The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Federal Operations Unit Zone A, Ikeja, on Tuesday handed over three trucks loaded with expired pharmaceuticals valued at N3.7bn to the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC).

This was disclosed in a statement by the command’s Public Relations Officer, Hussaini Abdullahi.

According to the statement, the Customs Area Controller, Mohammed Shuaibu, presented the seized consignments during a courtesy visit by the new NAFDAC Director of Enforcement and Investigation, Dr. Martin Iluyomade, at the command’s office in Ikeja.

Shuaibu reaffirmed the service’s commitment to implementing the Memorandum of Understanding signed between NCS and NAFDAC, describing it as a key milestone in Nigeria’s fight against counterfeit and fake products.

“What we are witnessing today is a follow-up of the MoU, emphasising the importance of collaboration among regulatory and security agencies to continuously thwart the smuggling and importation of these harmful consignments,” Shuaibu said.

Giving details of the seizure, he explained that “three trucks filled with various brands of expired pharmaceutical products were being handed over. These include items in sacks and cartons such as hyergra, royal tablets 225, CSC codine syrup, really extral, tramadol, amlodipine, milk oil flavour, and firegra, among others. The duty paid value of the expired pharmaceuticals stood at N3.7bn.”

The Controller warned that the range of these products posed grave risks to public health if not properly managed, stressing that expired products must be handled with utmost seriousness.

He noted that the dangers of expired or counterfeit medicines cannot be overstated.

Shuaibu assured the public that the service places the health and safety of Nigerians above all else by ensuring such products are intercepted before entering circulation.

He added that more handovers would follow as investigations into other seizures are concluded.

Highlighting the value of inter-agency synergy, he stated, “This collaborative effort sets a precedent for future actions aimed at ensuring that only safe and effective medications are available to the Nigerian population.”

Receiving the consignments, Dr. Martin Iluyomade praised NCS for its consistent enforcement of the MoU between both agencies.

He described the partnership as strategic and healthy, pledging that NAFDAC would intensify efforts in combating the smuggling of fake and counterfeit drugs.

For Advert, Event Coverage/Press Conference Invite, Story/Article Publication & Other Media Services
Contact Us On WhatsApp
Send Email To: citizennewsng@gmail.com
Visit Citizen NewsNG To Read More Latest And Interesting News Across Nigeria And The World