NAFDAC also stated that all manufacturing facilities in flood-affected areas had been shut down for Good Manufacturing Practice reassessment before resuming operations.
Maiduguri, Nigeria – The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has cleared food and drugs worth over N5 billion that were compromised by floods in Borno State.
The mop-up, aimed at preventing the contaminated items from entering the market, was carried out following inspections led by the agency’s Director General, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye.
This was contained in a statement by NAFDAC’s Resident Media Consultant, Sayo Akintola.
The agency noted that the operation followed the September 10 floods caused by the collapse of the Alau Dam spillway, which left 30 people dead, displaced nearly half a million residents, and damaged properties in the state.
Officials from NAFDAC and the Borno State Ministry of Health uncovered drug warehouses in the Gamboru area of Maiduguri that had been flooded, with drugs worth millions of naira stored inside. The items were promptly seized to prevent their sale and distribution, according to Borno State Commissioner for Health, Baba Malam Gana, and NAFDAC’s North-East Director, Kenneth Azikiwe.
In a detailed statement, NAFDAC highlighted its comprehensive operation across several markets in Maiduguri, including Gamboru Drug and Food Market, Monday Market, Open-Air Theatre Drug Market, and Gwange Drug Market. The agency’s team, comprising officials from Borno, Yobe, Gombe, and NAFDAC’s regional laboratory, meticulously removed all compromised food and drugs to ensure public health safety.
“The recent floods posed a significant threat to public health by contaminating food and drug supplies,” said Mr. Azikiwe. “Our swift action ensures that only safe, uncontaminated products remain available in the market.”
NAFDAC also stated that all manufacturing facilities in flood-affected areas had been shut down for Good Manufacturing Practice reassessment before resuming operations. The agency pledged to continue its surveillance and monitoring across Maiduguri to safeguard the public from contaminated products.
Additionally, the agency urged the public to remain vigilant and report any suspicious food or drugs to NAFDAC. “We remain committed to protecting the health of Nigerians by ensuring that all food and drug products meet the highest safety and quality standards,” the statement concluded.
The flood incident, triggered by the collapse of the Alau Dam, has had widespread impacts on lives, health, and property in Borno State. NAFDAC’s actions are a crucial step in averting potential public health crises that could arise from the re-introduction of contaminated goods into the market.
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