The Nationwide Company for Meals and Drug Administration and Management (NAFDAC) has revealed that it destroyed over ₦120 billion price of seized merchandise nationwide in six months.
In line with NAFDAC Director-Basic, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, the operations spanned Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) seizing substandard and falsified medicines, counterfeit meals, and drinks in six months, protecting October to December 2024.
She disclosed this in her Christmas and New 12 months messages and urged residents to prioritize security by buying meals and drinks solely from credible retailers and avoiding merchandise with out NAFDAC registration numbers.
Prof. Adeyeye warned that merchandise offered at unusually low costs are sometimes substandard or counterfeit. “When a product is just too low cost, it’s most definitely compromised,” she cautioned.
She additionally disclosed that the company’s officers, notably from the Investigation and Enforcement (I&E) Directorate, would maintain the continued efforts to take away substandard and falsified medicines in addition to unwholesome meals objects from markets nationwide.
In collaboration with the Pharmacovigilance (PV) and Put up-Advertising Surveillance (PMS) Directorates, NAFDAC officers are actively on the sphere, focusing on falsified medicines, counterfeit wines and drinks, and different harmful meals merchandise that pose dangers to public well being in the course of the
NAFDAC groups have performed operations throughout main cities similar to Lagos, Port Harcourt, Aba, Ibadan, Kaduna, and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). Merchandise price billions of Naira have been confiscated prior to now three months of renewed enforcement efforts.
Prof. Adeyeye reiterated that the company wouldn’t relent in its struggle towards what she known as “retailers of demise.” She warned that 2025 would deliver even more durable enforcement actions towards these compromising the standard of medicines and meals.
“The approaching 12 months will probably be powerful for the those who prioritize cash over the wellbeing of their fellow human beings,” she acknowledged.
NAFDAC suggested Nigerians to scrutinize merchandise rigorously, making certain they’re sourced from respected retailers and have NAFDAC registration numbers.
Prof. Adeyeye warned towards shopping for merchandise offered considerably beneath customary market costs, as they’re probably counterfeit.
“We enchantment to Nigerians to purchase solely NAFDAC-registered drinks from licensed retailers, bars, and supermarkets. Poor packaging, spelling errors, and weird bottle shapes are sometimes crimson flags,” she famous.
