The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), said it has taken delivery of 16 containers of substandard and falsified pharmaceutical products imported through Onne Port , Port Harcourt, Rivers State, worth N20.5bn.
NAFDAC, in a statement, yesterday,noted that the consignment comprises 11 containers of various unregistered/banned pharmaceutical products as well as four containers of unwholesome tomato paste.
Others are: various substandard regulated products seized which include: 1.3 million bottles of codeine syrup, (a highly controlled prescription-only medicine); 12.6 million tablets of tramadol, a highly addictive prescription-only drug product used for the management of post-operative pain in adults, as well as 9.3 million tablets of substandard and falsified (branded) diclofenac tablets, which is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory prescription drug used for the management of osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.
Also, there were regulated products seized which include : 280 packages of hyergra tablets, (a falsified brand of sildenafil citrate for the management of erectile dysfunction in men) as well as four containers of unregistered and substandard tomato paste.
The statement noted that the Comptroller-General, Nigeria Customs Service, handed over the consignments to NAFDAC Director-General, Mojisola Adeyeye, at the Onne Port, Port Harcourt , on Saturday.
The NAFDAC Director-General commended the Comptroller-General of Customs and his team for joining the fight against the importation of illicit, substandard and unwholesome products, and sent a clear message to the importers and their collaborators in the illicit trade.
She warned unscrupulous merchants both at home and abroad, that under her watch, substandard and fake food and drug products would not be allowed access to the people:”The recent threats of death, kidnapping of our staff and other attempts to dampen our zeal will continue to fail, because God, as well as our people are on our side.”
Adeyeye further encouraged all Nigerians to partner with NAFDAC by reporting all suspected cases of manufacture, importation, distribution or sale of fake and substandard products through NAFDAC’s offices nationwide or through the Agency’s various social media channels.
She highlighted the dangers of consumption of unwholesome products, which include: acute food poisoning and gastrointestinal illness from adulterants in expired food products; nutritional deficiencies & undermined food value; chronic organ damage from toxic metabolites and heavy metals in expired food; increased cancer risk from expired colorants, dyes and preservatives; allergic and respiratory reactions from hidden allergens or artificial additives as well as food addiction and cognitive disruption from expired ultra‑processed foods engineered to be hyper‑palatable, high in sugar, fat, salt etc.
She emphasized the need for strong institutional cooperation, and promised to continue to evolve new strategies towards partnering with well-meaning organizations and individuals to build a safer and healthier nation, noting that safeguarding the health of the nation is a collective responsibility which NAFDAC cannot possibly do alone.
