The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has destroyed fake, expired, substandard, and falsified drugs and medical products worth ₦15 billion in Ibadan, Oyo State, as part of renewed efforts to safeguard public health and prevent dangerous substances from circulating in Nigeria’s pharmaceutical market.
The large-scale destruction took place on Thursday in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, and was announced by NAFDAC’s Director-General, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, who was represented by the agency’s Director of Investigation and Enforcement, Martins Iluyomade. Adeyeye reaffirmed NAFDAC’s commitment to ensuring that food, drugs, cosmetics, chemicals, medical devices, packaged water, and beverages available in Nigeria are safe, effective, and wholesome for consumption.
“There is no doubt that drugs are a critical aspect of NAFDAC’s mandate, and the agency has established strict guidelines governing the licensing, sale, and distribution of drug products,” Adeyeye stated.
Among the products destroyed were expired, counterfeit, unregistered, banned, and uncontrolled substances, including Analgin, Cocodamol, codeine cough syrup, tramadol, oxytocin, and various types of vaccines. The total estimated street value of the items stands at ₦15 billion.
The NAFDAC boss explained that the destruction exercise was crucial to eliminating the risk of such harmful products re-entering the market and endangering lives. She also expressed appreciation to security and regulatory partners — including the Nigerian Police Force, Nigerian Army, Department of State Services (DSS), National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), and the Pharmaceutical Council of Nigeria — for their continued collaboration in the fight against illicit drugs and products.
Adeyeye further urged stakeholders, parents, and guardians to educate their families on the dangers of patronising quacks and unauthorised medicine dealers, stressing that public awareness is essential to combating the menace of fake drugs.
Speaking on behalf of the Comptroller General of the Nigeria Customs Service, Bashir Adeniyi, senior customs officer S.K. Tijani commended the synergy between NAFDAC and Customs in the nationwide crackdown on counterfeit and substandard products. He emphasized the need for all stakeholders to play their part in eliminating criminal activities that threaten public health and safety.
The destruction exercise marks another significant milestone in NAFDAC’s ongoing campaign to rid Nigeria’s pharmaceutical supply chain of dangerous and unwholesome products — a fight that remains central to the agency’s mission of protecting lives and strengthening public health systems.
