NAFDAC Destroys N2.6bn Fake Drugs, Food Items In Rivers
The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control has destroyed seized fake and substandard products valued at N2.6bn in Rivers State.
The products, which included medicines, tomatoes, cookies and chemicals, were intercepted and seized by the Nigeria Customs Service at the Onne Port between 2025 and 2026.
The Chairman of the Federal Task Force on Counterfeit, Fake Drugs and Unwholesome Processed Foods in Nigeria, Dr Martins Iluyomade, disclosed this on behalf of NAFDAC’s Director-General, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, at the destruction site in Port Harcourt on Friday.
Iluyomade, who is also NAFDAC’s Director of Investigation and Enforcement, said the exercise demonstrated the agency’s commitment to eliminating counterfeit and fake drugs from the country.
He commended the cooperation between NAFDAC and the Nigeria Customs Service, which he said had made the exercise possible.
He noted that the process leading to the destruction of the seized goods began in 2025, adding that the two agencies had signed several memoranda of understanding to facilitate the exercise.
“This gesture corroborates the existing good relationship we have between NAFDAC and Nigeria Customs Service. We have an MoU signed, but we have people who have to work behind the scenes to make sure that the MoU works.
“The willingness of the officers of the two agencies to make the MoU work is what has led to what we are doing today,” he said.
Iluyomade acknowledged that the process had faced some challenges but attributed the success to the commitment of personnel from both agencies to working towards a common goal.
“On this note, I want to thank the Comptroller-General of Customs, who made it a point of duty for us to come together, personally, to come and hand over this container,” he said.
He said the products being destroyed included expired tomatoes, cookies, medicines and chemicals, with their combined value estimated at N2.6bn.
Iluyomade described the exercise as the first phase of the destruction, adding that more seized goods would be destroyed in the coming days.
“What you see here right now, this is the flag-up, others are still coming out of the port, and I want to urge the Nigerian Customs Service to quickly facilitate the remaining containers to be here on time for destruction,” he added.
He assured Nigerians of NAFDAC’s commitment to protecting public health and ensuring that only safe food and effective medicines were available to consumers.
“For all Nigerians, our work is to safeguard the health of the nation, and we will not relent on our task to make sure that this assignment of keeping all Nigerians safe, eat good food, take the right medicines that work is not delayed.
“In fact, we are more vigorous to make sure we deliver on this assignment to all the members of the Nigerian populace,” he said.
The task force chairman called for unity among government agencies involved in the fight against counterfeit drugs and other illicit activities.
He said the task was too enormous for a single agency to handle and warned against unnecessary rivalry among the agencies.
He also urged members of the public to support the government’s efforts by reporting suspected fake products through NAFDAC’s designated channels for prompt action.
Representing the Enforcement Unit of the Nigeria Customs Service, Area II Command, Superintendent of Customs Elizabeth Abosede commended NAFDAC for the exercise.
She also expressed concern over the health risks posed by fake and counterfeit medicines.
Earlier, the South-South Zonal Director of NAFDAC, Oligbu Chukwuma, represented by his deputy, Mrs Rita Chukwuma, said the exercise was part of the agency’s regulatory responsibilities.
She added that the products being destroyed included items intercepted by NAFDAC and others voluntarily surrendered by organisations.
Chukwuma said the exercise was aimed at removing fake and substandard products from circulation and protecting communities from their harmful effects.
