On Friday, the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control seized unregistered products worth N45 million from hawkers’ and illegal drug sellers’ outlets in the Federal Capital Territory and Niger State.
The seizures were made during a NAFDAC Investigation and Enforcement team enforcement exercise in the FCT’s Mararaba and Nyanya axis, as well as Suleja in Niger state.
Unregistered herbal products, drug enhancement pills, and sensitized drugs worth N35 million were seized at Al-Nassar Islamic Herbal Medicine Store in Suleja, Nigeria State, and products worth N10 million were seized at hawkers’ outlets in the FCT.
According to the PUNCH, the Suleja medicine store has been sealed and the manager has been arrested.
The agency also arrested four unregistered product hawkers.
Umar Suleiman, Team Lead and Assistant Chief Regulatory Officer of the Federal Task Force, Investigation and Enforcement, NAFDAC, said to reporters at the end of the enforcement exercise, “As usual, we conduct surveillance most of the time before we carry out our operations, there was surveillance carried out at the shop in Suleja and they discovered they are selling many unregistered herbal products, and some are sensitised drugs with pornographic pictures whi It’s as if the seller is a dealer, and the retailers will have no access to the products as a result.
“We also conduct raids twice or three times per month.” We want to confirm if those Baba Aisha products are still available in the markets during our raids in Nyanya and Mararaba, and those doing the advertisements are not permitted.
“Most of the drugs seized are sex enhancers like night rockets, black diamonds, double rockets, AK 47, and many other herbal products.”
Suleiman also stated that efforts are being made to combat unregistered cosmetics, medical devices, detergents, and packaged water.
“We are focusing on drugs now because of the effects of drugs; many people use these drugs on a daily basis, and instead of people getting better, it aggravates their health problems.” That doesn’t mean we’re not working on other products.
“If you go to most pharmaceutical shops and patent stores, you will see the level of compliance,” he adds.
Also speaking, Embugushiki Godiya, Desk Officer, Investigation and Enforcement Unit of the Federal Task Force, NAFDAC, stated that the agency was pleased with the seizures because its main concern was to keep illegal and counterfeit products out of circulation.
“This will serve as a warning to others who may be considering selling unwholesome products, and we urge all well-meaning Nigerians not to patronize drug peddlers,” Godiya said.
