The National Agency for Food Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) on Saturday destroyed counterfeit pharmaceuticals and other products worth about N100 billion at Moniya dump sites in Ibadan, Oyo State.
The Director General of the agency, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, who performed the exercise at the dumpsites in the Akinyele Local Government Area (LGA) of the state, said the affected products include, Analgin, controlled substances such as Tramadol 225mg, among others.
Represented by the Director of Narcotics, Yedunni Adenuga, Adeyeye reiterated the commitment of NAFDAC to ensuring that food, drugs, cosmetics, medical devices, chemicals, packaged water, and drinks are safe, wholesome, and effective for human consumption.
She said: “The products that were classified as illicit, expired, and banned were confiscated during a raid on three markets in the country. The recent discovery of counterfeit and other products in these three major markets in the country is mind-boggling.
“Our recent enforcement activities at the Idumota, Onitsha, Ariara, and Ezeuku open drugs market were mind-boggling.
“The discoveries made of the presence of unregistered products, banned products such as Analgin, and controlled substances such as Tramadol 225mg, among others, which are part of the things making our country unsafe in terms of security.
“This operation could not have been made possible without the support of the National Security Adviser (NSA), Malam Nuhu Ribadu, who graciously approved the use of over 1,000 security personnel, including the military, police and Department of State Services (DSS).
“Today, we are witnessing the destruction of expired, falsified, controlled, unregistered, and banned medicines removed from Idumota Open Drugs outlets. The estimated street value of these products is N100 billion.
“During the three weeks exercise, several suspects were apprehended. Further investigation is being carried out, and those found culpable will be sanctioned.”
Earlier, the Director of Investigation and Enforcement, Shaba Mohammed, disclosed that raids were carried out on three markets.
Mohammed described selling drugs in the open market as an illegal and punishable act under the law.
“It is a punishable offence to sell the drugs in an open market. Also, it is illegal for people to hawk drugs inside the vehicle, kiosks, and open markets,” Mohammed explained.