The drug regulator incinerated counterfeit medicines, illegal alcohol, and unsafe products seized from the capital and surrounding areas.
The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has destroyed counterfeit, expired, and unwholesome regulated products valued at over ₦1.8 billion at the Kuje dumpsite in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
The exercise involved the incineration of falsified medicines, banned sachet alcohol, expired pharmaceuticals, fake chemicals, and other unsafe items. These were seized across Abuja and neighbouring areas, including goods voluntarily submitted by corporate organisations, non-governmental groups, and the Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria (ACPN).
Speaking at the event, NAFDAC’s Director-General, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye—represented by the Director of Investigation and Enforcement, Dr Martins Iluyomade—warned that counterfeit drug syndicates now use sophisticated cloning techniques to replicate genuine products, making visual detection nearly impossible for consumers.
Dr Iluyomade revealed that the agency recently intercepted several containers of suspicious products falsely declared to bypass port controls. He called for stronger inter-agency collaboration and heightened public vigilance.
NAFDAC reaffirmed that the destruction ensures seized items do not re-enter circulation. It also restated its commitment to enforcing the ban on alcoholic beverages in sachets and PET bottles under 200ml, warning that traders found in possession will face prosecution.
The agency urged Nigerians to avoid suspiciously cheap medicines and other regulated products, and to report any questionable activity to the nearest NAFDAC office or its call centre.
