N10m fake drugs destroyed in Osun

The Osun State Ministry of Health, in collaboration with the Pharmaceutical Council of Nigeria, has destroyed fake and expired drugs worth over N10 million.

The drugs were burnt at a dump site in Osogbo on Saturday in presence of State Director, National Agency for Food, Drugs Administration and Control, Mr. Kayode Fagboyo.


The ministry and the PCN also sealed illegal medicine stores from where the drugs were seized.

The Director of Pharmaceutical Services at the Osun State Ministry of Health, Mrs. Adepeju Ojo, in an interview with our correspondent, after the destruction of the drugs, said that inspectors from the ministry carried out the raid on the illegal outlets.

Ojo stated that the destroyed drugs were seized for over four years adding that inspectors were still going round to check the condition of drugs being sold in the state.

She said, “We have seized the regulated expired drugs and also sealed non-registered patents stores and the owners of the illegal outlets were apprehended.

“The seized drugs are estimated over N10 million. We are calling those seeking expired or fake drugs to desist. Our people also should patronise registered outlets and make sure that the drugs they buy are not fake or expired.”

The Permanent Secretary, Osun State Ministry of Health, Dr. Temitope Oladele, appealed to the people of the state to inspect any drug they wanted to buy thoroughly, saying fake and expired drugs were poisonous.

She explained that once a drug is expired, it has lost its therapeutic potency and had become a poisonous substance.

Oladele said that the state would not relent in its effort to rid it of fake or expired drugs.

The state director of NAFDAC commended the effort of the state government. He said this would complement the work of the agency.

Fagboyo appealed to Nigerians to always check expiry date on drugs or other goods and also NAFDAC approval.