Tag: NAFDAC

…arrests fake missionary, launches manhunt for fake doctor

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has arrested a syndicate posing as missionaries and caregivers to administer fake eye drops and tablets to unsuspecting members of the public in Rivers state.

It was gathered that the syndicate used evangelism as a cover for their nefarious activities and that their lid was blown open when some persons who took the drugs and eye drops started having swollen eyes.

Speaking on the matter in Port Harcourt on Monday, the Director, South-South Zone of NAFDAC, Chukwuma Oligbu, said the agency clamped down on the suspects after receiving reports of the damaging effects of the products.

He said the unscrupulous elements posed as missionaries and free health caregivers, wrapping their products with an image that conveyed an impression of Jesus, and started their operations at the Community Town Hall Abuloma, Port Harcourt LGA.

He said all the products had no list of ingredients, no manufacturing address, and expiry dates.

He named the unregistered products as evangelist Jenkins’ supernatural water, evangelist Jenkins’ cleanser, evangelist Jenkins’ eyes drop, among others.

He said the sellers claimed that the products were formulated to treat goitre, cancer, piles, arthritis, rashes, fibroids, cataracts, and glaucoma, among others.

He said NAFDAC operatives stormed the area and arrested one Mrs Gladys Theophilus, who was attending to the patients, and launched a manhunt for a fake doctor behind the scam.

Read Also: NAFDAC clarifies sachet alcohol ban timeline

He said, “Some persons that used the eyes drop got their eyes swollen while the fake doctor that’s on the run assured them that the swollen eye was a sign that the drug was working, while assuring them that the impurities in their eyes would be washed out as mucus and liquid comes out of their eyes.

“When the NAFDAC team, led by the state Coordinator, Pharm Emmanuel Onogwu, stormed the town hall located at Jetty Road, Abuloma, they met a woman administering their fake drugs to some persons waiting in turns.

The middle-aged woman, Mrs Gladys Theophilus, who was attending to unsuspecting victims, was arrested while the fake doctor claimed to be outside the state when he was contacted on the phone.

“The fake products were eventually evacuated to the NAFDAC Zonal Office at Woji Road, GRA Phase 2, while investigations are ongoing”, he said.

Oligbu warned members of the public to beware of the unscrupulous elements claiming to be evangelists and selling concoctions in the name of medicine, adding that their products were not registered or verified by any government body.

 He said anybody patronising the syndicate was doing so at their peril and called for public support in safeguarding the health of the Nation.

“The general public is advised to immediately report to NAFDAC wherever activities of these fake healthcare providers are noticed, as NAFDAC insists on zero tolerance to counterfeit drugs in Nigeria”.

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has clarified its stance regarding the nationwide ban on sachet alcohol.

Mr Kenneth Azikiwe, Director of the FCT Directorate of the agency, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Monday that the temporary lifting of the ban was only valid until Dec. 31, 2025.

He emphasised that the recent ministerial lifting of the ban was not permanent and urged the public to disregard misinformation suggesting that the government had permanently lifted the restriction.

“There is a ministerial lifting on the ban of sachet alcohol, but it is only temporary and will be reviewed by Dec. 31, 2025.

“After this date, the full enforcement of the ban will commence.

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“The minister granted this temporary relief to allow manufacturers and regulators time to collaborate and ensure a more structured and effective implementation of the ban,” Azikiwe stated.”

He highlighted NAFDAC’s ongoing efforts to sensitise the public across the country, noting that awareness campaigns had reached every state.

“We have sensitised distributors, and we’ve emphasised that alcohol should not be sold to individuals under the age of 18, which is also clearly indicated on product labels,” he added.

Azikiwe also commended the Distillers and Beverages Association of Nigeria (DIBAN) for supporting the awareness drive.

He reassured the public that NAFDAC remained fully committed to regulating alcohol consumption and reiterated that sachet alcohol products containing less than 200 milliliters would be phased out after Dec. 2025.

(NAN)

National Agency for Food, Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has stepped up its fight against fake medicine with the appointment of Cotecna Inspection Services as a Clean Report of Inspection and Analysis (CRIA) agent in India.

The move is party of the agency’s intensified efforts to prevent the importation of substandard and falsified (SF) medicines and other regulated products from India and China.

The appointment followed the Agency’s continued crackdown on counterfeit medicines, highlighted by the recent seizure and destruction of over N1 trillion worth of substandard and expired drugs from markets in Idumota, Onitsha, and Aba.

NAFDAC’s Director-General Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye said the latest move was aimed at further strengthening the Agency’s pre-shipment verification processes and regulatory oversight in key exporting countries.

In a statement yesterday by the agency spokesman, Sayo Akintola, the director-general reiterated the agency’s focus on mitigating substandard and counterfeit products through the CRIA scheme, emphasised that the trade in falsified medicines is a global menace that disproportionately affects low-and middle-income countries, including Nigeria.

She spoke at a hybrid technical meeting in Lagos.

According to her, the CRIA scheme, which has been operational in China and India, is a frontline strategy in screening products before export, adding that NAFDAC reviewed the performance of CRIA agents, resulting in the disengagement of one, renewal of contracts with two others, and the onboarding of two new agents in India, including Cotecna.

“Cotecna joins a lineup of CRIA agents mandated to inspect product quality, packaging, and labelling; conduct random testing; verify regulatory documents; and report non-compliance or attempts to bypass the process.

“Laboratories in both India and China are designated for product testing under the CRIA scheme, and only goods that pass inspection are cleared for shipment to Nigeria,” she said.

She also reported the introduction of the Ports Inspection Data Capture and Risk Management System (PIDCARMS), an electronic platform designed to verify CRIA and NAFDAC documentation, process inspection reports, and enhance transparency and efficiency at ports.

Read Also: NAFDAC seizes 120 fake bags of rice in Rivers

The NAFDAC boss, however, warned against any attempts to reintroduce rejected consignments into Nigeria, revealing plans for a collaborative effort with the Indian Government to track rejected medicines and prevent backdoor entry facilitated by unscrupulous individuals.

“We want to know what happens to the medicines rejected in India,” she said, adding, “NAFDAC will not allow such products to find their way back into our country.”

Adeyeye also urged exporters of NAFDAC-regulated products to engage approved CRIA agents prior to shipping to ensure compliance and safeguard public health.

She reiterated that all regulated products, barring those on the exemption list, must undergo CRIA processing.

The representative of CRIA agent, Cotecna, who is also the Vice President of Verification of Conformity and Africa, Lena Sodergren, reaffirmed the company’s commitment to quality assurance and international trade facilitation.

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has appointed Cotecna Inspection Services as a Clean Report of Inspection and Analysis (CRIA) agent in India, as part of its intensified efforts to prevent the importation of substandard and falsified (SF) medicines and other regulated products from India and China, it emerged on Sunday.

The appointment followed the agency’s continued crackdown on counterfeit medicines, highlighted by the recent seizure and destruction of over ₦1 trillion worth of substandard and expired drugs from markets in Idumota, Onitsha, and Aba. 

NAFDAC’s Director General (DG), Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye said the latest move was aimed at further strengthening the agency’s pre-shipment verification processes and regulatory oversight in key exporting countries.

In a statement on Sunday by the agency’s Resident Media Consultant, Sayo Akintola, the DG while speaking at a hybrid technical meeting in Lagos focused on mitigating substandard and counterfeit products through the CRIA scheme, emphasized that the trade in falsified medicines is a global menace that disproportionately affects low- and middle-income countries, including Nigeria. 

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According to her, the CRIA scheme, which has been operational in China and India, is a frontline strategy in screening products before export, adding that NAFDAC reviewed the performance of CRIA agents, resulting in the disengagement of one, renewal of contracts with two others, and the onboarding of two new agents in India, including Cotecna.

“Cotecna joins a lineup of CRIA agents mandated to inspect product quality, packaging, and labelling; conduct random testing; verify regulatory documents; and report non-compliance or attempts to bypass the process. 

“Laboratories in both India and China are designated for product testing under the CRIA scheme, and only goods that pass inspection are cleared for shipment to Nigeria,” she said.

She also reported the introduction of the Ports Inspection Data Capture and Risk Management System (PIDCARMS), an electronic platform designed to verify CRIA and NAFDAC documentation, process inspection reports, and enhance transparency and efficiency at ports.

She, however, warned against any attempts to reintroduce rejected consignments into Nigeria, revealing plans for a collaborative effort with the Indian government to track rejected medicines and prevent backdoor entry facilitated by unscrupulous individuals. 

“We want to know what happens to the medicines rejected in India,” she said. “NAFDAC will not allow such products to find their way back into our country,” she said.

Adeyeye also urged exporters of NAFDAC-regulated products to engage approved CRIA agents prior to shipping to ensure compliance and safeguard public health, while reiterating that all regulated products, barring those on the exemption list, must undergo CRIA processing

The representative of CRIA agent, Cotecna, who is also the Vice President of Verification of Conformity and Africa, Lena Sodergren, reaffirmed the company’s commitment to quality assurance and international trade facilitation. 

She described the CRIA scheme as the most comprehensive food, drug, and cosmetics program on the continent, noting its effectiveness in eliminating fake certifications, labels, and non-compliant shipments.

Director of the Ports Inspection Directorate, Olakunle Olaniran, also acknowledged the impact of the CRIA scheme, revealing that nearly 200 consignments of regulated products have been intercepted or stopped at origin based on laboratory failures, altered documents, or suspicious activity.

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has destroyed fake, substandard and falsified drugs seized during a recent operation in Onitsha and Aba.

The unwholesome pharmaceutical products were destroyed at the Anambra State Waste Management Agency’s dump site in Awka yesterday, following standard disposal procedures.

 Prof. Christina Adeyeye, NAFDAC Director-General, who supervised the destruction, stated that 100 containers of such products valued at ₦100 trillion were seized.

Represented by Dr Martin Iluyomade, Director of Southeast Zonal Operations, she said the quantity of banned psychoactive drugs found could destabilise an entire country.

Adeyeye noted that NAFDAC had realised the time had come to permanently end the circulation of falsified and substandard pharmaceutical products in Nigeria.

According to her, fake medicines lead to treatment failures, causing preventable deaths and severe economic losses, especially for vulnerable patients who rely on these drugs.

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“Medicines are not a matter of choice but necessity. We cannot quantify how many lives have been lost due to fake or substandard products.

“We found medicines meant for pregnant women, which require cold storage, kept in oven-hot conditions—no wonder Nigeria faces high childbirth mortality rates.

“It is disheartening that banned drugs with harmful effects, including unapproved medicines like tramadol and psychoactive substances, are still in circulation,” Adeyeye stated.

The Director-General said although the one-month operation, which saw markets closed, had ended, enforcement would continue until fake drugs are eliminated.

She affirmed NAFDAC’s commitment to ensuring that medicines are safe, effective, certified and suitable for use by the general public.

“We thank the Federal Government, state government, security agencies and the media for their support and cooperation during this successful operation,” she said.

Mr Mike Ozoemena, representing the Anambra State Government, commended NAFDAC for its efforts in eliminating fake pharmaceutical products from the state and the country.

Ozoemena, Managing Director of Anambra State Waste Management Agency, said Gov. Chukwuma Soludo’s administration would support all efforts to protect public health.

He praised NAFDAC for acting swiftly and not prolonging the closure of the drug markets unnecessarily, which helped minimise disruption for traders.

The destruction exercise was witnessed by officials of the Nigerian Army, Department of State Services, and other security agencies to ensure transparency and accountability.

No fewer than 100 truckloads of drugs have been destroyed in Awka, Anambra state by the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control  (NAFDAC).

The drugs were seized at the bridgehead Market in Onitsha and Aba, Abia state by the agency.

The combined value of the burnt drugs, according to the agency, was worth over one trillion naira.

According to the Director General of NAFDAC, Prof Moji Adeyeye, they were confiscated during the month-long operation carried out by the agency and security officials.

Adeyeye was represented by the Southeast Zonal Director, Martins Iluyomade .

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The destruction was done at the ASWAMA destruction site in Awka.

Adeyeye said the action taken by NAFDAC had saved millions of lives of Nigerians, stating that the drugs were among the highest in the world at a single exercise.

Adeyeye said: “We as an Agency, have come to realize that the time has come for us to put an end to the circulation of substandard and falsified medicines in Nigeria.

“People have cried and we have listened and that is why we are working in such a way that Nigerians can go to bed and sleep, knowing that whatever medicine they take is safe, certified and effective

“We also saw medicines that had been banned and we wondered about the obsession with them. There are also in circulation, narcotic medicines, including tramadol and these are the things that promote insecurity in the country. Also, many a time, people had used different medicines only to get treatment failures, which, in turn, cause economic failures for the country,” she said

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has destroyed fake, substandard, and falsified drugs seized during a recent operation in Onitsha and Aba.

The unwholesome pharmaceutical products were destroyed at the Anambra State Waste Management Agency’s dump site in Awka on Friday, following standard disposal procedures.

Prof. Christina Adeyeye, NAFDAC Director-General, who supervised the destruction, stated that 100 containers of such products valued at ₦100 trillion were seized.

Represented by Dr Martin Iluyomade, Director of Southeast Zonal Operations, she said the quantity of banned psychoactive drugs found could destabilise an entire country.

Adeyeye noted that NAFDAC had realised the time had come to permanently end the circulation of falsified and substandard pharmaceutical products in Nigeria.

According to her, fake medicines lead to treatment failures, causing preventable deaths and severe economic losses, especially for vulnerable patients who rely on these drugs.

“Medicines are not a matter of choice but necessity. We cannot quantify how many lives have been lost due to fake or substandard products.

“We found medicines meant for pregnant women, which require cold storage, kept in oven-hot conditions—no wonder Nigeria faces high childbirth mortality rates.

“It is disheartening that banned drugs with harmful effects, including unapproved medicines like tramadol and psychoactive substances, are still in circulation,” Adeyeye stated.

Read Also: NAFDAC evacuates 107 truckloads of fake, expired drugs in 10 days

The Director-General said although the one-month operation, which saw markets closed, had ended, enforcement would continue until fake drugs are eliminated.

She affirmed NAFDAC’s commitment to ensuring medicines are safe, effective, certified, and suitable for use by the general public.

“We thank the Federal Government, State Government, security agencies, and the media for their support and cooperation during this successful operation,” she said.

Mr Mike Ozoemena, representing the Anambra government, commended NAFDAC for its efforts in eliminating fake pharmaceutical products from the state and the country.

Ozoemena, Managing Director of Anambra State Waste Management Agency, said Gov. Chukwuma Soludo’s administration would support all efforts to protect public health.

He praised NAFDAC for acting swiftly and not prolonging the closure of the drug markets unnecessarily, which helped minimise disruption for traders.

The destruction exercise was witnessed by officials of the Nigerian Army, Department of State Services, and other security agencies to ensure transparency and accountability.

(NAN)