The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control has destroyed 618 tonnes of fake, substandard and expired regulated products valued at ₦10.19bn in Kano, in what the agency described as a major step in protecting public health.
The destruction exercise, carried out on Thursday at the Kalibawa Destruction Site along the Daura Danbata Road in Kano State, involved illicit medicines, food items, cosmetics, agrochemicals and medical devices seized across the North West zone.
Speaking at the event, the Director General of NAFDAC, Prof. Mojisola Christianah Adeyeye, said the exercise sent a strong warning to those involved in the manufacture and distribution of dangerous products. She was represented by the agency’s North West Zonal Director, Mr. Dadi Nantim Mullah.
“This destruction represents not just enforcement, but a clear message that the era of impunity for those endangering Nigerian lives with fake and substandard products is coming to an end,” Adeyeye said.
She explained that the destroyed items included counterfeit antibiotics, anti malarial and anti hypertensive medicines, adulterated food products such as vegetable oil and sachet water, hazardous cosmetics, fake agrochemicals and compromised medical devices.
Adeyeye warned manufacturers, importers and distributors involved in such illegal activities that NAFDAC’s surveillance and enforcement systems had been strengthened, adding that offenders would face stiff legal consequences.
She also pointed to Nigeria’s recent attainment of the World Health Organisation’s Maturity Level Three status and the country’s admission into the International Council for Harmonisation as signs of growing confidence in Nigeria’s regulatory framework.
“Our target is WHO Maturity Level Four. With sustained political will and regulatory discipline, this goal is achievable,” she said.
In his remarks, Mullah said the prevalence of fake and unregistered products in the country had dropped significantly from about 46 per cent to less than six per cent.
He explained that the volume of items destroyed should not be seen as an increase in fake products in the market, but as evidence of intensified enforcement and improved effectiveness.
“The large volume of products destroyed today reflects increased enforcement activities and improved effectiveness, not an increase in market prevalence,” he said.
According to him, the seized products were recovered through direct enforcement operations, voluntary handovers by organisations and distributors, as well as joint operations with security agencies.
NAFDAC acknowledged the support of the Kano State Government, the Nigerian Customs Service, the Nigeria Police, professional bodies and trade associations, and called for sustained collaboration to rid Nigerian markets of counterfeit and unwholesome products.
The agency also urged members of the public to remain vigilant, avoid purchasing medicines from unlicensed vendors and report suspicious products through its official channels.
