NAFDAC destroys N1.8bn fake products in Abuja

The National Agency for Food, Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) on Wednesday destroyed counterfeit, expired and substandard regulated products worth over N1.8 billion in Abuja, warning that fake drugs in Nigeria are becoming increasingly difficult to distinguish from genuine products. The destruction exercise, held in Kuje Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), involved […]

The National Agency for Food, Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) on Wednesday destroyed counterfeit, expired and substandard regulated products worth over N1.8 billion in Abuja, warning that fake drugs in Nigeria are becoming increasingly difficult to distinguish from genuine products.

The destruction exercise, held in Kuje Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), involved seized medicines, banned alcoholic beverages, counterfeit food products, cosmetics, chemicals and medical devices removed from circulation by the agency.

Addressing journalists during the exercise, the Director-General of NAFDAC, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, described the growing spread of counterfeit and substandard products as a national security threat.

Represented by the Director of Investigation and Enforcement, Dr Martins Iluyomade, Adeyeye said the destroyed products were confiscated from manufacturers, importers, distributors and drug hawkers, while some were voluntarily handed over by compliant companies, NGOs and the Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria (ACPN).

She said the products destroyed included banned sachet alcohol below 100ml, narcotics, antibiotics, antihypertensive and antimalarial drugs, herbal remedies, counterfeit sachet milk, skin-lightening creams, fake insecticides and medical devices.

“The estimated street value of the products being destroyed today is N1,855,650,000,” she stated.

The NAFDAC boss said the exercise was aimed at preventing counterfeit and expired products from finding their way back into the market, adding that the agency was intensifying enforcement and prosecution efforts against offenders.

“We are continuously optimising our enforcement strategies to track and seize offending products and prosecute offenders. We are also working with lawmakers to strengthen the NAFDAC Act to impose harsher penalties and asset forfeitures on counterfeiters,” she said.

Speaking further, Iluyomade said counterfeiters had become more sophisticated, warning that many fake products now closely resemble genuine brands.

“The time is gone when you just look at a product and say it is fine. Some syndicates now clone products perfectly and Nigerians must ensure they buy from the right sources,” he said.

He alleged that some foreign syndicates were exploiting weak system infrastructure in the country to import counterfeit products disguised as legitimate goods.

“We recently intercepted about eight containers that were declared as something else. The counterfeit products were hidden among properly declared goods to beat inspections,” he explained.

Iluyomade disclosed that some offenders had already been convicted, adding that some counterfeiters were sentenced to 40 years’ imprisonment in February and March this year.

He also reiterated that sachet alcohol and PET bottles below 100ml remain banned in Nigeria, warning retailers and distributors to stop selling them or face confiscation and prosecution.

The agency urged Nigerians to remain vigilant and report suspicious products and activities to the nearest NAFDAC office.