NAFDAC destroys N320m fake products

By Emmanuel Ebeleke
The National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control, NAFDAC, yesterday destroyed goods worth over N320 million in Sagamu, Ogun State.

The Director General of the agency, Dr. Paul Orhii represented by the Director,  enforcement directorate, Mr. Momodu-Segun-Momodu said during the exercise that the destruction was aimed at preventing the re-introduction of  confiscated fake, substandard, expired and unwholesome drugs, foods and cosmetic products into the Nigerian market.

He said the goods included fake drugs, cosmetics and food products seized from importers, manufacturers and distributors and those abandoned at port of entries on sighting their officials.

He noted that the agency had succeeded in its renewed fight against fakers of products since the inception of his administration, and pledged to sustain the achievement of the agency and to take it to greater heights, in addition to bringing international standards into their operations.

As part of strategies to eradicate fake products in the country, the NAFDAC boss said “Within the past week, we have successfully used the Truscan equipment in field operations in various pharmacies, patent medicine shops and drug markets in the country with positive results. What you are seeing today is a dynamic NAFDAC operating in conformity with global trends to meet the challenges of counterfeiting.”

He further assured that the administration would not allow any sacred cow in the fight, adding that any one caught peddling in fake and counterfeit regulated products will be dealt with in accordance with the law, and stressed his resolve to safeguard the health of the citizenry.

Dr. Orhii, however, advised Nigerians not to patronize drugs and other regulated products which are not registered by NAFDAC, saying that the agency had already gone into partnership with the Lagos State government to further strengthen the control of such products in the state.