The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) on Thursday destroyed counterfeit and substandard products worth more than N5 billion, as part of a coordinated crackdown on dangerous goods circulating across the North-Central region.
The items, seized from operations in Nasarawa, Benue, Kogi, Niger and Plateau States, were set ablaze at the Angwan Rere dumpsite in Lafia, Nasarawa State.
Addressing stakeholders during the destruction exercise, NAFDAC Director-General, Prof. Christianah Adeyeye, said the fake products were intercepted during routine surveillance activities. She was represented at the event by the agency’s North-Central Zonal Director, Mr. Kenneth Azikiwe.
Adeyeye noted that the exercise was crucial to preventing the harmful goods from re-entering the market, warning that their circulation posed serious threats to public safety.
She revealed that some expired and compromised items were voluntarily handed over by traders, and encouraged Nigerians to remain vigilant and report producers of adulterated products.
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“We are committed to ensuring that only safe, quality products are available to the public,” she said.
Nasarawa State Commissioner for Security and Safety Matters, Usman Baba, praised NAFDAC for its sustained efforts to sanitise markets in the region.
He assured the agency of the state government’s continued support in enhancing enforcement and protecting consumers.