The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has disposed of expired donated medicines worth ₦59 million in Rivers State.
The products were taken to the Igwuruta dump site in Port Harcourt for destruction after arriving in Nigeria from the United States through the Nigeria Ports Authority’s Area 1 Port. NAFDAC announced the development on Thursday through a post on its official X account.
Among the items destroyed were antidepressants, anti-ulcer medications, painkillers and drugs prescribed for the treatment of hypertension. The agency noted that donated medicines play a significant role in supporting healthcare services, especially in communities with limited access to treatment. It stressed, however, that medicines that have expired or no longer meet safety requirements cannot remain in circulation.
NAFDAC explained that removing the products was intended to stop them from being diverted, abused or supplied to the public without regulatory approval. Officials carried out the exercise alongside the Nigeria Customs Service and other relevant government agencies.
According to the agency, the joint operation demonstrated the need for coordinated action to safeguard the country’s medicine distribution system.
NAFDAC further stated that the proper destruction of expired medicines reduces the risk of unsafe products reaching patients. Also stating that it helps maintain confidence in the pharmaceutical supply chain.
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