The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has confiscated and destroyed unwholesome, banned, fake and adulterated products worth more than N8 billion in the North-Central states.
Speaking during the destruction ceremony on Thursday in Lafia, the Nasarawa State capital, the Director-General of NAFDAC, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, said the products were seized from manufacturing outfits, sales outlets, markets and motor parks across the zone.
The DG, who was represented by a Deputy Director of NAFDAC in the zone, Joseph Edor, said most of the confiscated products were banned alcoholic beverages in small volumes of less than 200 ml (20 cl).
According to her, NAFDAC was established by Decree No. 19 of 1993, as amended, with the mandate to protect and promote public health by ensuring that only quality, efficacious and regulated products are manufactured, imported, distributed and sold in Nigeria.
She explained that the agency banned alcoholic beverages in sachets and glass bottles of less than 200ml due to their availability, affordability and portability, which have made them easily abused by youths and underage schoolchildren.
“Research has shown that early exposure to alcohol affects the brain and other vital organs such as the liver and kidneys.
“It stymies the brain, resulting in mental retardation, brain damage, poor performance of pupils in school, low productivity and several types of illnesses,” she said.
The DG said the ban and subsequent raids were based on these abuses, addiction and adverse health effects, while other seized items included expired, fake and unwholesome food, drugs and cosmetics.
“It is in the course of carrying out these activities that this heap of unwholesome, banned, fake and adulterated products worth about eight billion naira was confiscated from manufacturing outfits, sales outlets, markets and motor parks.
“The bulk of the products in that pile are predominantly banned alcoholic beverages in low volumes of less than 200ml (20cl),” she emphasised.
The Director-General further commended other law enforcement agencies, sister agencies and stakeholders for their continuous collaboration, especially in intelligence sharing and security cover during operations.
Also speaking at the event, the Nasarawa State Coordinator of NAFDAC, Dr Gyani Stephen, explained that the exercise was not targeted at hurting people but was intended to save lives.
He advised those in the habit of selling fake and banned products to desist or be ready to face the full wrath of the law, warning that the agency would come after them if they did not change their ways.
In his goodwill message, the Nasarawa State Commander of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, Daniel Saidu, represented by Yakubu Awoh, commended NAFDAC for saving lives through the regular seizure and destruction of expired and fake drugs.
He explained that if these dangerous products were allowed into the markets, they could have destroyed millions of lives and affected the mental health of many others.
Source: punchng.com
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