By Modupe Gbadeyanka

Some counterfeit, expired, and unwholesome products worth over N1.8 billion have been destroyed by the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) in Abuja.

The agency, in a statement on Friday, disclosed that the items were destroyed by fire at the Kuje dumpsite in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

The destruction exercise involved the incineration of counterfeit medicines, banned sachet alcohol, expired pharmaceuticals, fake chemicals and other unsafe products seized across Abuja and surrounding areas, including items voluntarily submitted by companies, NGOs, and the Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria (ACPN).

According to NAFDAC, this action demonstrates its commitment to ensuring that seized products do not re-enter circulation. It also reaffirms its commitment to enforcing the ban on alcoholic beverages packaged in sachets and PET bottles below 200ml, warning that enforcement actions and prosecution will extend to traders found in possession of such products.

Speaking during the exercise, the Director-General of NAFDAC, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, represented by the Director of Investigation and Enforcement, Mr Martins Iluyomade, warned that counterfeit drug syndicates now deploy sophisticated cloning techniques to imitate genuine products, making it increasingly difficult for consumers to identify fake items.

She disclosed that the organisation recently intercepted several containers of suspicious products falsely declared to evade detection at the ports, stressing the need for stronger inter-agency collaboration and public vigilance.

The DG urged Nigerians to avoid patronising suspiciously cheap medicines and other regulated products, and to report suspicious activities to the nearest NAFDAC office or the NAFDAC Call Centre.

By Adedapo Adesanya

President Bola Tinubu has commended the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) for dismantling a sophisticated Nigerian-Mexican drug syndicate and uncovering a multi-million-dollar illicit drug production network operating in the country.

The President’s message was contained in a statement issued on Thursday by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Mr Bayo Onanuga.

The NDLEA Chairman, Mr Mohammed Buba Marwa, had on Wednesday announced the breakthrough following a major operation carried out by the agency in collaboration with international partners after weeks of intelligence gathering and strategic planning.

According to President Tinubu, the operation, which led to the arrest of foreign nationals, local drug kingpins, and other collaborators, as well as the seizure of illicit drugs and chemicals valued at over $360 million, reflects the professionalism and commitment of the anti-narcotics agency.

“This successful operation, which led to the arrest of foreign nationals, local kingpins and other collaborators, as well as the seizure of chemicals and illicit drugs valued at over $360 million, demonstrates exceptional professionalism, courage, and unwavering commitment to safeguarding society from the devastating effects of narcotics,” the President said.

He praised the courage, resilience, and dedication displayed by NDLEA operatives during the operation and urged the agency not to relent in the fight against drug trafficking.

He warned that West Africa has increasingly become a major transit hub for cocaine, synthetic drugs, and unregulated pharmaceuticals being trafficked to Europe and North America.

According to him, beyond posing serious security threats, the drug trade is also destroying the future of many young people across the region.

The President also called on Nigerians to support the fight against illicit drugs by remaining vigilant and reporting suspicious activities to security agencies.

“I call on all Nigerians to see the fight against illicit drugs not NDLEA’s alone. Everyone has a role to play. We must remain vigilant and promptly report suspicious activities within our communities to assist security agencies in combating criminal networks,” he stated.

President Tinubu added that the successful operation sends a strong warning to criminal networks that organised crime and other threats to public safety will not be tolerated anywhere in the country.

“This landmark success is a strong message that our security agencies will not tolerate organised crime and criminality anywhere in the country, and that those who threaten public safety and national security will face the wrath of the law,” he said.

By Adedapo Adesanya

The Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Mr Dele Alake, says Nigeria’s local value addition policy attracted over $2.6 billion in mining investments within two years.

Mr Alake spoke during a joint stakeholders’ sensitisation meeting organised by the Nigeria Revenue Service and the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development in Abuja.

A statement issued by the minister’s Special Assistant on Media, Ms Lara Wise, said ongoing reforms extended beyond enforcement and revenue generation towards building a sustainable mining ecosystem capable of creating jobs and boosting exports.

He explained that reforms were also designed to increase government revenue and accelerate industrialisation across the country through responsible mining activities and local value addition initiatives.

According to him, the solid minerals sector has become central to the economic diversification agenda of President Bola Tinubu. Alake said reforms introduced by the administration were already producing visible outcomes through increased investments and expanding mineral processing activities nationwide.

“We now have a $600 million lithium processing factory awaiting commissioning in Nasarawa State and another 200 million dollars lithium facility near Abuja,” he said.

He added that gold processing plants and other mineral beneficiation factories were emerging across Nigeria, creating employment opportunities for citizens in mining communities and industrial centres.

The minister stressed that the Federal Government was no longer interested in exporting raw minerals without domestic processing and industrial value addition. He said the ministry introduced reforms to improve the ease of doing business and strengthen licensing processes within the solid minerals sector.

Mr Alake stated that the government had also expanded geoscience data generation, formalised artisanal miners and sanitised the sector to attract responsible investors.

According to him, more than 300 illegal mining operators, including foreign nationals, have been arrested during ongoing enforcement operations across the country.

He disclosed that over 150 prosecutions involving illegal mining activities were currently ongoing in different courts nationwide. “Over 100 illegal mining sites have been recovered and returned to legitimate owners as part of efforts to restore investor confidence,” he said.

The minister observed that Nigeria struggled economically for years because previous administrations lacked the courage to implement difficult but necessary reforms. “Nigeria was borrowing to pay salaries before 2023. Resources were used mainly for recurrent expenditure and unsustainable fuel subsidy payments,” he stated.

Mr Alake said President Tinubu immediately moved to block leakages and reform critical sectors of the economy after assuming office.