Fake drugs worth millions destroyed

Nigeria's National Agency for Food Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC) on Saturday destroyed fake, substandard and adulterated drugs worth 685 million naira (about US $6.2 million). 'The Guardian' newspaper quoted the director-general of NAFDAC, Mrs. Dora Akunyili, as saying that the drugs were recovered from dealers and warehouses. "Five lorry loads of the drugs were handed in by undisclosed repentant medicine dealers," Akunyili said. Following tip offs by members of the public and "cooperative" medicine dealers, seven warehouses were searched and drugs impounded, she said. Sampling tests for the drugs have already been conducted and "they were all found to be fake", she noted. According to Akunyili, these dangerous substances would have quietly gone into the markets, hospitals and consumed by unsuspecting members of the public with its dire consequences. 'The Guardian' also quoted Health Minister Alphonsus Nwosu as saying that the measure was in line with the administration's desire to keep Nigeria free of fake, substandard and adulterated products.