The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control has destroyed counterfeit, substandard and expired products valued at over ₦1.8 billion in a major enforcement operation carried out at the Kuje dumpsite in the Federal Capital Territory.
The exercise involved the incineration of fake medicines, banned sachet alcohol, expired pharmaceuticals, falsified chemicals, and other unwholesome regulated products seized across Abuja and surrounding areas.
According to the agency, some of the destroyed items were also voluntarily submitted by companies, non-governmental organisations, and the Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria.
Speaking during the operation, the Director-General of NAFDAC, Mojisola Adeyeye, represented by the Director of Investigation and Enforcement, Martins Iluyomade, warned that counterfeit drug syndicates are now using advanced cloning techniques to imitate genuine products.
He noted that this development is making it harder for consumers to distinguish between authentic and fake products, increasing public health risks.
NAFDAC also disclosed that it recently intercepted several containers of suspicious goods falsely declared at the ports in an attempt to evade detection, stressing the need for stronger inter-agency collaboration and public vigilance.
The agency reiterated its position on banned products, especially alcoholic beverages packaged in sachets and PET bottles below 200ml, warning that enforcement actions would not only target manufacturers but also traders found in possession of such items.
Officials at the Kuje site said the destruction exercise demonstrates the agency’s commitment to ensuring seized counterfeit products do not find their way back into circulation.
NAFDAC further urged Nigerians to be cautious when buying medicines and other regulated goods, advising against patronising unusually cheap products that may pose serious health dangers.
It added that members of the public should report suspicious products or activities to the nearest NAFDAC office as part of ongoing efforts to combat the spread of fake and unsafe goods in Nigeria.