The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has destroyed counterfeit, expired, falsified, and unwholesome medical products valued at over N15 billion in Ibadan, Oyo State.
The destruction exercise, held at the Moniya dumpsite on Wednesday, was overseen by NAFDAC’s Director of Investigation and Enforcement, Dr. Martins Iluyomade, on behalf of the Director-General, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye.
According to Adeyeye, the products included counterfeit and expired medicines, codeine-based syrups, Tramadol, Oxytocin, Analgin, Co-codamol, and expired vaccines, all of which posed serious risks to public health.
She disclosed that one major interception involved a container falsely declared as diclofenac, which was instead filled with 277 cartons of anti-malarial drugs containing over 100,000 tablets. The suspect behind the consignment has been arrested and will face prosecution.
Other destroyed items included illegally manufactured cosmetics and packaging materials seized during a raid on a Lagos military barracks, as well as products recovered from black-market operators and unlicensed distributors nationwide.
Adeyeye commended the Nigeria Customs Service for handing over more than 25 containers of seized prohibited products, including Tramadol, Artesunate injections, and frozen poultry, and acknowledged the support of security agencies and regulatory partners.
She urged Nigerians to avoid unlicensed drug sellers, report suspicious activities, and support awareness campaigns to combat counterfeit drugs.
“This destruction exercise marks another victory in our fight to safeguard public health and protect the integrity of Nigeria’s healthcare system,” Adeyeye said.
