By Debo Adeoye,Ibadan, Nigeria.
The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) on Wednesday destroyed fake, banned, expired, substandard, falsified and other unwholesome regulated products valued at over ₦55.4 billion at the Moniya Dumpsite, Ibadan, Oyo State, as part of its sustained efforts to protect public health and safety.
The destruction exercise, which took place on December 18, 2025, was officially flagged off by the Director-General of NAFDAC, Professor Mojisola Adeyeye, who described the action as a critical strategy to prevent dangerous products from finding their way back into the market.
Speaking at the event, Adeyeye said the agency remains fully committed to its statutory mandate of safeguarding the health of Nigerians by eliminating substandard and falsified (SF) medicines, illicit drugs, unsafe foods, harmful chemicals, medical devices, cosmetics and other regulated products from circulation.
“This general destruction exercise is a routine but vital operation in line with NAFDAC’s mandate,” she said. “It is designed to ensure that expired, substandard and falsified medical products, as well as other unsafe and unwholesome regulated items, are permanently removed and cannot be reintroduced into the supply chain.”
According to the NAFDAC boss, the items destroyed included substandard and falsified medical products, unwholesome processed foods and food additives, unsafe cosmetics, counterfeit items, as well as expired regulated products confiscated from manufacturers, importers and distributors during enforcement operations.
She also disclosed that damaged and expired products voluntarily submitted to the agency by more than 70 compliant companies, non-governmental organisations and trade unions were included in the destruction exercise, describing the gesture as a positive demonstration of regulatory compliance and corporate responsibility.
The estimated street value of the destroyed products was put at ₦55,436,844,470 (Fifty-five billion, four hundred and thirty-six million, eight hundred and forty-four thousand, four hundred and seventy naira).
Adeyeye commended the support of security and regulatory agencies involved in the operation, including the Nigeria Police Force, Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Nigerian Army, Department of State Services (DSS), Pharmacists Council of Nigeria (PCN), National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).
She noted that the fight against substandard and falsified medicines requires strong inter-agency collaboration, intelligence sharing and sustained enforcement.
The NAFDAC Director-General also appealed to religious leaders, community leaders, health professionals and members of the media to intensify public enlightenment on the dangers of patronising quacks and unauthorised medicine and food dealers.
“This fight cannot be won by NAFDAC alone,” she said. “It is a collective responsibility. Nigerians must be vigilant and actively participate in protecting their families and communities from harmful products.”
She assured the public that NAFDAC would continue to deploy all lawful means to rid the country of violative products and strengthen regulatory oversight across the nation.
