By: Felix Ikpotor
The Nigeria Customs Service, Port Harcourt Area I Command, has handed over a container of expired pharmaceutical products worth over N59 million to the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control,NAFDAC.
The handover took place at the command’s headquarters in Port Harcourt Port and was witnessed by representatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, the Department of State Services, other security agencies, freight forwarding associations and industry stakeholders.
The seizure according to the NCS, prevented dangerous medicines contained in the consignment from reaching unsuspecting Nigerians via pharmaceutical stores.
Speaking during the ceremony, the Customs Area Controller of the Port Harcourt Area I Command, Comptroller Salamatu Atuluku, said the seizure underscored the command’s determination to stop harmful and prohibited pharmaceutical products from entering the Nigerian market.
She disclosed that the expired drugs were intercepted during a joint cargo examination conducted by officers of the Nigeria Customs Service in collaboration with NAFDAC and other relevant government agencies.
Atuluku said, “The seizure was a clear demonstration of the Command’s commitment to preventing harmful and prohibited pharmaceutical products from finding their way into Nigerian markets. The expired medicaments were intercepted during a joint examination conducted by officers of the Command in collaboration with NAFDAC and other relevant agencies.”
She added, “The consignment contained several cartons of expired pharmaceutical products with a Combined Insurance and Freight value of over N59m.”
The Customs boss warned that allowing expired medicines into circulation could have posed severe health consequences for millions of Nigerians.
She commended the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adeniyi, for supporting intelligence-led operations and strengthening inter-agency cooperation.
Receiving the seized items, the NAFDAC South-South Zonal Director, Pharmacist Chukwuma Oligbu commended the Controller Atuluku and officers of the Port Harcourt Area 1 Command for their efforts in ensuring that contraband goods don’t enter the country.
Oligbu expressed shock that people hide under charity to bring in expired drugs into the country, praising the officers for preventing the expired drugs from entering the country’s pharmaceutical supply chain.
He assured that the agency would immediately commence the necessary regulatory procedures to ensure the safe disposal of the expired medicines in accordance with established laws and guidelines.
