NAFDAC intercepts 86 containers of tramadol valued at N193.4bn

THE National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration Control(NAFDAC) said it has in the last one year, intercepted 86 containers of tramadol and other unregulated drug products valued at N193.4 billion(N193,383,000,000).

This, according to the agency included the recently seized 23 40ft containers containing tramadol of various strengths from 120mg and 250mg.

NAFDAC’s Director General, Prof Mojisola Adeyeye in her one-year anniversary speech in Abuja disclosed that the Tramadol is estimated to be about 6.5 billion tablets and when sold at an average cost of N1.5 million per carton will amount to N193.4 billion.

“Since my assumption of duty into office, the new director of Ports Inspection Directorate and his team have intercepted 86 containers containing tramadol and other unregulated drug products,” she stated.

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She stressed that prevention of the illicit drugs from entering the market space of the country will protect millions of youths from hazards of drug addiction that can pose threat to families and the security of the country.

“This would have increased the number of casualties from the insurgency, armed robbery and other social vices that are known to be the aftermath effect of the use of illicit drugs,” she added.

Adeyeye, who also lamented the removal of NAFDAC from ports for seven years, said this had worsened the incidence of substandard and falsified, illicit drugs and unwholesome foods in the country.

She said the agency was however returned to the ports in May 2018 after lots of awareness campaign on the implication of its absence at the ports.

Her words; “ Eliminating substandard and falsified medicines, unsafe or illicit unwholesome foods, chemicals and other products is the crux of our regulatory activities and involves almost all the technical directorates. It starts from the ports inspection through Laboratory Services to Pharmacovigilance and to investigation and enforcement.

“Removal of NAFDAC from the ports from 2011 to 2018 worsened the problem of SFs, illicit drugs and unwholesome foods in the country and portend real danger to the populace.

“ Through the support of the Presidency, Office of the National Security Adviser and my incessant awareness campaign about the implications of the absence of NAFDAC at the ports, NAFDAC was returned to the ports in May 2018 and was also included in the inspecting MDAs in the Kaduna dry port in August 2018.”