Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, Director of the National Food and Drug Administration (NAFDAC) said a Mercedes truck containing illegal and unregistered pharmaceutical products was seized in Asaba, the capital of the Delta State.
According to her, this is the agency’s renewed effort to get rid of the banned and counterfeited drugs and vaccines on the Nigerian market.
Adeyeye made this known in Abuja, while reiterating the agency determination to ensure that only hygienic pharmaceutical products and other regulated products are available for public use and consumption on the market.
A statement by Sayo Akintola, NAFDAC Resident Media Consultant, which was made available to newsmen in Abuja on Wednesday, Adeyeye disclosed that a Mercedes Truck suspected to be carrying substandard and falsified medicinal products was intercepted along Asaba –Benin road by officers of the Agency’s Investigation and Enforcement (I&E) Directorate, following an intelligence report.
After thorough screening, she said the truck was found to contain, among other products, improperly stored Tetanus Diphtheria vaccine, and various unregistered, banned and controlled medicinal products, including Analgin Injection, CSP with Codeine cough syrup, Mepacrine HCL Tablets, Diethylcarbamazine Citrate Tablets, Dano Tetanus Vaccine, Artestunate Injection, and many others.
She further explained that the products were evacuated, and inventory taken while the suspects with cartons containing the products made police statements and were released on administrative bail.
According to the NAFDAC boss, further investigations revealed that the Truck intercepted was conveying medicinal products purchased from Ogbo-Ogwu Bridge Head market in Onitsha, Anambra State for supply to retailers in Warri, Delta State.
The retailer outlets are: Pendrix Pharmacy, Warri, Samtex Pharmacy, Warri, Onos Pharmacy, Warri, Chima Patent Medicine Store, Warri, Imoson Patent Medicine Store, Warri, Sam-C Patent Medicine Store, Warri, Sunshine Patent Medicine Store, Warri and Hyunus Patent Medicine Store, Warri.
Others are Chuks Patent Medicine Store, Warri, Solomon Patent Medicine Store, Warri, Friday Patent Medicine Store, Warri, Madam Faithmax Patent Medicine Store, Warri, Omas Pharmacy, Warri, Evans Patent Medicine Store, Warri, Chiyere Patent Medicine Store, Warri and Philo Patent Medicine Store, Bridge Head Market, Onitsha.
Adeyeye however, sent a strong warning signal to medicine merchants to always have the general wellbeing of Nigerians at heart over and above any other pecuniary consideration, stressing that there is no longer a hiding place for them if they fail to stop the illicit business of circulating dangerous medicinal products that are capable of compromising the health of the Nigerian public.
