By Olubunmi ISOKPEHI, Lagos
The Nigeria Customs Service, NCS, Seme Area Command, has destroyed expired drugs valued at #168,385,511 intercepted by officers and men of the command.
This information was disclosed by the Area Controller, Deputy Comptroller, Chidi Wada,during the destruction of the expired items.
Compt. Wada asserted, ” We remain resolute and determined to reduce this menace to the barest minimum.”
Adding, ” During the course of our operations, a total of 127 of these expired items, which are mostly prohibited. They include medicaments of different brands and grams; over 455,185 cards of tablets, Syrups of different brands and milligrams.”
He continued, ” Also 5, 664 Chinese bottle beverages, 157 sacks of waste animal hair, 493 sacks of expired diapers, 14, 400ml of hydrogen peroxide solution, 4,120 sachets of nylon menofilament.”
” Others are 558 pieces apetamine syrup, 10 cartoons of expired refined sugar, 4,225, 500mg of tramadol and four packets of expired brown sugar.”
However, Wada said, the drugs after condemnation by the court of law and certified by National Agency for Food Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) as not fit for human consumption, would be destroyed.
His Words: ” I appreciate the support and encouragement of the Comptroller General of Customs Col. Hameed Ali, (rtd) and his management team; the confidence reposed on us will not be regretted under any guise.”
In his remarks, the Deputy Director, NAFDAC, Mr. Ekpo Udo Ekpo , urged Nigerians to desist from importing expired items into the country.
Udo Ekpo said, ” All the items listed for destruction expired two years ago. He enjoined Nigerians not to engage in illegal importation of drugs and to do legal business rather than breaking the law.”
