The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has destroyed counterfeit and unregistered drugs worth about N2 billion in Kaduna State as part of its ongoing fight against fake medicines in Nigeria.
The destruction exercise took place on Thursday at the Gonin Gora dumpsite in Kaduna, where officials disposed of large quantities of fake Pregabalin capsules intercepted before they could enter the Nigerian market.
Speaking during the operation, NAFDAC’s Director of Investigation and Enforcement, Martins Iluyomade, said the agency remains determined to protect Nigerians from dangerous and substandard drugs.
According to him, the destroyed Pregabalin capsules were counterfeit products falsely packaged to look like genuine medicines already approved by NAFDAC.
He explained that Pregabalin is a controlled medication mainly used for neurological conditions and warned counterfeiters that the agency now has zero tolerance for fake drug operations.
Iluyomade revealed that the seizure was made possible through intelligence sharing and joint operations involving NAFDAC, the Nigeria Customs Service and the Office of the National Security Adviser.
He added that the fake drugs were allegedly smuggled into Nigeria through Kano airport.
Within two months, enforcement officers reportedly intercepted 503 cartons containing about 11 million doses of the fake capsules.
“The products will never return into circulation because our priority is protecting the health and safety of Nigerians,” he said.
NAFDAC also warned that counterfeiters are becoming more sophisticated by copying the packaging of registered medicines to deceive consumers.
The agency’s North-West Zonal Director, Dadi-Mullah Natim, urged Nigerians to buy drugs only from licensed and regulated outlets while always requesting receipts for proper traceability.
NAFDAC has intensified nationwide enforcement operations in recent months as authorities continue efforts to stop the spread of fake and dangerous pharmaceutical products across the country.
