The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has destroyed expired medicines and medical consumables valued at about ₦59 million in Rivers State to prevent them from re-entering circulation.
The products were destroyed on Monday at the Igwuruta dump site along the Eneka–Igwuruta Road in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of the state.
According to NAFDAC’s Director for the South-South Zone, Chukwuma Oligbu, the expired products were shipped from the United States through the Nigeria Ports Authority Area 1 Port in Port Harcourt before they were intercepted by NAFDAC officials working with the Nigeria Customs Service.
He said the items included antidepressants, anti-ulcer medicines, analgesics, hypertension drugs and other medical consumables.
Oligbu explained that the destruction was necessary because expired medicines pose significant risks to public health and could be diverted, misused or reintroduced into the pharmaceutical supply chain.
He said NAFDAC would continue to strengthen its regulatory activities in the South-South region through inspection, surveillance, enforcement and public awareness campaigns.
The agency also commended the Nigeria Customs Service, other government agencies and stakeholders for their collaboration in preventing expired and unsuitable medical products from reaching Nigerians.