Controller, Apapa Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Muhammed Abba-Kura, has expressed concern over increase in the number of fake and substandard pharmaceutical products imported into the country.
Speaking while fielding questions from journalists recently in Lagos, Abba-Kura, urged the National Agency for Food Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) to step up its efforts in curbing importation of fake pharmaceutical products by not only destroying the drugs but also by investigating erring importers and ensuring their prosecution.
He disclosed that the command seized 72 containers of pharmaceutical products from July to September 2020, noting that most of the imported drugs do not carry the seal and approval of NAFDAC.
“Last year, we seized a large number of such drugs without NAFDAC registration number. This year, we are seizing these substandard drugs again. The reality is that these drugs coming into our country without NAFDAC number are not fit for human consumption.
“All the seizures of pharmaceuticals made at the Apapa Port; we have forwarded the records to NAFDAC to guide them because there is need for proper punishment,” he said.
