The National Agency for Food, Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) on Friday, destroyed fake , counterfeit and sub-standard drugs to the tune of over N1 trillion in Awka, the Anambra State capital.
Among the items destroyed include, analgin, tramadol and pediatrics pharmaceuticals which were stored in some prohibited areas or banned by the World Health Organization (WHO) .
The drugs destroyed were products of the raid, and closure of the Onitsha Bridge Head Drug Market and the Aba Drug Market in Abia State.
According to the Director General of NAFDAC, Prof. Christian Adeyeye, who was represented by the Zonal Director South East, Dr. Martin Iluyomade.
“The closure and raid of the Onitsha Bridge Head Drug Market and the Aba Drug Market respectively, was an answer to the cries and complaints of the members of the public over the effects of fake, sub-standard and counterfeit drugs in the South East.
“Most of these drugs are banned drugs such as analgin and some pediatrics drugs that were stored in places that are prohibited in line with the registrations of the World Health Organization.
“It is our task to ensure that these products are safe, and feat for human consumption.
Read also: Police arrest 300 suspects, recover arms, drugs in Abuja
“What you see here are drugs from Aba and Onitsha, and drugs for pregnant women and they are in a 140ft truck to the tune of over N1 trillion, and they are supposed to be stored in a specific temperature.
“But, they are stored in the market that do not conform with the specified temperature.
“The volume found in these two markets is enough to distabilize this country, and also most of them are narcotic drugs that are synonymous with crime.
“Those that indulge in these drugs are not supposed to take them because they use it to commit crimes, and that goes to increase the insecurity challenges in our country,” he said.
Also speaking, the Managing Director of Anambra State Waste Management Agency, Mr. Mike Ozoemena said: “The Anambra State Governor, Charles Soludo has shown sufficient support to the activities of NAFDAC from the time the market was closed.
“He personally came to the market to see things for himself in a bid to ensure safety of our people.
“The efforts of this body is one that would also go a long way to fight criminality in Anambra State due to the narcotics that they take, and we as a government will continue to give NAFDAC all the assistance that they may need.”
