The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has carried out a massive destruction exercise in Ibadan, eliminating counterfeit, expired and banned products estimated at over ₦55.4 billion, in a renewed push to protect public health and clean up Nigeria’s markets.
The disposal exercise, which took place at the Moniya dumpsite in Oyo State, involved a wide range of regulated products considered unsafe for human use or consumption. The action underscores NAFDAC’s growing focus on preventing hazardous items from circulating within communities.
According to the agency, the destroyed goods were gathered through enforcement operations as well as voluntary submissions by compliant manufacturers, importers, trade groups and civil society organisations. Officials confirmed that more than 70 organisations cooperated with the agency by handing over products that no longer met safety or regulatory standards.
Representing the Director-General of NAFDAC, Prof. Christiana Adeyeye, at the event, the Deputy Director of Investigation and Enforcement in the Pharmaceutical Division, Mrs Florence Uba, said the destruction was a deliberate step to ensure that seized items do not find their way back into circulation.
She explained that the consignment included falsified and substandard medicines, unsafe cosmetics, expired processed foods, food additives and other regulated products that could pose serious risks to consumers if sold.
NAFDAC stated that the estimated market value of the destroyed items stood at ₦55,436,844,470, describing the figure as a reflection of both the scale of the problem and the agency’s intensified surveillance efforts.
Beyond enforcement, the agency emphasised the need for public vigilance, warning that the continued patronage of unlicensed drug sellers and unregistered outlets fuels the circulation of fake and dangerous products.
The agency called on healthcare professionals, traditional and religious leaders, community influencers and journalists to support awareness campaigns that educate Nigerians on identifying genuine products and reporting suspicious activities.
NAFDAC also acknowledged the support of security and regulatory bodies, including the Nigeria Customs Service, the Police, the Armed Forces, the Department of State Services and the Pharmacists Council of Nigeria, noting that inter-agency collaboration remains critical to effective regulation.
The agency reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening oversight across the supply chain, assuring Nigerians that efforts to clamp down on substandard and falsified products will continue as part of its mandate to safeguard lives and promote public confidence in regulated goods.
