NAFDAC destroys counterfeit products worth N650m in Kaduna

As part of its efforts towards eradicating fake drugs in the society, the National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control, (NAFDAC) has destroyed goods worth N650 million at its Buruku dumpsite in Kaduna.

Speaking to newsmen shortly after the exercise in Kaduna Thursday, the Director General of NAFDAC, Prof. Christian Mojisola Adeyeye, said the exercise was to get rid of spurious NAFDAC regulated products from circulation in Nigeria.

According to Prof Adeyeye, “The products being destroyed today are made of substandard and falsely labelled medicines, unwholesome foods products, cosmetics and other counterrfeited products.

“Drug counterfeiting is an act of economic sabotage and also terrorism against public health.”

While commending the Federal Government over the ban on the use codeine syrup, the D.G. who was represented by the Acting Director, North-West Zone, Pharm. Gimba Dauda said, “the decision is to ensuring the reduction in the abuse of the substance.

“We have continued to aggressively pursue the goal that only genuine medicines and wholesome foods of the right qualities are imported, exported, manufactured and distributed.

“We commend the President Muhammadu Buhari for re-instating NAFDAC personnel to our ports of entry and borders.”

Christian admitted that the relentless effort of the Federal Government had helped in the increased seizure of counterfeited and substandard NAFDAC Regulated products smuggled through the land borders.

Part of the drugs, food, cosmetics and chemicals destroyed include: antibiotics, antimalarial, anti- hypertensive, anti-cancer, herbal remedies and controlled substances.

Others are: Mom’s Tomato paste, Non- alcoholic beverages, Maize flour, Eva complexion soap, hair cream and fake insecticides.