Customs destroys expired drugs worth N17m to safeguard public health in Bauchi
By Ahmed Ahmed
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) Bauchi/ Gombe area command has destroyed expired and harmful pharmaceutical products valued at about N17 million in Bauchi State as part of efforts to safeguard public health and prevent dangerous drugs from re-entering the market.
The Area Controller Bello Saleh Sani made the disclosure during destruction of the expired drugs on Wednesday in Bauchi
He said the harmful pharmaceutical products destroyed valued at about N17 million in the State as part of efforts to safeguard public health and prevent dangerous drugs from re-entering the market.
Sani said that the medications, which include enhancers and other pharmaceutical products, were seized by the Customs Strike Force Unit during an anti-smuggling operation in 2019 within Bauchi and its environs.
He explained that the destruction was carried out in line with the provisions of the Nigerian Customs Service Act and after receiving approval from the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi.
According to him, the drugs had remained in Customs custody since their interception about seven years ago and had already expired, making their continued storage hazardous.
“These medications you see are seizures made within Bauchi around 2019. From 2019 to date is about seven years and all of them have expired. Because of the hazards they may create in our stores and the risk to public safety, they need to be destroyed,” he said.
The controller added that the destruction exercise was necessary to ensure that the drugs do not find their way back into circulation where they could pose serious health risks to unsuspecting consumers.
He noted that expired and unregulated pharmaceutical products remain a major threat to public health,
Sani stressed that the NCS would continue to collaborate with other regulatory agencies to combat the smuggling and circulation of such products.
He further reiterated the commitment of the Nigeria Customs Service to protecting citizens by preventing the entry and distribution of harmful and expired drugs in the country.
Items destroyed during the exercise included 50 cartons of Ringer Lactate containing 30 pieces each, 197 packets and one piece of Meninal Sildenafil Citrate tablets (100mg),
105 packets of Viagra Sildenafil tablets (200mg) used for erectile dysfunction, 22 packets of Viagra 180mg tablets, as well as 157 packets and four pieces of Chest and Lungs tablets.
The NCS also warned importers and smugglers against engaging in the illegal trade of pharmaceutical products,
Dr Lami Abdul-Salam, representative of NAFDAC, commended the Customs Service for the successful destruction of the expired medications.
She said the action demonstrated strong collaboration among regulatory agencies in protecting public health.
Abdul-Salam urged traders and importers to comply with regulations guiding the importation, storage and sale of pharmaceutical products,
She warned that dealing in expired or unregistered drugs poses serious risks to citizens.
