The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC, has destroyed counterfeit drugs, unsafe food items, banned alcoholic drinks and other unapproved products valued at over N8 billion seized across North-Central Nigeria.
The agency’s Director-General, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, announced this on Thursday in Lafia, Nasarawa State, explaining that the items were recovered from factories, markets, motor parks and commercial outlets across the region.
Adeyeye, represented by the agency’s Deputy Director in the zone, Joseph Edor, said sachet alcoholic drinks and beverages sold in containers below 200 millilitres accounted for the largest share of the destroyed products.
She said the restriction on such alcoholic beverages was intended to limit access to products that could encourage excessive drinking, particularly among young people and school-age children.
According to her, alcohol consumption at an early age poses risks to brain development and vital organs, including the liver and kidneys.
She added that it could also contribute to poor academic performance, reduced productivity and other health problems.
The NAFDAC chief explained that the agency’s mandate, established under Decree No. 19 of 1993, as amended, includes ensuring that regulated products produced locally or imported into Nigeria meet prescribed safety and quality requirements.
The operation also led to the recovery of expired and fake medicines, contaminated and unfit food products, as well as substandard cosmetics.