The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has destroyed seized fake and substandard products valued at N2.6bn in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, as part of efforts to protect public health and prevent harmful products from entering the Nigerian market.
The products, which included medicines, expired tomatoes, cookies and chemicals, were intercepted and seized by the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) at the Onne Port between 2025 and 2026.
The Chairman of the Federal Task Force on Counterfeit, Fake Drugs and Unwholesome Processed Foods in Nigeria, Dr Martins Iluyomade, disclosed this on Friday at the destruction site. He spoke on behalf of NAFDAC’s Director-General, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye.
Iluyomade, who is also NAFDAC’s Director of Investigation and Enforcement, said the exercise demonstrated the agency’s determination to eliminate counterfeit medicines and other unsafe products from the country.
He commended the collaboration between NAFDAC and the Nigeria Customs Service, noting that their cooperation and existing memoranda of understanding had facilitated the destruction exercise.
According to him, preparations for the operation began in 2025, with personnel from both agencies working together to overcome challenges and ensure the successful disposal of the seized goods.
He also thanked the Comptroller-General of Customs for facilitating the handover of the seized container, stressing that cooperation among government agencies was essential to tackling the circulation of counterfeit products.
Iluyomade described the exercise as the first phase of the destruction, revealing that additional containers of seized goods were expected to be processed in the coming days. He urged the Customs Service to expedite the release and transfer of the remaining containers for destruction.
Reaffirming NAFDAC’s commitment to safeguarding public health, he said the agency would continue working to ensure Nigerians had access to safe food and effective medicines.
He also called for stronger cooperation among government agencies involved in combating counterfeit drugs and other illicit activities, warning that the task was too extensive for any single agency to handle alone.
Iluyomade urged members of the public to support the campaign by reporting suspected fake and substandard products through NAFDAC’s designated reporting channels for prompt investigation and action.
Representing the Enforcement Unit of the Nigeria Customs Service, Area II Command, Superintendent of Customs Elizabeth Abosede commended NAFDAC for the exercise and expressed concern over the dangers counterfeit medicines pose to public health.
Earlier, the South-South Zonal Director of NAFDAC, Oligbu Chukwuma, represented by his deputy, Mrs Rita Chukwuma, said the destruction formed part of the agency’s regulatory responsibilities.
She explained that the products included items intercepted by NAFDAC as well as those voluntarily surrendered by organisations, adding that their destruction was necessary to prevent unsafe and substandard goods from returning to circulation.
