The Nationwide Company for Meals and Drug Administration and Management (NAFDAC) has revealed that it destroyed over ₦120 billion price of seized merchandise nationwide in six months.
In line with NAFDAC Director-Basic, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, the operations spanned Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) seizing substandard and falsified medicines, counterfeit meals, and drinks in six months, overlaying October to December 2024.
She disclosed this in her Christmas and New 12 months messages and urged residents to prioritize security by buying meals and drinks solely from credible shops and avoiding merchandise with out NAFDAC registration numbers.
Prof. Adeyeye warned that merchandise offered at unusually low costs are sometimes substandard or counterfeit. “When a product is just too low cost, it’s almost certainly compromised,” she cautioned.
She additionally disclosed that the company’s officers, significantly from the Investigation and Enforcement (I&E) Directorate, would maintain the continuing efforts to take away substandard and falsified medicines in addition to unwholesome meals objects from markets nationwide.
In collaboration with the Pharmacovigilance (PV) and Publish-Advertising and marketing Surveillance (PMS) Directorates, NAFDAC officers are actively on the sector, concentrating on falsified medicines, counterfeit wines and drinks, and different harmful meals merchandise that pose dangers to public well being throughout the
Nationwide crackdowns and seizures
NAFDAC groups have carried out operations throughout main cities reminiscent of Lagos, Port Harcourt, Aba, Ibadan, Kaduna, and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). Merchandise price billions of Naira had been confiscated prior to now three months of renewed enforcement efforts.
- Ibadan (December 11, 2024): Expired and unregistered medicine price ₦11 billion had been destroyed.
- Lagos: In November, pretend medicines price ₦300 million had been seized throughout a raid at Tyre Village, Commerce Honest Advanced.
- Counterfeit alcohol packaging facilities had been dismantled, and objects valued at ₦2 billion had been confiscated.
- Nasarawa State: ₦5 billion price of expired and counterfeit rice was seized at Karu Market.
- On December 19, a manufacturing facility and eight retailers packaging pretend rice, valued at ₦5 billion, had been sealed at Ninjur Ventures on Abacha Highway, Karu.
- FCT (Abuja Markets): Over 1,600 luggage of counterfeit rice price about ₦5 billion had been confiscated at Wuse and Garki markets.
- Aba, Abia State (December 16-17, 2024): A two-day operation uncovered large-scale manufacturing and distribution of counterfeit items, together with drinks, carbonated drinks, spirits, vegetable oils, and revalidated meals objects reminiscent of noodles, powdered milk, and yoghurt. The haul was valued at ₦5 billion.
Harder measures forward
Prof. Adeyeye reiterated that the company wouldn’t relent in its combat towards what she referred to as “retailers of loss of life.” She warned that 2025 would convey even more durable enforcement actions towards these compromising the standard of medicines and meals.
“The approaching yr shall be robust for the those who prioritize cash over the wellbeing of their fellow human beings,” she said.
Shopper security advisory
NAFDAC suggested Nigerians to scrutinize merchandise fastidiously, making certain they’re sourced from respected shops and have NAFDAC registration numbers.
Prof. Adeyeye warned towards shopping for merchandise offered considerably beneath commonplace market costs, as they’re probably counterfeit.
“We enchantment to Nigerians to purchase solely NAFDAC-registered drinks from licensed retailers, bars, and supermarkets. Poor packaging, spelling errors, and weird bottle shapes are sometimes crimson flags,” she famous.
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