NAFDAC has seized fake and substandard products worth ₦20.5 billion at Onne Port in Rivers State.
The agency says the haul includes codeine, tramadol, and toxic tomato paste, posing major health risks.
The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has intercepted 16 containers of fake and substandard products valued at approximately N20.5 billion at the Onne Port in Port Harcourt.
According to a statement released on Sunday by NAFDAC Resident Media Consultant, Sayo Akintola, the seized consignment included 11 containers filled with banned and unregistered pharmaceutical products, alongside four containers of contaminated tomato paste. The Nigeria Customs Service officially transferred custody of the items to NAFDAC on Saturday, highlighting the agencies’ ongoing collaboration.
Among the confiscated products were 1.3 million bottles of codeine syrup, a controlled prescription drug; 12.6 million tablets of tramadol, a powerful opioid; and 9.3 million falsified tablets of diclofenac, a commonly used anti-inflammatory drug. Authorities also intercepted 280 packages of falsified Hyergra tablets, an unregistered erectile dysfunction drug, as well as large volumes of substandard tomato paste.
NAFDAC Director-General, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, condemned the importation and warned those behind the illicit trade. “I warned unscrupulous merchants both at home and abroad, that under our watch, substandard and fake food and drug products will not be allowed access to our people,” she said.
Prof. Adeyeye also addressed recent threats to NAFDAC staff, including attempted kidnappings and intimidation, stating that such actions will not deter the agency’s mission. She called on Nigerians to assist in the fight against fake products by reporting suspicious activities to NAFDAC offices or via its social media platforms.
She emphasized the severe health implications of consuming fake or expired goods. These include food poisoning, gastrointestinal illnesses, chronic organ damage, increased cancer risk due to harmful additives, and allergic or cognitive reactions caused by adulterated or ultra-processed products.
Highlighting the need for collective responsibility, Adeyeye stressed that the agency will continue to implement strategies aimed at protecting public health. “Safeguarding the nation’s health is a shared responsibility, one that NAFDAC cannot shoulder alone,” she concluded.
