The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has received 15 containers filled with fake and substandard medicines and tomato paste that were smuggled into Nigeria through the Onne Port in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
In a statement on Sunday, NAFDAC’s Resident Media Consultant, Sayo Akintola, said the seized products are worth about N20.5 billion in the open market.
The fake goods included 11 containers of unregistered and banned medicines, and 4 containers of bad tomato paste. The Nigeria Customs Service handed them over to NAFDAC Director-General, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, at Onne Port as part of the collaboration between the two agencies.
Some of the seized items were 1.3 million bottles of codeine syrup, which is a highly controlled drug, 12.6 million tablets of Tramadol, a strong painkiller that can be addictive, and 9.3 million tablets of fake Diclofenac, a drug used to treat arthritis.
Other products found in the containers were 280 packs of Hyergra tablets, a fake version of Sildenafil Citrate used for treating erectile dysfunction, and four containers filled with substandard tomato paste.
Prof. Adeyeye praised the Nigeria Customs Service for working with NAFDAC to stop the importation of dangerous and fake products into the country.
She warned that under NAFDAC’s watch, fake and substandard food and medicines will not be allowed to reach Nigerians.
Prof. Adeyeye also mentioned that despite threats to the lives of NAFDAC staff, including death threats and kidnapping attempts, the agency will not be discouraged in its fight against fake products.
She urged Nigerians to support NAFDAC by reporting any suspicious activities involving the making, importing, selling, or distributing of fake or substandard products through NAFDAC offices or on social media.
Prof. Adeyeye explained the dangers of consuming bad products, which include food poisoning, stomach illnesses, damage to vital organs, cancer risks, allergies, and even addiction.
She stressed the importance of strong cooperation between government agencies, organisations, and the public to build a healthier and safer Nigeria. She said protecting public health is a shared responsibility that NAFDAC cannot achieve alone.
