NAFDAC destroys fake, expired drugs in Sokoto State

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), revealed it has destroyed fake and expired products such as food items and drugs worth N50m in Sokoto State.

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NAFDAC burnt the items at Kwannawa dump site, near the old Post Office in the Dange-Shuni Local Government Area of the state.

The NAFDAC State Coordinator, Mr. Adamu Garba, said the exercise was part of routine efforts made by the agency to rid the country of counterfeit, expired and other unregulated products.

He stressed that, fake expired drugs and consumables as the gravest danger to human life.

“The products being destroyed today are made up of fake and counterfeit drugs, substandard and expired food products, cosmetics and regulated products seized by NAFDAC, while some were voluntarily surrendered by shop owners.”

“This exercise is a Public-Private Partnership initiative with drugs sellers and union members as about 80 per cent of destroyed products were voluntarily surrendered by them,’’ he said.

Garba explained that the quantum of products being destroyed was a pointer to the fact that the agency was working hard to safeguard the health and safety of Nigerians.

The state coordinator commended stakeholders and security agents for their support and gave an assurance that the agency would continue to enforce sanctions where there are violations.

He explained that the agency had embarked on state-wide awareness creation on activities of fake, expired products and urged vendors, producers and consumers to adhere to stipulated regulations.

Assistant Director, Head of Investigation, Mr. Emmanuel Andrew, said the effort was meant to remove counterfeit, expired and unregistered products from circulation.

Andrew, who is a member of the NAFDAC National Taskforce Team, said he was in Sokoto to supervise the activities of patent medicine vendors and pharmaceutical stores, and to make them cooperate with the agency by submitting outlawed products.

He underscored the importance of collective efforts among stakeholders in the struggle to safeguard people’s health.

NAN