The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control on Wednesday in Abuja destroyed fake, expired medicines and other regulated products worth more than N120 million.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the destruction took place at the dump site of the Bwari Area Council, in FCT.
Dr Paul Orhii, the Director-General of the agency, said some of the expired products were surrendered by their owners while the rest were mopped up by the agency.
Orhii, represented by Mrs. Yetunde Oni, Director, Administration and Human Resource Management, said the exercise was conducted to intimate the public that the fight against fake and counterfeit products was ongoing.
"Today, we are witnessing the destruction of various categories of products which include expired, substandard, falsely labelled medicines and other regulated products.
"The exercise would not have been possible without deploying numerous strategies which include sustained public enlightenment and improved capacity building of members of staff.
"The use of cutting-edge technologies particularly truscan device, minilab test kits and the mobile authentication service were effective in the exercise," he said.
Orhii said the agency was in the process of reviewing its existing laws to ensure stiffer penalties for counterfeiters and violators of NAFDAC laws.
He solicited support from the public to join force with the agency to safeguard the health of citizens and to curb sale of fake and unwholesome products.
Earlier, Mrs. Brigdet Otote, Chairman, Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria, Abuja Branch, commended the agency in the fight against counterfeiters.
She pledged the association's support for the activities of NAFDAC.
Otote said that collaboration was necessary to achieve success.
The Secretary of the Bwari Area Council, Mr. Luka Zamishi, expressed appreciation over the efforts of the agency in reducing the sale of fake products.
He urged NAFDAC to intensify efforts to ensure that Nigeria was free of fake and counterfeit products.
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