NAFDAC takes Swift Action in Maiduguri Market

In a bid to protect the health of Nigerians, the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) conducted a thorough mop-up operation in markets across Maiduguri, removing contaminated drugs and food items worth over 5 billion Naira that had been exposed to floodwaters.

NAFDAC Director-General, Prof Mojisola Adeyeye, ordered the immediate closure of the Gomboru drug market, which had been inundated with floodwaters, to prevent the re-introduction of compromised drugs into sales.

The mop-up operation was deemed crucial to prevent possible outbreaks of diseases due to the consumption of contaminated products, and NAFDAC officials from Borno, Yobe, Gombe, and the NAFDAC area laboratory were involved in meticulously inspecting and removing compromised items from the affected markets.

In addition to the mop-up operation, NAFDAC also provided market vendors and the public with guidelines on identifying and handling potentially contaminated products.

As part of NAFDAC’s efforts to ensure the safety and quality of regulated products in flood-affected areas, manufacturing facilities located within these areas have been closed down to allow for a reassessment of Good Manufacturing Practices before production resumes.

The Agency reiterated its commitment to safeguarding the health of Nigerians and urged the public to report any suspicious or compromised products to the nearest NAFDAC office.

With NAFDAC’s swift and decisive action to remove contaminated products from the markets, the Nigerian public can breathe a sigh of relief knowing that the Agency is actively working to prevent the outbreak of diseases and protect the health of the people.

This incident serves as a timely reminder of the importance of vigilance and collaboration in safeguarding the nation’s health, especially in times of natural disasters such as floods, which can compromise the safety of food and drug supplies.

In the aftermath of the mop-up operation in Maiduguri, NAFDAC’s work to maintain the safety and quality of regulated products will continue, with a focus on surveillance and monitoring to cover all parts of the metropolis.

As the Agency remains committed to its mission of protecting public health, the Nigerian public can take comfort in knowing that NAFDAC is dedicated to upholding the highest standards of quality and safety for all food and drug products, even in the face of adversity.

References and Citations:

• TheNation – Flood: NAFDAC remove N5bn contaminated drugs foods from Maiduguri market
• Punch – NAFDAC seizes flood-damaged drugs worth over N5bn in Borno
• Legit.ng –  NAFDAC’S major mop-up operation over 15 billion worth of contaminated goods seized and destroyed

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