National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC, has destroyed counterfeit medicines, banned alcoholic drinks, and other unsafe products valued at more than N1.8 billion at the Kuje dumpsite in Abuja.
The agency said the destruction exercise was carried out to stop fake, expired, and harmful products confiscated from Abuja and nearby areas from returning to the market.
According to NAFDAC, the destroyed items included counterfeit drugs, expired medicines, fake chemicals, falsified pharmaceutical products, and banned alcoholic beverages packaged in sachets and small PET bottles below 200ml.
The agency explained that some of the seized products were recovered during enforcement raids and operations, while others were voluntarily handed over by companies, non-governmental organisations, and the Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria.
Speaking during the exercise, NAFDAC Director-General Mojisola Adeyeye, represented by the Director of Investigation and Enforcement, Martins Iluyomade, warned that counterfeit drug producers are now using more advanced methods to imitate genuine products.
He explained that fake drug manufacturers have become increasingly sophisticated, making it difficult for consumers to easily identify counterfeit medicines from original ones.
Iluyomade also revealed that the agency recently intercepted several containers carrying suspicious products that were wrongly labelled in an attempt to avoid detection at Nigerian ports.
He stressed the importance of stronger cooperation among government agencies and increased public awareness in the fight against fake and dangerous products.
NAFDAC stated that the destruction exercise reflects its commitment to protecting public health and ensuring that seized counterfeit items never find their way back into circulation.
The agency also reaffirmed its enforcement of the ban on alcoholic drinks sold in sachets and small PET bottles, warning that anyone caught producing, selling, or distributing such products could face prosecution.
NAFDAC further advised Nigerians to avoid buying unusually cheap medicines or regulated products, warning that such items could pose serious health dangers.
Members of the public were also encouraged to report suspicious products and illegal activities to the nearest NAFDAC office or through the agency’s official complaint channels for investigation.