FG Joint Committee Destroys Expired Illicit Drugs In Epe
By Mohammed Adekola
Federal Government Joint Committee on the destruction of fake, illicit, and expired pharmaceuticals, destroyed 200 containers of substandard drugs worth billions of naira imported into the country through the Apapa and Tin Can Island seaports.
With this development, the committee, comprising the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), the Office of the National Security Adviser (NSA), the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), and the Nigerian Army destroyed a total of 450 containers of expired drugs in the first quarter of 2025.
The destruction exercise, which took place in Epe, is part of a broader federal government initiative aimed at curbing the importation of illicit and controlled drugs to safeguard public health and reduce drug-related crimes across the country.
The destroyed pharmaceuticals include Tramadol, Codeine, Apetamine, Analgin injection, among others.
The National Security Adviser (NSA), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, said the initiative is crucial to preventing the circulation of dangerous substances such as Tramadol and Codeine, which are often abused and contribute to criminal activities in the country.
Ribadu, who was represented by an NSA official, Ibrahim Sulaiman, said the destroyed drugs were seized from Apapa, Tin Can, and Lekki seaports.
He disclosed that a similar destruction exercise had already been conducted in Port Harcourt as part of the first phase.
“The National Security Adviser is very passionate about ensuring that these illicit drugs do not remain in circulation. The government will not allow perpetrators to act with impunity, they will be arrested and prosecuted,” he stated.
The authorities reaffirmed their commitment to cracking down on drug smugglers and ensuring the safety of Nigerians. They warned that any individuals or groups involved in the illegal importation of these substances would face legal consequences.
Representative of the NDLEA, DC Omotosho Solomon, stated that suspects arrested in connection with the goods are already being tried in court, following a court order on their destruction. Solomon warned importers engaged in the trafficking of illicit drugs and pharmaceuticals to desist from such acts or face the full wrath of the law on illegal importation.
