The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has disposed of counterfeit, subpar, and fraudulent medications that were confiscated during a recent raid in Onitsha and Aba.
The unsavory pharmaceutical items were disposed of at the Anambra State Waste Management Agency’s landfill in Awka on Friday, adhering to proper destruction protocols.
Professor Christina Adeyeye, the NAFDAC Director-General who oversaw the operation, mentioned that 100 containers of these items, worth ₦100 trillion, were confiscated.
Dr. Martin Iluyomade, who serves as the Director of Southeast Zonal Operations, stated that the amount of prohibited mind-altering substances discovered has the potential to destabilize an entire nation.
Adeyeye pointed out that NAFDAC recognized it was necessary to finally put an end to the distribution of counterfeit and low-quality medications in Nigeria.
As she points out, counterfeit medications result in ineffective treatments, leading to avoidable fatalities and significant financial setbacks, particularly affecting disadvantaged individuals who depend on such drugs.
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Medicines are not optional; they are essential. It is impossible to measure the number of lives lost because of counterfeit or inferior drugs.
We discovered medications intended for pregnant women, which necessitate cold storage, were being kept in extremely hot conditions—no surprise that Nigeria experiences high childbirth mortality rates.
"It is disappointing that prohibited medications with adverse impacts, such as unauthorized drugs like tramadol and mind-altering substances, continue to be available," Adeyeye said.
The Director-General stated that even though the one-month operation, during which markets were shut down, has concluded, enforcement efforts will persist until counterfeit medications have been eradicated.
She stated that NAFDAC is dedicated to guaranteeing that medications are secure, efficacious, approved, and appropriate for usage by the general population.
"We express our gratitude to the Federal Government, State Government, security organizations, and the press for their assistance and collaboration throughout this successful mission," she stated.
Mr Mike Ozoemena, who speaks for the Anambra government, praised NAFDAC for successfully combatting counterfeit medications within both the state and the nation.
Ozoemena, the Managing Director of the Anambra State Waste Management Agency, stated that Governor Chukwuma Soludo’s administration would back every initiative aimed at safeguarding public health.
He praised NAFDAC for acting swiftly and not prolonging the closure of the drug markets unnecessarily, which helped minimise disruption for traders.
The demolition drill was observed by representatives from the Nigerian Army, Department of State Security, and various other security organizations to guarantee openness and responsibility.
(NAN)
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