Customs hands over N3.77 billion worth of expired drugs to NAFDAC

The Federal Operations Unit (FOU), Zone ‘A’ of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), formally transferred expired pharmaceutical products valued at N3.77 billion to the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) on Tuesday.

This information was disclosed in Lagos by Chief Superintendent of Customs Hussaini Abdullahi, the Public Relations Officer of the command.

The handover took place on August 25, coinciding with a visit by NAFDAC’s newly appointed Director of Enforcement and Investigation, Dr. Martin Iluyomade, to FOU Zone ‘A’. Comptroller Mohammed Shu’aibu, the Controller of FOU Zone ‘A’, reaffirmed the agency’s dedication to maintaining the memorandum of understanding (MoU) established between the NCS and NAFDAC.

Furthermore, President Tinubu commended NAFDAC for successfully retaining the World Health Organization’s Maturity Level 3 status concerning the regulation of medicines and vaccines.

NAFDAC has also issued a warning regarding the circulation of falsified Gold Vision Oxytocin injections that bear a counterfeit registration number within Nigeria.

This, he described as a milestone in Nigeria’s fight against fake and counterfeit products.

“What we are witnessing today is a follow-up to the MoU between the two agencies.

“This MoU emphasizes the importance of collaboration among regulatory and security agencies to continuously thwart the smuggling and importation of harmful consignments,” he said.

Details of the handover
Shu’aibu disclosed that three trucks loaded with various expired pharmaceutical products were handed over. The items, packed in sacks and cartons, included Hyergra, Royal Tablets 225, CSC Codine Syrup, Really Extral, Tramadol, Amlodipine, Milk Oil Flavour, and Firegra, among others.

“The wide range of these products poses serious risks to public health if not properly regulated. The Duty Paid Value (DPV) of the expired pharmaceuticals stands at N3.77 billion,” he added.

He stressed that the Service remained committed to ensuring the safety and efficacy of medicines in Nigeria and that expired products would be handled with utmost seriousness.

According to him, the handover is not a one-off event, as more consignments will be transferred to NAFDAC after ongoing investigations.

He further assured Nigerians that Customs would continue to prioritise public health by preventing expired and counterfeit drugs from circulating in markets.

NAFDAC’s response
Receiving the consignments on behalf of the NAFDAC Director-General, Iluyomade commended the NCS for its unwavering commitment to the MoU, describing the collaboration as a strategic partnership in safeguarding public health.

He noted that NAFDAC would redouble its efforts in combating the smuggling of counterfeit and fake pharmaceuticals.