The Federal Operations Unit, Zone A (FOU A) of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has transferred various intercepted expired pharmaceutical products to the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC).
The seized items were handed over when Comptroller Mohammed Shuaibu hosted the new NAFDAC Director in charge of Enforcement and Investigation, Dr. Martin Iluyomade, at the FOU A headquarters in Ikeja, Lagos, on Tuesday.
While addressing journalists, Comptroller Shuaibu reaffirmed the Service’s dedication to upholding the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the NCS and NAFDAC, noting that the MoU marked a significant milestone in Nigeria’s fight against counterfeit products.
“What we are witnessing today is a follow up of the MoU,” he stated, emphasising the importance of collaboration among regulatory and security agencies to continuously thwart the smuggling and importation of harmful consignments.
Shuaibu disclosed that a total of three trucks filled with various brands of expired pharmaceutical products were being handed over, including items in sacks and cartons such as Hyergra, Royal Tablets 225, CSC Codine Syrup, Really Extral, Tramadol, Amlodipine, Milk Oil Flavour, and Firegra, among others.
He warned that the wide range of these products poses serious risks to public health if not properly regulated, while revealing that the Duty Paid Value (DPV) of the expired pharmaceuticals stood at ₦3,779,500,000.
The Comptroller reiterated the Service‘s commitment to ensuring the safety and efficacy of medications.
“Expired products must be handled with utmost seriousness,” he further warned, adding that “the potential risks to public health from expired or counterfeit products can not be understated.”
He also assured the public that the NCS prioritises the health and safety of Nigerians by preventing expired or counterfeit drugs from circulating in the market, stressing that the handover is not a one-off event, as more products will be transferred to NAFDAC following the conclusion of ongoing investigations.
He reiterated the importance of the continued collaboration between the NCS and NAFDAC, saying: “This collaborative effort sets a precedent for future actions aimed at ensuring that only safe and effective medications are available to the Nigerian population.”
Dr. Iluyomade, who received the consignments on behalf of Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, the Director General of NAFDAC, commended the Nigeria Customs Service for its unwavering commitment to the implementation of the MoU signed between both agencies.
He equally lauded the ongoing collaboration, describing it as a “healthy and strategic partnership” and pledged that NAFDAC would redouble its efforts in the fight against the smuggling of counterfeit and fake pharmaceutical products.
