National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has destroyed substandard, falsified and expired medicines and unwholesome regulated products worth N535 million in Kuje Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

The director-general of NAFDAC, Prof Mojisola Adeyeye, said the operation is carried out routinely all over the country by the agency to prevent the re-introduction of such products back into the supply chain.

Represented at the event yesterday in Abuja by the agency's director of investigation and enforcement, Ononiwu Francis, the NAFDAC boss said, "The estimated street value of the products destroyed is N535,000,657."

She listed the products destroyed as "Drugs made up of Psychoactive and Controlled substances, antibiotics, antihypertensives, antimalarials, herbal snuff and herbal remedies.

"Also, drugs confiscated from drug hawkers, food products such as spaghetti, vegetable oil, non-alcoholic beverages, including 1 X 40ft container of unregistered Faurecia instant powdered milk that was handed over to the Agency by the Nigeria Customs Service.

"Cosmetics such as creams, lotion, pomade, including skin lightening creams seized from spas and beauty centres. Chemicals such as fake insecticides and medical devices.

"Expired and unwholesome products voluntarily handed over for destruction by compliant companies, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and Association of Community Pharmacy of Nigeria (ACPN), etc."

The DG urged Nigerians to look out for spurious and counterfeit medicines, unwholesome foods and other regulated products and report the same to NAFDAC, assuring that the agency on its part will ensure continuous surveillance and heightened raids on these products.