By Atoyebi Nike
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Federal Operations Unit Zone A, Ikeja, has handed over three trucks loaded with expired pharmaceutical products valued at N3.7 billion to the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC).
The handover took place on Tuesday during a courtesy visit by NAFDAC’s new Director of Enforcement and Investigation, Dr. Martin Iluyomade, to the unit.
Customs Area Controller, Mohammed Shuaibu, said the transfer was part of the service’s commitment to enforcing the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed with NAFDAC in the fight against counterfeit and expired drugs.
“What we are witnessing today is a follow-up of the MoU, emphasizing the importance of collaboration among regulatory and security agencies to continuously thwart the smuggling and importation of harmful consignments,” Shuaibu said.
He explained that the seized consignments included various brands of expired drugs packed in sacks and cartons, such as Hyergra, Royal Tablets 225, CSC Codine Syrup, Really Extral, Tramadol, Amlodipine, Milk Oil Flavour, and Firegra.
Shuaibu stressed that expired pharmaceuticals posed serious health risks and must be handled with urgency, assuring that the Customs Service would continue to work with NAFDAC to keep such dangerous products out of Nigerian markets.
Receiving the consignments, Dr. Iluyomade commended the Customs Service for its vigilance and described the partnership as a “healthy and strategic collaboration.” He pledged that NAFDAC would intensify its enforcement drive against the smuggling of counterfeit and fake medicines.
