The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, has issued a stern warning to those dealing in fake and substandard food and drug products, reiterating that Nigeria will not serve as a dumping ground for inferior goods.
Speaking at the 8th Annual Conference of the Association of Nigerian Health Journalists in Abuja, the agency highlighted its enhanced collaboration with countries like China and India to ensure rigorous pre-shipment testing of goods destined for Nigeria.
Representing the NAFDAC Director-General, the Director of Marketing Surveillance explained that counterfeit products not only endanger consumers but also undermine legitimate businesses.
He stressed the importance of global cooperation in tackling the influx of substandard products.
“Pre-shipment testing ensures that only quality products are sent to Nigeria. We have appointed independent analysts in these countries to verify product safety before they leave, reducing the risk of waste and counterfeit items entering our markets,” he said.
He further emphasized the agency’s adoption of cutting-edge tools in collaboration with the United States Pharmacopeia and the World Health Organization to identify high-risk areas for product sampling.
“We are not a dumping ground for substandard products,” he added.
NAFDAC underscored the critical role of post-marketing surveillance in countering counterfeiters, who often attempt to bypass regulatory controls.
The agency revealed it recently intercepted 144 batches of substandard pharmaceutical products, preventing their entry into Nigeria.
These efforts, coupled with routine inspections and responses to consumer complaints, have contributed significantly to reducing the prevalence of harmful goods in the market.
In a bid to further strengthen its operations, NAFDAC urged Nigerians to report suspected counterfeit products and called for increased local pharmaceutical production to minimize reliance on imports.
