NAFDAC Destroys ₦59m Worth Of Expired Donated Medicines In Rivers

NAFDAC Destroys ₦59m Worth of Expired Donated Medicines in Rivers The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control NAFDAC has destroyed expired donated medicines valued at approximately ₦59 million at a designated dump site in Port Harcourt, Rivers State. The medicines, which were shipped into Nigeria from the United States, had expired before they could be safely used and were subsequently condemned for destruction. According to reports, the consignment included various categories of pharmaceutical products, including antidepressants, anti-ulcer medicines and drugs used to manage hypertension.NAFDAC carried out the destruction as part of measures to prevent expired and potentially unsafe medicines from entering circulation and being used by members of the public.The agency’s action highlights the risks associated with the importation and distribution of pharmaceutical products that have exceeded their approved shelf life. Expired medicines can lose their effectiveness and, depending on the product and storage conditions, may pose health risks if consumed.The affected medicines were reportedly donated and shipped from the United States. However, by the time they were processed for disposal, the products had passed their expiration dates. The destroyed items included medicines prescribed for a range of conditions, from mental health-related illnesses to stomach ulcers and high blood pressure. NAFDAC’s disposal of the consignment is intended to ensure that the expired products do not find their way into pharmacies, hospitals, informal drug markets or other channels where they could be administered to patients The destruction forms part of NAFDAC’s broader responsibility to regulate medicines and other regulated products in Nigeria and to protect the public from products that fail to meet safety and quality requirements. The agency has continued to emphasise the importance of proper handling and disposal of expired pharmaceutical products to prevent their circulation and possible misuse. The ₦59 million consignment was therefore destroyed rather than allowed to remain in storage or potentially re-enter the supply chain.