Federal Government Destroys Over 250 Containers of Fake, Expired Drugs Nationwide

The federal government has initiated the destruction of more than 250 containers of expired pharmaceutical products, which were intercepted by the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) at various seaports across the country.

According to LEADERSHIP, the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) established a committee to oversee the identification, isolation, evacuation, and destruction of illegally imported pharmaceutical products. The committee includes personnel from the Nigerian Army, Navy, Customs, National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), and the Nigerian Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).

Timi Bomodi, the Assistant Comptroller General of Customs and chairman of the committee, confirmed that the destruction of the contraband would take place simultaneously across multiple locations nationwide.

“We are starting in Lagos with about 88 containers. After that, we will move to Port Harcourt, where there are over 20 containers, followed by Calabar and Kano,” Bomodi explained. “This exercise is taking place nationwide, as it is a matter of national security, public health, and welfare.”

Bomodi emphasized that the operation is critical to both public health and security, noting that some of the fake drugs have been linked to criminal activities, including kidnapping and other crimes. The committee’s work is a multi-agency effort aimed at curbing the importation of unapproved and harmful pharmaceuticals.

“We are talking about a large quantity—hundreds of 40-foot containers—and there are also other products that aren’t packaged in containers. This amounts to billions of naira. These drugs are fake, unregistered, and pose serious threats to the health and well-being of Nigerians,” Bomodi stated.

He also noted that the illicit drugs are sometimes used by criminal elements involved in various unlawful activities, further compounding the security implications of such illegal imports.

The destruction follows the confiscation of billions of naira worth of contraband earlier by the committee, and Bomodi reaffirmed the commitment of all agencies involved in tackling the menace of illicit drug importation.