The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has destroyed counterfeit and expired medicines valued at over N15 billion in Ibadan, Oyo State, in what it described as a decisive move to protect public health.
Speaking at the destruction exercise on Thursday, NAFDAC’s Director-General, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye—represented by the agency’s Director of Investigation and Enforcement, Martins Iluyomade—warned that fake and substandard drugs remain a major threat to the nation’s healthcare system.
According to her, the destroyed products included expired, banned, and falsified items such as tramadol, codeine-based syrups, oxytocin, Analgin, Cocodamol, and several types of vaccines, all of which had found their way into circulation despite existing regulations.
“The estimated street value of these drugs stands at N15 billion. By destroying them, we are preventing dangerous substances from re-entering the Nigerian market and putting lives at risk,” Adeyeye said.
She explained that NAFDAC maintains strict regulations on the licensing, sale, and distribution of pharmaceutical products, adding that the agency will continue to ensure that food, beverages, cosmetics, packaged water, medical devices, and drugs available to the public remain safe and effective.
The DG also commended the support of security and regulatory agencies, including the Nigerian Police Force, the Army, DSS, NDLEA, Civil Defence Corps, and the Pharmaceutical Council of Nigeria. She urged parents and guardians to warn their children and wards against purchasing drugs from quacks and unregistered medicine dealers.
In a show of solidarity, the Nigeria Customs Service pledged continued collaboration with NAFDAC in curbing the menace of counterfeit medicines. Representing Comptroller General Bashir Adeniyi, Customs official S.K. Tijani said:
“There is strong synergy between Customs and NAFDAC in the fight against fake and substandard drugs. This is not a task for one agency alone—every stakeholder must play their part in keeping the country safe from criminal activities tied to illicit products.”
With counterfeit drugs still circulating in Nigerian markets, NAFDAC insists its crackdown will remain uncompromising, as public safety cannot be negotiated.