The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has destroyed counterfeit and substandard products worth over N2.5 billion in Enugu State. The destroyed goods, which included rice and assorted drinks, were seized across the five South-East states of Nigeria.
During the destruction exercise, held at the Enugu State Waste Management Authority Dump Site, NAFDAC’s Director General, Professor Mojisola Adeyeye, called on traders to refrain from selling counterfeit products. She highlighted the immense resources wasted in producing and distributing fake goods, urging dealers to focus on legitimate business activities instead.
Speaking on behalf of the Director General, South East Zonal Director, Mr. Iluyomade Martins, disclosed that the destroyed goods had an estimated street value of N2.664 billion. He emphasized that these products posed serious health risks and could have endangered over three million people, leading to an increase in health burdens and poverty rates across the region.
Professor Adeyeye reiterated NAFDAC’s unwavering commitment to ensuring that consumers can purchase regulated products without the fear of buying substandard or fake items. She vowed to continue the fight against counterfeit goods, stating that such dangerous products would not only compromise public health but also strain already overburdened healthcare facilities.
“These products could have endangered the health of over three million people,” Adeyeye said. “They would have worsened the health burden on our strained healthcare institutions and increased poverty by forcing people to spend money on medical bills instead of improving their livelihoods.”
Adeyeye also pointed out that many people have lost their lives due to the consumption of these harmful counterfeit products. She assured the public that NAFDAC would not relent in its efforts until every Nigerian household can safely buy any regulated product without fear of contamination or fraud.
“This event is a strong message to the South-East region that it is no longer business as usual for those engaging in the sale of dangerous counterfeit products,” Adeyeye added. She thanked other agencies for their cooperation in the fight against these illicit activities, noting that without such synergy, NAFDAC’s efforts would not have been successful.
The Director General urged the public to support NAFDAC by reporting suspicious manufacturers and businesses involved in illegal practices to the nearest NAFDAC office for prompt investigation. She reiterated the agency’s vision to become a world-class regulator, ensuring the availability of safe and quality food, drugs, and other regulated products for all Nigerians.
NAFDAC’s mission, according to Adeyeye, is to safeguard public health by implementing an efficient regulatory system that guarantees only high-quality products are produced, imported, sold, and used across the country. The current administration, she said, remains committed to this mission through policies aimed at making NAFDAC’s impact felt in every Nigerian household.
The South-East directorate of NAFDAC, covering Ebonyi, Anambra, Imo, Enugu, and Abia states, plays a crucial role in fulfilling the agency’s mandate. Adeyeye noted that several raids and routine activities have led to the confiscation of fake, substandard, adulterated, and spurious goods across these states. These goods, she stressed, are harmful to Nigerians’ health, particularly to residents in the South-East.
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