The Director-General of NAFDAC, Professor Mojisola Adeyeye has said that the destruction of ₦15bn worth of fake and expired drugs will stop them from re-entering Nigeria’s markets.

The DG said the move was part of NAFDAC’s continued efforts to protect public health by ensuring that only safe and quality products are available for Nigerians.

The massive haul, which included expired, falsified and unwholesome medicines and consumer products, was destroyed in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, on Thursday.

Prof Adeyeye said the operation was part of the agency’s ongoing commitment to ensure that only safe, effective and quality-assured products reach Nigerian consumers.

“By destroying these fake and substandard products, we have completely removed the threat of their re-entry into circulation,” she said.

The Director-General also warned Nigerians against patronising unlicensed medicine sellers and urged families to educate loved ones on the dangers of counterfeit drugs.

She thanked the Nigerian Police, the Army, the DSS, NDLEA, NSCDC, the Pharmaceutical Council of Nigeria, and other stakeholders for their collaboration.

Speaking on behalf of the Nigeria Customs Service, Assistant Comptroller S.K. Tijani reaffirmed the agency’s support for NAFDAC and highlighted the synergy in the fight against substandard imports.

“All stakeholders must work together to keep criminal products out of our country,” he said.

The destroyed items included counterfeit medicines, unregistered cosmetics, expired packaged food, and illicit health products.