The Nigeria Customs Service, Sokoto/Zamfara Area Command, has handed over unregistered pharmaceutical products worth N5.8 million to the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control. This is for further investigation and necessary action.
Customs patrol teams caught these products along the Illela-Sokoto Road after receiving credible information. Acting Customs Area Controller, Deputy Comptroller Haliru Abdullahi, shared this during the handover ceremony at the command headquarters in Sokoto on Wednesday.
Abdullahi explained that the seizure is part of efforts to stop the spread of unregistered drugs and protect public health. He listed the seized items as 360 packs of anti-cold drugs, 500 packs of amodiaquine, 140 packs of paracetamol, and 100 packs of quinine. The total duty-paid value of these items is N5,804,062.06.
He mentioned that the successful seizure is due to the dedication of the command’s patrol teams and the reliable information they received. Abdullahi noted that importing unregistered pharmaceutical products goes against Section 55 of the Nigeria Customs Service Act, 2023, and NAFDAC regulations.
He warned smugglers and sellers of unregistered drugs to stop their illegal activities. He emphasized that the command will not accept actions that could harm public health. Abdullahi said, "Let me use this opportunity to warn smugglers and those who deal in such unwholesome products that the Sokoto/Zamfara Command, under my watch, will not tolerate any form of smuggling."
He added, "We remain vigilant and committed to safeguarding the health of citizens and the nation’s economy." The acting controller praised the officers involved in the interception. He also recognized NAFDAC’s ongoing partnership with the Customs Service in fighting the spread of banned and unregistered products.
After the seizure, he handed the products over to NAFDAC officials for further investigation and action. The NAFDAC State Coordinator in Sokoto, AbduSalam Lawal, received the products on behalf of the agency. He thanked the Customs Service for their cooperation and efforts to eliminate harmful pharmaceutical products.
Lawal stated that the teamwork between the two agencies is key to protecting Nigerians from dangerous medicines. He said, "On behalf of the Director-General of NAFDAC and the entire management of the agency, I want to express our sincere appreciation to the Nigeria Customs Service for the wonderful collaboration we’ve been enjoying."
He added that ongoing cooperation is essential to keep unregistered pharmaceutical products away from consumers. Lawal said, "This is the only way we can rid the country of some of these unwholesome products from circulation. We sincerely appreciate the efforts of your men."
He assured that NAFDAC is committed to strengthening its partnership with Customs to ensure that seized pharmaceutical products undergo the necessary regulatory checks. The handover highlights the importance of collaboration between agencies in stopping the illegal movement of pharmaceutical products and protecting public health.
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