NAFDAC Seizes N20.5bn Fake Drugs In Port Harcourt
The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has seized 16 containers of substandard and falsified pharmaceutical products in Port Harcourt.
The agency said the products, estimated to have a street value of N20.5bn, were imported through Onne Port, Port Harcourt.
In a statement on Sunday by the agency’s Resident Media Consultant, Sayo Akintola, NAFDAC, said the Consignment comprises 11 Containers of various unregistered/banned pharmaceutical products and four Containers of Unwholesome Tomato Paste.
It added that the products were handed to the NAFDAC Director-General by the Comptroller-General of Nigeria Customs Service as part of the Institutional Collaborative Synergy between the two organizations.
According to the statement, among the various substandard regulated products seized were 1.3 million bottles of Codeine Syrup, (a highly controlled Prescription-Only Medicine), 12.6 million tablets of Tramadol, a highly addictive Prescription-Only Drug product used for the management of Post-Operative Pain in Adults.
Others include, 9.3 million tablets of Substandard and Falsified (Branded) Diclofenac Tablets (a Non-Steroidal Anti-inflammatory Prescription Drug used for the Management of Osteoarthritis and Rheumatoid Arthritis), 280 Packages of Hyergra tablets, (a falsified brand of Sildenafil Citrate for the management of Erectile Dysfunction in Men) as well as four containers of Unregistered and substandard Tomato paste.
The NAFDAC Director-General, Prof Mojisola Adeyeye, commended the Comptroller-General of Customs and his team for joining the fight against the importation of illicit, substandard and unwholesome products.
Adeyeye also warned importers and their collaborators in the illicit trade saying, “under our watch, substandard and fake food and drug products will not be allowed access to our people.
“Recent threats of death, kidnapping of our staff and other attempts to dampen our zeal will continue to fail, because God, as well as our people are on our side.”
She further called on all well-meaning Nigerians to partner with NAFDAC by reporting all suspected cases of manufacture, importation, distribution or sale of fake and substandard products through NAFDAC’s offices nationwide or through the agency’s various social media channels.
Adeyeye noted the dangers of consumption of unwholesome products, including acute food poisoning and gastrointestinal illness from adulterants in expired food products; nutritional deficiencies and undermined food value.
Others are, chronic organ damage from toxic metabolites and heavy metals in expired food; Increased Cancer Risk from expired colorants, dyes and preservatives; Allergic and Respiratory Reactions from hidden allergens or artificial additives as well as Food Addiction & Cognitive Disruption from Expired Ultra Processed Foods (UPFs) engineered to be hyper palatable, high in sugar, fat and salt.
She emphasised the need for strong institutional cooperation. She also promised to continue to evolve new strategies towards partnering with well-meaning organizations and individuals to build a safer and healthier nation.
NAFDAC Seizes N20.5bn Fake Drugs In Port Harcourt is first published on The Whistler Newspaper
