Adedokun Waliyu The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has destroyed products worth ₦2.6 billion in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, as part of a nationwide crackdown on counterfeit and unwholesome goods valued at more than ₦5.3 billion, seized and destroyed within one week.
The items, which included pharmaceutical products, chemicals, tomato paste, biscuits and other products considered unwholesome, were intercepted and seized by the Nigeria Customs Service at Onne Port between 2025 and 2026.
The destruction exercise took place on Friday at a dumpsite in Eneka, Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State, with officials of NAFDAC and the Nigeria Customs Service highlighting the need for stronger collaboration to prevent dangerous products from reaching consumers.
Speaking during the exercise, the Chairman of the Federal Task Force on Counterfeit, Fake Drugs and Unwholesome Processed Foods in Nigeria, Martins Iluyomade, who represented NAFDAC’s Director-General, Mojisola Adeyeye, said the operation demonstrated cooperation between the two agencies in tackling counterfeit and substandard products.
Iluyomade, who is also NAFDAC’s Director of Investigation and Enforcement, described the exercise as the first phase, noting that more seized goods were expected to be brought from the port for destruction.
“What you see here right now, this is the flag-up; others are still coming out of the port,” he said, urging the Nigeria Customs Service to facilitate the remaining containers for destruction.
He also called for sustained cooperation among government agencies involved in the fight against counterfeit products and illicit activities, warning against inter-agency rivalry.
The South-South Zonal Director of NAFDAC, Chukwuma Oligbu, represented by his deputy, Rita Chukwuma, said the exercise was part of the agency’s regulatory responsibilities and aimed at ridding communities of fake and substandard products.
Representing the Enforcement Unit of the Nigeria Customs Service, Area II Command, Superintendent of Customs Elizabeth Abosede commended NAFDAC for the collaboration.
The destruction in Port Harcourt followed enforcement operations in Lagos and Aba, Abia State, where NAFDAC seized suspected counterfeit alcoholic beverages, packaging materials and products valued at billions of naira.
NAFDAC has urged Nigerians to remain vigilant and report suspected illegal manufacturing, repackaging and sales of counterfeit products to the agency.
