On Thursday in Lafia, Nasarawa State, the National Agency for Food Drug Administration Control (NAFDAC) destroyed fake and unwholesome regulated products worth more than N326 million.
The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) in Nigeria is a federal agency under the Federal Ministry of Health that is responsible for regulating and controlling the manufacture, importation, exportation, advertisement, distribution, sale, and use of food, drugs, cosmetics, medical devices, chemicals, and packaged water.
The exercise was conducted by the North Central zonal office of the agency, with the products mopped up from Benue, Kogi, Plateau, Kwara, Niger, and Nasarawa states.
Prof. Moji Adeyeye, Director-General of NAFDAC, stated that the destroyed products included medicines, food, cosmetics, and chemicals that were either confiscated or voluntarily surrendered by compliant companies and other stakeholders.
Mr. Francis Ononiwu, the Agency’s Director, Investigation and Enforcement Directorate, represented Adeyeye and stated that the products were destroyed to prevent their reintroduction into the distribution chain.
The DG stated that the importation, distribution, and sale of counterfeit, unsafe, and wholesome NAFDAC-regulated products constituted a serious threat to human life.
Adeyeye said that the agency, by its establishment Act Cap LFN, 2004, was saddled with the responsibility to regulate and control the importation, exportation, manufacture, advertisement, distribution, sale, and use of food, drugs, and medical products.
She, therefore, solicited the support and cooperation of stakeholders and the public to rid the country of fake medicines and other products.
In his remarks, the North Central Zonal Director of NAFDAC, Pharm. Mohammed Shaba explained that the destruction was a routine exercise, adding that the products were mopped up from five states within the zone.
He said that most of the violators have been prosecuted, with some serving prison terms and others paying fines.
Shaba said that the agency was resolute and would not spare any violator of the regulated products.
He did, however, caution consumables users to always check the manufacturing and expiry dates, as well as the NAFDAC registration numbers, on products before purchasing.
Shaba urged the public to report any person or group dealing in fake, unregistered, or unwholesome products to the agency or security outfit.
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