By Musa Ubandawaki, Sokoto

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Sokoto/Zamfara area command, has handed over seized and expired drugs worth millions of naira to the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) Sokoto office for destruction and further investigations.

Speaking during the handover at the premises of the area command, Controller Musa Omale said expired, illicit, and other drugs did not comply with the statutory importation requirements and were intercepted at various locations of the area command.

He said that as the gatekeeper of the national borders and in its continued effort to safeguard the lives and health of citizens, the Nigeria Customs Service, Sokoto/Zamfara Area Command, would continue to hand over all seized and unregistered pharmaceutical drugs to the National Agency for Food and Drugs for further investigation and destruction.

Comptroller Musa Omale, however, stated that the handing over of the drugs to NAFDAC, the agency mandated by the law for the regulation and control of drugs in the country, is in line with the collaboration policy thrust of the Comptroller General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi.

He underscores the danger of counterfeit and unregistered pharmaceutical drugs to the nation, which he said is a global scourge with which the whole world is grappling.

He assured NAFDAC of the command’s unflinching support for its fight against counterfeit drugs.

The Area Controller warned smugglers to desist from the act, as the command is battle-ready to curtail the nefarious deed.

He said the drugs, which do not have a manufacturing or expiring date, were manufactured in India, adding that the importer is still at large.

Musa said the command also seized other items against the existing customs laws worth millions.

He said the seizures are a reflection of the command’s commitment to duty and non-compromise in the discharge of its functions aimed at protecting the nation’s economy and preventing the importation of prohibited and harmful products from entering Nigerian markets.

Receiving the products, the state’s coordinator of NAFDAC, Mr Garba AAdamu, said the quantity of the drugs was huge and would be destroyed without further delay.

He commended Nigerian customs for exhibiting a synergy of good working relationships with NAFDAC, adding that his agency would continue to partner with other security agencies in the state to protect the precious health of Nigerian citizens.