The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control has eliminated counterfeit, substandard, and illicit pharmaceutical products valued at over one trillion naira.
The exercise took place at the Anambra State Waste Management Authority Dump Site in Agu Awka, Anambra State, on Friday.
Professor Mojisola Adeyeye, the agency’s Director General, represented by NAFDAC’s South-East Zonal Director, Dr. Martins Iluyomade, oversaw the destruction.
She disclosed that the confiscated products included banned substances such as Analgin and high-dose Tramadol 225mg, among others.
These fake and substandard drugs were seized from major drug markets, specifically Onitsha’s Bridge Head Drug Market (Ogbu-Ogu) and Aba’s Ekumi/Tenant Road Drug Market, during an intensive enforcement operation.
Speaking to journalists before the disposal of the confiscated items, Adeyeye reaffirmed NAFDAC’s unwavering dedication to ensuring the safety and quality of food, drugs, medical devices, cosmetics, packaged water, and beverages available to Nigerians.
She stated, “Today, we are destroying the fake, counterfeit and illicit drugs that were seized during our one-month enforcement exercise. The products that were classified as illicit, expired, and banned were confiscated during a raid on Onitsha Bridge Head Drug Market (Ogbu-Ogu) and Ekumi/Tenant Road drug market in Aba.
“The recent discovery of counterfeit and other products in these major markets in the country is mind-boggling. The discoveries made of the presence of unregistered products, banned products such as Analgin, and controlled substances such as Tramadol 225mg, amongst others, are part of the things making our country unsafe in terms of security.”
She emphasized that NAFDAC is determined to eradicate substandard medicines from circulation.
“We, as an agency, have come to realise that the time has come to put an end to the circulation of substandard medicines in Nigeria. Different calls, different cries have been made and we have listened to those cries and rejigged our ways and assured Nigerians that they can go to bed knowing that whatever medicines are now in the system are safe and fit for consumption,” she said.
Adeyeye further explained that the enforcement campaign, which ran from February 10 to March 5, remains an ongoing initiative, as the agency is committed to completely eradicating counterfeit drugs.
“The enforcement exercise took us about a month from February 10 to March 5, and we want to say it is a continuous exercise. The current management of NAFDAC has an unrenewable commitment to ensure that these fake drugs are stamped out. It is a bit complex, even though we have said that medicines have been certified, but still, people get them in.
Bulk volumes of narcotics and other medicines that are not approved because of their effect were confiscated.
The volume that we found during this exercise is more than enough to destabilise a country. By research, there is a correlation between them and insecurity.
The volume is huge and humongous, and it is one of the highest in the world. From Onitsha and Aba, the total volume of trucks of fake drugs that have been moved out of these markets is over 100 40ft containers. And it is over a trillion naira—the estimated value of products that are being destroyed today. Millions of people have been saved by this action alone.
We assure all Nigerians that the medicines that are now available in the market are authentic and efficacious, and we urge Nigerians that when they see something, they should say something.”
Adeyeye also acknowledged the media’s role in amplifying the fight against counterfeit drugs, urging citizens to actively participate in exposing illicit pharmaceutical activities.
Representing Anambra State Governor Chukwuma Soludo at the event, the Managing Director of Anambra State Waste Management Authority, Mike Ozoemanam, praised NAFDAC for its efforts in cleansing the market of harmful and illegal drugs.
He noted, “The governor visited the market during the enforcement exercise. He did not come there to play politics, but to support the agency. The governor took the bull by the horns because we saw the correlation between the fake drugs and the effect on our youths, and you can see that the state is now quiet.
“Anambra people are good people and peace-loving people, and we urge NAFDAC not to relent in their fight against fake and illicit drugs. Whether banned or contaminated, we do not want it in Anambra State.”
The large-scale destruction of counterfeit drugs underscores NAFDAC’s ongoing battle to ensure that only safe and approved medicines circulate within Nigeria’s pharmaceutical market.
