NAFDAC: N2.6 Billion Fake Drugs Destroyed in Rivers

• NAFDAC recently destroyed N2.6 billion worth of fake and substandard products in Rivers State.
• The destroyed items, including medicines, food, and chemicals, were seized by the Nigeria Customs Service at Onne Port between 2025 and 2026.
• The operation highlights strong collaboration between NAFDAC and the Nigeria Customs Service, facilitated by existing Memoranda of Understanding.
• This destruction marks the first phase of an ongoing enforcement drive against illicit products in Nigeria.
• NAFDAC reiterated its commitment to public health and urged public cooperation in reporting suspicious items.

NAFDAC remains steadfast in its core mandate to safeguard public health, ensuring that only safe food products and effective medicines are accessible to Nigerian consumers.

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) recently conducted a significant destruction exercise in Rivers State, eliminating seized fake and substandard products with an estimated value of N2.6 billion. This operation, which took place in Port Harcourt on Friday, October 16, 2026, targeted a diverse range of illicit goods, including various medicines, chemicals, cookies, and expired tomatoes. These items had been successfully intercepted by the Nigeria Customs Service at the Onne Port over a period spanning from 2025 to 2026.

Dr. Martins Iluyomade, who holds the dual roles of NAFDAC’s Director of Investigation and Enforcement and Chairman of the Federal Task Force on Counterfeit, Fake Drugs, and Unwholesome Processed Foods in Nigeria, publicly disclosed details of the destruction. Speaking on behalf of NAFDAC’s Director-General, Professor Mojisola Adeyeye, Dr. Iluyomade underscored that the exercise serves as a clear demonstration of the agency's unwavering commitment to systematically eliminate counterfeit and fake drugs from circulation across the country. The sheer volume and value of the destroyed goods highlight the scale of the challenge and the intensity of regulatory efforts to combat it.

The successful execution of this large-scale product destruction was made possible through robust cooperation between NAFDAC and the Nigeria Customs Service. Dr. Iluyomade specifically lauded this collaborative spirit, noting that the process leading to the destruction of these seized goods had been ongoing since 2025. He further explained that the two agencies have formalized their partnership through the signing of multiple Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs), which provide the framework for such joint enforcement actions.

Crucially, Dr. Iluyomade emphasized that the effectiveness of these MoUs relies heavily on the dedication of personnel from both organizations. He highlighted that the commitment and willingness of officers working behind the scenes were instrumental in ensuring the MoUs translated into tangible results, overcoming various operational challenges encountered along the way. He also extended gratitude to the Comptroller-General of Customs, whose personal involvement and directive facilitated the seamless handover of the containers for destruction, thereby strengthening the collective effort against illicit trade.

This recent N2.6 billion destruction represents only the initial phase of NAFDAC’s ongoing enforcement campaign. Dr. Iluyomade confirmed that additional seized containers are still located at the port, awaiting their turn for destruction. He urged the Nigeria Customs Service to accelerate the facilitation of these remaining containers to ensure their timely disposal, indicating a sustained and aggressive approach to clearing the market of harmful products.

NAFDAC remains steadfast in its core mandate to safeguard public health, ensuring that only safe food products and effective medicines are accessible to Nigerian consumers. The agency is intensifying its efforts to fulfill this critical assignment, promising to be even more vigorous in its pursuit of this objective. Furthermore, the task force chairman issued a call for greater unity among all government agencies involved in the fight against counterfeit drugs and other illicit activities, stressing that the magnitude of the problem necessitates a coordinated approach rather than inter-agency rivalry. He also appealed to the Nigerian public to actively support these governmental efforts by reporting any suspected fake products through NAFDAC’s designated channels, enabling prompt and decisive action against those who endanger public health.

Lawyers advising clients in the food, pharmaceutical, and chemical sectors in Nigeria should note NAFDAC's intensified enforcement actions and robust collaboration with the Nigeria Customs Service, as evidenced by this N2.6bn destruction. This signals increased regulatory scrutiny on product authenticity and supply chain integrity, necessitating stringent compliance measures to avoid product seizures and destruction, and potential legal liabilities.

Source: Original reporting via The PUNCH