NAFDAC destroys fake, expired products worth N1.3bn in Abuja

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has destroyed fake, and expired foods, drugs, and cosmetic products worth N1.3 billion.

The products were seized in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, and destroyed at the Kuje dumpsite in the territory.

The products included drugs such as psychoactive and controlled substances, antibiotics, antihypertensives, antimalarial, herbal snuff, and herbal remedies, including drugs seized from hawkers. Others were food products, including cookies, vegetable oil, non-alcoholic beverages, and items from supermarkets with labels in foreign languages lacking English translations.

The cosmetics destroyed included creams, lotions, pomades, and skin-lightening products confiscated from spas and beauty centres. Other items included fake Izal, Jik, and medical devices.

Expired and unwholesome products voluntarily submitted for destruction by Non-Governmental Organisations and the Association of Community Pharmacy of Nigeria were also destroyed.

Mojisola Adeyeye, represented by Festus Ukadike, a NAFDAC director led officials to the dumpsite. She said the products destroyed were seized during the agency’s operations in the FCT and surrounding areas, alongside items handed over by compliant companies and organisations.

“The estimated street value of the products slated for destruction today is N1,367,000,000. NAFDAC has significantly ramped up its post-marketing surveillance and enforcement activities to counter the threats posed by counterfeit medicines and foods to national security”, she said.

Adeyeye, recalled that in 2024, NAFDAC carried out several destruction exercises across the zones, including Lagos, where products worth over N120bn of falsified, substandard, and unwholesome food products were destroyed.

“Our relentless pursuit of justice against health trafficking cartels has resulted in the seizure of over 6,000 bags of rebagged rice in the FCT alone. These deceitful cartels aim to exploit and harm the unsuspecting Nigerian populace for economic gain. NAFDAC has zero tolerance for such activities and has initiated a thorough investigation to ensure that all involved face appropriate sanctions”, she added.