At least 40 suspects have been taken into custody by the National Agency for Foods, Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC), which has also destroyed pharmaceutical and other products that were prohibited and valued at N100 billion in Ibadan, the capital of Oyo state.
According to the agency, the destruction was required to stop expired, counterfeit, inferior, and falsified medications from being reintroduced into the market.
The Director General of NAFDAC, Professor Christiana Mojisola Adeyeye, disclosed this during a destruction exercise held at the Dumpsite in Moniya, Akinyele Local Government Area of Oyo State.
Prof. Adeyeye, who was represented by Mrs. Yedunni Adenuga, Director of Narcotics and Control Services, called the finding of illegal and counterfeit goods in the nation’s largest marketplaces “mind-boggling.”
Controlled substances like Tramadol 225mg and prohibited pharmaceutical products like Analgin were among the items confiscated.
Prof. Adeyeye emphasized that these illicit products contribute to insecurity in the country, stating, “The discoveries made of the presence of unregistered products, banned products such as Analgin, controlled substances such as Tramadol 225mg amongst others, are part of the things making our country unsafe in terms of security.”
Malam Nuhu Ribadu, the National Security Adviser (NSA), authorized the deployment of more than 1000 security personnel, including members of the Department of State Services (DSS), the military, and the police, to support the operation.
Prof. Adeyeye disclosed that among the items confiscated during the destruction exercise were controlled, unregistered, expired, counterfeit, and prohibited medications that were taken out of Idumota Open Drugs stores.
