The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has intercepted 16 containers of substandard and falsified pharmaceutical products and tomato paste at Onne Port in Rivers State. The consignment is estimated to have a street value of N20.5 billion, according to a statement from the agency.
The seizure was made possible through a joint operation with the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) and officially handed over to the Director-General of NAFDAC, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, by the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, on Saturday.
The containers included 11 units of banned and unregistered pharmaceutical products and four containers of unwholesome tomato paste. The seized drugs pose serious health risks and violate Nigeria’s drug regulation laws.
According to the agency’s media consultant, Sayo Akintola, the illicit consignment contained:
1.3 million bottles of codeine syrup, a prescription-only controlled medicine
12.6 million tablets of Tramadol, a highly addictive painkiller
9.3 million tablets of falsified Diclofenac, a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug used for arthritis management
280 packs of falsified Hyergra (Sildenafil Citrate), used for erectile dysfunction treatment
Four containers of unregistered, substandard tomato paste
Prof. Adeyeye praised the Customs Service for its vigilance and support, describing the seizure as a major success in NAFDAC’s ongoing war against counterfeit and dangerous products.
“This is to warn unscrupulous merchants both at home and abroad: under our watch, fake and substandard food and drugs will not be allowed into Nigeria,” she said.
The NAFDAC chief also disclosed that the agency had received death threats and kidnapping attempts in recent months but remains undeterred.
“Despite the threats, our commitment remains firm. God, and the people of Nigeria, are on our side,” she added.
NAFDAC urged Nigerians to report suspicious drugs or food items through its offices or official social media channels. Prof. Adeyeye stressed the health dangers of consuming counterfeit products, including:
Food poisoning and gastrointestinal illnesses
Chronic organ damage from toxic ingredients
Increased cancer risks from expired additives
Nutritional deficiencies and reduced food value
Cognitive disruption from ultra-processed, expired products
She reiterated the importance of cross-agency cooperation in protecting public health and pledged to continue developing strategic partnerships to curb the spread of dangerous products.
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“Safeguarding the health of the nation is a shared responsibility. NAFDAC cannot do it alone,” she concluded.
This latest seizure underscores the ongoing public health risks posed by fake drugs and contaminated food items in Nigeria, as well as the importance of vigilance at the nation’s ports of entry.