The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control has destroyed fake and unwholesome drugs worth over N939 million in Awka, Anambra State.
The exercise was reported by the News Agency of Nigeria and carried out on Friday at the Anambra State Waste Management dumpsite in Awka, under the supervision of NAFDAC officials.
The destruction formed part of NAFDAC’s regulatory efforts to eliminate unsafe, expired, and falsified products from circulation.
The seized items, recovered from across the South-East, pose serious health risks to consumers, including treatment failure, prolonged illness, and even death.
NAFDAC said the operation reflects its continued crackdown on counterfeit and substandard products across the country, particularly in the South-East region.
The Director-General of NAFDAC, Mojisola Adeyeye, who was represented by a regional director, Mr. Martins Iluyomade stated:
He further warned that the agency would sustain its zero-tolerance stance against offenders, stressing that such enforcement actions are part of a broader national effort.
The destroyed items included expired, substandard, and falsified medicines, as well as unregistered pharmaceutical products, food items, cosmetics, and medical equipment.
NAFDAC noted that the seized goods were recovered through a mix of routine surveillance, targeted enforcement operations, and intelligence-driven interventions across the South-East.
It warned that unwholesome food products can expose consumers to food-borne diseases and long-term health complications, while unsafe medical devices could compromise diagnosis and treatment, putting lives at risk.
The agency reiterated that consumer safety remains its top priority and advised Nigerians to buy only products with valid NAFDAC registration numbers and report suspicious items or activities.
NAFDAC has intensified its fight against counterfeit and illicit drugs nationwide, as part of broader efforts to safeguard public health and sanitise Nigeria’s pharmaceutical markets.
In December 2024, the agency identified Eziukwu Market, also known as Cemetery Market, in Aba, Abia State, as a major hub for the production and distribution of fake and substandard products, following a targeted enforcement operation in the area.
Additionally, NAFDAC destroyed expired and substandard medical products worth over N15 billion in Ibadan, highlighting the scale of enforcement actions being carried out nationwide to curb the circulation of harmful products.