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The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC destroyed N464, 731,552:00k worth of counterfeit, fake, expired and unwholesome products.
The products destroyed at the Bajoga road Dump Site in Gombe, Gombe State included antibiotics, anti-hypertensive, antiretroviral, cancer drugs, anti-malaria, herbal remedies and controlled drugs such as codeine containing cough syrup, tramadol etc. Others include tomato paste, non-alcoholic beverages, maize flour, insecticides etc.
Present at the destruction exercise were, the representative of His Excellency the Executive Governor of Gombe State Pharm Barka Sammy who is the Hon Commisioner of Animal Husbandry, the representative of the Director General NAFDAC Zonal Coordinator NEZ, Pharm. I.S Adamu was joined by the representative of His Royal Highness the Emir of Gombe who is also the Iyan Gombe, Alhaji Inuwa Lamido, State Coordinators, and other staff as well as stakeholders including Police, SSS, SON, NCDSC etc. to destroy the items.
The NAFDAC team was led by the Director General, ably represented by the Zonal Coordinator of the North East Zone, Pharmacist Sabo Adamu and supported by the state coordinators in the zone.
The counterfeit, fake and unwholesome products destroyed were seized from companies that engaged in sharp practices by gallant and committed NAFDAC officers during surveillance and enforcement activities. Other products were voluntarily handed over to the NAFDAC by compliant companies, sister agencies and associations.
The Director General assured that NAFDAC will continue to do everything possible to ensure that only safe and right quality medicines, wholesome foods and other regulated products are distributed and consumed in Nigeria.
The Director General appealed to political, traditional and religious leaders to sensitize their members, subjects and congregations on the dangers of drugs and substance abuse; and therefore warned smugglers of codeine containing cough syrups, tramadol, substance of abuse and spurious products to desist henceforth or face the wrath of the law as surveillance and enforcement activities at all ports of entry has have been intensified.
The DG used the opportunity to appeal to His Excellency to please establish drug abuse Control Committee comprising of NAFDAC and other relevant agencies in the State. And also to provide office accommodation and vehicles for NAFDAC use at each of the three senatorial districts e.g Kumo and Billiri for effective coverage.
His Excellency assured NAFDAC of continued support to ensure that Gombe people consume only good quality and safe drugs and other consumables.
Furthermore, The Governor promised to look into our request of NAFDAC and directed the General Manager Gombe media Corporation to cover NAFDAC regulatory activities to sensitize the general public on substandard products.
The Emir applauded the efforts of NAFDAC and urged the Agency to intensify efforts in reducing the menace of drug hawking.
NAFDAC!!! Safeguarding the Health of the Nation.
