The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has destroyed counterfeit, banned, adulterated and unsafe products valued at more than N8 billion recovered across Nigeria’s North-Central region.

The Director-General of NAFDAC, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, disclosed this during a destruction exercise in Lafia, Nasarawa State, where the agency disposed of the seized items.

Adeyeye, who was represented by the agency’s North-Central Coordinator, Mr Joseph Edor, said the products were confiscated from manufacturing facilities, markets, sales outlets and motor parks during enforcement operations.

She explained that a significant portion of the seized items consisted of alcoholic beverages packaged in sachets and small containers below 200 millilitres, which are prohibited under the existing regulations.

According to her, the restriction was introduced because the affordability and easy accessibility of such alcoholic products could encourage excessive consumption, particularly among young people and underage schoolchildren.

The NAFDAC chief warned that early exposure to alcohol could negatively affect brain development and damage vital organs, including the liver and kidneys. She added that underage drinking could also impair academic performance, reduce productivity and contribute to other health complications.

Adeyeye said the destruction exercise formed part of the agency’s ongoing efforts to prevent dangerous and substandard products from reaching Nigerian consumers.

Other items destroyed included expired food products, counterfeit medicines, unsafe cosmetics and other unwholesome goods capable of endangering public health.

She commended security agencies, partner organisations and other stakeholders for supporting NAFDAC’s enforcement activities through intelligence sharing and the provision of security during operations.

Also speaking, the NAFDAC Coordinator in Nasarawa State, Dr Gyani Stephen, said the exercise was intended to protect lives rather than punish legitimate businesses.

He urged traders and distributors to stop dealing in counterfeit, prohibited and substandard products, warning that anyone found violating the law would face appropriate sanctions.

Similarly, the Nasarawa State Commander of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, CN Saidu Daniel, represented by Yakubu Awoh, praised NAFDAC for its efforts to safeguard public health.

Daniel warned that allowing the seized products into circulation could have exposed millions of Nigerians to serious health risks and other harmful consequences.