TAIBAT UMMI YAKUBU

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has destroyed fake, expired, adulterated and banned products valued at approximately ₦8 billion, confiscated during enforcement operations across Nigeria’s North-Central zone.

The destruction exercise took place on Thursday in Lafia, Nasarawa State, with banned alcoholic beverages packaged in small containers of less than 200 millilitres accounting for a significant portion of the seized items.

NAFDAC Director-General, Professor Mojisola Christianah Adeyeye, who was represented by the Deputy Director in charge of the North-Central zone, Joseph Edor, said the agency’s action was aimed at protecting Nigerians from products that pose serious health risks.

Adeyeye explained that research had linked the availability, affordability and portability of small-pack alcoholic beverages to increased alcohol abuse and addiction, particularly among young people and underage schoolchildren.

She warned that early exposure to alcohol could damage the brain and other vital organs, including the liver and kidneys, while affecting learning abilities, academic performance and productivity.

According to her, alcohol-related harm among children and adolescents could have long-term consequences, including brain damage, illnesses and difficulties in education and future employment.

She said the agency had therefore prohibited the production, distribution and sale of alcoholic beverages packaged in sachets and PET or glass bottles below 200ml.

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The restriction, she added, informed NAFDAC’s raids and confiscation operations at manufacturing facilities, shops, markets and motor parks, where the banned products were found.

Beyond alcoholic beverages, the destroyed items included expired, counterfeit and substandard food products, medicines and cosmetics seized during routine surveillance and enforcement activities.

Adeyeye reiterated that NAFDAC was mandated to protect public health by ensuring that food, medicines, cosmetics, medical devices, drinking water and other regulated products manufactured, imported, distributed or sold in Nigeria meet required safety and quality standards.

She said the agency carries out inspections, investigations, enforcement operations, product registration and laboratory testing to prevent unsafe and ineffective products from reaching consumers.

The NAFDAC chief also acknowledged the support of other law enforcement agencies, government institutions, industry associations and stakeholders, particularly in intelligence sharing and providing security during enforcement operations.

The destruction underscores the agency’s continuing efforts to remove dangerous and prohibited products from circulation, with particular attention to alcoholic beverages that could expose children and young people to addiction and other health complications.