The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has inaugurated the Rivers State Task Force on Counterfeit, Fake Drugs and Unwholesome Processed Foods in Port Harcourt as part of efforts to curb the circulation of substandard medicines and unsafe food products.
The task force was established to strengthen regulatory enforcement, protect public health, and ensure that only safe and quality drugs and food items are available to consumers in the state. It comprises representatives from NAFDAC, the Nigeria Police Force, the Nigeria Customs Service, and other relevant agencies.
Read also: Customs, NAFDAC Seize ₦3.7bn Fake, Expired Drugs
Speaking at the inauguration, NAFDAC Director-General, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to combating counterfeit products nationwide. She said the task force would conduct regular market surveillance, coordinated raids, and public sensitisation campaigns to expose the dangers of fake medicines and contaminated foods.
Adeyeye disclosed that NAFDAC recently intercepted and seized counterfeit drugs and unwholesome tomato paste valued at ₦20.5 billion at the Onne Port, describing the development as a major breakthrough in the agency’s enforcement drive.
Also speaking, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Muhammad Ali Pate, warned that counterfeit medicines and unsafe foods pose a serious threat to public health and undermine confidence in the healthcare system. He stressed the need for collaboration among regulatory agencies and public vigilance.
In a related development, NAFDAC has destroyed fake and expired drugs worth ₦4.7 billion in Rivers State, underscoring its zero-tolerance stance against substandard products.
Members of the public were urged to report suspicious drugs and food items through NAFDAC’s official channels.
