The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has taken a significant step in safeguarding public health by destroying counterfeit and expired products valued at N20 billion during a major operation in Ibadan.
Massive Destruction Exercise at Moniya Dumpsite
The destruction ceremony took place on Friday at the Moniya Dumpsite in Ibadan, marking the South-West Zonal Destruction Flag-off Ceremony. The large-scale operation saw the elimination of substandard and falsified medicines, unsafe processed foods, counterfeit cosmetics, and various expired goods that had been seized from manufacturers, importers, and distributors across the South-West region.
The exercise also included expired and damaged products that were voluntarily submitted by compliant companies, non-governmental organisations, and trade groups, demonstrating a collaborative approach to product safety.
Multi-Agency Collaboration Strengthens Operation
The Director-General of NAFDAC, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, emphasized the importance of inter-agency cooperation in the successful execution of the destruction exercise. She specifically commended the Nigeria Customs Service for their recent handover of 25 containers of counterfeit and substandard pharmaceuticals, including a reefer container, for destruction.
Professor Adeyeye acknowledged the crucial support from multiple security and regulatory agencies including:
- Nigeria Police Force
- Nigerian Army
- Department of State Services
- Pharmacists Council of Nigeria
- National Drug Law Enforcement Agency
- Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps
"This is a clear demonstration of our collective commitment to protecting the health of Nigerians," Adeyeye stated during the ceremony.
NAFDAC's Ongoing Commitment to Public Safety
The agency boss reiterated NAFDAC's determination to continue its fight against unsafe products in the Nigerian market. She emphasized that the agency's mandate includes ensuring that unsafe, falsified, and violative products are permanently removed from circulation.
"We will continue to work relentlessly to safeguard the health and wellbeing of every Nigerian," Adeyeye declared, underscoring the agency's proactive approach to tackling counterfeit goods that pose serious risks to public safety.
The destruction exercise attracted officials and stakeholders from across the South-West region, reinforcing NAFDAC's commitment to maintaining public confidence in regulated goods and protecting Nigerians from harmful products.
This operation follows earlier reports of NAFDAC destroying items worth ₦43 billion in Ibadan, demonstrating the agency's sustained efforts in combating the circulation of substandard and falsified products throughout Nigeria.
