The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has destroyed counterfeit drugs, prohibited alcoholic beverages and other unsafe products valued at approximately ₦8 billion in the North Central region.
The destruction exercise took place in Lafia, Nasarawa State, on Thursday as part of the agency’s ongoing efforts to prevent the circulation of harmful products and protect public health.
NAFDAC Director-General, Prof. Mojisola Christianah Adeyeye, who was represented by the Deputy Director in charge of the North Central Zone, Joseph Edor, disclosed that a significant portion of the seized items comprised banned alcoholic drinks packaged in containers of less than 200 millilitres.
Adeyeye explained that the small packaging made the drinks easy to transport and relatively affordable, increasing the risk of excessive consumption, particularly among young people and schoolchildren.
She warned that early exposure to alcohol could have serious consequences for children and adolescents, including damage to the brain, liver and kidneys, as well as impaired learning and reduced productivity.
The director-general said the agency had prohibited the production, distribution and sale of alcoholic beverages packaged in sachets and in PET or glass bottles with capacities below 200ml because of concerns about their potential misuse.
According to her, the restriction prompted enforcement operations targeting manufacturers, shops, markets and motor parks, where the prohibited products were seized.
Other items destroyed during the exercise included expired and counterfeit medicines, substandard food products, unsafe cosmetics and other regulated goods confiscated during routine inspections and enforcement operations.
Adeyeye reiterated that NAFDAC’s primary responsibility was to safeguard public health by ensuring that food, medicines, cosmetics, medical devices, packaged water and other regulated products sold in Nigeria complied with established safety and quality requirements.
She said the agency carried out inspections, investigations, product registration, laboratory testing and enforcement operations to prevent unsafe products from reaching consumers.
The NAFDAC chief also acknowledged the support of security agencies, government institutions, professional associations and other stakeholders in the fight against counterfeit and substandard products.
She particularly commended their contributions through intelligence sharing and the provision of security support during raids and other enforcement activities.
The agency has continued to target the manufacture and distribution of fake medicines, prohibited alcoholic beverages and other products considered dangerous to consumers, with the latest destruction exercise underscoring its efforts to remove seized items from circulation.
