The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has destroyed over 618 tonnes of counterfeit, expired, sub-standard and illicit products in Kano State, in one of its largest enforcement actions in the North-West.
The destruction exercise took place on Thursday at the Kalibawa Destruction Site along Daura/Danbata Road, as part of ongoing efforts to safeguard public health and rid Nigerian markets of dangerous products.
The seized items, valued at about ₦10.19 billion, included unlicensed and fake medicines, food products, cosmetics, agro-chemicals and medical devices recovered during enforcement operations across the state.
NAFDAC Director-General, Prof. Mojisola Christianah Adeyeye, who was represented by the agency’s North-West Zonal Director, Mr. Dadi Nantim Mullah, described the exercise as a major milestone in pharmaceutical regulation and consumer protection.
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She warned manufacturers, importers and distributors involved in the production and circulation of fake products that NAFDAC would no longer tolerate activities that endanger lives, stressing that offenders would face severe sanctions under the law.
Among the destroyed items were counterfeit antibiotics, antimalarial drugs, anti-hypertensives, adulterated food items, hazardous cosmetics, fake agro-chemicals and defective medical devices, many of which pose serious health risks to unsuspecting consumers.
Prof. Adeyeye also highlighted Nigeria’s recent attainment of World Health Organisation (WHO) Maturity Level 3 and its membership in the International Council for Harmonisation (ICH), noting that the agency is working towards achieving Maturity Level 4, the highest global regulatory standard.
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Speaking further, Mr. Mullah disclosed that the prevalence of unregistered and counterfeit products nationwide has dropped significantly from about 46 per cent to less than six per cent, attributing the progress to strengthened enforcement and surveillance.
He explained that the large volume of items destroyed in Kano should not be mistaken for increased circulation of fake products, but rather reflects more effective regulatory action and improved detection mechanisms.
NAFDAC reaffirmed its commitment to protecting Nigerians from harmful products and urged the public to report suspicious medicines and consumables to the nearest NAFDAC office.