The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has destroyed expired tomato paste, medicines and chemicals valued at an estimated ₦2.6 billion in Rivers State.
The exercise took place on Friday at the Rivers State Waste Management Agency’s new dumpsite, off Oyigbo Express Road, Elelenwo, Port Harcourt. The products included items seized by NAFDAC and others voluntarily submitted by companies for destruction.
NAFDAC’s Director of Investigation and Enforcement, Martins Iluyomade, represented Director-General Professor Mojisola Adeyeye at the exercise. He said the process began the previous year, when he and the Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service inspected the containers before handing them over to NAFDAC.
“The total combined value of these items to be destroyed today is estimated at 2.6 billion naira,” Iluyomade said.
He praised the Customs Service for its cooperation, saying the exercise reflected both agencies’ commitment to their existing memorandum of understanding. He added that more containers were being transferred from the port for destruction and urged Customs to speed up the process to reduce operating costs.
Reaffirming NAFDAC’s public health mission, Iluyomade said, “To all Nigerians, our work is to safeguard the health of the nation.”
Speaking as Chairman of the Federal Task Force on Counterfeit Medicines, Fake Drugs and Unwholesome Processed Foods in Nigeria, he called for stronger cooperation among security agencies to tackle fake medicines and unsafe food products.
“We need more synergy among all security agencies,” he said.
Iluyomade also urged Nigerians to report suspected counterfeit products through NAFDAC’s official channels. He cautioned against posting complaints online before notifying the agency, warning that this could alert suspects and allow them to hide evidence.
Deputy Director Rita Chukwuma, representing the South-South Zonal Director, Pharmacist Chukwuma Oligbu, said the exercise was part of NAFDAC’s duty to protect public health and prevent expired or substandard products from reaching the market.
She added that the agency worked with the military, police, paramilitary organisations and other relevant bodies to enforce safety regulations.
Meanwhile, A. E. Kolesho, representing the Nigeria Customs Service’s enforcement units, warned that unsafe products posed serious health risks and urged NAFDAC to maintain its enforcement efforts.
