The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has destroyed illicit, expired and fake products valued at N8 billion across the North-Central region.
The large-scale disposal exercise , held in Lafia, involved items confiscated during recent routine inspections, market raids, and enforcement operations targeting manufacturing plants, retail outlets, open markets, and motor parks.
Speaking at the event, NAFDAC Director-General, Prof. Mojisola Christianah Adeyeye, represented by the North-Central Zonal Coordinator, Mr. Joseph Edor disclosed that a significant portion of the destroyed items consisted of banned alcoholic beverages packaged in small sachets and bottles under 200ml.
Prof. Adeyeye warned of the serious health and social risks linked to these small-format drinks, noting that their low cost and compact size make them dangerously easy to buy and conceal.
”Studies show that because these products are cheap, widely available, and easily portable, they have become a major driver of substance abuse and addiction among Nigerians, particularly young people and underage students,” Adeyeye explained.
She added that early alcohol exposure severely damages young minds and vital organs, including the liver and kidneys.
“It impairs brain development, leading to poor academic performance, reduced productivity, and long-term chronic illnesses,” she added.
Reaffirming NAFDAC’s core mandate, she emphasised that the agency remains committed to protecting public health by ensuring that only safe, genuine, and high-quality food, drugs, cosmetics, medical devices, and water reach consumers.
Representatives from various security agencies present at the site commended NAFDAC for its relentless enforcement, pointing out the direct link between substance abuse and rising crime rates.
Speaking on behalf of the Nasarawa State Commander of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), CN Daniel Saidu, Mr. Yakubu Awoh highlighted the dangers of unrestricted access to illicit goods. He noted that the trio of high availability, easy accessibility, and low cost creates a perfect storm for substance abuse.
”When these harmful items are cheap and within easy reach, abuse becomes almost inevitable.The damage starts right in the central nervous system, the brain and the spinal cordultimately cutting lives short. Destroying these goods today does more to safeguard the public than taking a hundred offenders to court. It saves millions of lives,” he said.
Also delivering a message of support, the Nasarawa State Commissioner of Police, CP Shetima Jauro Mohammed represented by the Lafia Area Commander, ACP Bashir Kachalla, praised NAFDAC’s unwavering presence in the region.
He assured the agency of the Nigeria Police Force’s continued backing in purging local markets of fake drugs and expired goods.
Earlier in his welcome address, the Nasarawa State Coordinator of NAFDAC, Dr. Stephen Gyani, underscored the urgent, life-saving nature of the agency’s mission.
”When people fall victim to toxic, counterfeit drugs, they turn to healthcare workers when it is often too late. We have an absolute duty to protect Nigerians from these hidden hazards, and that is precisely why NAFDAC operates,” he said.
The Voice reports that the joint operation stands as a clear warning to counterfeiters, illegal distillers,and unscrupulous merchants operating in the North-Central zone, as NAFDAC and partner security agencies vow to intensify their crackdown on illicit trade across the region.
