The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has intercepted 15 containers filled with fake pharmaceutical products and substandard tomato paste at the Onne Port in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
According to a statement released on Sunday by the agency’s Resident Media Consultant, Sayo Akintola, the seized goods are estimated to be worth N20.5 billion on the street.
The Director-General of NAFDAC, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, received the containers 11 loaded with unregistered and banned drugs and four with unsafe tomato paste during a handover ceremony by the Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service, Adewale Adeniyi.
The seizure reflects the ongoing collaboration between both agencies in fighting the circulation of harmful products.
Among the items confiscated were 1.3 million bottles of codeine syrup, 12.6 million tablets of Tramadol, and 9.3 million fake Diclofenac tablets. Other products included 280 packs of counterfeit Hyergra (a copy of Sildenafil Citrate, used for erectile dysfunction) and large quantities of unwholesome tomato paste.
Prof. Adeyeye praised Customs for their support in tackling the importation of fake and harmful goods. She warned dealers of fake products that NAFDAC would continue to stand firm despite threats and attempts to intimidate its personnel.
“These fake products won’t be allowed into our markets,” she said, urging Nigerians to report suspicious items to NAFDAC through its offices or social media platforms.
She also warned of the serious health risks associated with consuming substandard products, including food poisoning, nutritional deficiencies, organ damage, cancer risks, allergic reactions, and more.
Highlighting the importance of teamwork, Adeyeye stressed that protecting public health is a shared responsibility and called for continued support from individuals and organisations alike.
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