The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has destroyed expired donated medicines valued at ₦59 million at the Igwuruta dump site in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
The medicines, which were imported from the United States through the Nigeria Ports Authority (NPA) Area 1 Port in Port Harcourt, included antidepressants, anti-ulcer drugs, analgesics and medicines used in the management of hypertension.
NAFDAC said the destruction was necessary to prevent expired and unsuitable pharmaceutical products from re-entering the supply chain or being diverted for unauthorised distribution.
The agency noted that although donated medicines play an important role in supporting healthcare delivery, particularly for vulnerable and underserved communities, such products must meet safety and quality requirements before they can be distributed for public use.
Expired medicines, it stressed, must be promptly withdrawn and safely destroyed to prevent misuse and protect public health.
The exercise was conducted in collaboration with the Nigeria Customs Service and other relevant government agencies, underscoring the importance of inter-agency cooperation in monitoring pharmaceutical imports and securing Nigeria’s drug supply chain.
The destruction also reinforces regulatory efforts to ensure that only medicines that meet established safety, quality and efficacy standards reach patients and healthcare facilities.
