The Federal Government has begun the destruction of over 250 containers of expired pharmaceutical products seized by the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), at various seaports across the country.
Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) had set up a committee to oversee the identification, isolation, evacuation, and destruction of illegally imported pharmaceuticals.
The committee comprises representatives from the Nigerian Army, Navy, Customs, the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), and the Nigerian Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).
Assistant Comptroller General of Customs and Chairman of the committee, Timi Bomodi, said the exercise will take place simultaneously across the country.
He said Lagos would be the starting point, followed by Port Harcourt, Calabar, and Kano.
“This exercise cuts across the Federation. We’re starting here in Lagos, specifically with about 88 containers. We’ll also be going to Port Harcourt where we have over 20 containers, Calabar, then Kano. So it cuts across the whole country.
“It’s an exercise that is very dear to the hearts of the National Security Adviser, particularly with regards to the public well-being and welfare. When you add the security implications, then that holds it very dear to his mind. I’m sure you’ve seen everybody here because this is a multi-agency approach that is now being deployed to effectively tackle this menace of importation of some of these substances or items that are not approved by designated agencies,” he stated.
Bomodi further highlighted that the expired pharmaceuticals, which pose significant health risks to Nigerians, were previously valued in billions of naira.
When asked about the estimated street value of the seized drugs, he said, “Well, it’s a lot. I don’t have the Duty Paid Value (DPV), but it’s a lot because we are talking about hundreds of 40-foot containers, spread across the country and others that were not packaged in containers.
“So, it’s a lot. We are talking of billions, hundreds of billions of Naira. So, such an act occurs daily, or should I say yearly, and the Nigerian Customs Service seems to always destroy this product. The drugs are fake, not registered, and they pose a very serious challenge to the health and well-being of Nigerians.
“And I said also, you know, the issue of security, because some of these pharmaceuticals have been identified to be used by elements in society that are causing so much trouble. We’re talking about cases of kidnapping and crime and all kinds of crimes.”
The government’s latest efforts underscore its commitment to combating the proliferation of fake and expired drugs in the country while addressing the broader implications for public health and national security.
