As part of its efforts towards eradicating fake drugs and counterfeit in the society, the National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control, (NAFDAC) has destroyed goods worth N650.000.000 at its Buruku dumpsite in Kaduna on Thursday.
Speaking to Journalists shortly after the destruction exercise, the Director General of NAFDAC, Prof. Christian Mojisola Adeyeye said the exercise is 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 counterfeited products.
“Drug counterfeiting is an act of economic sabotage and also terrorism against public health”, she said.
While commending the Federal Government on 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.
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“We commend the President Muhammadu Buhari for re-instating NAFDAC personnel to our ports of entry and borders”.
Prof. Christian admitted that the relentless effort of the Federal Government has help in the increase seizures of counterfeited and substandard NAFDAC Regulated products smuggled through the land borders.
While speaking, she explained that NAFDAC has deepened its collaboration with Agencies of Government and stakeholders to put stop to spread of fake and counterfeited drugs in Nigeria.
Part of the drugs, food, cosmetics and chemical 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.