients requiring extended medical care.

Prevention of Treatment Failures: Ensuring access to quality medicines minimizes treatment failures, which can lead to loss of confidence in the healthcare system.

Boosting Confidence in Healthcare: NAFDAC's efforts promote trust in Nigeria's healthcare system, encouraging citizens to seek medical attention when needed.

Economic Benefits: Local manufacturing encourages economic growth, reduces unemployment, and contributes positively to Nigeria's economy.

Overall, NAFDAC's strategic measures demonstrate their commitment to safeguarding public health and promoting a healthier Nigeria.