NAFDAC Destroys Drugs, Other Products Valued N100 Million In Enugu

Posted by African Examiner Featured, Latest Headlines, News From The State Wednesday, November 19th, 2014

FROM IGNATIUS OKPARA, Enugu

National Agency for Food, Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC, On Tuesday destroyed counterfeit, fake and substandard drugs valued over one hundred million Naira, (N100 million) in Enugu.

The Agency, confiscated the items, which also includes beverages, malaria drugs, cosmetic products, drinks from traders and drug manufacturers in the southeast zone.

NAFDAC Director of Special Duties, Dr. Abubakar Jimoh, who stood in for the NAFDAC Director General of the agency, Dr. Paul Orhii during the destruction of the items, said the organization is committed in ridding Nigeria of such products because of their harmful effect to the public.

He disclosed that as part of measure to rid the country of such counterfeit and substandard products, the exercise would be a continuous one.

According to him, the destruction began last week in Kaduna state, where similar products worth over N50 million were destroyed.

He also hinted that similarly, the organisation, has concluded arrangements to destroy 20 trailer loads of counterfeit drugs in Kano, as well as 10 trailer loads in Onitsha, Anambra State and other states where such bad products are found.

Speaking particularly about counterfeit drugs, the NAFDAC boss, pointed out that everybody should join hands with the agency in fighting the menace because one does not know who would consume the fake drugs and suffer the consequence afterward.

He therefore enjoined all and sundry including the drug manufacturers, the media and security agencies to help out in the fight against counterfeit drug which he said, NAFDAC has started winning already with the type of technologies adopted for the fight.

The fight he said, is being won because of the cutting edge technology employed by the NAFDAC to fish out fake and counterfeit drugs as well as the hand device used by the agency officials which can detect fake drugs from markets and pharmaceutical stores in the Nigeria.

He pointed out that NAFDAC is not alone in fighting the counterfeit drugs because they are working in collaboration with the WORLD HEALTH ORGANISATION, WHO and other world class agencies that are partners with it.

The destruction was witnessed by various organizations that include NYSC members, the Customs, Immigration, Civil Defence Corps, the Media as well as drug manufacturers among others.