NAFDAC raids Zaria market, seizes unregistered, expired drugs worth N20m

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) on Monday seized unregistered/expired aphrodisiacs, and other drugs worth N20m in Kaduna State.

The agency made the seizures during a raid in 26 shops at the Sabon Gari market in Zaria LGA of the state.

The seizures were microgynon, drugs meant to be distributed free to Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and oxytocin (injection for women who delivered), which required specific temperature to be stored, but were found in the open.

Addressing newsmen after the raid, the Deputy Director in charge of Investigation and Enforcement Directorate of NAFDAC, Kaduna Office, Mr. Tamanuwa Andrew, said the countinuous excercise was aimed at ridding markets of substandard and falsified medicines.

He noted that falsified, expired, and substandard medicines posed great challenges to the entire world, including Nigeria being a developing country.

“The seized aphrodisiacs, were found to contain up to 200 strength milligrams which was more than 100mg that the agency registered,” he said.

He mentioned some of the challenges to include increased hospital admission, development of resistance and treatment failure which ultimately resulted to death.

He also noted that the unpatriotic business men/women, targeted medicines with high volume of use such as anti malaria, antibiotics, antihypertensive, among others, for treatment of diseases.

The deputy director explained that one of the strategies NAFDAC employed to reduce or minimise the menace of substandard and falsified products was by countinuous mop up of the products from circulation.

He appealed to the public, especially health practitioners, to assist the agency in the fight against substandard drugs, while strongly kicking against self medication.

He said investigations of those found wanting would begin and upon conclusion, they would face the necessary regulatory sanctions or prosecution as the law enshrined.

He restated their committment to ensure safe markets where consumers would buy the right and quality assured medicines and other consumables.