The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC, on Thursday, destroyed fake, adulterated, and unregistered food, drug, and cosmetic products worth approximately N2.7 billion that had been seized in the South-East.
The destruction took place at the Enugu State refuse dumpsite in Ugwuonyeama.
In a brief statement during the event, NAFDAC Director-General Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, represented by South-East Zone Director Martins Iluyomade, emphasized that these products could have endangered the health of over three million people. Adeyeye noted that they would have placed additional strain on the country’s already burdened health institutions and potentially increased poverty by forcing people to spend money intended for their livelihoods on medical expenses.
“It is also pertinent to know that several people have met their untimely death due to the consumption of these poisons.
“This event today is to signal to the people of the South-East that it is no longer business as usual to merchants of death, who are hell bent on destroying other people for their own selfish economic gain.
“I want to thank other sister agencies for their cooperation, without which we cannot succeed in this endeavour.
“NAFDAC will not rest on its oars until every household in the country can buy any regulated product without fear of substandard, adulteration or fake.
“We enjoin the public to join us in this fight by reporting unscrupulous manufacturers and businessmen, who engage in illicit practices to report to the nearest NAFDAC office for prompt investigation,” Ms Adeyeye said.
Earlier in a remark, Mr Iluyomade said that South-East states were very strategic to achieving the mandate of NAFDAC.
He said, “if the work of NAFDAC is got right in the South-East, 70 per cent of the mandate of the agency will be achieved.
“Several raids and routine activities have led to the confiscation of several fake, substandard, falsified, adulterated and spurious foods, drugs, medical devices, cosmetics, chemicals and other regulated consignments.
“These products are very injurious to the health of Nigerians, especially the people of the zone,” he said.
(allnews.ng)
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