NAFDAC destroys fake and banned goods worth over ₦8bn in north-central
- NAFDAC destroyed seized fake, expired and banned products valued at more than ₦8bn in Lafia on Thursday.
- Most of the haul was sachet and small-bottle alcohol below 200ml, which the agency banned to curb youth abuse.
- The agency says the exercise is about protecting health, not punishing traders, and warned dealers of legal action.
The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has destroyed fake, expired, adulterated and banned products it seized across north-central Nigeria, putting the value at more than ₦8bn.
The destruction took place on Thursday in Lafia, Nasarawa State, according to the agency's Director-General, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, who was represented at the event by Joseph Edor, a deputy director in the zone.
NAFDAC said the items were picked up from factories, shops, markets and motor parks across the zone.
Why sachet alcohol is at the centre
Most of what went up in the pile was alcohol sold in sachets and in bottles smaller than 200ml. NAFDAC banned the production, sale and distribution of alcohol in those pack sizes, and the agency says the ban is the reason for the raids.
According to Adeyeye, the small packs are cheap, easy to find and easy to carry, which makes them easy for young people and underage schoolchildren to abuse.
She said research links early drinking to harm to the brain, liver and kidneys, and to weaker school performance and lower productivity later in life.
Research has shown that early exposure to alcohol affects the brain and other vital organs such as the liver and kidneys,
she said, according to the account given at the event.
The rest of the destroyed stock included expired and counterfeit medicines, and food and cosmetics that failed safety checks.
For ordinary Nigerians, the concern is what ends up in the market: medicines that do not work, food that has gone bad, and drinks sold to children. NAFDAC said its work covers inspection, testing, registration and enforcement to keep unsafe products off shelves.
The agency thanked law enforcement agencies, sister agencies and other stakeholders for sharing intelligence and providing security during its operations.
The Nasarawa State coordinator of NAFDAC, Dr Gyani Stephen, said the aim was to protect public health and not to hurt traders or businesses. He warned those still selling counterfeit or banned goods to stop, saying the agency would take legal action against offenders.
The Nasarawa commander of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Daniel Saidu, who was represented by Yakubu Awoh, praised NAFDAC for the seizures. He said such products in the market could put many lives at risk and harm people's mental health.
